one great afternoon with roeder camanag...

roeder: a dream realized

roeder: something different for theater fans

roeder with ARTIST PLAYGROUND ARTISTS AND ACTORS AND STAFF

ROEDER WITH V.I.P. GUESTS AT ARTS ABOVE VENUE OF THE ARTIST PLAYGROUND

a 2-day concert of al gatmaitan at the arts above venue of the artist playground

"procalmation of 8" painters at the arts above's ART GALLERY.... soon.

He started it out as a matinee idol, at an early age of fourteen. He recorded songs at a young age, was launched to the media press for three or four times in the span of his career. And as years went by, he matured. His artistry and passion exceeded beyond compare. Later on, he starred in some indie films and became an active Board Member of Gantimpala Theater Foundation. The rest is history.

HIS NAME: ROEDER CAMANAG.

It was one of those afternoons that's quite memorable. Upon the invitation of his team partner Paul Jake Paule, resident director of ARTIST PLAYGROUND, a blogger had a chance to interview Mr. Roeder.

He saw him first looking and scrutinizing a beautiful painting located at the wall on the side of the stairs going up to the Art Gallery above in their ARTS ABOVE venue/building, which also possesed a coffee shop and the adjacent intimate little theater venue where they would showcase stage plays and concerts. The ether-like place was very cozy and homely, suited for any kind of artists and writers, and painters...

Upon seeing the blogger, Mr. Roeder immediately smiled and offered him one great brewed coffee and mind-blowing ensaymada cake. Perfect. And a few questions suited for this article.

How did the ARTIST PLAYGROUND came about?

"It started out every summer when we're having those summer workshops at Gantimpala Theater Foundation", Roeder answered. "The workshop participants needed more after finishing their acting workshop classes. Something like, what's next after the workshop? At that time, I wanted to explore on my own, venture in some new adventures and prospects... and there, I thought of putting-up this Artist Playground in my mind. I looked for partners, and one of them is Paul Jake Paule who became my co-Artistic head, and Mr. Ricky Gallardo, our main sponsor.

"Now, our actors here at Artist Playground, they all audition for good roles  after attending 
our acting workshops", Roeder continued saying. "And they get real meaty roles on our plays. In that way, they can explore more and see their range as actors- a wide range as that."

In less than 3 years, Artist Playground somewhat grew. Before, they were located at a condominium and the theater venue was too small with very minimal audience capacity. Until they saw this new venue of theirs located at West Avenue and they called it the ARTS ABOVE, simply because it's located at the Penthouse of the building. An art gallery, a coffee shop and the bigger intimate theater venue all managed to be put in. A result of so much hardwork and passion, and they'd able to do it.

"It's because our intentions are pure and clean", Roeder said again to a blogger who was sipping coffee at that time. "Kaya mas mabilis ang attraction ng results. Ours is an arts company that simply tries to offer something different and satisfy the needs and wants of some selected audiences. When we were conceptualizing it, we already wanted something off-Broadway. And thus, we did it well.

"Ang mahirap lang ay 'yung business side of it", Roeder further continued. "We are artists kasi, not businessmen. But you see, our audience develops. My idea was, there should be more human interaction on our venue and on our presentations. A place where the Millenials can hang-out, feel safe and explore deeper. They can walk by our Art gallery which will have a new batch of artists and painters on the month of October. And on Sept. 23 and 24, the two day concert of singer Al Gatmaitan at our theater venue."

As the blogger felt and looked all over the Arts Above venue of the Artist Playground group of theater artists, he felt like home.

Here was the place where you could be yourself that much, dig deeper in the arts and visuals of love, rage, passion and, honesty....

Linger by and sip coffee, eat cakes and ensaymadas, gaze at the paintings, chant with the actors and mingle with friends and strangers.

Like Roeder Camanag who conceptualized it all- the man and his dreams

could never be restless again

just like


in the hands of




FOREVER.




(as written by robert manuguid silverio)
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MR. ROEDER CAMANAG AND THE ARTIST PLAYGROUND FB PAGE

roeder after a performance.