From streets to stage: Tuloy kids shine in ‘Seussical!’
One rainy Saturday afternoon, I went to Tuloy sa Don Bosco Muntinlupa for a sneak peek of the rehearsals for “Seussical!,” a musical by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens based on the works of beloved children’s book author Dr. Seuss.
Presented by Tuloy Foundation Inc. (TFI) and Rude Mechs Theater, the show is hosted by The Cat in the Hat, who tells the story of Horton the Elephant and his quest to save the tiny people of Whoville.
I didn’t know what to expect and was amazed at how the children consistently performed at an A-level, giving their all at every run. This was no ordinary community theater. I choked back tears as I realized how cathartic this experience must be for everyone involved.
I later learned that the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Kids performed alongside the equally talented voice students of show directors Deana Aquino and Joonee Garcia.
“Theater benefits young people. It teaches empathy, collaboration, comprehension, creative thinking and listening. Theater strengthens vocabulary skills, builds confidence and provides an outlet for social interaction. For several hours a day during production time, our kids are off their gadgets, interacting meaningfully with other people in a safe space,” said Garcia.
Sadly, she noted that the kids who could benefit the most from theater rarely have access to it as watching and creating theater are considered luxuries.
The Tuloy Performing Arts Program has placed young dancers in schools and companies here and abroad. It was formed to identify and nurture promising young dance, drama and choral singing artists.
The program has produced fully licensed productions of “Once On This Island,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” as well as an original musical created for them, “Pers Lab: Mga Kwentong Hotdog” featuring the music of the Manila Sound pioneer band Hotdog.
Self-expression and confidence
The year-round theater program inspires the children’s self-expression and boosts confidence. “Since we started Tuloy Performing Arts, I have seen the difference these experiences have made in the kids who have passed through our care. I want to make this experience available to as many kids as possible,” said Garcia.
“Mixing our paying students with our Tuloy students has impacted all of them. They learn that we are all alike, and have become friends in a way that no number of outreach activities could ever do. While I am happy that our work helps produce better artists, what is most important is that we produce better human beings who respect and understand each other.”
She ensures they provide the best possible theater education for all the kids they teach. The children are held to a higher standard than a typical summer workshop to equip them to apply for professional work later.
Free education
While the arts are usually seen as a mere extra in academics, Garcia sees theater as especially important for the Tuloy kids.
“There are so many opportunities that go beyond acting on stage. We want to eventually produce stage managers, technicians, costume designers and makers, any role behind the scenes. And aside from what we know as the ‘legitimate’ stage, cruise ships, hotels and theme parks all over the world employ people who can perform.”
Locally, Tuloy Theater is unknown to most people but has gained attention from international theater companies. Thanks to the generosity of GMG Productions, Tuloy kids have seen shows like “Hamilton,” “Miss Saigon,” “Cats” and “The Lion King,” and have met actors and musicians from these productions who held dance and theater workshops with the kids.
For instance, three-time Tony award and Grammy award winner, theater and film producer Jhett Tolentino shared his journey and triumphs with the theater kids, who were inspired by the opportunity.
“This has made our work feel seen, supported and taken seriously. We are so grateful,” said Garcia. “We hope that more kids can have theater in their lives in one way or another. We have seen firsthand what these experiences can do; it is truly amazing.”
Tuloy cares for poor and abandoned children 9 to 18 years old, from the streets or from abusive family environments, who are physically and mentally trainable for skills that will enable them to be gainfully employed later.
They live in the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Street Children Village where they are guided by a community of religious and lay volunteers, psychologists, and social workers. Out-of-school youth from impoverished communities and other street children centers get free education and vocational skills training in Tuloy sa Don Bosco School.
Their fifth full-length show, “Seussical—For Theatre Young Audiences,” is for the benefit of Tuloy’s Performing Arts program.
Shows run July 20 (3 p.m. and 7 p.m.) to July 21 (6 p.m.) at the RCBC Plaza Makati Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium.
For ticket inquiries, contact Farah Padlan at 0917-5637201 (Viber/WhatsApp), 02-87750683 local 402; email projdev2@gmail.com. “Seussical—For Theatre Young Audiences” is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI (mtishows.com).
