Hold tight to your cows, glass slippers, and golden hairs, theatre fans! We’re heading into the woods to see one of the most anticipated comebacks on the Philippine stage!

New theatre collective, Theatre Group Asia (TGA), has announced its next production following the success of their acclaimed one-woman show, “Request Sa Radyo.” Stephen Sondheim's "Into The Woods” will be making its way to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater stage this August!

As if that news alone couldn’t get more exciting, TGA dropped the bomb last Jan. 17 when they revealed Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga will be joining the production as The Witch, a role she had previously done in 1994.

“She is good, she is nice, she is right, she is the witch! Making her grand return to the Philippine musical stage after six years, Lea Salonga is back and ready to weave her magic in Into the Woods!” said TGA in a post, sending musical fans into a frenzy and increasing the demand for ticket details. This is Lea’s first musical in the Philippines since her performance in “Sweeney Todd” in 2019, another Sondheim musical masterpiece, and directed by the late Bobby Garcia.

The group has also unveiled another cast member: Filipino American Arielle Jacobs, known for her debut role as Nina in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights,” is set to play Cinderella. The actress had starred in various Broadway musical productions including as Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and as Nessarose in Wicked.

“Into The Woods” brings together some of the most iconic fairytale characters into one setting. The stories of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel are tied together by an original storyline following a baker and his wife who are trying to break a curse by a wicked witch. To do so, they must venture into the woods to gather three items from the aforementioned characters. A chaotic adventure through forest and song, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1987 and won three Tony Awards including Best Score and Best Book. It has since been produced throughout the world and was adapted into a film by Walt Disney Pictures in 2014.

This upcoming production aligns with TGA’s mission to present world-class theatre shows to the Filipino audience, all the while championing Filipino creatives and fostering connections within the international theatre community. Show dates and ticket prices should be revealed in the coming weeks. Sign up here to be the first to know about it!

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