BenCab to discuss his sculptural practice in public talk

Following the opening of National Artist Benedicto "BenCab" Cabrera's exhibition In Honor of Form at Gajah Gallery, his sculptural practice will take center stage in a public conversation titled "True to Form: BenCab Speaks," pairing the artist with art historian Patrick Flores, chief curator of the National Gallery of Singapore.

The discussion will center on the exhibition's 10 new bronze sculptures exploring the human figure, curated by Dannie R. Alvarez. It will trace the development of BenCab's sculptural practice over the years, leading up to the ideas behind the latest works.

Free and open to the public, the talk is scheduled for Nov. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Gajah Gallery Manila, Unit 1B-1E, NBS Park, 125 Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City. The exhibition runs until Nov. 22, giving visitors an opportunity to view the sculptures before and after the discussion.

PPO concert focuses on myths and romance

Continuing its 42nd concert season, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) will unveil a transcendent repertoire for CONCERT III: Bolero, slated for Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati.

Conductor Grzegorz Nowak will lead the orchestra in Claude Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, Maurice Ravel's Alborada del gracioso and Bolero, and Camille Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3, op. 61, in B minor. Award-winning Filipino violinist KayCee Galano returns as guest soloist, having previously performed with the PPO in 2018 at the age of 17.

Tickets are available via TicketWorld. PPO subscriptions, which come with exclusive deals and discounts, are offered at salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph.

The Play That Goes Wrong to hold sign-language performance

GMG Productions has announced a special Filipino Sign Language (FSL)-interpreted performance of The Play That Goes Wrong, the Olivier and Tony Award-winning comedy. The production runs from Nov. 6 to 22, with the FSL show set for Nov. 13.

The performance will feature live FSL interpretation by Filipino Sign Language interpreters and Deaf consultants from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's Center for Education Advancement of the Deaf and School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies – Interpreting Education Program. The same accessibility feature is scheduled for GMG's next show, Heathers the Musical, on Feb. 2, 2027.

GMG's next show, Heathers the Musical, will run from Jan. 21 to Feb. 7, 2027, and will also stage an FSL performance, on Feb. 2. Tickets for both productions, which will take place at The Theatre at Solaire, are available via TicketWorld.

West Gallery opens five exhibits in November

Five exhibits are currently on view at West Gallery in Quezon City.

Neil Pasilan's Dapo sa Takip-hapon features paintings of the daily lives of birds. Jojo Serrano's Objects Horizon showcases his distinctive practice: selecting images, cutting them out, gluing them on paper, and transferring them onto canvas.

In JJ Jarin's To Stand Where Distance Neither Grows Nor Shrinks, glitches draw attention to the light, shadows, textures, and spaces that routine renders invisible. Bryan S. Pollero's Beautiful Mesmerizing Landscapes with Magnificent Sparkly Waterfalls presents landscapes as self-portrait. Rounding out the lineup is Andres Barrioquinto's Sober to Death, a documentation of afterlife in sobriety, in which strange, otherworldly portraits and mundane, everyday scenes reflect an inner state of peace.

All five exhibitions run until Nov. 21, providing a shared closing date for visitors planning to see the full lineup.

Last Dance – Hubo't Hubad extends run

JAPS Collectives and World Theater Productions Guam/Manila have announced an extended run for Last Dance – Hubo't Hubad, with performances set for Nov. 8, 12, 21, and 28. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Halxyon Club, an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Poblacion, Makati.

Written and directed by theater actor, writer, and producer Jojo Urquico, the queer ensemble play unfolds inside the dressing room of a struggling male revue bar in Manila, centered on five performers preparing for one last show. Tickets, priced from P700 to P1,000, are available via Ticket2Me.com.

As the production's advocacy partner, LoveYourself will receive a portion of ticket sales from the Nov. 8 show in support of its LGBTQIA+ advocacy and community initiatives. Last Dance is open only to audiences aged 18 and above.

Eight actresses join Lea Salonga in Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba

Theatre Group Asia (TGA) has announced an ensemble of eight actresses who will join Lea Salonga in the upcoming staging of Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba.

The cast comprises Sheila Francisco as María Josefa, Maita Ponce as Angustias, Toni Go-Yadao as Magdalena, Maronne Cruz as Amelia, Mikaela Regis as Martirio, Gabby Padilla as Adela, Frances Makil-Ignacio as Poncia, and Jam Binay as Blanca. Together, they complete the ensemble at the heart of Chay Yew's adaptation of Federico García Lorca's classic drama, translated by Guenlan Varela-Luarca. The production is set to run in February 2027.