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Almost Maine

Totel V. De Jesus

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753264991660Little Boy Productions &#x27;Almost, Maine&#x27; cast members are, from left,  Jean Sarana, John Sitchon, Yesha Suralta and Maxim Ilagan. Photo by Zen Tayong courtesy of LBP  .jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Little Boy Productions &#x27;Almost, Maine&#x27; cast members are, from left,  Jean Sarana, John Sitchon, Yesha Suralta and Maxim Ilagan. Photo by Zen Tayong courtesy of LBP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Little Boy Productions &#x27;Almost, Maine&#x27; cast members are, from left,  Jean Sarana, John Sitchon, Yesha Suralta and Maxim Ilagan. <em>Photo by Zen Tayong courtesy of LBP</em></span></span></span></div><p>CEBU CITY -- For 24 years, Little Boy Productions (LBP) has been a prime mover in enriching the literary, theater and performing arts scenes in Cebu. With the help of established and up-and-coming writers, actors, mentors from Manila and abroad, the company under LBP’s lead producer Hendri Go has been a prime mover in organizing the Cebu Literary Festival, theater workshops and staging Broadway musicals.</p><p>In 2001, its first production was staging A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” at the Onstage Ayala Center Cebu with Bart Guingona and Pinky Amador. </p><p>Its second production, “Once On This Island” in 2002, had Cebuano theater artists led by a very young Raki Vega, who was a college student at the time, as Ti Moune. It also had Jing Fegi (sister of Anna), Bong Cabrera, among others. </p><p>In 2014, LBP was also instrumental in bringing to Cebuano audience the groundbreaking musical “Pragres,” a devised work by Dulaang Sipat Lawin, a group of alumni of the Philippine High School for the Arts, under the mentorship of former Tanghalang Pilipino artistic-director Herbie Go. It was adapted from the short story “Progress” by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, and initially staged at the Virgin Labfest.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/06/05/22/virgin-labfest-welcomes-back-co-founder-herbie-go">Virgin Labfest welcomes back its co-founder, NY-based Herbie Go<br/></a></div><p>The Cebu staging was adapted and directed by Dulaang Sipat Lawin original members Nar Cabico and Acey Aguilar.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TnW997cAfMc?&amp;ab_channel=malingedits&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>“We brought in F. Sionil Jose for the opening night and he told me he was very happy about the production,” Hendri Go told ABS-CBN News. </p><p>It is named Little Boy, because, as Go told ABS-CBN News, “The energy of the company, my energy, is like that of a little boy. Makulit and with wide-eyed wonder.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘Almost, Maine’ test run</strong></div><p>Now, for a one-night only show, they are bringing the delightful romantic comedy &quot;Almost, Maine&quot; by actor-playwright John Cariani to the Visayan audience. The limited staging, directed by Washington-based Rhea Bautista, will happen on Saturday, July 26, at 7 pm in UP Cebu Performing Arts Hall with tickets prices at P250. Go said it’s like a test run for the Cebu audience. </p><p>“And since our director, Rhea Bautista, is only staying for a month here in Cebu, the plan is for her to mount it and then we can take it from there. Obviously, there are restaging and touring plans,” Go said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753265120533Little Boy Productions&#x27; &#x27;Almost, Maine&#x27; cast members, from left, Claire Codilla, Yalena Achacoso and Robert Palomo. Photo by Zen Tayong courtesy of Little Boy Productions .JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Little Boy Productions&#x27; &#x27;Almost, Maine&#x27; cast members, from left, Claire Codilla, Yalena Achacoso and Robert Palomo. Photo by Zen Tayong courtesy of Little Boy Productions "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Little Boy Productions&#x27; &#x27;Almost, Maine&#x27; cast members, from left, Claire Codilla, Yalena Achacoso and Robert Palomo. <em>Photo by Zen Tayong courtesy of Little Boy Productions </em></span></span></span></div><p>We remember seeing the Repertory Philippines version in 2016, directed by Guingona. The two-hour play has nine love vignettes or romantic encounters of people who live in a fictional small community called Almost in Maine, the northernmost state in the United States known for its extremely cold winter and where tourists flock to savor the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights.</p><p>“Almost, Maine” is about human connections and how love, no matter how clichéd it may sound, can help in breaking emotional barriers we make as adults. The Chicago Tribute aptly described it “a love letter to the brokenhearted and the hopeful alike.&quot;</p><p>Jaime Wilson, Natalie Everett, Reb Atadero and Caissa Borromeo played 21 characters. Eight scenes have two characters and one with three actors, exploring love and romance in its various manifestations, most often funny and quirky at the same time.</p><p>Guingona and Atadero are no strangers to Little Boy Productions. In the past, along with Pinky Amador and Michael Williams, they’ve done workshops in Cebu for aspiring actors, aligned with Little Boy’s “mission to grow regional theater by bridging Manila and Cebu’s creative communities and champion the talents of local artists and storytellers.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Sixteen Cebuano actors</strong></div><p>For a totally new experience, Little Boy will feature Cebu-based established and emerging actors. This time, there are not only four actors but 16 Cebuano talents. </p><p>Hendri Go said most of the cast members were alumni of these workshops under Guingona, Williams, Amador and Atadero. Some of them have been based in the US and acting for the first time in the Philippines. </p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flittleboyprods.ph%2Fvideos%2F421810969347411%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=264&amp;t=0" width="264" height="591" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>They are: Athena Bautista, Tara Cabaero, Jaienne Braveree “Yesha” Suralta, Claire Codilla, Jay Chan Il, Robert Brendan Palomo, Yalena Achacoso, Nyegs Abayon, Nelson M. Judaya, Chloe Palang, John Sitchon, Jean Mari Saraña, Maxim Ilagan, Thomas Pua, and Jolu Escano.</p><p>Go didn’t see the Repertory Philippines version but he was instrumental in its staging.</p><p>“Funny story but I actually haven’t seen a production of it, but I remember buying the script in New York, along with a few others to give to [Rep co-founder] Tita Baby Barredo for Repertory Philippines to consider producing. I thought it was a perfect fit for Rep. It’s light, it’s smart, it’s about love,” Go told ABS-CBN News. </p><p>“I love it enough to suggest it to Rep and for me to finally do it now,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Beyond theater</strong></div><p>We asked him about how Little Boy Productions managed to survive all these years.</p><p>“We started in 2001 so we turn 25 next year. But it’s mainly been on and off the past few years [and there’s the COVID-19] pandemic. We&#x27;ve also been doing so many things outside of traditional theater like heritage walking tours called ‘Jane&#x27;s Walk Cebu’, spoken-word shows with Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye. Last year, we brought back SPIT (Silly People&#x27;s Improv Theater) to Cebu in a series of super wildly successful shows,” Go said. </p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=420&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flittleboyprods.ph%2Fvideos%2F1182533756529849%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="535" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>There is no doubt Cebu is brimming with talents. As proof, we ask Go who among the younger Cebuano actors who recently made it big in Manila and in the international scene. </p><p>“There are many who made it. Some of them I have yet to work with. I can say the likes of Bong Cabrera, Chuck Marbella, Joan Almedilla, Anna Fegi, Jing Fegi, Mimi Marquez, Chai Fonacier, Raki Vega and many others. There are a lot,” he said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753265194732Almost...Machu Picchu. Hendri Go in one of his many travels to think about new materials for Little Boy Productions. Photo courtesy of Hendri Go.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Hendri Go in one of his many travels to think about new materials for Little Boy Productions. Photo courtesy of Hendri Go"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Hendri Go in one of his many travels to think about new materials for Little Boy Productions. <em>Photo courtesy of Hendri Go</em></span></span></span></div><p>Besides theater, Little Boy has also been involved with concerts and drag shows. </p><p>“We co-produced the Lea Salonga concert in Iloilo, spoken-word shows, improv, drag shows with Pura Luka Vega and Naia Black. We run the Cebu Literary Festival. We also partnered with Clowning Around Manila to do kids entertainment for malls and parties. We also handled auditions for Hong Kong Disneyland here in Cebu. We also did conventions and tourism events, when Bart Guingona needs a Cebu hand for his production company,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘Stage it, audience will come’</strong></div><p>Over the years, more than anything, he continues to help in keeping the theater scene in Cebu  alive and growing. </p><p>“The theater scene here is mostly amateur, workshop or university-based, but for me when we mount our shows, we want to make a distinction. We want our shows to be kahit papaano professional productions. [There is really no] funding for theater, even in Manila so for me it’s not a funding issue. It’s how big your ambition is,” he said.</p><p>“[Like what] Kevin Costner said in ‘Field of Dreams,’ if you build it, they will come. For me lang, napapagod ako [I also get exhausted] so I don’t produce a lot,” he added. </p><p>Producing shows aren’t that easy, especially in Cebu where there is still a growing community of theater-loving audience. </p><p>“Also, [most of] the Cebuanos [these days] are ‘kuripot’ (spendthrift) and that includes me so you have to be smart in that department. You can’t spend too much because you can’t charge too much but you also don’t want your shows to look cheap. It’s a challenge,” Go said.</p><p>As for future productions, Go said he has plans again of producing shows in Manila. “Most probably, it’s a musical,” he told ABS-CBN News, smiling like a little wide-eyed boy eager and excited for the days ahead. </p>

<p>For nearly 25 years, Little Boy Productions has been a driving force in Cebu’s theater scene. Its latest project, ‘Almost, Maine’, brings 16 Cebuano actors to the spotlight in a one-night-only showcase of love and connection.</p>

For nearly 25 years, Little Boy Productions has been a driving force in Cebu’s theater scene. Its latest project, ‘Almost, Maine’, brings 16 Cebuano actors to the spotlight in a one-night-only showcase of love and connection.

How Little Boy Productions helps keep the theater scene alive in Cebu

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How Little Boy Productions helps keep the theater scene alive in Cebu

Totel V. De Jesus

Published Jul 23, 2025 06:28 PM PHT

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Almost Maine

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