Vlad Bunoan

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Anthony Falcon

Jude Cartalaba

After a nearly four-year hiatus from the local stage, acclaimed actor Anthony Falcon is returning to his roots. Falcon is set to star in 9 Works Theatrical’s upcoming production of &quot;Yemaya,&quot; written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes and translated into Filipino by Eljay Castro Deldoc.The production also marks the highly anticipated directorial and set design comeback of Ed Lacson Jr.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779408209922Photo Credit to Lee Morale.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Actor Anthony Falcon. Photo: Lee Morale</div>Falcon’s last theatrical outing was in PETA’s &quot;Under My Skin,&quot; which was abruptly cut short by the global pandemic. In the years that followed, Falcon shifted gears, taking his talents global by stage-managing productions in international cruise ships.For Falcon, returning to the stage with this specific play feels like a poetic alignment. &quot;Yemaya&quot; explores the relentless pursuit of dreams, happiness, and the profound sacrifices made for a better life.&quot;As an OFW — or more specifically, a seaman — the metaphor of chasing a better life across the ocean hits incredibly close to home,&quot; Falcon shared.This production also marks Falcon’s first venture into show-buying. &quot;Beyond the intense artistic preparation for the role, there’s a parallel effort to ensure we fill the seats. It’s an interesting challenge — balancing the creative side with the hustle of ensuring a show&#x27;s financial success in the middle of a crisis, which perfectly mirrors the play&#x27;s themes,&quot; he said.The seed for his return was planted while both Falcon and director Lacson were working on contracts at sea.&quot;Ed thought of me for the role while we were both working on the ships,&quot; Falcon revealed. &quot;But he made it clear that I still had to audition to win the producers&#x27; nod. Even with the uncertainty, I intentionally planned my vacation from the sea to align with the production schedule. I felt it was time for a break from the ocean. Since arriving back in Manila, so many opportunities have knocked on my door. It feels amazing to be affirmed that Manila missed me, because I missed it just as much!&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779408265782likhanirahmcanlas_2437-L.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Actor Anthony Falcon. Photo: Rahm Canlas of Midnight Dream Studio</div>Falcon is no newcomer as he is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most versatile talents. An alumnus of the prestigious Berlinale Talents Acting Studio in Germany, he won the Best Performance Award from the Young Critics Circle for &quot;Mga Gabing Kasing Haba Ng Hair Ko.&quot; He starred in the critically acclaimed film &quot;Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus.&quot; He is also a two-time Gawad Urian Best Actor nominee for his powerful turns in &quot;Requieme&quot; and &quot;Anino Sa Likod Ng Buwan.&quot;His realization that acting was a lifelong calling — rather than a mere hobby — was a gradual awakening born out of a university stint with Teatro Lasallina at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas.&quot;It probably sparked when I saw my first professional show by Tanghalang Pilipino at the CCP — it was &#x27;R’meo Luvs Dew-Lhiett,&#x27; a jologs adaptation,&quot; Falcon recalled. &quot;I completely fell in love with it. I had this epiphany that theater could actually be a profession — that people were dedicating their entire lives to perfecting this art form.&quot;Determined to break into the industry, Falcon started from the ground up, working as a stage manager for Virgin Labfest and an assistant stage manager for Tanghalang Pilipino&#x27;s season runs. During a musical where he was originally hired to stage manage, he was asked to audition on a whim — and booked a role as an actor.Today, Falcon finds creative inspiration in contemporary theater makers who are pushing artistic boundaries. He noted the visionary work of playwright Guelan Luarca, praising his bold directorial choices and script selections, as well as director Pat Valera. &quot;I saw &#x27;Bar Boys: A New Musical&#x27; on stage,&quot; Falcon said. &quot;I deeply respect Pat for the trajectory he is carving out for Philippine musicals, especially his fearless embrace of grandness and spectacle.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779408362324likhanirahmcanlas_2736-L.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Actor Anthony Falcon. Photo: Rahm Canlas of Midnight Dream StudioIn Yemaya,&quot; Falcon plays Jelin, a character he connects with on two major emotional fronts: family and creative hunger.</div>&quot;First is Jelin&#x27;s fierce love for his family, particularly for Jesus/Mulo. As an uncle who loves his nieces and nephews unconditionally, that protective instinct was immediately relatable,&quot; he explained.The second pulse is the sheer weight of the role itself. While Falcon has acted in major feature films as a leading man, he still dreams that someday, he will land his first titular or lead role in theater.&quot;I have this artistic thirst; I have yet to fully experience the heavy gravity of carrying a stage play as the lead,&quot; Falcon confessed. &quot;I’m genuinely curious about the kind of stamina, emotional depth, and mental space it will demand of me. I am eager to graph Jelin&#x27;s journey across an hour of uninterrupted drama, tension, and conflict live on stage.&quot;<div> </div><div>&quot;Yemaya&quot; runs all weekends from June 13 to July 5, with shows on Fridays, 8 p.m; and Saturdays and Sundays: at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Makati. Tickets are available now via Ticket2Me.net.</div>

After a nearly four-year hiatus from the local stage, acclaimed actor Anthony Falcon is returning to his roots.

After a nearly four-year hiatus from the local stage, acclaimed actor Anthony Falcon is returning to his roots.

Anthony Falcon makes theater comeback in ‘Yemaya’

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Anthony Falcon makes theater comeback in ‘Yemaya’

Jude Cartalaba

Published May 22, 2026 01:20 PM PHT

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Anthony Falcon

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