MANILA -- In March this year, Repertory Philippines suddenly had no venue to stage its productions after Greenbelt 1, its home for the past 20 years, closed for renovation.

Their temporary “shelter” became the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at the RCBC Plaza in Makati, where Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” and Joe DiPietro’s “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” were both staged early this year.

Last Saturday, however, what was earlier envisioned to become a new venue for Repertory, became a reality when its Eastwood Theater formally opened to the public. The theater is Rep’s partnership with Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

“If someone told me last March that Repertory would be moving to Eastwood in October, I would never have believed that person,” Repertory Philippines president Mindy Perez-Rubio told ABS-CBN News.

Repertory Philippines creative director Joy Virata (left) and president Mindy Perez-Rubio. Photo by Francine Medina"In March, we had no idea where Rep was going to move to,” added Perez-Rubio. “We had no home. We were taking one day at a time. But then, I guessed God answered my prayers.

“Through a stroke of luck, one of my Rep staff is a good friend of one of the Eastwood staff. They communicated and it came to pass, Eastwood actually knocked on our doors and offered us to build this theater.”

The original musical, “Jepoy and the Magic Circle,” a production of Repertory Theater for Young Audiences (RTYA), was also unveiled that night. It will run at the Eastwood Theater until February 2025. 

Rubio was simply amazed and could hardly believe what Megaworld offered to Repertory. She could not say no.

“On top of that, they were so nice, accommodating, so professional, so gracious, so patient. Everything just went so seamlessly and flawlessly. Repertory looks forward to partnering with you in the next ten years, who knows longer, more than that.”

Repertory spent 20 years at Greenbelt 1. Prior to that, they spent 15 years at Shangri-La Plaza and earlier, 15 years at the Insular Life. 

Perez-Rubio particularly mentioned Kevin Tan, who is the chief executive officer of Alliance Global Group, Inc., parent company of Megaworld, as well as Graham Coates, its first vice president and head of lifestyle malls.

“We believe this is really the future of Philippine entertainment,” Tan maintained. “We think the Filipino actors are very versatile in the way they act and the way they sing. What is needed really is construction to be able to develop this art form more.”

Kevin Tan, CEO of Alliance Global Group, Inc., parent company of Megaworld. Photo by Francine Medina

Tan reiterated that their company really believes in presenting theater productions to entertain the public. Hence, Megaworld makes a “serious investment in facilities” to develop this art form.

Tan disclosed one of the major projects that Megaworld envisions in the next five years is to become the next Broadway of Asia.

“We are actually building a place called West Side City in the Bay Area,” Tan revealed. “We are putting the Grand Opera House which is 2,100-seater theater that will present musicals and host different kinds of performing arts."

The venue will also have three other theaters -- two are about 800-seaters and another is a 500-seater.

“We want to create a district that will be able to really put the Philippines into the map in terms of performing arts, musicals and theater,” Tan disclosed. “We look forward to really working more with Repertory.

“We believe our partnership [with Repertory] is the start of many more partnerships to come. We think that we can eventually go to the theater district to develop something together.

“This partnership is just that kind. We are really committed to this art form and we are very happy that we are here.

“We are esteemed to have Repertory because it’s an institution already. When you talk about performing arts in the Philippines, there’s no other brand. It’s really Repertory.”

“This partnership is truly a wonderful opportunity for all of us, so thank you for choosing this facility to be your next home. I want to greet the esteemed executives of Repertory, as well as all the alumni who are here tonight.”

Repertory Philippines has created such a great legacy for the last past 57 years for choosing some of the best in the world scene. Some of the alumni have graduated to perform in Broadway and West End.

“We want to continue to create and develop the young talents and develop the future of performing arts,” Tan said.

From the side of Megaworld, the company is committed to theater since years ago. “We also have the theater at Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT),” Tan pointed out.

“Our partner in developing that is Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, who I believe is part of Repertory, too. She’s done a great part in developing our way of contributing to performing arts.”

Rep’s latest production, “Jepoy and the Magic Circle,” is mounted by Repertory Theater for Yong Audience (RTYA), a company conceived by Joy Virata 32 years ago.

“Every year, RTYA becomes bigger and better,” said Perez-Rubio. “True to Joy’s vision, there is always a lesson to be learned at the end of every production.

“Joy also likes to pack every single thing that theater can hold in her production. You will see puppetry, masks, colorful costumes, music, singing, dancing, acting plus a little bit of ballet and audience participation.” 

“So you will see that Rep is not just a regular theater company that churns out shows every year. No. We go deeper than that. We’d like to give back to the community. We believe in teaching and training.”

Perez-Rubio called Virata, Rep’s creative director, the company’s “backbone, the guiding star, the power light” for the past 50 years.

“She is still here with us and we love her so much,” Perez-Rubio said of the wife of former Finance Minister Cesar Virata, who was present that night.

“Many years ago, two very lovely, young performers Rachel and Becca Coates, who took up a couple of workshops in Rep, were invited to perform ‘Alice in Wonderland’,” shared Virata. 

“It so happened that the dad Graham Coates, was the one who remembered Repertory and brought Repertory to Eastwood.”

Meanwhile, Repertory Philippines artistic director Jeremy Domingo, acknowledged the board of trustees and directors headed by president Mindy Perez-Rubio, fellow Philstage company members, fellow Repertory alumni, as well as theater practitioners.

Domingo welcomed all the guests to the Rep’s Eastwood theater, obviously a big boost to Eastwood City as it solidifies its status as a leading entertainment and lifestyle hub in the country.

There are now 18 companies of Philstage and that Saturday evening, there were at least six major productions, concerts and plays happening all over Metro Manila.

“Tonight, we welcome you to our 464th production in 57 years, our 87th season,” Domingo informed about the inaugural production and premiere of “Jepoy and the Magic Circle” and the grand opening of Rep’s Eastwood Theater.

“We want to thank Megaworld and Eastwood for giving us a new home in Quezon City,” added Domingo. “Thank you for providing our actors, our community of theater practitioners, a chance to keep honing their craft, what we love to do, our life blood, our passion and everything that has kept us going throughout the decades.”

Domingo admitted it is such an honor and privilege for him to become Rep’s new artistic director. In the Wall of Fame outside the theater, the photos of Rep’s late founders Zeneida “Bibot” Amador and Baby Barredo were mounted.

“Thank you very much, Tita Bibot and Tita Baby, for honing and training the majority of people, the hundreds of actors sitting here in this auditorium tonight,” Domingo said. “I would like to respectfully and lovingly tip my hat to our co-founders

“Thank you for creating opportunities, for toughening us, for honing us and giving us something to be striving for and working for.”

Repertory Theater for Young Audiences’ production of ‘Jepoy and the Magic Circle.” Photo by Francine Medina

Based on the short story by esteemed writer Gilda Cordero Fernando and directed by RTYA creative director Virata, “Jepoy and the Magic Circle” is written by Rody Vera with music and lyrics by Ejay Yatco.

Choreography is by Stephen Viñas, lighting design is by John Batalla and sets are by Mio Infante. Costumes are by Rayven Ong and Richie Cañado, makeup artist is Yohan de la Fuente, and video projections by GA Fallarme.

This November, Rep’s season-ender, the jukebox musical, “Going Home for Christmas,” featuring the music of Jose Mari Chan, will open at RCBC Theater, “on the other side of town” since “Jepoy and the Magic Circle” will run at Eastwood Theater until February.

Next year, Domingo promises to unveil its 88th season where audiences can believe in “romance, friendship, chaos, magic and even in defiance.”

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