“Spotlight on Review” showcases Baggage

A local web-tv entertainment site did an interview with the entire cast of “Baggage”.  It was definitely an unusual experience for the entire company.  Take a look!

http://www.spotlightonreview.com/baggagetheplay.html

“Baggage” All Packed Up

Now that the Fringe festival has finished, and the cast and crew of Baggage has gone onto other things, I just wanted to give a heartfelt thanks to our loyal audiences for coming out to support us. We had a successful run, and look forward to everyone’s next project.

There are talks of remounting the show, so stay tuned for more details.

In other news, the Ontario Public Service Pride Network (my corporate pride network) featured a review of Baggage in their recent newsletter. I think it’s great that my workplace is so supportive and encouraging of our members like this. If only other employers would be this queer-positive.

Check out page 6:
OPN Newsletter July 2008

Buzz Building for Baggage!

We’re thrilled to say that audiences and critics alike are loving “Baggage”.

Only 3 shows left. Buy your tickets in advance at www.fringetoronto.com or call 416-966-1062. Or buy tickets at the door, but come early!

National Post’s Top 5 Pick

Eye Magazine (4 out of 5 stars)

NOW Magazine (3 out of 4 N’s)

NOW Magazine’s Jon Kaplan’s More Detailed Review

Toronto.com’s Top 10 Pick

Tandem Online’s Top 8 Pick

3 Ns from Now Magazine

Playing to a full house last night, it was amazing for the Pulang Maleta Collective to wake up to more good news this morning. Check out Jon Kaplan’s review of Baggage in Now magazine.

http://www.nowtoronto.com/fringe/play_details.cfm?play_id=1398

Thank you to the Fringe Audience! Congratulations to the Cast and Crew of Baggage!

Best of Fest?

In the National Post, this past Saturday, theatre veteran and Fringe President Derrick Chua was quoted as saying “Baggage” was one of his Top 5 picks for this year’s festival!

Check out the article here!

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=619307

Mention in Xtra!

This past week a special mention of the piece “Touch”, was made in Xtra! Magazine (a LGBT weekly newspaper based in Toronto). “Touch” is just one of the five amazing plays that comprise “Baggage”. Click below to read the article.

Red Necks, Blue Balls and Yellow Ducks [Xtra!, June 19, 2008, Page 73]

Congratulations CBT Collective!

Our “big sister” collective, the Carlos Bulosan Theatre Collective, was nominated for FOUR Doras! On behalf of the PMC, we’re all very thrilled that their amazing work has been recognized. Best wishes to the entire CBT Collective!

Their press release is below:

For Immediate Release: June 2008

Media Reference: Catherine Hernandez

Phone: (416) 648.7340

E-mail:info@loudlady.com

PEOPLE POWER’s revolution spins the Doras

TORONTO: In 1986, millions of Filipinos took part in the peaceful revolution that toppled the oppressive Marcos regime. 22 years later, the revolution continued at Theatre Passe Muraille with a brave collective of five actors in the Carlos Bulosan Theatre’s PEOPLE POWER. Now, the company is thrilled to announce that the production has been nominated for four Dora Mavor Moore Awards in the Independent Division.

Outstanding Direction – Nina Lee Aquino

Outstanding Performance by a Male – Nicco Garcia

Outstanding Set Design – Camellia Koo

Outstanding Sound Design – Romeo Candido

“We’re so proud of all of our nominations and everyone on our production team that helped make PEOPLE POWER a success!” raves Nadine Villasin, Artistic Director of Carlos Bulosan Theatre.

The award recipients will be announced at the annual Dora Awards taking place on June 30th 2008.

ABOUT PEOPLE POWER:

This past April, five Filipino performers staged a coup on the Canadian theatre landscape. An homage to one of the most dramatic chapters in Filipino history, PEOPLE POWER explored the lives of ordinary people under extraordinary circumstances during the 1980s People Power Revolution. From the bullet that assassinated opposition leader Ninoy Aquino to the click of a journalist’s camera, collective playwrights and performers Leon Aureus, Rose Cortez, Nicco Lorenzo, Christine Mangosing, Nadine Villasin captured a nation in transition and the triumph of the Filipino spirit.

Direction/dramaturgy by Dora-nominated Nina Lee Aquino. Choreography by Clare Preuss. Set Design by Dora award-winning Camellia Koo. Lighting by Arun Srivinasan. Sound Design by Dora-nominated Romeo Candido. Costume Design by Caroline Mangosing. Stage Management by Lindsay Ryan.

– 30 –

Show Times!

Courtesy of the lovely folks at the Fringe Toronto offices, we now have our show schedule. Advance tickets are $10 and will go on sale in mid-June. Stay tuned!

Fringe Listings

Baggage
by Reese Baguio , Aura Carcueva, Vincent Galvez, Darrel Gamotin and Christine Mangosing

www.baggagetheplay.com

presented by Pulang Maleta Collective
from Toronto

Five playwrights drawing from their distinct backgrounds in film, dance, poetry and music form the Pulang Maleta Collective and share their stories in their debut piece, BAGGAGE.

“Maria”- A woman’s struggle between filial obligation and the desire for a new life through a mailorder-bride arrangement.

“not my exotic”- Sunshine encounters a guy who is interested in a lot more than a one-night stand.

“The Edge of Family”- Crime, dinner and an envious mother exacerbate the decision of a young girl and her two men.

“Touch” – A young woman tries to navigate the world as a new lesbian. Her mentor, a Filipino drag queen, helps her try and find love and more importantly learn how to breathe.

“Claim Your Baggage” A humorous look at cultural shame and a reminder that if you don’t look back at where you came from, you’ll never get to where you’re going.

Director: Karen Ancheta & Marie Beath Badian
Cast:
Leon Aureus, Reese Baguio , Aura Carcueva, Rose Cortez, Alex Felipe, Vincent Galvez, Darrel Gamotin, Jessica Leibgott, Elizabeth Lofranco, Christine Mangosing, Andrea Mapili, Regina Simon, Michelle Turingan
Audience:
Mature Audience
Warning:
mature language, mature content, food may fall on you

Venue #25 – Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture
167 Augusta Avenue (Kensington)

60 min

Wed, July 2 @ 8:00 PM
Thu, July 3 @ 8:00 PM
Fri, July 4 @ 8:00 PM
Sat, July 5 @ 2:30 PM
Sun, July 6 @ 2:30 PM
Tue, July 8 @ 8:00 PM
Wed, July 9 @ 8:00 PM
Thu, July 10 @ 8:00 PM
Fri, July 11 @ 8:00 PM
Sat, July 12 @ 2:30 PM
Sun, July 13 @ 2:30 PM

Electronic Press Kit is now available

After much hard work, our electronic press kit is now available online. To download parts or all of it, you can find it in our “Media” section here:

https://pulangmaleta.wordpress.com/media/

Production Stills are up!

Rehearsals for such a large company is practically a nightmare to schedule, but we still manage to get by. With a company of 27 people (yeah we’re atypical that way), I was amazed to get the turnout that I did for our production stills shoot.

Anyway, here they are. Enjoy!
https://pulangmaleta.wordpress.com/media/

More photos (and maybe promo video) to come! Oh and if you’re wondering who the models were for our initial flyer design… I’ve been sworn to secrecy. 😀