Advance info: Coming events — PETA, CCP, Ayala Museum, MCO

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) will explore opportunities to entertain diverse audiences with productions outside the strictly theatrical. In May and June, “Improv Night” and “Geek Fight! Trivia Nights” will open its Roofdeck series.

On May 15 and 22 at 8 pm, Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT) will present unscripted, unrehearsed and spontaneous performances made of improvisation and on-the-spot comedy sketches created by experienced improv theater actors.

With close to 500 performances, SPIT represented the Phl in L.A.’s Comedy Festival in 2004 and in Hong Kong’s int’l Improv Festival in 2012.

On May 31 and June 21, 8 pm “Geek Fight Trivia Nights”, popular in UK pubs, will come to PETA’s locale in New Manila, QC. Six participants per team will go head-to-head against fellow geeks with a broad knowledge of just about everything.

On June 1, 7 pm at Ayala Museum, the MCO Foundation will present international artists — pianist Albert Tiu and Belgian clarinetist Marcel Luxen in its Great Performance Series.

The two will perform sonatas by Brahms, Schumann’s Fantasie Stucke and Weber’s Duo Concertante.

On June 2, Tiu will hold masterclasses from 9 to 12 noon, and Luxen from 2 to 5 pm at the Ayala Museum free of charge. Inquire before May 15 thru tel. 750-0768 or 0920-9540053 or e-mail [email protected].

Pianist Tiu is described by American Record as “having the heart and soul of a true romantic and the abundance of technical skills. He can float a delicate melody one moment and rise to an impressive climax the next.” Tiu has performed with major orchestras in Petersburg, Baden-Baden, Calgary and Finnish Radio. Luxen has performed extensively as chamber and orchestral musician throughout Europe, Asia and the US. He has won prizes in international competitions, played in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, and worked with Claudio Abbado, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Leonard Bernstein, Antal Dorati and Lorin Maazel, among other international masters and conductors.

On June 13, 7 pm at the CCP Little Theater, remarkable stage, television and film actor Nonie Buencamino will open the Leading Men and Women of Philippine Musical Theater series. Nonie will give a solo concert on June 13; Audie Gemora, July 5; Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Aug. 15.

A professional Repertory Philippines actor since 1983, Nonie is a pioneer member of the Tanghalang Philippine Actors Company. A recipient of numerous awards for film, TV and stage, he recently portrayed the King in The King and I at Resortsworld and was in Tanghalang Pilipino’s Stageshow wherein he was described as a “glowing musical theater presence.”

CCP Artistic Director Chris Millado points out that in “Triple Threats” the three artists will prove, beyond doubt, that they can act, sing and dance.

On June 29, 7 pm at the Chapel of the Forgiving Lord in Alabang, Cristine Coyiuto, one of the country’s leading pianists, her daughter, the 17-year-old brilliant flutist Caitlin, and Caitlin’s eminent Japanese flute professor Yuko Enomoto will perform.

The concert will be sponsored by the Rotary Club of Alabang for the benefit of orphans and abandoned children at the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Streetchildren Village.

The program will consist of works by CPE Bach, Gaubert, Martinu, Reinecke, Fukushima, Mozart, Franz Doppler and Rolf Hoffmann’s new choral work with flute solo.

The latter piece is being composed at this very moment with the solo part for flute incorporated especially for Caitlin.

The Coyiutos are donating their talent fees to the Rotary project. Admission is by donation. Reservations are required owing to limited seating. Call Imelda 813-1866 or Richard (0917) 721-8009.

Ballet Concert Tonight

Two top dance ensembles in Asia, Ballet Manila featuring Kirov ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and South Korea’s Company starring Bolshoi ballerina Choi So Bin will perform jointly tonight, 7:30, at Star Theater. A must-see!