MANILA, Philippines – It’s been a busy year for the Filipino theater scene, especially in the world of musicals.
This 2024, we got to see screen-to-stage adaptations, reruns of old crowd favorite musicals, the debuts of original jukebox musicals, and so much more. For die-hard theater fans, this was heaven on earth (but maybe not for their wallets) — with the seemingly endless shows they could catch year-round.
The casts of several musicals graced the Rappler HQ this year to perform songs from their respective soundtracks, and in between, shared tidbits about what it’s been like to stage the shows. With this, before we welcome 2025, let’s look back on Philippine theater’s eventful year in 2024, as told by Rappler Live Jam.
Pingkian: Isang Musikal
Written by Juan Ekis, directed by Jenny Jamora, and composed by Ejay Yatco, Pingkian: Isang Musikal was staged by Tanghalang Pilipino earlier this year. It’s a full-length historical musical that charts the ups and downs of Emilio Jacinto’s life as a leader, painting a picture of the complicated path to freedom as the Philippine revolution ends and the Philippine-American war begins.
During their Rappler Live Jam guesting, cast members Vic Robinson (Emilio Jacinto/Pingkian), Gab Pangilinan (Catalina de Jesus), Bituin Escalante (Josefa Dizon), Kakki Teodoro (Jose Rizal), and Paw Castillo (Andres Bonifacio) performed the songs “Nasa Loob ang Himagsikan,” “Sapat Ba Ang Mga Salita,” “Ang Ating Ipinaglalaban,” and “Ikaw Ang Liwanag.”
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Directed by Missy Maramara and Dingdong Rosales, alongside Rony Fortich as musical director, The Sandbox Collective’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the Filipino adaptation of the renowned Broadway musical of the same name. An interactive comedy that ran from February to March, the musical sees six middle schoolers battle it out at a spelling championship, all while tackling the rocky experience of growing up and healing your inner child.
On Rappler Live Jam, cast members AC Bonifacio (Marcy Park), Ron Balgos (William Barfée), Krystal Brimner (Olive Ostrovsky), and Jordan Andrews (Mitch Mahoney) performed “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “I Speak Six Languages,” “Magic Foot,” “My Friend, The Dictionary” and “Prayer of the Comfort Counselor/Final Goodbye.”
Little Shop of Horrors: A Bloodthirsty Musical Comedy
First staged in 1982 off-Broadway, Little Shop of Horrors follows flower shop worker Seymour’s quest for romance, and how he ends up raising a flesh-eating plant named Aubrey II as a result. The Filipino adaptation of the musical by The Sandbox Collective ran from July to early August, and was directed by Toff de Venecia.
Cast members Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon (Aubrey), Nyoy Volante (Seymour), and Mikee Baskiñas, Abi Sulit and Paula Paguio (the Street Urchins) performed “Little Shops of Horrors,” “Suddenly Seymour,” “Somewhere That’s Green,” and “Da Doo” on the Rappler Live Jam stage.
Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical
Based on iconic OPM rock band Parokya Ni Edgar’s discography, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy tells the stories of four women — Jen, Aiza, Girlie, and Norma — who each work to overcome challenges of their own, as fate somehow brings them all together. The musical, which ran from April to June, was directed by Dexter M. Santos and written by Rody Vera.
In this Rappler Live Jam episode, cast members Kyle Napuli (Aiza), Marynor Madamesila (Jen), Tex Ordoñez-De Leon (Norma), Natasha Cabrera (Girlie), Pepe Herrera (Mr. Suave), and Noel Comia Jr. (Tikmol) performed straight from the musical’s home at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Newport World Resorts. They sang “Don’t Think,” “Mr. Suave,” and “Harana/Gitara.”
Mula Sa Buwan
Mula Sa Buwan is a Filipino musical by Pat Valera and William Elvin Manzano. Based on Edmund Rostand’s 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac and Soc Rodrigo’s Filipino translation, the “musical about love and defiance” is set in 1940s Manila. It features young, hopeful individuals who go from working to achieve their dreams to fighting to survive an environment marred by war. It centers on the love story between Cyrano, Roxane, and Christian.
This particular run took place from August to September. The musical’s cast also took the Rappler Live Jam stage in 2018!
For this Rappler Live Jam episode, cast members Myke Salomon (Cyrano), Gab Pangilinan (Roxane), Phi Palmos (Rosanna), and MC Dela Cruz (Christian) sang “Ikaw,” “Tinig Sa Dilim,” “Matatapos Din,” and “Ang Sabi Nila.”
One More Chance, The Musical
When music and film collide, you get One More Chance, The Musical — a stage adaptation of the hit 2007 romance-drama movie, featuring the songs of OPM band Ben&Ben. Directed by PETA’s Maribel Legarda, this musical centers on the turbulent love story of Popoy and Basha as they fall out of love and are brought together again, against the backdrop of Ben&Ben’s discography. One More Chance, The Musical also sheds light on the stories of the beloved Thursday Barkada, Popoy and Basha’s friend group.
The musical had its first season from April to June, and returned for a rerun from August to October.
Cast members Nicole Omillo (Basha), CJ Navato (Popoy), and Sheena Belarmino (Tricia) visited the Rappler HQ to perform “Doors,” “Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay,” “Kathang Isip,” and “Maybe The Night.”
Bar Boys: A New Musical
Based on the 2017 film by Kip Oebanda, Bar Boys: A New Musical follows four friends — Torran, Josh, Chris, and Erik, each of whom are dealing with battles of their own while navigating the hardships of law school. The musical is directed by Pat Valera and Mikko Angeles, with Myke Salomon as the musical director. It was first staged in May, and returned for a rerun in November.
Cast members Alex Diaz (Chris), Benedix Ramos (Erik), Jerom Canlas (Torran), Omar Uddin (Josh), and Topper Fabregas (Attorney Victor Cruz) took the Rappler Live Jam stage to perform “Place to Land,” “Daan ng Pag-Ibig,” “Ang Hirap Mangarap,” and “Cross The Line.”
Sandosenang Sapatos
First staged in 2013, Sandosenang Sapatos is a musical that’s based on the children’s book by Luis Gatmaitan. It tells the story of Susie, a young girl who was born without feet, and her shoemaker father, whose dream is to have a ballerina for a daughter. Every time it’s Susie’s birthday, a Shoe Fairy (Diwata) grants her lower limbs, giving her the ability to dance her heart out, and momentarily fulfill her father’s dream — even if it’s in a temporary world.
Adapted by Layeta Bucoy, Sandosenang Sapatos the musical was directed by Jonathan Tadioan, with Jed Balsamo and Noel Cabangon taking the reins for the music.
Ahead of the musical’s rerun from November to December, cast members Kyle Napuli (Susie), Wincess Jem Yana (Susie), Tex Ordoñez-de Leon (Nanay), and Mica Fajardo (Ate Karina) brought Sandosenang Sapatos’ music to Rappler Live Jam, with performances of the tracks “Tunay na Regalo,” “Anong Silbi ng Pagsulat,” and “Tinatawid ng Pagmamahal.”
Going Home to Christmas
Just in time for the holidays, from late November to mid-December, Repertory Philippines staged the first-ever run of Going Home to Christmas, an original jukebox musical based on the songs of OPM icon Jose Mari Chan. It features the stories of a diverse set of characters as they make their way home for Christmas.
Cast members Carla Guevara Laforteza (Pat), Neo Rivera (JD), Juancho Gabriel (young Arnie), and Davy Narciso (Chris) capped off Rappler Live Jam’s 2024 run with performances of Jose Mari Chan’s “Beautiful Girl,” “Tell Me Your Name,” “Hahanapin Ko,” and “Going Home to Christmas.”
The number of musical casts who guested on Rappler Live Jam this year only cover a portion of the busy, abundant year the local theater scene has had — making us all the more excited for what’s to come in 2025. – Rappler.com