REP’s Theater for Young Audiences celebrates 25 years of bringing children to the theater
With the goal of creating a theater experience meant to delight and touch the hearts of children, REP’s Theater for Young Audiences (RTYA) was established 25 years ago by its Founder and Artistic Director Joy Virata.
Since it officially began in 1992, REP’s Theater for Young Audiences has given the opportunity for children to enjoy the theater with shows that especially appeal to them. The very first RTYA production was the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty. “I liked the description and the fact that the playwrights, Jim Eiler and Jean Bargy, also thought that children deserved the same quality of theater as adults,” says Joy.
The very first RTYA production was the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty.
Hansel & Gretel was its first original adaptation and even included an authentic Maypole dance. There was also the thrill of introducing Dr. Seuss books to children through Seussical, with a Van Gogh set, great costumes, and the most modern music RTYA has ever had.
Hansel & Gretel was its first original adaptation and even included an authentic Maypole dance.
Dr. Seuss books were introduced to children through Seussical, with a Van Gogh set, great costumes, and the most modern music RTYA has ever had.
Snow White had its own charm because of the cast’s ability to engage and interact with the audience, while Wizard of Oz brought an unforgettable structure of the Emerald City and impressive acrobatics. Pinocchio is another notable production, particularly its opening scene where the actors seem to come alive from painted images.
Snow White had its own charm because of the cast’s ability to engage and interact with the audience.
Wizard of Oz brought an unforgettable structure of the Emerald City and impressive acrobatics. (L-R: Cara Barredo and Liesl Batucan)
Every story that RTYA has staged is always universal, humorous and relatable with amazing music and the liveliest of dances. Each play is also no more than 75 minutes long.
“My only goal is to make children enjoy theater and I do everything to make that happen with the best designers, choreographers, and actors that I can get,” says Joy. “I try to make the productions magical and each one different. The best acclaim I ever get is when children leave the theater happy and often singing parts of the song in the play.”
Pinocchio had an opening scene where the actors came alive from painted images.
An enjoyable and enriching theater experience is what children truly deserve, and REP’s Theater for Young Audiences hopes to keep exposing them to good theater, and to produce more original adaptations for another 25 years and more.
For inquiries, you may call REP at 843.3570, and Ticketworld at 891.999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.
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