Antonio “Tony” Mabesa, founding artistic director and Professor Emeritus at the College of Arts and Letters in UP Diliman, marks his 70th year in the theatre industry this 2018.
The esteemed director and actor has staged timeless classics over the years including Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero’s “Wanted: A Chaperone,” John Webster’s “The Duchess of Malfi,” and William Wycherley’s “The Country Wife.” With 170 productions under his belt, Mabesa has left an indelible mark on the industry, mentoring impeccable talents such as Shamaine Buencamino, Ces Quesada, Irma Adlawan, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Candy Pangilinan, Neil Ryan Sese, Andoy Ranay, RS Francisco, and current DUP artistic director, Banaue Miclat-Janssen.
Now at 83, Mabesa continues to mentor the next generation of actors in Dulaang UP’s 43rd season opener, Luigi Pirandello’s “Six Characters in Search of an Author,” with a Filipino translation by Rody Vera, “Anim na Tauhang Naghahanap ng May-Akda.”
The plays will run until September 30 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, Palma Hall 2nd floor, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.