MAGSAYA PA RIN TAYO KAPAG TAYO'Y MGA GURANG NA BAKLA NA! WALANG IIYAK, HA! (isang paghahandang damdamin sa nalalapit na pagtatanghal ng dulang GEEGEE AT WATERINA)....

THE CAST & STAFF OF "GEEGEE & WATERINA" IN ONE WEDNESDAY MERIENDA TIME...

(video above, courtesy of mr. axl guinto and youtube.com).*

THEATER VETERAN NORMAN PENAFLORINDA AT ARTIST PLAYGROUND'S ROEDER CAMANAG AS GEEGEE AND WATERINA

GEEGEE AND WATERINA WITH THEIR "MEN", PRESENTED AT THEIR PRESS CONFERENCE

ONE DANCE REHEARSAL WITH THE BOYS AND THE "QUEEN"

ROEDER WITH A REAL-LIFE "GOLDEN GAY"

ROEDER TRANSFORMS

THE QUEENLY GAY (ROEDER) AND THE CASUAL GAY (NORMAN)

NORMAN AS A TALKATIVE GAY MEDIA PERSON IN "GEEGEE & WATERINA"

ROEDER AS A QUEENLY OLD, GAY

Ewan ko ba, pero galit na galit ako kapag nakakapanood ako ng mga pelikulang pinapakitang matatanda na nga 'yung mga karakter, eh, ginagawang kaawa-awa pa! Ayoko po nu'ng mga ganu'ng klase ng mga pelikula dahil sobrang ginagawang kawawa ang mga matatanda. Kasi naman, maski matatanda na sila at malapit na sa hukay, hindi dapat maging malungkot ang buhay nila. Dapat, gawing GOLDEN SUNSET pa rin. Yung masaya, puno ng sigla.

Eh, paano na kung bakla ka na nga, matanda ka pa? Nakakatakot, di ba? Well, kapag sinapit namin 'yung edad 70 at bakla pa rin kami, MAGSASAYA NA LANG KAMI TO THE MAX.

We will count our daily blessings, spend more time with our siblings, plant more trees and create more gardens.. Tapos, aawit kami at mag-ala-DIVA na tulad ng mga karakter ni Geegee at Waterina sa dulang GEEGEE AT WATERINA, isang bagong musikal na dula na ihahandog sa inyo ng ARTIST PLAYGROUND, sa pamumuno ng humble at mabait na Artistic Director ditong si Roeder Camanag.

Mukhang kay sarap panoorin ng dulang ito. Kakaiba ang plot. Hindi basta KABAKLAAN O KALASWAAN lang.

Kaya naman, tara na, mga SISTERS. Magsama-sama tayo sa panonood ng GEEGEE AT WATERINA!!!!



(SINULAT NI ROBERT MANUGUID SILVERIO)

NEW OPM MUSICAL “GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL”
ALL SET TO OPEN AUGUST 18

In line with the 4th season of Artist Playground,the stage is all set to open the company’s first Original Pinoy Musical “GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL” on August 18, 2018 – 7 pm at Arts Above, Artist Playground II, 112 West Venue Bldg., West Avenue, Quezon City.
GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL will feature an all-new original music composed by Jesse Lucas, based from the story, book and lyrics by J. Dennis C. Teodosio, andand choreography by Lezlie Dailisan.
It will be directed by Andrew de Real.
The roles of GEE-GEE AT WATERINA will be portrayed by Roeder Camanag as Waterina, a ‘comfort gay’ during Japanese Occupation in the Philippines andone of Gee-gee’s Golden Gays. Norman Penaflorida will essay the role of Gee-Gee, an entertainment actor, radio host and a councilor of Pasay City.
The ensemble of Gee-Gee at Waterina are as follows: Bench Ortiz, Joseph Dela Cruz, Nel Gumalog, Romeo Palma Jr., and Sean Nolasco.

SYNOPSIS
Waterina eagerly waits for his gay politician friend, Gee-Gee. He soon arrives, bearing with him a check – the payment for the film rights to the life story of Waterina, the soon-to-be-famous “comfort gay”.
As the two mull over the prospects of their newly acquired wealth, they launch into a comfortable tirade of each other’s flaws and frailties. In the midst of the teasing and mockery, they are faced with a question: how does one measure his worth?
Waterina distresses, “Would the people cry or laugh when they watch my movie? Would they feel pity or admiration? Would they think the movie is worth their money? Who would I be to them? An aging homosexual? Just that?”
In the final assessment of his life’s worth, Waterina swears that he is what he is: no more, no less. He again contemplates on the check, only to be distracted by the sight of a beautiful young man with a radiant smile. 

PEOPLE BEHIND "GEEGEE AND WATERINA":

Jesse Lucas is a top-notch composer who writes music for film, television, theater and dance. His works have won awards from different award-giving bodies like URIAN, FAMAS, Star Awards, Young Critics Circle, Metro Manila Filmfest and Aliw Awards. He won the Best Music at the 2005 Screamfest International Film Festival in Los Angeles for the film Sigaw (Scream), 2005. In 2010, he was elevated to the FAMAS Hall of Fame for Best Music Scorer. In 2015, over a decade of prolific output in musical multimedia, Jesse's most outstanding works were showcased at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Triple Threats Concert series, FULL RANGE - The Music of Jesse Lucas - which featured his colleagues in the professional art world of dance, theater and music.

Andrew De Real is a writer, comedy director and entrepreneur. He is also known as “King of Comedy Bars”. He is currently the director of GMA 7’s toprating Sunday noontime show “Sunday Pinasaya”.

Roeder Camanag is a two-time ALIW Best Stage Actor and recognized by the prestigious film critics group with multiple URIAN nominations. A former member of Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors Company, he has performed in over 100 plays and musicals. He is currently a board member of the Gantimpala Theater Foundation and the artistic director of Artist Playground and the Valenzuela City Center for the Performing Arts. He has facilitated acting workshops for Tanghalang Pilipino (2003-2010) and Gantimpala Theater Foundation (2004-2012).

Norman Penaflorida is a theater actor, event host, production designer, entrepreneur, event and image stylist of THE CLOSET.
Kimberly Claire

The Artistic Team of GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL is led by Andrew De Real (Director), Roeder Camañag (Artistic Director), Jesse Lucas (Composer/Musical Director), J. Dennis Teodosio (Playwright), Leslie Dailisan (Choreographer), Luis Galang (Lighting Designer) and Reynoso Mercado (Production Designer).

The Production Team of GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL is led by Kimberly Claire Somoza (Production Manager), Joselito “Toots” Tolentino (Publicist), Rowena Jarito (Stage Manager), Jayson Batoto (Deputy Stage Manager), Melanie Lao (Lay-out Designer), Jayson Santos and Kimberly Claire Somoza (Photographer),Christian Silang & Beaulah Mae Saycon (Assistant Stage Managers), Wenzel Kyne Fernandez (Assistant Lighting Designer) and Glenn Caspe (Spinner).

The performance schedules of GEEGEE AT WATERINA are as follows:
August 18 – 7pm
August 19 – 7pm
August 25 - 7pm
August 26 - 7pm

For further inquiries, please call or send SMS to Ms. Kimberly Somoza at 0975-9193179.
Check out GEE-GEE AT WATERINA at the following social media:
Facebook: @artplayg
Twitter: @artplayg
Instagram: @artplayg
You Tube: Artist Playground

roeder camanag sails on...

younger roeder camanag during his years as matinee idol in philippine showbiz

a more mature roeder

It was a very relaxed and amiable Roeder Camanag that one blogger saw one early evening at the Artist Playground home base. His inept attitude of being kind to the members of the working print media remained warm and wonderful. It was because of his many years of experiences and friendship with the media people that counted the most in his heart.

We remembered, Roeder was really a "Darling of the Press", being launched then three times as a matinee idol-singer. That's why the press people loved him, really, and he loved them back, too. It was a two-way traffic- and surely, Roeder knew how to deal properly with the media. He was never a SNUB.

That was the early eighties decade that lasted until the '90's.

"It was so happy then, ang saya-saya ng mundo nating lahat noon, di ba, Robert?", Roeder said to his friend-blogger. "We never knew that those moments would not last forever. And seasons will change. Now, things are very different. Our entertainment industry has changed patterns and ways. It was not as happy as before."

And the blogger agreed, as he and Roeder both reminisced the 'good, old days' of the entertainment industry before that used to be so casual, undiscriminating, fun, happy-go-lucky and NEVER CORPORATE. But that was back then, and how he and Roeder both wished it would come back again.

Anyway, this year, some dates of the working days of Roeder's theater group- the Artist Playground- has moved his time table a little.

"We are not sticking with the original plan", Roeder said. "So we all decided to let go of the original dates. Mahirap banggain  ang dates of performances ng Virgin Labfest ni  Rody Vera, eh. Instead of June and July months, Artist Playground will open its next theater season on the month of August. And yes, we will be opening it with the Jun Pablo play about one church sacristan and a Catholic priest relationship. 

"After that, we will also stage the play about the Golden Gays entitled Gigi and Walterina", Roeder continued saying. "I will be portraying the Walterina character and Norman Penaflorinda will portray the Gigi (Justo C. Justo) character. They are not fictional characters, you see. They are real characters. That's why we have to be efficient talaga in portraying those characters."

Roeder was also happy to tell to a blogger that they are converting the backstage theater space of the AP (Artist Playground) into a mini-theater, and half of it, a Cinematheque. He toured the blogger to take a look at the space. And the blogger saw how big the other converted venue was.

"Paul Jake Paule's mini plays will staged there on the mini theater", Roeder further stressed. "And half of the space, we will convert into a mini-Cinema house wherein the indie film directors and short film directors could have a venue for their films. It's a 60-seater Cinematheque."

But the best of the many good developments at the Artist Playground was the new management of the Artist Playground Cafe.

"The old management of the AP Cafe begged-off, hindi na raw nila kaya", Roeder said. "It's because they don't open everyday. Now, my technical director and my Production Manager who are partners in real life, took over. They open the AP Cafe everyday. They changed the menu. Now, they are serving lunch, merienda and dinner. The employees of B.I.R. (Bureau of Internal Revenue) who holds office at the ground floor below, now go up to the fourth floor where the AP Cafe is located to eat there. Furthermore, they are now aware of what's going-on to our theater group. As they eat there, they become more interested to the Arts."

And Roeder treated his blogger-friend for a dinner at the AP Cafe. Amazingly, the food was great. It's served in big bunches and the blogger got full.

At the end of the interview, one blogger fully praised Roeder's performance as Jesus last Holy Week at the Daan ng Krus, the Musical Play. For the blogger, it's the best performance of a Holy Jesus.

"The feeling was so magical", Roeder said in the end. "As I performed and watched the videos of me portraying Jesus Christ, I can't believe it myself. It's so fascinating. I ask myself: 'Ako ba 'yun?' It's so wonderful. It's as if Jesus transformed himself to me. Even though I have been portraying Jesus in that play for so many years now, the feeling continued to be great."

Sail on further, Roeder. Sail on. The world of Arts will never be the same without you.



(written by robert manuguid silverio)
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROEDER CAMANAG FB PAGE.*

roeder as jesus christ

roeder with his favorite AP player/actress roj vibar regoso

roeder with fellow artists ricky lee and nora aunor

roeder in gag

ROEDER: masculinity was never an issue

EVERY SUMMER HAS A STORY: JOIN THE ARTIST PLAYGROUND SUMMER WORKSHOPS!

ACTORS AT THE ARTIST PLAYGROUND!

"Robert, Hola!", Roeder Camanag, the Artistic Director of the Artist Playground, said to a blogger. "We have ongoing Acting Workshops every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We call it Actor's Energy Principle Musical Theater. Then, every Saturdays and Sundays, it's our Weekends at the Playground. This is our weekend acting classes called Actor's Energy Principle Basics, which is another approach to acting."

Mr. Camanag further stressed the unique technique that they apply on the said Acting Workshops.

"Yes, Robert", Roeder Camanag further continued saying to his blogger-friend. "My brother Jeffrey and I created an acting system or platform based on our own research. And we both have been working on this for years now.

"The technique is heavily anchored on breathing", he said. "It is not an acting style. It is a logical and natural principle that allows the actor to the discovery and the full use of the capacity of his tools- which is the Body, the Mind and the Voice."

Wonderful, truly wonderful.

While other Theater groups copy their acting-teaching techniques to other Masters of Acting Schools like Lee Strassberg, Eric Morris and the likes, people behind the ARTIST PLAYGROUND do formulate their own. And that's something to reckon with.

GO, CATCH-UP THE ACTING LESSONS AT THE ARTIST PLAYGROUND.

NOW ON-GOING!

SEE YOU ALL THERE.



(written by robert silverio)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARTIST PLAYGROUND FB PAGE, roeder camanag, jose jeffrey camanag's fb page and mr. paul jake paule.*

roeder camanag, artistic director of artist playground

jose jeffrey camanag with an actor: acting innovator

paul jake paule, resident director at artist playground

ONE DOESN'T FLY, BUT THE HEART TAKES OVER (a review to the play "FLY ME TO THE MOON")....

There are souls that linger... in empty spaces and dark, hidden basements. Souls that somehow try to let you feel again, in many different ways- and it's up to you to let them penetrate the deepest meanings of why they're still there.

Sometimes, they will let you see the MOON. How beautiful and round it could be- where and when the spirits fly.

Only few people could feel that, only one could see that.

And grasp the beauty of their hearts.

FLY ME TO THE MOON.

That was the song, yeah, that was the song- that was being sung by a lady ghost- a Karayuki in the traditional and century-old era of Japanese time.

A Karayuki woman who simply wanted her story to be told in the heart and mind of half-man/half-woman creature trapped in the hidden fortress of a terror ship...

A ghost and a living human being who bonded together for friendship, laughter, tears and horror.

And the ONE spectator in a very intimate venue of ARTS ABOVE penthouse theater by the ARTIST PLAYGROUND theater people-

Wherein ancient feelings of love and visionary thoughts re-emerged anew-

The ONE could not afford to leave at once- to breathe-in outside and cry-

Along with those memories of an angel and ghosts that embraced his LIFE.

The 'one' could relate in some scenes- especially those scenes wherein the character of Melanie could hear and feel the dying pictures of ghosts and spirits- with awe and shock- as the ghost Karayuki lady was also beside him...

And how, in awe terror, when that Karayuki showed to him that slashed wound on her neck that made Melanie (the gay transvestite) confirm that the one lady Karayuki he was bonding with was really a GHOST.

But people could do anything for love and friendship- they could kill, they could harm and loose themselves, they could die...

In another very artsy-artsy presentation of a very brief one-act play written by an Hall of Famer at the prestigious Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature- Mr. Rody Vera (the playwright)- a very concise and long-forgotten subject matter was lifted-up by spirits, artful horror, and a friendly reincarnated cat.

Kudos to the director of this play, no less than Mr. Paul Jake Paule for adding-up those hidden visions that was so truthful for ONE blogger-spectator in the Media Night of the play.

A dark play was transformed into something truly magical, flirty but convincing manners of acts and moves.

Added up with a handsome but pretty cast ensemble, youthful glows and curves of delight and nakedness- wow, soon you'll know that ONE DOESN'T REALLY FLY, BUT ONLY THE HEART TAKES OVER.

Like the accurate chemistry of the Karayuki (daringly but wonderfully portrayed by Ms. Dea Formacil) and Melanie (acted upon with poise and glamour by Xosh Ardio), the emotions of undying passion and what ONE could do for love never ends....


Amidst the terror

the killings

and the injustices....


In the heart of someone who loves

The MOON could also fly

and embrace you...




FOREVER.

(as written by robert manuguid silverio)
WITH PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARTIST PLAYGROUND FACEBOOK PAGE AND MR. JOSELITO 'TOOTS' TOLENTINO.*

the whole cast of "fly me to the moon"

a scene from "fly me to the moon"

PHOTO ABOVE, COURTESY OF: MR. JOSELITO 'TOOTS' TOLENTINO

‘FLY ME TO THE MOON’ will run from
October 13 – 22, 2017.
Fridays (Oct 13 & 20) 8pm,
Saturdays (Oct 14 & 21) 4pm & 8pm
and Sundays (Oct 15 & 22) 4pm & 8pm
Venue: ARTIST PLAYGROUND, Arts Above
112 West Avenue Quezon City.

For tickets, call Ticketworld 8919999.
For inquiries, please call 09759193179
c/o Kimberly Claire Somoza.

Visit Artist Playground's website at https://www.artistplayground.ph;
Facebook, Twitter & Instagram : @artplayg

"na-excite ako sa storyline ng fly me to the moon!"--dea formacil

Medyo abala nu'ng hapon na iyon ang resident director ng ARTIST PLAYGROUND na si Paul Jake Paule kaya hindi na namin siya inabalang makapanayam. Padating ang aktres na si Dea Formacil in any minute, at salamat naman kay Ms. Fatima Cadiz, na ka-alternate ni Dea sa role na Karayuki sa dulang FLY ME TO THE MOON dahil ito muna ang nag-istima at nagpaunlak na panayam sa amin (mababasa ang artikulo namin kay Fatima someday soon sa blog site na ito--rms*). Anyway, hindi pa man natatapos ang panayam namin kay Fatima, dumating si Dea na siyang sadya naming makapanayam talaga nu'ng hapon na iyon sa ARTS ABOVE venue ng intimate theater group na ito na nagsisimula nang gumawa ng masidhing mga alingasngas. 

Pagkatapos kasi ng matagumpay nilang mga pagtatanghal sa nagdaan nilang play na HAPPINESS IS A PEARL, very eager agad silang gawin itong FLY ME TO THE MOON at kinuha nila si Dea na nakasama ni direk Paul Jake sa dulang KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL. Si Dea ang gumanap na Maria Clara sa dulang yaon at si direk Paul Jake naman si Elias. Naisipan ni direk Paul Jake na kunin ang serbisyo ni Dea dahil sobrang ningning ang pinakita nitong kagalingan sa Kanser. Kaya hayan, nasundan agad ang proyektong pang-teatro ni Dea right after Kanser.

DEA (center) with her director at kanser2017: thenovel-direk frannie zamora (left) and actor joelmolina (right)

Anyway, nagsimula na ang interbyuhan. Unang tanong ng isang blogger kay Dea: Ano ang mga naging damdamin niya sa magagandang acting reviews na nakuha niya sa dulang Kanser 2017:The Novel?

"Napaka-surreal po ng naging pakiramdam ko, Kuya Robert", maagap na naging sagot ni Dea."With all those good reviews, mas lalo akong na-insspire ngayon to do better. Ang dami kong natanggap na mga papuri sa Facebook ko, lalo na sa PM. Hindi ko na lang na-post 'yung iba, basta nasa PM lang ng Facebook ko.

"Kaya overwhelmed talaga ako, Kuya Robert", dagdag ni Dea."May pana-panahon nga po pala talaga ang mga artista sa teatro na tulad ko. Sabi nga ni direk Frannie Zamora, ito na nga daw talaga ang TIME ko to shine."

dea internalizes as karayuki

Very well said, Dea. Ngayon, pag-usapan naman natin ang Fly Me ToThe Moon. Ano naman ang naging damdamin ni Dea nu'ng ialok sa kanya ni direk Paul Jake ang role?

"Wow, grabe, na-excite po akong talaga sa storyline ng Fly Me To The Moon",muling sagot ni Dea. "It was written by Rody Vera pa, na alam nating lahat na isang magaling na manunulat po, di ba? From a period Filipino woman in Kanser, this time naman period Japanese woman naman ang gagampanan ko. What a big challenge forme.

"Roeder Camanag helped me out sa character ko Karayuki", dagdag ni Dea. "Pinakita niya sa akin ang mga old photos ng mga Karayukis. And I researched far deeper sa role ko. Sila 'yung mga female entertainers noon sa Japan na naglalakbay sa dagat at nagpupunta sa ibang mga bansa. Ginagawa rin silang prostitutes kadalasan, at ang nangyayari sa iba, kapag nagkasakit na o may disease at nagamit na, tinatapon na lang sila sila sa dagat.

"May sorpresa sa character ko doon sa play na hindi ko pa mairi-reveal", anya Dea. "Ang lagi kong kausap dito ay Pilipinong transvestite na si Melanie. May matutuklasan si Melanie sa pagkatao ko sa bandang huli na ikagugulat ng lahat."

dea (center) withher directorin "fly me to the moon"-paul jake paule (right), and a friend (left)

Hirit na tanong pa kay Dea. Kumusta namang katrabaho ang isang tulad ni Paul Jake Paule?

"He's so cool", muling sagot ni Dea."Ang saya namin working together. Very creative ang mind niya at marami siyang inputs sa character ko na Karayuki. Actor din kasi siya kaya alam niya ang mga atake sa bawat character."

Tanong: Ano ba ang mensahe ng Fly Me ToThe Moon?

"It's about love"pagtatapos na wika ni Dea. "What you can do for love. Or how far can you go for love. Actually, the story was inspired from a true story in Japan. I just hope that I can give justice to it. Panoorin na lang po nila."

Definitely, manonood kami.



(SINULAT NI robert manuguid silverio)

"FLY ME TO THE MOON", PRESENTED BY ARTIST PLAYGROUND...

"FLY ME TO THE MOON"

PRESENTED BY ARTIST PLAYGROUND

WRITTEN BY RODY VERA
DIRECTED BY PAUL JAKE PAULE 

VENUE: ARTS ABOVE, ARTIST PLAYGROUND II

“Fly Me To The Moon,” an original play penned by Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Famer
Rody Vera.

CAST:

MELANIE Aldy Cadupay, Ai Hose Ki & Waki Tepace
KARAYUKI Fatima Cadiz & Dea Formacil-Chua
CAPTAIN Manu Gallardo & Jun Nayra
IBRAHIM Clifford Gonzales, BJ Ocampo & Ar ar Ramilo

ENSEMBLE: The Players, Artist Playground’s very own group of artists.

SYNOPSIS:
Melanie embarks on a journey to Japan to help her family make ends meet. Using her charm, she boards on a ship full of flesh-hungry sea crew, and finds comfort in Jo, a karayuki-san who longs for her one true love Ibrahim. On the ship, the two draw parallels between their lives as they unfold their own stories. Soon, Melanie and Jo part ways to follow their own pavement, but still keep a piece of each other’s heart.

The play will run on October 13 up until October 22,
Fridays (Oct 13 & 20) 8pm, Saturdays (Oct 14 & 21) 4pm & 8pm and Sundays (Oct 15 & 22) 4pm & 8pm
at ARTS ABOVE, Artist Playground II,
112 West Venue Building, West Avenue Quezon City.

Kindly please RSVP for confirmation.

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.