Theater Plays and Musicals to Catch in Manila This June 2023

Manila’s theater scene is gifting the month of June with a captivating lineup meant to move the audience. Virgin Labfest is back with 12 unstaged plays; Piolo Pascual marks his foray into musical theater; and Barefoot Theatre Collaborative kicks off Pride Month with twin plays on love and desire. Check out these must-see theater shows in Metro Manila this June 2023!

‘Virgin Labfest: Hitik’ – June 7-June 25

Twelve original one-act plays will make you laugh, cry, reminisce, and ponder courtesy of Virgin Labfest 18 (VLF). True to this year’s theme, “Hitik,” VLF is chock-full of intriguing, sometimes defying, concepts that found their spot onstage.

Showcasing new and original Filipino plays that have not been staged before, VLF has gained recognition for its diverse and thought-provoking themes, innovative storytelling techniques, and experimental approach to theater. The festival has contributed significantly to the growth and development of Philippine theater by providing opportunities for playwrights to have their works produced and seen by a wider audience. It has also served as a platform for dialogue, exchange, and collaboration among theater practitioners and enthusiasts.

How much: P500; Click here to purchase

Location: Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater)

‘Ibarra’ – June 17-18

Musical play “Ibarra” is a unique retelling of Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” and highlights the struggles of Filipinos under the Spanish rule. Piolo Pascual plays the titular role, marking the actor’s first shot at musical theater. Completing the cast are Myramae Meneses as Maria Clara, Jeffrey Hidalgo as Elias, Floyd Tena as Padre Damaso, Carlo Mañalac as Padre Salvi, Nicole Laurel Asensio as Sisa, JD Tena as Basilio, Elian Santos as Crispin, Jon Joven Uy as Pilosopo Tasyo, and Carla Guevara Laforteza as Doña Victorina.

How much: P2,500; Click here to purchase

Location: GSIS Theater, J.W. Diokno Blvd, CCP Complex

Pride Plays: ‘Unica Hijas’ & ‘Laro’ – June 10-11, 16-18, 23, and 25

For Pride Month, Barefoot Theatre Collaborative celebrates LGBTQIA+ stories with twin plays “Unica Hijas” and “Laro.”

The former follows two teenage girls who get caught almost kissing in their religious highschool. In front of their principal, they’re forced to confront their relationship and their own selves. “Laro,” on the other hand, explores the many relations of adult gay men, between love and desire. The twin plays will be held at 3 PM (June 10, 17, 18 and 25) and at 8 PM (June 10, 11, 16, 17, and 23), and are strictly for 18 and older.

How much: P1,700-P1,900; Click here to purchase

Location: Power Mac Center Spotlight of Circuit Makati

‘Red’ – June 9-11, 16-18

Ken is famous painter Rothko’s young and new assistant. Set in the ‘50s, Red follows Ken as he witnesses the struggle of his new boss to be creative. As Rothko is commissioned for a series of large paintings to be featured in a New Yorker restaurant, we watch him question his relationship with art creation and his place in the world.

How much: P800-P1,800. Click here to purchase

Location: PETA Theater Center, 5 Sunnyside Dr, New Manila, Quezon City, 1112 Metro Manila

'Every Brilliant Thing' & 'Lungs' – June 17-July 15

This year’s Sandbox Fest spotlights English playwright Duncan Macmillan’s “Every Brilliant Thing” and “Lungs” staged back to back. In Act 1, “Lungs” tells the story of a couple facing a big decision about whether to have a child or not, culminating in a mix of emotions that navigate the complexities of being a young couple and society’s expectations. It stars Reb Atadero, Sab Jose, Justine Pena, and Brian Sy. In Act II, “Every Brilliant Thing” tackles depression in a charming play that pays tribute to the “irrepressible resilience inside all of us and the capacity to find delight in the everyday.”

How much: Starts at P2,389.20; Click here to purchase

Location: Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Taguig City