05/10/2021 09:30:12 PM
In time for her 93rd birthday, Celia Diaz-Laurel will launch her latest coffee table book aptly titled ‘MY LIVES BEHIND THE PROSCENIUM’ on 29 May 2021
Though the event will be staged via Facebook Live, the known chronicles the life of mother, wife, philanthropist, writer, painter, thespian, theater production, and costume designer. My Lives Behind The Proscenium has five chapter titles: Stage-struck at Five, Wartime Years, Dramatic UP Days, Yale Years, Back to the Stage at Repertory Philippines.
“Celia has written an entertaining story about her theatrical life in a straightforward, simple, style that not only will give the curious reader an insight into her life and the social milieu of her time but is a historical narrative of the early years of Manila theatre and the personalities who were part of it. She writes about her early personal life as the background for the successful career she carved out for herself—not only as an actress but as a set and costume designer,” wrote Joy Virata in the foreword of the book.
This book also pays tribute to select people whose encouragement and confidence helped her become an actress, such as Mother IMMACULADA (Assumption Convent); WILFRIDO MA. GUERRERO
(UP Dramatic Club, University of the Philippines); SONIA RIFKIN and DOÑA TRINING LEGARDA (Manila Community Players); JAMES B. REUTER S.J. (Ave Maria Players and The Cathedral Players); CONSTANCE WELCH (Drama Department, Yale University); BEHN CERVANTES (who persisted in urging her to write this book about her life in the theatre); and husband SALVADOR ‘DOY’ LAUREL, who understood her calling and allowed her to grow not only as an actress but as a person.
The multi-hyphenated Celia Diaz Laurel also shared her insights in this book:
“To become a painter one needs a medium such as charcoal, pastels, watercolor, oils, or acrylic. Armed with an instrument such as a brush, a palette knife, or even your fingers to apply the medium on any surface you choose, you are free to paint anywhere you please - indoors or outdoors. But to become an actor one needs a good script, a director, actors to work with, a producer, a stage, lights, and most of all —an audience.
Not too many realize that the positive energy from an audience is an essential ingredient that makes, or un-makes, a show.
To win an audience everything behind the proscenium must transport the audience to another world - the imaginary world - that becomes alive and real on that stage when the lights go on.
The scenery is the audience’s first contact with the imaginary world. A perfect set establishes the mood, the time, and the place of the scene that unfolds.
Unless one has all the above elements, the desire to become an actor will remain an unfulfilled dream and your promising talent may just dissipate before an opportunity comes for you to be recognized. Your passion for the theater may, like dewdrops, drop into the sea of frustration – unfulfilled. I felt I most likely would become that dewdrop since I was painfully shy. Who could have caused opportunities to come my way? Not once did I audition for a role during my forty years behind the proscenium. My more than a hundred roles were blessings from above!
Living more than a hundred lives behind the proscenium made me understand the human heart. From my first role to my last – I offered each performance as a sign of my gratitude to my Heavenly Producer.”
MY LIVES BEHIND THE PROSCENIUM is edited by Suzie Laurel-Delgado and Cocoy Laurel; with Dulce Festin-Baybay (Editorial Consultant), Miriam R. Castillo (Project Coordinator), Sarah L. Sanz (Photo Editor), and Nestor Amador Malgapo Jr. (Book Design and Cover). This book is printed by GA Printing.
For book reservations and inquiries, kindly please contact Ms. Jenn Tejada through 88697298; between Monday to Friday, 1pm-5 pm. Online orders can be placed on 29 May 2021 Facebook Live launch/CeliaDiazLaurel.
Author: slickmaster | © 2021 The SlickMaster's Files
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