What does it take to become a fashion icon? Let's come and join the country’s well-known personalities from the Philippine fashion industry in a Fashion Forum as they share their thoughts and experiences how Diana Vreeland inspired their personal life and professional careers.
MEGA FASHION HALL, LIFESTYLE INQUIRER, LOOK MAGAZINE and MyOwn Mann Productions proudly presents “ WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A FASHION ICON ” – A Fashion Forum about fashion guru Diana Vreeland.
This will be held on March 4, 2014 at the IMAX Theater, 5/F SM Megamall Fashion Hall, Ortigas Center. This will be hosted by Ms. Thelma San Juan, Editor of Lifestyle Inquirer.
Had been leading a wonderful life in Europe, DIANA VREELAND, a noted columnist and editor in the field of fashion and worked for the fashion magazines Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1964.
Ms. CHERIE GIL set to play DIANA VREELAND, Fashion's Grand Dame in Full Gallop.
MyOwn Mann Productions, Inc. and Actor’s Actors Inc. proudly announce its offering for March 2014 with “ FULL GALLOP ” a play about fashion doyenne Diana Vreeland.
Written by Mary Louise Wilson and Mark Hampton, FULL GALLOP focuses on the life of Diana Vreeland, who stood at the center of American style for five decades. As editor of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue magazines, and as a member of the International Cafe Society, Diana chronicled the extraordinary people and events of her time. FULL GALLOP is a portrait of this remarkable woman at a turning point in her life.
The one-woman play is set in August 1971 at Diana Vreeland’s Park Avenue apartment. She has just returned home to New York after four months in Europe --- a trip she took after being fired from Vogue magazine. She throws an impromptu dinner party in the hope that a wealthy friend who is invited will bankroll her in starting a magazine of her own. Other friends, however, attempt to persuade her to take a job at the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art. In her distinctive style, once she decides in which direction her life will move, she goes at it "full gallop. "
In a casting coup, Cherie Gil lends her range and patrician demeanor to the woman who was a major force in shaping culture, style, taste and even language for all time. In a play that is both funny and poignant, FULL GALLOP explores the brilliance of a woman at a crossroads, for whom life can only be lived as a constant parade of adventures.
Cherie Gil first made her name in what are now cinema classics from the 80’s such as Peque Gallaga’s “Oro, Plata, Mata”; Elwood Perez’s “Problem Child” and Emmanuel
Borlaza’s “Bituing Walang Ningning”. She then moved on to television, starring in countless TV series, specializing in playing villainesses and strong-willed women.
In the 2000’s, Cherie discovered the stage and surprised the theater-going public with her versatility and technical proficiency. She essayed such roles as Sister Aloysius in John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt”, Lilline La Fleur in Kopit and Yeston’s musical “Nine” and Maria Callas in Terence Macnally’s “Master Class” for which she received numerous citations for her vivid and unforgettable tour de force performance. Truly a consummate tri-media artist/personality, Cherie has recently produced her first movie, “Sonata”, directed by Peque Gallaga.
Co-presented by Inquirer Lifestyle, Look Magazine, and The Peninsula Manila in cooperation with Antonio’s Tagaytay, Facial Care Center, The Love Garden, Businessworld, HerWord.com, WhenInManila.com, and Rappler.com, FULL GALLOP is set to open with a gala night premiere on March 14 with regular performances on March 15 and 21 at 8:00 p.m. and on March 16 and 23, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. (matinee) at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.
Full Gallop will have the special participation of Ms. Giselle Tongi. The creative team of FULL GALLOP is composed of Bart Guingona (Director), Joey Mendoza (Set Designer), John Batalla (Lighting Designer), Rajo Laurel (Costume Designer), and Ruben Nazareth (Hair and Make-up).
The creative team for the FULL GALLOP photoshoot are Joan Bitagcol (Photo), Sandy, Higgins, Mark Higgins, Michael Salientes (Styling), Mark and Sandy Higgins (art direction), and Fanny Serrano (Hair and Make-up).
Full Gallop is presented by special arrangement with Josef Weinberger Plays Limited, London.
For the March 14 gala night, ticket prices are at Php3,000 orchestra center; Php2,000 for orchestra side and loge; and Php1,000 for balcony inclusive of cocktail food and wine provided by Antonio’s Tagaytay. Part of the proceeds from this gala event will go to Virlanie Foundation’s project of building houses in Negros areas that were affected by Typhoon Yolanda.
Tickets for regular nights are at Php1,500 for orchestra center, Php1,000 for orchestra and loge, and Php600 for balcony. For ticket inquiries, call tel. no. 2150788 or 09175378313. You may also buy tickets through Ticketworld at 8919999 or ticketworld.com.ph
Full Gallop will be on March 14,15,16, 21, 23 at Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza. (photo of Cherie Gil by Joann Bitagcol; photo of Diana Vreeland by Richard Avedon)
Here's an awesome sharing about Ms. Cherie Gil ( by Toots Tolentino)
CHERIE GIL : UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Full name: EVANGELINE ROSE EIGENMANN
Date of birth: JUNE 21, 1963
Do you have a nickname?
CHERIE and CHEECH TO SOME OF MY CLOSEST COLLEAGUES
Have you changed much since you were a kid ?
I’D LIKE TO THINK SO. IN MANY GOOD WAYS I HOPE. I STILL HAVE A FEW CHILDISH ANTICS THOUGH.
What do you most value in your friends ? LOYALTY AND TRUSTWORTHINESS
What is it that you most dislike ? LIARS AND COWARDS
Are you a vegetarian ?
NOOOOOOOOO
Do you worry about your weight ?
NOW I HAVE BEGUN. SEEMS LIKE THE METABOLISM SLOWS DOWN AS YOU GET TO A CERTAIN AGE.
What animal would you be if you were one ? And why?
A CAT OR ANYTHING FELINE WHEN I’M IN MY FLIRTATIOUS, GIRLISH MOOD. AN EAGLE WHEN I WANT TO SOAR AND FEEL ADVENTUROUS
Who are your favorite writers?
I LIKE KHALIL GIBRAN, MILAN KUNDERA, PAOLO COELHO, ERNEST HEMINGWAY , KALED HOSSEINI AND DR. SEUSS.
Your favorite books ?
MANY BUT ALWAYS MY FAVORITES ARE THE LITTLE PRINCE BY ANTOINE DE EXUPERY AND OH, THE PLACES YOU GO BY DR SEUSS
ON YOUR WORK OF ART:
When did you decide to become an artist?
I DON’T RECALL A MOMENT. I JUST SUDDENLY BECAME ONE.
Can you describe your body of work ?
LONG HAHAH
What are the best and worst things about doing what you do ?
THE BEST ARE MANY. THE LEARNING PROCESS OF THE CRAFT MARRIES WELL WITH BECOMING A BETTER HUMAN BEING AND UNDERSTANDING HUMAN NATURE. THE WORST? WELL THE LONG HOURS AT WORK ESPECIALLY FOR TV.
Do you enjoy the whole process of making art ?
IT CAN BE NERVE-WRACKING AND TEDIOUS BUT WHAT ISN’T? THAT’S WHY ONE DERIVES SO MANY FULFILLMENTS IN THE END AS A RESULT OF CREATING.
Name some of your artistic influences …..
CHARITO SOLIS, RITA GOMEZ, ISHMAEL BERNAL, PEQUE GALLAGA, MY MOTHER ROSE MARIE GIL.
What stimulates you to like your work of art ?
THE CHALLENGE OF BRINGING A CHARACTER TO LIFE AND MAKING HER HUMAN. TELLING STORIES THAT INSPIRE AND EMPOWER ESPECIALLY WOMEN
Do you ever feel trapped by the standard rules and procedures of the world of cinema? television ? legitimate stage?
YES SOMETIMES BUT THEN AGAIN IT CAN’T BE HELP. PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITY AS AN ACTOR IS TO GIVE IT A BIT OF TWIST EACH TIME ABOVE THE NORMS. AND FINALLY, IT TAKES A WHOLE GENRE TO MAKE THE CHANGE HAPPEN IN SPITE THE RULES.
Dream roles on film? On stage?
OH MY! I USED TO SAY I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY NORMA DESMOND ONE DAY BUT NOW, I THINK I’M ALRIGHT AND I’M IN A GOOD PLACE TO SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO PLAY SOME OF THE WONDERFUL ROLES AND MATERIAL.
What is your favorite medium ?
THE STAGE
Are you always conscious of your acting roles since you came from a family of actors ? HMMMM…… NO. I’M MORE CONSCIOUS OF WHO THE DIRECTOR WILL BE AND WITH WHOM I WILL BE INETRACTING WITH AS ACTORS)
Do you still get nervous? OF COURSE!!!!!
ON FASHION:
What were you like as a pretty girl ? CHUBBY
What are your favorite colors ?
TEAL, PURPLE, AND LILAC
What is your favorite wardrobe ? JEANS AND T-SHIRTS WITH A FUNKY PAIR OF FLATS
Favorite pair of shoes ever ? MY BALLET FLATS AND MY SHINY RED CHEF SHOES
Did you ever want to become a fashion designer ? AT SOME POINT YES. I JUST CANT DRAW!!!!
Who are the designers you admire ?
OH MANY!
How would you describe your personal style?
CLASSIC YET HIP
What's in your beauty bag ?
LIPSTICK , POWDER , CONCEALER
Do you like wearing make-up ? NOOOOOOO
What are your favorite scents ?
I LIKE THEM CITRUSSY WITH A TOUCH OF SANDAL WOOD. I AM DRAWN TOWARDS MEN SCENTS. NOW I USE TERRE BY HERMES AND JO MALONE PROMEGRANATE SCENT.
What are your most treasured possessions ?
MY CHILDREN’S ART WORK AND WRITING AND THEIR PICTURES
Did you ever want to become a fashion model like your mother?
I WAS A FASHION MODEL IN FACT. LEGITIMATELY SO. MY MOM DID IT ONCE IN A WHILE FOR FUN WHEN SHE WAS ASKED BY HER DESIGNER FRIENDS.
Describe your younger years as a Rustan’s Young VIP model ?
I WAS THE YOUNGEST OF THE BUNCH AND THE “FUNNEST”. WHEN I AUDITIONED THEY HAD TO KEEP AN EYE CLOSED TO THE AGE LIMIT, WHICH WAS THEN 15. I WAS ONLY 14 . GREAT EXPERIENCE! UNTIL THIS DAY I AM STILL IN TOUCH WITH MY CO-VIP MODELS . WE WERE THE LAST BATCH OF THEM ALBEIT THE BEST!!! LOL
What is the quality you like most in a woman ? A WOMAN WHO GRACIOUSLY LEADS HER LIFE WITH GRACE AND ELEGANCE. GENEROUS AND HUMBLE YET CONFIDENT TO EXUDE LIGHT AND INSPIRATION AROUND HER.
What is your greatest extravagance ?
TRAVELS AND FINE DINING RESTAURANTS. NICE CARS TOO
What do you dislike most about your appearance ?
OH, PERHAPS MY SHORT CALVES AND BIG HANDS
ON LIFE:
Who are your heroes in real life ?
NOT TOO MANY. IF I DID SAY THEIR NAMES YOU WOULDN’T KNOW THEM. THEY’RE YOUR ORDINARY KIND OF PEOPLE YOU MEET ALONG THE WAY. MOST OF THEM HAVE REACHED THEIR SENIOR YEARS AND THAT’S WHY THEY TURN OUT TO BE THE WISER ONES.
What is your idea of perfect happiness ? TOOTS, THIS IS GETTING SO PHILOSOPHICAL!
When and where were you happiest?
WHEN I SEE THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER AND MEAN THE MOST TO ME HAPPY AND SAFE. MOST OF THE TIME IS WHEN I AM WITH MY CHILDREN OF COURSE.
Do you have a life philosophy or motto ?
YES. “WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME?“ IT REMINDS ME TO ALWAYS TRY SOMETHING NEW AND TO NEVER STOP LEARNING.
What keeps you going when the going gets rough ?
MY CRAFT AND WORK
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery ? LET’S NOT GO THERE
What is your greatest fear? I TRY NOT TO FEAR. AS THEY SAY THAT WHAT YOU FEAR MAY COME TO YOU. I LIVE LIFE AS IT COMES. ON A DAY TO DAY. BUT YEAH I ADMIT THAT I FEAR GETTING CELLULITES. HA HA
What is your greatest regret ? NONE
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself ? I ANALYZE TOO MUCH
What or who is the greatest love of your life ? THAT’S PERSONAL