Antonio "Tony" Mabesa (January 27, 1935 â€" October 4, 2019) was a
Filipino stage director, film and television actor, and professor.
With a career spanning over 70 years, he is considered one of the
founding fathers of Philippine university theater[1] and one of the
most prominent theater directors in the country. For his work, he was
called "Lion of the Theater".[2]He founded the theater groups Dulaang
UP and the UP Playwright’s Theater. [3]Mabesa was born in Los
Baños, Laguna. He entered high school at the University of the
Philippines Rural High School, where he first directed a school
production. He finished his degree in Agriculture at the University of
the Philippines Los Baños, where he was mentored by National Artist
for Theater Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero.[3] He was a member of the Upsilon
Sigma Phi.[1] [4][5]He pursued a master's degree in theater arts at
the University of California, Los Angeles in 1965, and a master’s
degree in education at the University of Delaware in 1969.[1][6] He
took further studies in dramatic literature at the University of
Minnesota.[7] While in the US, worked as a stage manager to Sir Tyrone
Guthrie, where he "observed up close how a campus-based theater
organization should be run and could work."[7]
Filipino stage director, film and television actor, and professor.
With a career spanning over 70 years, he is considered one of the
founding fathers of Philippine university theater[1] and one of the
most prominent theater directors in the country. For his work, he was
called "Lion of the Theater".[2]He founded the theater groups Dulaang
UP and the UP Playwright’s Theater. [3]Mabesa was born in Los
Baños, Laguna. He entered high school at the University of the
Philippines Rural High School, where he first directed a school
production. He finished his degree in Agriculture at the University of
the Philippines Los Baños, where he was mentored by National Artist
for Theater Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero.[3] He was a member of the Upsilon
Sigma Phi.[1] [4][5]He pursued a master's degree in theater arts at
the University of California, Los Angeles in 1965, and a master’s
degree in education at the University of Delaware in 1969.[1][6] He
took further studies in dramatic literature at the University of
Minnesota.[7] While in the US, worked as a stage manager to Sir Tyrone
Guthrie, where he "observed up close how a campus-based theater
organization should be run and could work."[7]
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