Tag: Theatre Group Asia

  • Theatre Group Asia (TGA) Reveals Full Cast for ‘A Chorus Line’

    Theatre Group Asia (TGA) Reveals Full Cast for ‘A Chorus Line’

    After a rigorous six-month casting process spanning New York, Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao, Theatre Group Asia (TGA) proudly announces the full cast of its highly anticipated production of A Chorus Line*, to be directed and choreographed by Emmy Award-winner and Broadway powerhouse Karla Puno Garcia.

    This ensemble of exceptional Filipino performers joins previously announced stars: Tony and two-time Grammy Award nominee Conrad Ricamora as Zach, and Fil-Am Broadway triple threat Lissa de Guzman, celebrated for her portrayal of Elphaba in the Wicked Broadway National Tour as Cassie.

    In a life-imitates-art twist, the auditions mirrored the very heart of the show: a raw, emotionally charged battle for a place in the lineup, perfectly captured in the musical’s iconic opening plea, “I Hope I Get It.” And get it they did. Here’s the full cast:

    RENEE ALBULARIO

    Renee Albulario as Diana Morales. A Fil-Am New York–based artist whose Broadway credits include assistant director for Just in Time, assistant choreographer for Here Lies Love, and performer in David Byrne’s American Utopia.

    Angelo Soriano as Mike Costa. A Manila-born performer who has shared the stage with Lea Salonga, Vina Morales, Justin Bieber, Zendaya, and Macy Gray. Broadway credits: Aladdin: The Musical and Here Lies Love.

    MICHAELA MARFORI

    Michaela Marfori as Bebe Benzenheimer. The Orlando native has appeared in the Broadway National Tour of West Side Story, MJ the Musical, and Frozen. TV appearances include the 78th Tony Awards, Saturday Night Live, Disney’s Magical Christmas Day Parade, and Eurydice.

    JORDAN ANDREWS

    Jordan Andrews as Al DeLuca. The Pinoy Big Brother S10 “Musical Dream Chaser” made his West End debut as Tam in Miss Saigon, followed by The King and I. Local credits: Joseph the Dreamer, Ang Huling El Bimbo, Spelling Bee, Rent, Once on This Island, Tabing Ilog: The Musical, and Shrek the Musical.

    RAPAH MANALO

    Rapah Manalo as Richie Walters. Seen in Shrek the Musical, Ang Huling El Bimbo, Delia D., Buruguduystunstugudunstuy, Snow White and the Prince, Mula Sa Buwan, Bar Boys: A New Musical, and Coriolano.

    KENNETH SAN JOSE

    Ken San Jose as Mark Anthony. A Fil-Am dancer, singer, and choreographer who rose to prominence on World of Dance Philippines. He has worked with Matt Steffanina and WilldaBeast Adams, is a member of Supahdance, and has performed in Joseph the Dreamer and Mark Tuan’s tour in LA, Korea, and China.

    STEPHEN VINAS

    Stephen Viñas as Bobby Mills. A Gawad Buhay Award winner with credits including Shrek the Musical, Delia D., Ang Huling El Bimbo, Carousel, Alice in Wonderland, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Next to Normal, Little Shop of Horrors, Dani Girl, Mula Sa Buwan, Lapu-Lapu, Newsies, Sandosenang Sapatos, and Tabing Ilog: The Musical.

    Mikaela Regis as Sheila Bryant. Credits include Shrek the Musical, Delia D., Buruguduystunstugudunstuy, Quomodo Desolata Es?, Bar Boys: A New Musical, Mula Sa Buwan, and Dekada ’70. As a playwright, she has earned a Gawad Buhay nomination for Best Original Script.

    Iya Villanueva as Maggie Winslow. Trained in ballet and jazz from age five under the Bacolod Dance Academy and Garcia-Sanchez School of Dance. Credits: Ang Huling El Bimbo, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy, Mula Sa Buwan, The Bodyguard the Musical, Liwanag Sa Dilim, Joseph the Dreamer, and Si Faust.

    Universe Ramos as Paul San Marco. A former dance captain of Glendale High’s award-winning team and EDGE Performing Arts Center scholar. Recently made his Manila debut as Oberon/Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

    RICHARDSON YADAO

    Richardson Yadao as Larry. Two-time Gawad Buhay awardee, dancer, educator and choreographer. He has dance for the Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, Royal Caribbean Productions, Ballet Philippines, Romançon Dance Company, Filipinescas Dance Company, Vela Damian School of Ballet, Maquiling Ballet and Manila Dance Center. Theater performances include Rama Hari, Mabining Mandirigma, Manhid, The BodyGuard the Musical and A Christmas Carol.

    Julio Laforteza as Don Kerr. Began training at age 7 under Sofia Zobel Elizalde, James and Liesl Laforteza, and PJ Rebullida. A NYU Tisch scholar, he is Associate Director of Galaw Co Dance Theater and faculty at Studio Dance by Lina.

    Brie Chappell as Val Clark. Trained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and The Urdang Academy. Credits include Made in Dagenham, Jane Eyre, and The Album: Skool Edition.

    Sam Libao as Kristine Urich. Trained with Steps Dance Studio, La Salle Dance Company, and G-Force. Theater credits include Joseph the Dreamer and Once on This Island.

    Alyanna Wijangco as Judy Turner. Seen in Shrek the Musical and Delia D., and Jepoy and the Magic Circle.

    Jessica Carmona as Connie Wong. A New York-based Fil-Am performer and NAAP member who has trained at Juilliard, Carnegie Mellon, and the Point Park Conservatory.

    Luca Olbes as Gregory Gardner. A high-school senior who has appeared in Footloose, The Addams Family, High School Musical, and Ballet Philippines’ The Nutcracker.

    JIM FERRER

    Jim Ferrer as Butch Barton. UK credits include Here Lies Love and Matilda. Philippine credits: Saturday Night Fever, Tarzan, Legally Blonde, Newsies, Oz, Alice in Wonderland, The Quest for the Adarna, Camp Rock. Former dance captain for Joseph the Dreamer and choreographer for Legally Blonde and Si Faust.

    WINCHESTER LOPEZ

    Winchester Lopez as Tom Tucker. Part of Miss Saigon’s UK International Tour, Danish production, and Austrian run (as dance captain). Recently Dance Supervisor for Miss Saigon Australia and Asia, and appeared in The Bodyguard The Musical.

    Rofe Villarino as Victor Vickers. Trained in dance and voice at Mandaue City School for the Arts, performing with the MCSFA Dance Company and Children’s Choir. Credits: Shrek the Musical, Delia D., Ang Huling El Bimbo, Mula Sa Buwan, and the international tour of Siddhartha the Musical.

    Lord Kristofer Logmao as Frank. A multidisciplinary performer and former UPeepz world champion, with credits in Shrek the Musical, Delia D., and major theme-park productions. Associate Choreographer for select Full House Theater Company shows.

    Paulina Luzuriaga as Tricia. Trained at Steps Dance Studio and CityDance Conservatory (Washington, D.C.). Debuted in Peter Pan the Musical and recently appeared in Ang Parokya ni Edgar: Buruguduystunstugudunstuy.

    Anna del Prado as Lois Dillettente. Performed for five years at Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mickey and the Wondrous Book. Recently starred as Kasing in Pulang Langob and has sung and danced in concerts for Gary Valenciano and SB19.

    Vince Denzel Sarra as Roy. Also known as “Bomba Ding,” he is a dancer and drag performer from the House of Ding. Theater credits include Delia D., and Walang Aray.

    Franco Ramos (Swing). A De La Salle–CSB Technical Theater scholar with over a decade of experience. Known for Gaya Sa Pelikula, he recently appeared in Shrek the Musical, Delia D., and Jepoy and the Magic Circle.

    Anyah de Guzman (Swing). A Fil-Am performer trained at Osceola County School for the Arts, earning acting nominations for Guys & Dolls and West Side Story. Philippine credits include Snow White and The Prince and Zsazsa Zaturnnah.

    A landmark of American musical theatre, A Chorus Line celebrates its 50th Anniversary by continuing to shine a spotlight on the ensemble—the unsung heroes of every show. Following 17 hopefuls vying for eight roles, it remains a timeless ode to ambition, sacrifice, and individuality.

    Tickets are available via TicketWorld, priced from ₱900 to ₱5,500. The show runs March 12–29, 2026, with performances on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

    A Chorus Line is presented by Ayala Land, BPI and Philippine Airlines, the official carrier with additional support from Make it Makati, Circuit Makati and Ayala Malls.

    For more information, visit theatregroupasia.com, follow @theatregroupasia on Instagram, or like the official Theatre Group Asia Facebook page.

  • Nyoy and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante Set to Delight as The Baker and The Baker’s Wife in The Philippine Staging Of ‘Into The Woods’

    Nyoy and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante Set to Delight as The Baker and The Baker’s Wife in The Philippine Staging Of ‘Into The Woods’

    Freshly baked casting news: Theatre Group Asia (TGA) reveals seasoned theater performers and real-life couple Nyoy and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante as The Baker and The Baker’s Wife in its production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods this coming August to be held at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater (S-PAT). 

    Like a sprinkle of sugar, the veteran singer-songwriter and stage actor sweetly remarks, “I get to play with my wife in this musical! I’m so thrilled to be working with her again!” The couple famously met when they starred together in the musical Rock of Ages back in 2012 staged by Atlantis Production and directed by Chari Arespacochaga, the same director as this production of Into The Woods. The duo last worked together in the local run of Kinky Boots where Nyoy played Lola while Mikkie did his makeup. The Philippine run of the Tony Award-winning musical was directed by the late theater impresario and TGA founding collaborator Bobby Garcia. 

    2 MIKKIE BRADSHAW VOLANTE

    Mikkie reminisces, “I’m looking forward to paying tribute to my mentor and dear friend Direk Bobby Garcia by tapping into everything he taught me. The Baker’s Wife has been a dream role of mine, and I can’t wait to breathe life into a character I’ve fantasized about playing for over a decade now.” Mikkie’s impressive 14-year theater career began when she played Liesel in The Sound of Music. Her credit highlights include roles in Carousel, Aladdin, The Addams Family, Ghost the Musical, The Bridges of Madison County, Saturday Night Fever the Musical, Beautiful the Carole King Musical, and Carrie the Musical to name a few.

    1 NYOY VOLANTE

    On his portrayal of The Baker, Nyoy shares, “I’m excited about developing the character’s road to discovery – his resilience and bravery while overcoming insecurities and struggles. And just like all of Sondheim’s creations, the music of Into The Woods is fabulous and beautiful.” The accomplished recording artist and Your Face Sounds Familiar and Tawag ng Tanghalan mentor’s notable performances include roles in Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Jersey Boys, Singing in the Rain, Shrek the Musical, Spelling Bee, and In the Heights among others. 

    Their shared love for fairy tales and fantasy fuels their enthusiasm. They agree, “Combining all our favorite fairytales, married with our love for Sondheim’s music, make Into The Woods such an amazing story.”

    Nyoy and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante join previously announced cast members Lea Salonga as The Witch, Arielle Jacobs as Cinderella, Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Prince Charming and The Wolf, and Eugene Domingo as Jack’s Mother. 

    Into The Woods* is based on James Lapine’s book, who also directed the original Broadway run. The plot intertwines several fairy tale characters and dramatically portrays the impact of human choices and actions.

    Behind this production of Into The Woods is Tony Award-winning visionary Clint Ramos, who serves as overall artistic and creative director alongside co-producers John and Joanna Echauz, and S-PAT Executive Director Chris Mohnani. 

    For more information about Into The Woods, please visit www.theatregroupasia.com, or follow Facebook and Instagram @theatregroupasia.