MANILA -- The iconic Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, home of Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (DUP), will be renovated starting April 1 this year, DUP artistic director Banaue Miclat-Janssen told ABS-CBN News on Monday.

The makeover is part of the renovation of the main wings of Palma Hall. "We're prepared for it being out of commission for a year," Miclat-Janssen added.

For the coming 45th Season, DUP will temporarily stage its new plays at the nearby Tanghalang Hermogenes Ylagan black box theater, which has 150 seats. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater can accommodate 288 in full capacity.

Miclat-Janssen said there is no truth to speculations that DUP will go on a one-year hiatus because of the renovation.

"We will have our new season launch in August. But less shows, one per semester, so there will be two productions for the whole season. Both to be staged at THY black box theater," she told ABS-CBN News.

Those who want to savor Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater in its present form can catch the re-staging of Rody Vera's "Nana Rosa" for UP Playwright's Theater, which runs until March 22.

Directed by Jose Estrella, it has Bibeth Orteza and Peewee O'hara alternating for the titular role of Maria Rosa Henson, the first Filipino to publicly come out as comfort woman and exposed her sufferings.

• Theater review: Comfortless catharsis in 'Nana Rosa'
• Why Bibeth Orteza wanted to play comfort woman Rosa Henson in Dulaang UP's 'Nana Rosa'

Iconic venue

The theater was named in 1976 after professor-playwright Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero, National Artist for Theater and founder of UP Dramatic Club and later on, the UP Mobile Theater, the country's first theater-on-wheels.

It was initially called the Liberal Arts Lecture Hall or Arts and Lecture Hall when the construction of Rafael Palma Hall Building was completed in 1952. But even before the said completion, there had been performances in the AS Lecture Hall.

According to an article about the history of Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater written by Prof. Ramona Flores, the Liberal Arts Lecture Hall was inaugurated in 1951 with a production of John von Druten's "I Remember Mama" by the UP Dramatic Club. Guerrero was then a young assistant professor in the Department of English when he founded the UP Dramatic Club in 1947.

Flores wrote: "The AS Lecture Hall was turned into a decent theater in 1976 with funds provided by then UP President Onofre D. Corpuz and was formally christened Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater. On Septermber 15, 1976, it opened with the production of 'Ang Bundok' by Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio (who was named National Artist for Theater in 2018)."

Other renovations were made in the following years, with DUP founder Tony Mabesa at the helm. Theater seats were re-upholstered with seat covers, wall fans were added, restroom reconstructed, floor repainted and mono-block chairs added for some performances with full capacity.

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater was also once home to UP Repertory Company, which was founded by Behn Cervantes in 1972.

The actors, directors, designers and all who have performed, worked in the legendary venue are among those who continue to shape the ever-colorful Philippine theater history.