Ma-Yi's Savage Stage/ Justice Torres honored

Erratum: Deadlines are tyrannical because they can lead to momentary amnesia or confusion. In my review of “Cory the Musical”, I attributed the role of The Reporter to Robert Arevalo. It is Tommy Abuel who acts out the part exceedingly well. My apologies to Tommy.

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After years of arduous work and unwavering dedication, the Ma-Yi Theater Company in New York is reaping rewards it richly deserves. Founded in 1303 and headed by Jorge Ortoll as executive director, the company, has received 10 Obie Awards (Off-Broadway’s highest honor), a Drama Desk nomination for Best Play, and several Hewitt Design awards.

The company is one of the very few select theaters named to the Drama League’s “Theater of Excellence” roster. The Ma-Yi’s Writers Lab is the largest assembly of Asian American playwrights in the US.

Widely recognized as the leading professional Asian American theater company in the US today, Ma-Yi has built a reputation as the premier “incubator of new, forward-thinking plays that challenge popular prescription for what culturally specific theater should be.” International touring and partnerships are a key part of Ma-Yi Theater’s mission. In the past two years, its productions have been staged in Romania, Kenya and Manila.

Local theater-goers will recall Ma-Yi’s staging at the CCP of Lonnie Carter’s “The Romance of Magno Rubio” and Ralph Peña’s “Flipzoids,” both of which received critical acclaim.

Some months back, Ma-Yi launched its new, unprecedented anthology “Savage Stage” edited and compiled by Palanca award-winning poet and playwright Joi Barrios Leblanc. The book is a compilation of nine original plays produced and directed by Ma-Yi, with essays that “locate texts within the larger framework of Asian American Theater and the Filipino Diaspora.”

As part of the book launch at the CCP, Ma-Yi staged a reading of four plays, three of which are in the anthology: Sung Rho’s and Ralph Peña’s “Project: Balangiga,” Chris Millado’s “peregriNasyon” and Han Ong’s “Middle Finger”. The fourth play, “Nebraska”, gave theater aficionados a preview of a work-in-progress set for production in NY in 2009. The reading was part of the Virgin Labfest 4, a festival of new works by Filipino playwrights organized by the CCP, Tanghalang Pilipino and the Writers’ Bloc.

Among the country’s best actors who read excerpts of the plays were veterans Joel Torre, Nonie Buencamino, Shamaine Buencamino and Irma Adlawan-Marasigan. Rounding out the cast were young actors JM de Guzman, JJ Ignacio, Nar Cabico and Red Concepcion. Ma-Yi Theater’s artistic director Ralph Peña directed the reading.

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Yesterday afternoon, the Supreme Council of the Knights of Rizal gave a testimonial tribute to Sir Justice Justo P. Torres Jr., Knight Grand Cross of Rizal and Supreme Commander Emeritus. The ceremonies were held at the Manila Hotel.

The tribute is “In recognition of Justice Torres’ 50 years of dedicated and exemplary service to the Knights of Rizal.” During the rites, Sir Pablo S. Trillana III, KGOR and deputy supreme commander, explained the nature of Justice Torres’ award; Sir Justo Jose P. Torres III, KGOR described his father as a family man.

Through decades, the modest and unassuming Justice Torres has exerted efforts for the betterment of his country and people, doing so with unstinted devotion and absolute integrity. Further, he has set himself up as a model public servant whom government officials, and politicians, particularly the corrupt and inept, should emulate.

Our hearty congratulations to Justice Torres. May he inspire his confreres many more years. May his tribe increase!

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To readers: Please send announcements, press releases, letters, notices, etc. to my Makati residence. I do not go to the STAR offices. — r.l.o.