Filipino artists get a chance to shine on stage with new venue grant program
The Samsung Performing Arts Theater is giving Filipino artists and performers a platform to share their stories with its new Venue Grant Program.
According to Christopher Mohnani, the managing director of Circuit Performing Arts Theater (CPAT), the said grant is going to assist national artists, local performing arts groups, and even community and school-based groups through an in-kind grant.
Likewise, the grant will support arts groups by providing access to state of the art facility.
"This grant will enable them to save rentals technical equipment, rarely so venues costs that normally hinder many brilliant ideas from seeing permission on stage," Mohnani said during the Open Doors Concert held at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater last July 14.
"It is open to organizations that have demonstrated the capacity to produce in a professional venue and deliver work of high artistic quality to the public. It bears mentioning that this program is adjudicated and it's open to all," he continued.
Mohnani also highlighted that Alice Reyes, the National Artist for Dance, and Ryan Cayabyab, the National Artist for Music, will be the first recipients.
Reyes' Carmen and Cayabyab's much anticipated "Contra Mundum, Ang Larawan Concert" will take place in CPAT later this year.
"The Samsung Performing Arts Theater is proud not only to be the venue of these two productions but were more fulfilled that we've become more than just a stage for their work," he furthered.
"In our own very humbly, we've become partners to these two national artists and to their continuous cycle of creation," he added.
Open Doors: An anniversary fundraising concert
Aside from the announcement of the venue grant, the night was illuminated with an incredible celebration of Filipino artistry.
The show was directed by Floy Quintos and was headlined by Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez. She sang some of her iconic songs such as Pangako and Dadalhin and belted into a Ryan Cayabyab Medley, Araw Gabi.
Filipino singers and performers came together to serenade the audience with world-class performances at the Samsung Theater this year.
Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Markki Stroem, Soprano Lara Maigue, Shaira Opsimar, and Poppert Bernardas brought the house down with their performances from the musicals Memories of The Sound of Music, We Will Rock You, and the original Filipino musical, Mula sa Buwan.
The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, and Steps Dance Studio also collaborated in performing O Fortuna, a medieval Latin Goliardic poem from German composer Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.
An exhibit titled "Open Doors The Exhibit" was also displayed in the lobby, giving guests a fascinating look at the many shows and talented performers who have graced its stage since its opening. These include Christian Bautista's "The Way You Look at Me" concert, Step Dance Studio's A Casual Day at the Ballet, and The Sound of Music theatrical play starring Karylle Tatlonghari and Markki Stroem.
