The Philippine
Educational Theater Association (PETA) closes its 52nd Theater
Season and welcomes the first quarter of 2020 with Rody Vera’s Under My Skin, a provocative, relevant,
and heart-wrenching drama anthology top-billed by multi-awarded actress Cherry
Pie Picache.
Inspired
by real people and events, the play accurately depicts the realities, triumphs,
and struggles of people living with HIV, while navigating
an important conversation about acceptance and tolerance. The play, which is part of
PETA’s creative campaign “Acting on HIV”, aims to re-examine
the issue of HIV and AIDS, as the numbers of recorded cases rapidly increase every day.
“I’ve always wanted
to do a play with PETA, so I am very excited to be finally doing it now,”
Cherry Pie shares. “Most of what I’ve been doing lately is getting involved
with different advocacies. So when our director and my good friend Melvin Lee
told me that Under My Skin is going
to be an advocacy play on HIV, I was enthusiastic to join even if I was worried
in the beginning.”
“I
suppose and I hope that I’ve proven and established myself as an actress. I
believe na tapos na ‘yung time ko na
pang-sarili,” she expresses, regarding involving herself in advocacy
theater. “I want to use my position, wherever I am now, to influence and
advocate for certain issues. I am learning a lot and I really like the learning
process. I was also interested kung nasaan
na ba ang Pilipinas sa usaping HIV. It’s very timely because we should all
give a part of ourselves to make people aware.”
Cherry Pie has been in the performing arts since she
was young. At 9 years old, she was already working with Orlando Nadres, a writer-director
for stage, TV, and film in the 1970s. Cherry Pie’s most recent theater production was Buwan at Baril sa E♭ Major, written by Chris Millado, in 2017. The production was first staged
by PETA in 1985, tackling different lives bound by repression under the regime
of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
The commitment that Cherry Pie has for her craft is
something she has in common with her role in Under My Skin. “Dr. Gemma Almonte is very dedicated,” she describes
her character, whom she shares with veteran theater actress Roselyn Perez. “She
is very objective like most doctors are. But inside, she’s very involved. Andoon ‘yung empathy niya.”
Cherry Pie is hopeful that Under My Skin will not only be a learning experience for audiences but will also contribute positive change and action to combat the HIV and AIDS
crisis in the country. More importantly, she sees the play as a beacon of hope.
“I hope that the play will encourage and inspire people that HIV is nothing to
be ashamed of,” she says.
“There should no longer be a stigma. HIV is not and
should not be a death sentence anymore. We, as a community, as a society, have
the responsibility to get involved,” she adds.
Under My Skin provides a holistic learning
experience. Apart from the play, audience members can stay for talkback
and debriefing with HIV experts and avail of free HIV screenings. The Under
My Skin photo exhibit by The Red Whistle, which features 100 portraits
of people from the theater industry who are HIV and AIDS advocates, is also
available for audiences to experience.
Under My Skin is directed by Gawad Buhay! Awards nominee Melvin Lee. He is joined by his artistic team: Eric
Dela Cruz (dramaturg), Migs Cortes (music/sound designer and arranger),
Benjamin Padero and Carlo Tabije (production designers), Ian Torqueza (lights
designer), Steven Tansiongco (video designer), and Nicole Primero and Bubbles
Deriada (choreographers) from Airdance.
The cast also features TV, film, and theater artists
Miguel Almendras, Mike Liwag, Anthony Falcon, and Dylan Talon, together with a roster of PETA artists: Eko Baquial, Gio Gahol, Lotlot Bustamante, Kitsi
Pagaspas, Ekis Gimenez, Dudz Teraña, Jarred Jaicten, She Maala, Gold
Villar-Lim, Bene Manaois, Mico Esquivel, Erold Enriquez, Jason Barcial, Joseph
Madriaga, Rach Gimpes, Reggie Ondevilla, Roy Dahildahil, and Csai Habla.
Under My Skin is presented by PETA, The Red
Whistle, and LoveYourself PH, in partnership with UNAIDS and Unilab. The play
runs from February 7 to March 22, 2020 at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard
Drive, Brgy. Kristong Hari, New Manila, Quezon City. For tickets go to
www.ticketworld.com.ph, 891-9999, www.petatheater.com/undermyskin. (PR)
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