Toff de Venecia returns to the stage via Charlie Brown musical

MANILA, Philippines - It’s been awhile since young theater director and producer and STAR columnist Toff de Venecia took to the stage. He has been doing behind-the-scenes work and sitting comfortably behind the director’s chair for years now, directing for the Ateneo Blue Repertory with shows like All Shook Up, Freakshow, and Little Shop of Horrors for which he was nominated Best Director in the first-ever Broadway World Philippines awards, and most recently Company Call. He also co-owns 9 Works Theatrical, one of Manila’s newest production outfits which is the theater company behind Rent, The Wedding Singer, Songs for a New World and Sweet Charity.

For the ongoing production of the Broadway musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, however, he decided that it was high time for a stage comeback.

“I had to give it much thought,” reveals Toff who is also assistant director to Michael Williams for this production. “When the opportunity arose to be part of the show since Franco couldn’t be part of the third weekend, I grabbed it — though with a slight reservation.” Toff will be alternating with veteran actor Franco Laurel in the role of blanket-toting Linus.

Toff was last seen onstage in Repertory Children’s Theater’s Mulan Jr. as Hong and Yao, Aladdin Jr. as Iago, and Emperor’s New Clothes as Mr. Sew. He has also appeared as Stripe in Ateneo Blue Repertory’s Hope for the Flowers, as Pan in Batboy, and as a Thespian in High School Musical. But it was ultimately the prospect of being able to sing the song Happiness that drew him back to the stage.

Popularized by Lea Salonga, the song Happiness was his theme song with his sister KC who perished in a fire back in 2004. You will remember that a fire gutted the home of then Speaker Jose de Venecia and his wife Gina and took with it the life of their precious daughter KC. “Playing Linus gives me the opportunity to pay a personal tribute to my sister who is the motivation behind everything I do.”

Toff will be playing the role of Linus for the Feb. 25 (Saturday) 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows. Franco Laurel will be playing Linus on Feb. 18 (Saturday) 8 p.m. and Feb. 19 (Sunday) 3:30 p.m. and will be back for the show’s closing weekend on Mar. 2 (Friday) 8 p.m., and Mar. 3 (Saturday) 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

For tickets, call 557-5860 or 0917-5545560.