PETA’s "CARE DIVAS" IS SHINIER THE SECOND TIME AROUND

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – Philippine Educational Theater Association’s
(PETA) hit original Filipino musical Care Divas returns, kicking off
its 50th Anniversary with a whopping 50 shows from Feb 3 to March 19 at
the PETA Theater Center. 

Hilarious and heartwarming, Care Divas is also gut-wrenching and a
bittersweet story about five gay overseas Filipino workers based in
Israel who work as caregivers in the morning and transform into
glamorous drag queens at night.  

First premiered in 2011, the musical dominated the PHILSTAGE Gawad
Buhay! Awards bagging  seven trophies including Outstanding Ensemble
Performance, Outstanding Musical Production, Outstanding Stage
Direction (Maribel Legarda),Outstanding Original Libretto(Liza Magtoto
and Vincent de Jesus) and Outstanding Musical Direction (Vincent de
Jesus). 

“Care Divas is not a story of epic proportions,” shares director
Maribel Legarda.“It is a story of migration and how the dark,

dirty, and dangerous work that will be encountered by majority of
OFWs can, in the hands of resilient and loving people, be turned into
a life filled with camaraderie, adventure and passion for life.”

“It is a story that spans roughly a year and focuses on a small,
seemingly insignificant community of OFWs that find a way to survive

and thrive through friendships and an opportunity of personal expression
through their creative performances," she adds. 

The New Divas 

Care Divas brings new cast members and two

powerful new songs adding another layer of

excitement for those eager to watch the

restaging of the show. 

Joining the outstanding ensemble are

award-winning thespian Red Concepcion, ABS-CBN

talent Thou Reyes and PETA Artists Ron Alfonso

and Gio Gahol. 

Concepcion, who recently won Best Actor for

his portrayal of Adam/Felicia for Resorts

World’s Priscilla: Queen of the Desert,

alternates the role of Chelsea with theater

veteran Melvin Lee who bagged the Gawad Buhay!

Award  for  Outstanding  Male Performance for

Care Divas in 2011.  

Reyes,a well-known actor and comedian known

for his role as  the much-loved character

Takong in ABS-CBN’s Pangako Sa ‘Yo, will play

the skeptical but caring Jonee alternating

with PETA senior member Buddy Caramat. 

Also joining the ensemble are Ron Alfonso

(alternating with Vincent de Jesus as Shai)

and Gio Gahol  (alternating with Ricci Chan as

Kayla), who were both  part of  PETA’s

phenomenal hit Rak of Aegis.

"We're finding new things every day and you

can count on the whole cast (old and new) to

bring something new to the table," Concepcion

shares. 

Reyes, who just recently went into theater,

expresses that the support he gets from his

co-actors and director is something he

appreciates highly.  

"It's pretty amazing. They constantly help you

and ask you what you need in order to feel

more comfortable on stage."

Concepcion, who watched the original run

twice, said that he was honored to be a part

of the rerun.

Returning for their roles are original Divas,

Vince De Jesus(Shai), Ricci Chan(Kayla),

Melvin Lee(Chelsea), Buddy Caramat(Jonee),  

Dudz Terana (Thalia), and Jason Barcial

(Thalia). 

Care Divas includes a powerhouse cast of

theater actors such as PETA members: Joan

Bugcat, Eric Dela Cruz, Joseph Madriaga,

Eko Baquial, and Gold Villar; plus guest

artists Jakub Krajger, Jef Flores, Paul Holme,

Sherry Lara, Leo Rialp, and Myke Salomon. 

Care Divas will run from February 3 to March

19 (Tuesday-Sunday, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) at the

PETA Theater Center. For guesting  inquiries

and ticket reservations, contact PETA

Marketing and Public Relations Supervisor

Leloi Arcete (0917-5765400.)