Story by Victor Erica
Cultural Center of the Philippines in its 11th year offering of Triple Threats, in keeping with its decade-long tradition of providing Filipino theatergoers with exceptional shows at par with global standards, presents three musical thespians of international caliber in this year’s program. These three musical songstresses are CARLA GUEVARA LAFORTEZA, SHIELA VALDERRAMA-MARTINEZ, and TANYA MANALANG-ATADERO. Except for Mrs. Atadero, said singers were veterans in stage-musical performances honed for three decades, but audience can expect from all of them an entertainment that only a world-class act can deliver. Premiere of the series is Carla Guevara Laforteza for Triple Threats I slated on July 25, 2024, entitled A la Carlotta. Triple Threats II will showcase Shiela Valderrama-Martinez scheduled on October 17, 2024, while Triple Threats III will highlight the performance of Tanya Manalang-Atadero on December 12, 2024.
While Triple Threats celebrated its 11th anniversary as a concept concert, the musical series this year is only the 7th of its staging according to Mr. Ariel S. R. Yonzon, CCP Associate Artistic Director.
For 2013: Triple Threats: Leading Men and Women in Philippine Musical Theater (Nonie Buencamino, Audie Gemora, and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo)
2014: Triple Threats: Leading Men and Women in Philippine Musical Theater (Sheila Francisco, Michael Williams, and Bituin Escalante).
2015: Triple Threats: Composers (Jesse Lucas, Vincent de Jesus, and Rony Fortich).
2016: Triple Threats: The Ensemble (Nacho Tambunting, Kyla Rivera, George Schulze, Maronne Cruz, Steven Hotchkiss, Abi Sulit, Vince Lim, and Chinie Concepcion. Special guests include Carla Guevara Laforteza, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, Jay Valencia Glorioso, Sweet Plantado Tiongson, Lani Mabilangan Ligot, Lorenz Martinez, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, and Audie Gemora)
2018: Triple Threats: Kitang Dalawa (Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez, Juliene Mendoza and Stella Canete, Franco Laurel and Ayen Munji Laurel).
And for 2022: Leading Men of the Stage (Markki Stroem, Arman Ferrer, and Poppert Bernadas).
While you may notice that the shows were spread too long from the other as compared to the historical notes, Mr. Dennis N. Marasigan, Vice President and Artistic Director, said that it is due to Programming decision taking into account the renovation of CCP and utilizing other possible partner venues.
Nonetheless, audience will certainly enjoy the show as repertoire from the “Leading Women of Philippine Musical Theater,” will surely tug your heartstrings as their songs will reveal not only their fluid and magical harmony but also show the stories of triumph and struggle these women faced woven into these melodies.
That said we invite you to a night of delightful music and memorable stories only here in Triple Threats Series I with Carla Guevara Laforteza on July 25, 2024, at 6 PM CCP
