Apart from being one of the lead stars, JC Santos also produced his theater comeback “Red.”
Leveling up his excitement for his upcoming theater comeback is the fact that JC Santos would be doing his dream project “Red.”
Apparently, JC has been obsessed with John Logan’s two-hander play ever since learning about it some 10 years ago.
“They were doing ‘Red’ in the Philippines at that time. I told myself, ‘Kainggit naman. I wanted to do ‘Red.’ But it is only now when I got the opportunity. And I’m working with the master,” he said in a recent interview.
JC, who would be playing the role of Ken, would be joined in the show by veteran stage actor Bart Guingona who will be taking on the role of artist Mark Rothko in the restaging of “Red,” by The Necessary Theatre.
Set in the 1950’s and based on a series of real events, “Red” follows artist Mark Rothko, who is at the height of his career.
Viewed through the lens of his youthful new assistant, audiences will get to witness his time at the pinnacle of his creativity, but struggling through the creation of a series of large paintings, commissioned as a series intended to be featured in New York’s brand new Four Seasons Restaurant.
As Ken and Mark paint, they challenge each other to ask big questions about art: what it takes to create it and what its role should be in the world.
JC Santos’ new hat
“Red” is JC’s first producer job because he did not want anyone to hire him and because he also badly wanted to do the play.
“I missed making the audience think,” JC said. “I want to disturb the audience and make them appreciate art work again. This could be a reminder of how it is to be an artist again. To all those who were affected by the pandemic who didn’t have a chance to practice and do their art. You want to sink in that fire inside,” he shared.
While “Red” is his dream project, it is also his refresher in a way so that when he returns to TV after doing theater, he is simply more aggressive to work and act again.
“Ang dami kong bala,” he said. “Ang dali. Ang dami kong pwedeng bagong gawin. I’m extra confident working. They can give me anything, I am very eager to do it.”
The “Dirty Linen” actor has actually earned his stripe in the theater scene. In 2016, he won Best Actor at the Broadway World Philippines Awards and Gawad Buhay when he starred opposite Cris Villonco in Nick Payne’s unusual love story, the two-hander, “Constellations,” staged by Red Turnip Theater.
JC took part in the last play in 2019, the Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Lam-Ang,” before the pandemic thwarted all action happening onstage.
“Red” will run on June 9, 16, 10, 11, 17, and 18 at the PETA Theater Center.
Banner Art Paulo Correa
