Creatives
Michael Williams
Michael Stuart Williams is a distinguished figure in Philippine theater, renowned for his extensive work as an actor, director, and artistic director. With a career spanning over three decades, he has significantly contributed to the enrichment and development of the performing arts in the country.
Williams' passion for theater ignited at a young age, influenced by his father's love for music. Growing up in a household filled with musical records, he developed an early appreciation for storytelling through music. This foundation paved the way for his future endeavors in the performing arts.
As an actor, Williams has portrayed over 100 roles, showcasing his versatility and depth in various productions. Notably, he performed in London's West End, taking on roles in acclaimed musicals such as "Miss Saigon" and "The King and I" between 1989 and 1991. His international experience enriched his craft and brought a global perspective to his subsequent work in the Philippines.
Transitioning into directing, Williams has helmed numerous productions, demonstrating a keen eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of theatrical dynamics. In 2013, he directed a rendition of "Cinderella," describing the experience as a "blast" and highlighting his enthusiasm for bringing classic tales to life on stage.
Beyond acting and directing, Williams has taken on pivotal leadership roles within the theater community. He serves as the artistic director of Full House Theater Company at Resorts World Manila, where he has been instrumental in producing and promoting high-quality theatrical performances. Additionally, he co-founded Theatre Down South, a community theater initiative aimed at making performing arts more accessible to audiences in Southern Metro Manila.
Williams is also the vice president and a board member of the Original Pilipino Performing Arts (OPPA) Foundation. In this capacity, he has been actively involved in nurturing emerging talents by providing scholarships and mentorship opportunities. His commitment to education and mentorship reflects his dedication to the sustainability and growth of Philippine theater.
In recent years, Williams has continued to influence the theater scene through various projects. In 2023, he was involved in the production of "Ang Huling El Bimbo," a musical that resonated with audiences for its nostalgic and emotional depth as well as its transformative power.
Throughout his illustrious career, Michael Stuart Williams has remained a steadfast advocate for the performing arts in the Philippines. His multifaceted contributions as an actor, director, and leader have left an indelible mark on the industry, inspiring both audiences and aspiring theater practitioners alike.
Director
Rony Fortich
Rony Fortich is a musical director, arranger, composer, and accompanist. As the Music Director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort from its grand opening in 2005 to 2017, Rony oversaw all of the Park’s musical entertainment offerings.
In 2013, he received a Walt Disney Legacy Award for his contribution to the resort. In the Philippines, he’s worked as composer and musical director for a number of musicals over the last 25 years, HONK, NOAH’S BIG BOAT, BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, COMPANY, QUEST FOR THE ADARNA, BREAKUPS AND BREAKDOWNS, 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, and most recently won the 2023 Gawad Buhay award for outstanding musical direction for "THE LAST FIVE YEARS."
Rony continues to work on a variety of shows, concerts, and musical projects both in the Philippines and abroad. To share his passion for musical theatre, he gives summer workshops at the BGC Arts Center and teaches voice. For his musical efforts, he was awarded as one of The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in 2015.
Musical Director
Delphine Buencamino
Delphine is a theater maker, a movement designer, performer and teacher. She majored in theater arts at the Philippine High School for the Arts and then went on as an AB Humanities major in Ateneo, graduating with an LSAA award for theater. While in college she began her professional theater career and has worked with known theater companies in Manila including PETA, Tanghalang Pilipino, Repertory Philippines, and Atlantis Productions. She also did productions as a guest with Dulaang UP as well as Tanghalang Ateneo and Ateneo Blue Repertory. Some of her significant performances are as Zafira in Orosman and Zafira (with DUP) and Mabini in Mabining Mandirigma (with TP) for which she received recognition as Best Female Lead Performance in a Musical from the Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards in 2016
As a movement designer she has trained as a scholar with contemporary dance company Airdance, Ava Villanueva and national artist for dance - Agnes Locsin. She has also worked as a choreographer for musicals and straight plays and her proficiency in both acting and movement led her to the practices of physical theater and devised theater. She has recently directed Room 209 a one-act play for The Virgin Labfest as well as served as the associate director and movement designer for Balete with Tanghalang Pilipino.
Her international training includes a residency program in NYC with the Asian Cultural Council (for physical theater), an physical theater intensive with IUGTE in Carrara, Italy and an MA in Collaborative Theatre Making from Coventry University in the UK.
She is also a certified yoga instructor and a part-time lecturer with Ateneo de Manila University and Guang Ming College.
Choreography
Harry Tabner
A graduate of Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Harry has had a wide and varied career theatre and events lighting for nearly twenty years.
Theatre design credits are varied and include the Imperial Ice Stars, Barry Humphries’ Farewell Tour, The Naked Magicians, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, as well as numerous productions whilst working full time for the Royal Albert Hall, London.
As Senior Lighting Designer with experiential agency Imagination for many years, he designed a wide range of high profile events, for both the local audience and for broadcast, including the worldwide launches of the Land Rover Discovery, Land Rover Evoque and Rolls Royce Phantom, and include both immersive theatrical shows and custom VIP sales environments.
Harry spent nearly two years working in Saudi Arabia creating lighting and educating local staff for the opening seasons of King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Saudi Arabia.
Most recently, lighting design work has taken a back seat to allow time to focus on his young family, at his home in Wakefield.
Lighting Designer
Luke Swaffield
Past sound design credits include: ’The Curious Case of Benjamin Button The Musical’ (Ambassadors Theatre & Southwark Playhouse Elephant, London), ‘Love Life’ (Opera North, Leeds Grand Theatre), ‘Paradise Under The Stars’ (The Lost Estate, London), ‘The Paddington Bear Experience’ (London), ‘Taskmaster The Live Experience’ (London), ‘Ali Cook Principles of Deception’ (Northampton), ‘The Bear Snores On’ (London), ’Winter Lights’ (Sweden), ’Saw: The Escape Experience’ (Tower Hill, London), ’Peaky Blinders: The Rise’ (Vanguard Theatre, Camden & Gamers8 Festival, Middle East), ‘TRAPLORD’ (MIF, Manchester & 180 Strand, London), ‘Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of)’ (Criterion, London), ‘Doctor Who Time Fracture’ (Immersive LND, London), ‘Monopoly Life-Sized’ (London, USA & Saudi Arabia), ‘Catch Me & The Limit’ (Embassy Theatre, London), ‘Anything Goes’ (The Other Palace, London), ‘The League of Legends European 10th Anniversary’ (Excel Centre, London), ‘Parade’ (The Other Palace, London) ‘Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre’ (Blenheim Palace), ‘Forgotten’ (Arcola, London), ‘The Full Monty’ (UK Tour), ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ (The Other Palace, London), ‘Big Fish The Musical’ (The Other Palace, London), ‘Billy The Kid’ (Leicester Curve), ‘Not Moses’ (Arts Theatre, London), ‘Stay Awake, Jake’ (The Vaults Waterloo, London), ‘The Wasp’ (Trafalgar Studios, London).
Luke works as sound designer and head of sound for Secret Cinema and has designed numerous of their past productions including; ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, ‘Bridgerton’, ’Stranger Things’ (London & Los Angeles),‘Casino Royale’ (London & Shanghai), ‘Romeo & Juliet’, ‘Blade Runner’, ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Dirty Dancing’, ‘28 Days Later’ and ‘Dr Strangelove’.
Luke is a full-time member of the Sound Design team at Autograph Sound. Autograph are Europe’s leading sound design and supply company with an unparalleled 50-year history. They are currently designing and/or supplying, amongst others; ‘Cabaret’, ‘Hamilton’, ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Tina’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’.
For a full list of current and past productions please visit www.autograph.co.uk.
Luke is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Sound Designer
Hershee Tantiado
Hershee Tantiado is a freelance costume designer, wardrobe supervisor, and costume executor. She started doing costume work during her college years for Tanghalang Ateneo and has been involved in theater, film, and events ever since. She loves digging through thrift shops and vintage stores for unique finds. Some productions she’s worked with in the past are: Jepoy and the Magic Circle (Repertory Philippines), Buruguduystunstugudunstuy (Full House Theater Company), Going Home to Christmas (Repertory Philippines), Mula sa Buwan (Barefoot Theater Collaborative), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Repertory Philippines), Dekada ’70 (Blackbox Collab, Inc.), Lucia di Lammermoor (CCP), etc.
Costume Designer
Kayla Teodoro
Mikayla is a puppet designer, maker, and director currently based in London.
She has worked in various puppet departments across theatre, film, and stop-motion animation and is an associate lecturer in UAL: Wimbledon for the MA Puppetry course. She is the co-founder and artistic director of puppet company “Puppet Theater Manila" wherein she and her company are introducing the artform of puppetry to the Philippines.
Credits include… For Theater - “101 Dalmatians” (UK Tour), “My Neighbour Totoro” (London), “Life of Pi” (London), “The Lion King” (International Tour) “Spirited Away” (Tokyo and Japan Tour), “Garden of Words” (Tokyo), “Snow White and the Prince” (Manila), "Little Shop of Horrors" (Manila), “Boni Viva Luci” (Manila), “Madagascar the Musical” (Manila), “Buruguduystunstugudunstuy” (Manila) For Film - “Doctor Who” (BBC), “His Dark Materials” S3 (HBO), “Big Cook, Little Cook” (BBC) For Stop-Motion - “Night of the Living Dread” (NFTS), “Two Black Boys in Paradise” (One6th)
Production Designer
Myrene Santos
A MAC Cosmetics Senior Affiliate Artist, Wigs, hair and Makeup Designer for local musicals with over 20 years of experience in her home country.
She was the Deputy Head of Wigs, Hair & Makeup in the “HAMILTON” International tour (September 2023-June 2024) and also “THE LION KING,” International Tour (2022) both by Micheal Cassel Productions. She also worked on “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA,” “LES MISERABLES,” “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” & “WICKED” as a Local Wig dresser and makeup artist. She also has done celebrity, magazine and runway makeup in Manila for 17 years and counting.
She also had studies in special effects and prosthetic makeup , a barber course training and studied wig making with Marquetta Breslin and Vanessa Davis and is now Proprietor of Myrene’s Custom Wigs business that caters to her country’s cancer, cosplay and hair replacement clients.
Hair and Makeup Designer
Joel Goldes
Joel Goldes (Dialect coach) has had the pleasure of coaching Come From Away around the globe, since 2015, including the Broadway production (including La Jolla Playhouse, Seattle Repertory, Washington,DC and Toronto), the Canadian company (both sit-down productions in Toronto, including the current revival, that re-opened in Ottowa, the nation’s capitol), Gander, the First North American Tour, London’s West End, Australia and the live shot for Apple TV+. Film and TV includes: Coaching the Irish actor who plays the title role in Dexter: Original Sin on Paramount+; the hit series, The Perfect Couple, on Netflix; a pilot episode for Disney Branded Television, No Good Deed; The Handmaid’s Tale; the upcoming Washington Black on Hulu, Presumed Innocent; The Woman King; The First Lady; Honey Boy; The Shrink Next Door; 24; Escape at Dannemora; Jingle Jangle; Crown Heights; Son of the South; The Company Men; The Birth of a Nation: The Runner; Fifty Shades of Gray and Fifty Shades Freed (ADR); The End of the Tour; Fury; The Night Shift; After Earth; The Crazy Ones (coaching Robin Williams); The Hangover; Art School Confidential; Nine Lives; The Company Men; and Hatfields & McCoys (for which his client, Kevin Costner won the Emmy Award for Best Actor).
Joel recently coached his first podcast, for Audible. Representative theater includes Pen Pals (Off-Broadway): The Secret Garden, 2:22: A Ghost Story, Soft Power, Sweat, Immediate Family,, The School of Night and Tribes (Center Theater Group, Los Angeles); Memphis, The Cosmonaut’s Last Message… and Going to St. Ives (La Jolla Playhouse); Orson’s Shadow and Mask (Pasadena Playhouse). Through his private practice,Joel has helped many professional people be more clearly understood in English, including executives from around the world, for General Motors, Maximus, Anthem, Honeywell Analytics, Ernst & Young, Imperial Capital Bank, Oakwood Worldwide, Jafra, TAXI, Reuters International Television, California Lutheran University and the Los Angeles Japanese Consulate. Further information is available at www.TheDialectCoach.com.