Last December 2, 2009 the Repertory Advisory Board held a benefit dinner musicale at the Peninsula Conservatory. Select friends and patrons of Repertory came in full force dressed to the nines in their black ties and long gowns. All the tables were filled and the response to Rep’s call was truly heartwarming.
This brainchild had its beginnings at a board meeting held last July. Members noticed an appreciably alarming rate of decline in audience attendance. And although this was attributed to audience leaving the country or just getting older, it was felt that it was time to renew ties with those who loved theatre. In the early days, there were The Friends of Rep that was the backbone of audience attendance. Former members were now invited into the Advisory Board: Gary Cheng, Mariejke Amador, Popoy del Rosario, Roger Chua, Chona Lopez, Nini Layug, Michael Martel, Isabel Wilson, Juan Lanuza, Joy Virata, Inma Mutuc, Marot Moreno, and Eleonor Esteban among them. All agreed there was a need to increase viewership. Thus, Roger Chua and Lulu Obillo suggested having a dinner musicale at year’s end. Members of the Advisory Board would be responsible for at least one table, and the proceeds would go to audience development to bring back the viewership that had declined over the years. The response was “so overwhelming” – as one board member put it. All tables were sold out by September.
Among the guests that evening were the Belgian Ambassador, Loida Nicolas (who made a special trip from New York for the event), Fides Cuyugan Asencio, Celia Diaz Laurel and celebrity son Cocoy (who sang a surprise number), Cesar Virata, Beth Day Romulo, Tessie Luz, Johnny Midnight and Ralph Joseph (who donated wine for the guests). Corporate donors were SGV and SM, giving generously.
After dinner, guests were treated to a musical show by Repertory’s “Showstoppers”: Michael Williams, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Rem Zamora, Liza Infante, JM Rodriguez, and Liesl Batucan. In true Repertory tradition, the group belted out favorite songs from Broadway and West End and were met with unceasing applause. A proud (and rightly so) Baby Barredo described each one of them as her “babies”, coming as they did to Rep at different times. Their love for theatre made them stay on, making their living from it. And each of them were rough gems that were polished to brilliance over time, as shown by that night’s performance – proof of Repertory’s mission for Filipino actors.
The star-studded show under the supervision of Baby Barredo, had Roger Chua as MC. Joy Virata announced the performances for the oncoming Season of 2010. Chairman of the Board Tony Amador welcomed the guests and thanked them for their being there.
Because the event was such an impressive success, it was decided that “Gala” would be an annual event. As early as February next year, plans shall be drawn to ensure that the next one shall be even more spectacular.
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