Looking for a good reason to spend an evening at the theater? There’s plenty to keep audiences in their seats as Manila stages an eclectic mix of comedies, musicals, historical stories, and intimate dramas.
Catch a fresh take on Gabriela Silang’s life in “Gabriela: The Musical,” or explore love across parallel universes in “Constellations.” With productions ranging from playful crowd-pleasers to stories tackling family, identity, revolution, and relationships, November is shaping up to be an exciting month for live theater. Check them out!
The Play That Goes Wrong
Brace yourself for a murder mystery where nothing goes according to plan with “The Play That Goes Wrong” on Nov. 6 to 8, 13 to 15, and 20 to 22, 2026, at The Theatre at Solaire.
Blending murder-mystery intrigue with slapstick absurdity, this Olivier Award-winning comedy follows a theatre company attempting to stage “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” Instead, forgotten lines, troublesome props, an unconscious leading lady, and a corpse that struggles to stay dead send opening night spiraling into chaos.
Select performances begin at 1:30 PM, 3 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM. Tickets start at P1,056.95.
Joseph The Dreamer
Follow a journey of dreams, faith, and second chances with “Joseph The Dreamer” on Nov. 6 to 8, 13 to 15, and 20 to 22, 2026, at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza. Trumpets brings Joseph’s biblical story to life through vibrant songs, energetic dance numbers, and a heartfelt script tracing his path from betrayal and slavery to resilience and forgiveness.
Jordan Andrews and Neo Rivera alternate as Joseph, with Nonie Buencamino as Jacob and Lorenz Martinez as Pharaoh. Reimagined for a new generation, the musical invites audiences of all ages to hold on to hope and faith. Tickets start at P2,200.
The Art of Breaking Up
Discover what remains after love begins to unravel in “The Art of Breaking Up” on Nov. 6 to 8, 13 to 15, 20 to 22, and 27 to 29, 2026, at PETA Theater Center. Written by the late George de Jesus III and directed by Dudz Teraña, the production follows intertwined couples navigating the tender and often messy process of letting go.
With warmth and humor woven into the heartbreak, the play explores difficult goodbyes and the lessons relationships leave behind. Expect a thoughtful look at love, healing, connection, and finding the courage to move forward. Tickets start at P1,236.
Saglit Lang, Totoo Na (The Re-run)
Take a closer look at the truths behind everyday connections with “Saglit Lang, Totoo Na (The Re-run)” on Nov. 7 to 8 and 13 to 15, 2026, at 7 PM at Mirror Studio Theater.
Presented by FirstSun Production and Ignis Novus Artist Management, the show combines seven short plays centered on Filipino relationships, family dynamics, love, loss, and self-discovery: "Walang Iwanan" by Rene Villanueva, "Over a Cup of Coffee" by Vincent De Jesus, "Eyeball" by Alfonso Dacanay, "Wagas" and "Babae sa Dilemma ng Bra" by Glory Ann Nacional, and "Hele" and "Sa mga Mata ng Bata" by Caleb Alvarez.
Directed by Rodel Mercado, the collection invites audiences to recognize familiar emotions from different perspectives. Tickets are priced at P800 with free seating.
CONSTELLATIONS by Nick Payne
Explore how one choice can reshape an entire love story in “Constellations” from Nov. 13 to 15 and 20 to 22, 2026, at The Mirror Studio Theater. Nick Payne’s play follows quantum physicist Marianne and beekeeper Roland as their relationship unfolds across parallel universes, where different words and decisions change the course of their lives.
Directed by Kiara Pipino, the production stars Topper Fabregas, Jenny Jamora, and Missy Maramara, with characters shifting between the three actors as realities change. Shows are at 3 PM and 7 PM on select dates. Tickets are P1,500, with free seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
GREGORIA LAKAMBINI: A PINAY POP MUSICAL
Meet the woman behind the revolution in “Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical” on Nov. 13 to 15, 19 to 22, and 26 to 29, 2026, at the Proscenium Theater. The production puts Gregoria de Jesus, affectionately known as Oryang, at the heart of the story as she grows from a spirited young woman in Caloocan into the Lakambini of the Katipunan. Her experiences with love, motherhood, and revolution unfold to the electrifying beat of P-pop.
Following previous runs in 2025 and 2026, the musical steps back onstage with eight Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards nominations to its name. Tickets range from P1,500 to P3,000.
Karmen 1949
Travel back to postwar Manila through a bold reimagining of “Carmen” with “Karmen 1949” on Nov. 13 to 15 and 20 to 22, 2026, at Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté Ateneo de Manila University.
Set four years after the Battle of Manila, the story unfolds inside a damaged theater and centers on Karmen’s determination to live independently. Roxy Aldiosa takes the title role opposite Bryan Homecillo as Jose, a Philippine Constabulary officer whose desire to hold onto their relationship fuels jealousy, obsession, and conflict.
Performances are at 3 PM and 8 PM on select dates. Tickets are P2,000 with free seating.
Gabriela: The Musical
See Gabriela Silang’s revolutionary story through a new lens in “Gabriela: The Musical” on Nov. 13 to 15, 20 to 22, and 28 to 29, 2026, at Hyundai Hall, Areté Ateneo.
Gab Pangilinan takes the title role alongside Myke Salomon as Diego Silang and CJ Navato as Miguel Vicos. With a book and lyrics by Pat Valera, music and musical direction by Salomon, and direction by Mikko Angeles, the original Filipino musical blends history with myth, magic, and mystery.
Expect a sweeping exploration of love, loss, identity, transformation, and the courage to imagine a different future. Tickets range from P999 to P3,199.
BOY by Anna Ziegler
Close out Mad Child Productions’ third season with “Boy” from Nov. 27 to 29 and Dec. 4 to 6, 2026, at Mirror Theater Studio. Written by Anna Ziegler and directed by Cholo Ledesma, the play centers on Adam, whose parents are persuaded by a doctor to raise him as a girl following an accident. Twenty years later, Adam faces the lasting consequences of that decision while navigating love and questions surrounding his identity.
Zoë de Ocampo leads the cast with Topper Fabregas, Jam Binay, Toni Go-Yadao, and Marvin Ong. Shows are at 3 PM and 8 PM on select dates. Tickets are P1,500, with limited early-bird tickets at P1,300.
The Child (After Ibsen’s Wild Duck)
Uncover the secrets threatening to tear a family apart in “The Child” on Nov. 28 to 29 and Dec. 5 to 6, 2026, at Mirror Theatre Studios. Created and directed by Nelsito Gomez, this contemporary adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s “The Wild Duck” transports the story to present-day Norway, where a surprise visitor disrupts Gina and Hans Ekdal’s preparations for their daughter’s birthday.
Marco Viaña, Alfredo Reyes, Caisa Borromeo, Teia Contreras, Jaime Del Mundo, and Carlitos Siguion-Reyna make up the cast. Presented as an intimate chamber drama, the production explores family dynamics and the fallout from long-hidden truths. Shows are at 2 PM and 7 PM on select dates. Tickets are P1,500.
Fiestas y Muertos
See Rizal’s classic through a striking new lens in “Fiestas y Muertos” on Nov. 6, 8, and 13 to 15, 2026, at 2 PM and 7 PM at IBG-KAL Theater, UP Diliman. Directed by José Estrella, Dulaang UP’s reimagining of “Noli Me Tangere” contrasts the forced joy of public fiestas with the darker realities of death, poverty, corruption, and oppression.
Based on Virgilio S. Almario’s Filipino translation, the production transforms Spanish-colonial San Diego into a ritualistic world where spectacle conceals deeper social wounds that continue to resonate today. Tickets are P1,200 with free seating.
Looking for more? Here are some ongoing theater shows from the previous month.
