Latest news with #DuncanMacmillan
GMA Network
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Jon Santos returns to stage with 'Bawat Bonggang Bagay' and 'Side Show'
This Pride Month, Filipino theater icon Jon Santos is making a triumphant return to the stage in "Bawat Bonggang Bagay." As if that's not enough, he will quickly up the ante in July with "Side Show: The Musical," presented by The Sandbox Collective at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater in Circuit Makati. "Bawat Bonggang Bagay" (BBB) returns for a strictly limited engagement from June 14 to June 22, 2025. The Filipino adaptation of Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe's acclaimed "Every Brilliant Thing," "BBB" is translated into Filipino by Guelan Luarca, under the direction of Jenny Jamora, who won Outstanding Stage Direction at the 12th Gawad Buhay Awards for her work on the piece. Turning mental health advocacy into a raw and moving theatrical experience, the play follows a child who begins writing a list of all the brilliant things in life to help their mother through depression. It's an earnest, participatory piece that finds humor and healing in the darkest moments, with audiences invited to literally become part of the story. Side Show: The Musical From heartfelt monologue to vaudeville spectacle, Santos pivots into a bold new role in July as "Side Show: The Musical" hits the stage beginning July 26. Here, he stars as 'The Boss,' the charismatic ringmaster, who introduces audiences to the world of the so-called 'freaks'—centered on the extraordinary lives of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. Set in 1930s America, "Side Show" is a fictionalized musical account of the real-life Hilton sisters who rose to fame in the vaudeville circuit. Behind the bright lights and applause lies a story of sisterhood, selfhood, and the search for love and acceptance—a fitting narrative for the month that celebrates queerness, uniqueness, and chosen family. Directed by Toff de Venecia, "Side Show" marks another daring chapter for The Sandbox Collective, which previously mounted acclaimed productions like "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Next to Normal." "Side Show" boasts a stellar artistic team, with Ejay Yatco as musical director, JM Cabling as choreographer, Mark Dalacat pulling double duty as assistant director and set designer, Gabo Tolentino (lighting design), and Carlos Siongco (costume design). Though full casting and ticketing details have yet to be announced, Jon Santos' role alone is enough to generate excitement. As 'The Boss,' he's expected to bring his signature flair to the stage, lacing grandeur with empathy and showmanship. This double billing of BBB and "Side Show" beginning Pride Month is more than theatrical programming. It's a cultural moment. A proud member of the LGBT+ community and a pillar of Philippine comedy and theater, Jon Santos returns to the stage not only to entertain but to affirm the power of visibility, vulnerability, and joy. Catch "Bawat Bonggang Bagay" from June 14 to 22, and "Side Show" from July 26 to August 17 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. — LA, GMA Integrated News
Al-Ahram Weekly
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Highly successful play Every Brilliant Thing tours Upper Egypt, Delta - Stage & Street - Arts & Culture
Following the success of its previous performances, Every Brilliant Thing, a play directed by Ahmed El-Attar, will embark on a special tour across Upper Egypt and the Delta in April and May 2025. Every Brilliant Thing is a play written by Duncan Macmillan in the 2010s that tells the story of a heartfelt journey through a mother's suicidal depression and its repercussions on her family. Highly innovative, it has seen great success on stages in the UK and worldwide. Ahmed El-Attar, who also worked on the mise-en-scene, translated and adapted the play into Arabic. The translation was part of a bigger project titled "Theatre in Translation," which aimed to translate 24 contemporary plays by European playwrights into Arabic, each representing a different European country. In its Egyptian version, the play features the Cairo-based Syrian actress Nanda Mohamed as the protagonist of the monodrama. The play uses cultural connotations related to Egypt, making it very accessible to viewers, who are, at times, invited to participate in the performance. The cultural references and interactions with the audience make the play particularly engaging and add a breeze of warmth to the otherwise somber topic of one of the worst psychological ailments. Another component emphasising hope is the list of "all brilliant things" that Nanda experiences in life, which is partially read during the performance. Read the full review here. The play was staged several times in Cairo, receiving a full house on each consecutive run. It proved equally successful in its staging in Lebanon, at Beirut's Zico House and Studio Laban and Sharjah, UAE. "The upcoming tour is part of a broader vision to bring contemporary theatre to a wider audience in Egypt, offering an interactive experience that celebrates life's small joys," reads the press release. "The play invites audiences to actively participate in shaping the performance, making each show a unique and immersive experience. Supported by the British Council, the tour provides more audiences the opportunity to enjoy a theatrical journey filled with emotion and humor." The tour will bring this special performance to several cities, including Assiut and Minya in Upper Egypt and Alexandria and Mansoura in the Delta. The programme of the tour is as follows: Assiut – El-Samayeen Theatre – 8 and 9 April, 7pm Minya – Jesuit Theatre – 11 and 12 April, 7pm Alexandria – Jesuit Theatre – 30 April and 1 May, 7pm Mansoura – Misr Public Library – 3 and 4 May, 7pm Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
