Bio: Giselle Garcia received her M.A. in Theater, Dramaturgy Concentration degree from Hunter College, City University of New York and an A.B. Literature (English) degree from the Ateneo de Manila University. She has worked on the development of over 250 new plays by established and emerging playwrights in New York and Manila. Some recent production dramaturgy credits include Elmer Gatchalian’s adaptation of Les Liaisons dangereuses, Juego de Peligro (Tanghalang Pilipino), Rody Vera's adaptation of The Merchant of Venice, Der Kaufmann: Ang Negosyante ng Venecia (Tanghalang Pilipino), the Off Broadway production of Lloyd Suh's Jesus in India (Ma-Yi), The late National Artist, Rolando Tinio's translation of Death of a Salesman, Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente (Tanghalang Pilipino), Kooman and Dimond’s musical Dani Girl (Sandbox Collective) and Agyu: Patungo sa Paraiso (Siklab Productions). Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente and Der Kaufmann: Ang Negosyante ng Vencia was cited and awarded respectively for Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play by the Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards.

Giselle is always trying to find ways to support the development of new work, forging relationships with and between artists, communities and institutions. She is a faculty member at both the the Fine Arts Program and English Department of the Ateneo de Manila University as well as curates programs at the Intertextual Division of the Cultural Center of the Philippines as Senior Culture & Arts Officer.

"Focus" for the week: My focus for the week will be discussing and documenting the one day Readathon of Women's Plays we had at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last Friday, March 6-- the playwrights and the responders, the process and discussion (with photos!). I think it's important for people who work in institutions to reflect on the type of support they give artists-- and this is one way for me to think about the way we work. --- This year, in celebration of Women’s Month, The Women Playwrights International – Philippines will hold the READATHON: A Marathon of Dramatic Readings of Plays Written by Women in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). This event is on its second year at the CCP, which has served as a venue for critiquing new plays by women that raise issues concerning women and the community.

Questions from LMDA:

What is your definition of dramaturgy? Sometimes I feel like it's some kind of secret sauce that even I don't know the recipe of until everyone involved is in the room. It manifests itself in every production and rehearsal depending on the material, the artistic team, the kind of theater or performance. I suppose it's could be about heightening one's senses and being sensitive the needs of the play and the people involved, figuring out how to design and curate information and experiences in a way that is most helpful.

What is your dream project? My dream project would be to find a way to collate dramaturgical packets and blogs/notebooks from productions all over the world in a site like doollee.com. That would be so much fun!

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