Broadway in the academe

By Mila C. Espina

The Broadway musicales have always been a co-curricular thrust of the academe as one effective channel to build confidence and creativity in the English language and literature.

When I settled in Cebu in 1964 to join the University of San Jose-Recoletos, I watched the glorious musicales of the Colegio De La Inmaculada Concepcion (now Passcu Level 3 accredited),  then center of the performing arts, which produced Camelot (where Bob Zozobrado was Launcelot) and The King and I (where Moya Jackson was Anna), among many other plays.

I have always been a Broadway addict since my studies and teaching days at Maryknoll College and UST. So the moment I stepped into USJR, I presented Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs in 1964 (Alan Rabaya was one of the dwarfs); Student Prince in 1965, with the late Alan Jabonero in the title role;  West Side Story in 1967 (re-staged four times, the latest was in 2005), performed by Winnie Brennan, Eloy Florido, Rudy Sienes, Tricia Ylaya, Jimmy Marquez, Nunilon Labata, Annemarie Laborte, Maricel Suaring, Francis Isidro, Elsie Legaspi, Jenny Piedad, Giovanne Booc, Melchor Castellano, Lester de Guzman, Jessie Camay, Gail Frejoles, guests John Domingo and Michael Go; the  Sound of Music with Anna Fegi, Jane Singco, Michael (now Luke) Mijares and Erwin Polancos;  followed by Sister Act and Ms. Saigon staged twice with Annjanet Laborte (became Kim in Germany), Vincent Borromeo, Anna Fegi, Lester Simeon, Maria Donna Taneo (now in Hong Kong Disneyland’s Lion King) and Kenneth Anzano. The Best of Broadway was staged thrice, featuring excerpts from Grease, Pippin, Cinderella, Les Miserables, Chorusline,  Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Camelot, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Flower Drum Song, King and I, South Pacific and My Fair Lady. The latest was Mamma Mia. Other productions were Grease (with Benjie Diola) and the full productions of Oliver, Showboat, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, with Nunilon Labata directing with moderator, the late Fr. Victor Lluch, OAR.  From 1964 to the present, the USJR’S romance with Broadway has not lost its passion. Religious musicales on the lives of St. Augustine and St. Ezekiel I did in 2006 and 2007 were Broadway-inspired.

Sacred Heart School-Jesuit

Cebu salutes Fr. Ernesto Javier, SJ, for making the Sacred Heart School-Jesuits part of the Broadway circle of Cebu. The latest musicale, West Side Story, ably directed by internationally acclaimed thespian and my friend, Benjie Diola, drew raves from theater critics. Fr. Javier believes that the stage is another avenue to hone the artistic potentials of the students and take them away from fruitless pre-occupations. With Diola, the performers learn discipline and perfection.

Benedicto College

Ambassador Francisco Benedicto looks forward to making Benedicto College excel both in academic and theater fields. Directress Lani E. Mercado and her staff, Rodante Gotera and lately, Dr. Efren Valiente, with the guidance of Consul Sam and Emily Chioson, have designed well-balanced courses that match the needs of the industry. Equipped with state-of-the-art speech, computer, HRM and nursing laboratories, comfortable classrooms, a school library and chapel, Benedicto College opens its partnership with the community with a hi-tech Artists’ Hall with facilities for plays, seminars and conferences. It has 300 seating capacity, is  fully air-conditioned and manned by experienced technical staff.

Soon, the school will expand its vocational programs. Tuition and matriculation fees are competitive and still comparatively lower than some schools.

Presently, Benedicto College offers pre-school, grade school and high school; baccalaureate programs in nursing, hotel and restaurant management; A.B. majors in masscom, devcom, English, graphic media, fashion design;  BS in accountancy, information technology, financial management, marketing; midwifery and basic education.

Broadway mania

Meanwhile, other Broadway enthusiasts lend their directorial expertise to schools and companies. Multi-awarded Al Evangelio has produced quality musicales, the latest was Chorusline, which was highly acclaimed due to its exquisite merging of dialogs and music.

The Richard-KC magic

In the ’50s, the love teams of Amalia Fuentes and Romeo Vasquez and Susan Roces and Eddie Gutierrez (then Susan with FPJ) created hysteria almost everywhere. Then followed the Nora-Tirso and Sharon-Gabby love tandems in the ’60s and ’70s. It took some years to bring back the excitement of love teams. Now, it’s Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion. What brings out the magic? They are a wholesome pair. Catch them at When I Met You.