MANILA - For its 32nd season, Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) will stage four plays about people's choices and artists' creative influences.

The plays will revolve around the theme "PILIpino" and will be staged from August 2018 to March 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

More specifically, these will be about "the choices people make that shape their identity and their society, as well as those that artists make to create art that is true, good, and beautiful," according to TP artistic director Fernando "Nanding" Josef.

TP opens with "Balag at Angud," an original Filipino musical written by Palanca award winner Layeta Bucoy, with musical arrangement by Dodjie Fernandez. The Audie Gemora-directed play dramatizes the life of Luis Yee Jr. and his decision to pursue art against all odds. It runs at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) from August 31 to September 16.

"Ang Pag-uusig" will return on stage after its critically acclaimed run last season. A Jerry Respeto translation of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," the Dennis Marasigan-directed play depicts an elite-controlled community that faces crucial choices in a time of crisis. It will be re-staged at Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater) from October 5 to October 28.

Also part of the lineup is "Manila Notes," a Philippine version of Oriza Hirata's play "Tokyo Notes" translated by Rody Vera. Set in an art museum lobby amid war and family conflicts, this play chooses naturalistic silence and muted confrontations over typical drama. It will run at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino from Novemeber 30 to December 16.

For its final act, TP is set to stage William Shakespeare's "Coriolanus." Translated by Guelan Luarca, the rarely-staged Shakespearean play tells the story of a legendary Roman soldier who turned into a tyrant, which lead to his downfall. Directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna, the play will be staged at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino from February 22 to March 17, 2019.

For ticket reservations, contact (0915) 607-2275 or 832-1125 local 1620/1621, or visit TicketWorld's website.