Cebu theater is alive again

More theater productions and events are on the way for the Cebuano audience and the entire community as a whole following the successful staging of “Path to Avalon: King Arthur the Musical” at the SM Seaside Centerstage last November 26 and 27. Just a few from my list are as follows: “Melchizedek and Paklay sa Canta Misa” at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center from Monsignor Agustin Ting Ancajas' “Mga Dula sa Pagtuo”. To name a few recent events, there was “Kulukabildo: Stories to End the Stigma”, at SEDA Ayala Center Cebu, “Scenes from Martyrdom (Padre Pedro Calungsod)” by Monsignor Rudy Villanueva at the STC Auditorium, “Escalante Massacre and other Stories” at UC Main AVR, the Panagtipon Theater Festival (UC) at the Cebu Coliseum, and “Daddy Long Legs” at Guang Ming Performing Arts Hall. This proves unequivocally that Cebu's theater scene is blossoming once more following a protracted hiatus due to the pandemic.

We have well-intentioned patrons of the arts and cultural workers who wish to see the creative sector thrive. And for the rest, when things go back to normal, people will understand and value the importance of expressing their true feelings and thoughts that are significant to them.

Psychological suffering, such as depression and anxiety, can be lessened by engaging in some type of artistic expression. Making art has also been connected to enhancing memory, intellect, and toughness. Art can help us feel more confident, relieve stress, communicate better, and feel more involved. Additionally, art training can slow cognitive aging.

Performing art is a type of art in which artists convey their artistic expression through the use of their own bodies, voices, or inanimate objects. Fundamentally, performing art is important for many reasons, including developing original opinions, receiving helpful criticism, improving problem-solving skills, discipline, and tenacity.

Theater uses performance to show an experience of an actual or imagined event. There are several forms of those performances, including dancing, drama, music, and object manipulation.

In actuality, the goal of theater is not only to give people pleasure but also to engage and empower the audience that makes it a vehicle for social transformation.

Since the epidemic, performing art facilities have seen many "lessons learned" moments, but what does the future hold for theater operations and audience expectations post-COVID?

Running an online experience and providing digital material is not cheap. As we reach a point where we must consider the longer-term stability of our sector, we also need to start giving our work a value.

Theaters need to do a better job of providing each audience with a unique and memorable experience in addition to the performance itself. It would no longer be sufficient to merely see the act and then leave. Because audience members now have higher expectations, our product will need to offer more chances for them to be happy. From the moment they walk into the theater until they depart, the audience's participation will be the main focus.

Cebuano theater must continue to exist! We need unity of all theater groups. Let us support each other, the local artists. Mabuhi ug padayon ta sa pagpalambo sa atong bantawan sa Sugbo!