‘Shift Happens’ to Tour CALABARZON as Part of Theater Outreach Initiative
ARTIST Inc. and Move 2 Change Foundation are bringing Shift Happens, a new stage production written and directed by six-time Carlos Palanca Awardee Edward Perez, to communities across CALABARZON as part of a theater outreach initiative promoting social awareness and civic engagement.
Following performances in Laguna, Batangas and Cavite last June, the production continues its tour with performances on July 3 at the Francisco E. Barzaga Integrated High School Gymnasium in Dasmariñas, Cavite, and on July 13 during the 144th Patronal Town Fiesta Cultural Night at Tanghalang Del Carmen in Alabat, Quezon.
Shift Happens follows four young friends—Nikkie, Robert, Gabriel, and Sunshine—whose comfortable lives are disrupted when an academic requirement immerses them in communities grappling with poverty, inequality, corruption, and injustice. As they encounter realities far removed from their own experiences, they are forced to confront questions of privilege, responsibility, and their place in a society marked by deep divisions.
In the process, friendships are tested, convictions are challenged, and the boundaries between observer and participant begin to blur.
The production stars Althea Clabita as Nikkie, Gerard Batacan as Robert, Jhazmer Ascotia as Gabriel, and Syndey Buendia as Sunshine. Joining them are Alanis Otero, Earl Ison, Yuuki Salazar, Kathrine Scruggs, Kevin Villamor and Rainier Terucha, Ched San Pedro and Isabella Borromeo, and Katrina Magno, Clarisse Aldana, and Beatriz Laurito. Composed entirely of homegrown members of ARTIST Inc., the cast reflects the organization’s commitment to developing emerging Filipino artists and empowering young voices through theater.
Perez also directs the production, with Myla Perez serving as production designer and co-lighting designer alongside Risa Villapando. Rica Saturay-Palis and Gian Paolo Villapando handle sound and music design, while Lois Zurbano and Patricia Geminiano oversee video design and production.
According to the organizers, Shift Happens is intended not only as a theatrical production but also as a platform for dialogue and reflection. By touring schools and communities throughout CALABARZON, the initiative aims to make socially relevant theater more accessible while encouraging conversations about inequality, civic responsibility, and collective action among young audiences.
Established in 1987, ARTIST Inc. (Arts Research and Training Institute in Southern Tagalog, Inc.) is a non-government organization dedicated to advancing culture and the arts through training, performances, research, and cultural education. Since 2018, it has been recognized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines as a Kaisa sa Sining Regional Arts Center. Its partner, Move 2 Change Foundation, is a social purpose organization founded in 2019 that develops programs focused on youth leadership, sustainable development, and community engagement.
For updates on upcoming performances, follow the group on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
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