After its successful 2026 theatrical run of About Us But Not About Us, IdeaFirst Live! hosted a press conference to unveil their 2027-2028 season slate and it is packed with powerhouse productions!
The theater arm of the film studio that brought us hit movies like Call Me Mother, And The Breadwinner Is…, and the acclaimed Sisa is pushing through with some big stage productions next year, some in the same vein as this season’s roster while introducing something new.
Following the success of the theatrical adaptation of the movie About Us But Not About Us, it seems like a natural move to adapt another one of Jun Robles Lana’s beloved films onto the stage. His acclaimed movie Die Beautiful is set to take the stage, this time transformed into a full-scale musical.
Die Beautiful: The Musical will make its way to the Proscenium Theater in June 2027, featuring a new book and lyrics by Jun Robles Lana and Elmer Gatchalian. Directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio, the musical reimagines the enduring friendship between Trisha and Barbs. While the original film centered on traditional beauty pageants, this modernized stage adaptation shifts the spotlight to drag culture and the fabulous lives of its queens. The initial cast announcement includes Audie Gemora, Karylle, Esang de Torres, Maxie Andreison, Viñas Deluxe, Lance Reblando, and Chamyto.
While this pivot modernizes the story to mark the decade since the movie’s release, many of its core narrative elements will remain intact. Hopefully, the friendship between Trisha and Barbs takes center stage as their deep bond was the strongest element of the film for me. Director Tuxqs Rutaquio shared that on of the challenges will be reimagining the transformations from the original source material as these were easily done in the medium of film. While Paolo Ballesteros spent hours in make up chairs for each onscreen to transform into the many celebrities whose faces he fashioned himself into in the movie, Rutaquio says we have to wait and see how he will do the same for the theatrical adaptation.
Come October, IdeaFirst Live will follow up with Victorina, a play centered on one of Jose Rizal’s most infamous characters from Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Directed by Chris Martinez with a book by Jun Robles Lana, Victorina will almost be a one-woman show. While there are other performers, the whole play is teased to be almost one extended monologue that promises to be funny, satirical, and fiercely biting. Bringing this iconic character to life on stage is none other than the comedic genius Eugene Domingo. I don’t need to know anything else about the production, Eugene Domingo directed by Chris Martinez in an almost one-woman show? Sign me up. Victorina is set to open at the PowerMac Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit, Makati.
If you caught the film or stage play version of About Us But Not About Us, then you know that an important element of that story is the book Teorya ng mga Tanong, penned by the character Lancelot Guinto (played by Elijah Canlas). Idea First Live also released the physical book under Lancelot’ Guinto’s name, and now, that book is being adapted into a stage play. Directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio with a script by Jun Robles Lana, the production stars Romnick Sarmienta, Elijah Canlas, and Epy Quizon, who return to play the characters from the book that was inspired by the characters from About Us But Not About Us. In a way, this IdeaFirst’s most meta offering yet, as the play explores the thin boundary between reality and fiction. The show will be in March 2028 at the PowerMac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati.
Finally, the company teases us about a mysterious final production without revealing its title, any indication of its form, or genre. Perci Intalan and Jun Robles Lana of IdeaFirst Company hints that it will be a different kind of show, one that “changes the way we experience theater.” The only clue, a red question mark dripping blood against a black background, Could it be an immersive horror experience or a haunted house? It’s anybody’s guess for now.
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