Ako in Love

by: Nicole Andres

ACTs first original production, Ako in Love is a play wriiten and directed by dedicated third year
Theatre Arts student Thea Gloria. Produced by Miel Abong and co-written by Charl Gutierrez, both also
third year Theatre Arts students, Ako in Love plays on the students own experiences and that of other
ACT members. According to Gloria, it is a production about empowering students who have been in
unhealthy relationships that students sometimes go through. A lot of people can say that its a man-
driven world. And so, in this production, I want to show that women can be respected in the relationship,
they can give their own terms, and if men really do love them then theyd respect whatever it is they
[women] want.

A sit-down type of auditions for the said production was held last December 12-16, 2011. Potential
characters read the script and the creators of the production evaluated each actors to see who was
going to play the characters. However, because of the sheer number of students who auditioned, the
creators decided it was best to have two casts of girls to play the characters with each role having two
alternating actors, reminiscent of the play Romeo and Juliet directed by Ms. Ana Valdez-Lim last 2008-
2009 where Gloria herself played Juliet alongside AC alumna, Ms. Criena House. Gloria said her aim for
this set-up was to give everyone a chance to perform onstage.

This up and coming play is a collaboration of different organizations in the Assumption Community such
as VOICES, TADC, Studio, Lumina, AIMMS, IBSA, and YCPA, hoping to use and integrate the different
resources and talents of the Assumption Community into one production.

Schedules for rehearsals have been varied and difficult to organize because of the difference in the
schedules of the cast and the production team which is being led and organized by Assumption students
but according to Gloria, rehearsals have been fortunately doing well. With a cast full of AC students and
the production team spearheaded by some of Assumptions most dedicated students, there is little
doubt this performance is going to be anything less but inspiring.