Into the Woods and A Chorus Line Are Coming to Manila
Two iconic musicals are set to be staged in Manila: Into the Woods in August 2025 and A Chorus Line in March 2026. Behind the productions is Theatre Group Asia (TGA), a creative alliance formed during the limited run of Request sa Radyo in October 2024, which turned out to be the final directorial work of the late Bobby Garcia. The team is also composed of Tony Award-winning Clint Ramos, co-producers John and Joanna Echauz, and Executive Director Christopher Mohnani, representing venue host Samsung Performing Arts Theater (S-PAT).
"We all had such a great time during Request sa Radyo and saw a particular space we can inhabit within the vibrant and diverse Philippine theater ecosystem. We aim to foster more creative dialogues between global theater artists of Filipino heritage based abroad and talented local artists in the Philippines. It is about learning from both ends and presenting world-class theater by Filipinos for Filipinos," Ramos said in a press statement.
He continued: "This is a vision Bobby was very passionate about. Bobby was the consummate man of the theater. He loved everything about it. It was his life. He had a deep love for artists. He was profoundly proud of being Filipino and championed us with every choice he made. He was very central to the formation of TGA. We choose to celebrate his life and legacy by forging ahead and bringing our aligned dreams to fruition."
Into the Woods in 2025
Into the Woods, with music and lyrics by the legendary Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine, stands as a testament to the timeless allure of storytelling. It weaves together the narratives of beloved storybook characters, crafting a tale that is both whimsical and profoundly insightful.
The musical started as a workshop performance at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in 1986, when it ran for 50 performances under the direction of Lapine himself. It went on to open on Broadway in 1987 and ran for more than 700 shows until 1988, when it won the Tony Awards for Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason). The original West End production opened on September 25, 1990, at the Phoenix Theatre, and went on to win the Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Director of a Musical (Richard Jones) and Best Actress in a Musical (Imelda Staunton).
Into the Woods went on a U.S. tour in 1988, had a Broadway concert in 1997, went to Off-West End in 1998, and had several revivals (Broadway in 2002, London in 2010, New York in 2012, and again on Broadway in 2022).
"Into the Woods is a very complex piece. It explores the themes of power, disenfranchisement, broken dreams, hope, resilience, and determination to move forward. We want to lean into the idea of creating a version of Into the Woods that considers the Filipino condition. Our unique lens influences how different our version will be. Hopefully, our context will give more meaning to the already rich work that is this Sondheim musical. We are so lucky and grateful that we got the blessing from the Sondheim estate," Ramos shared.
It was revealed on January 17, 2025, that Lea Salonga is joining the Philippine production of Into the Woods and playing the role of The Witch.
A Chorus Line in 2026
If Into the Woods celebrates storytelling, A Chorus Line captures the essence of the relentless pursuit of dreams, especially in the world of theater. It is a 1975 musical conceived by Michael Bennett with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante.
A Chorus Line opened Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in April 1975, then moved to Broadway three months later at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran for more than 6,000 performances. It went on to win nine Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Musical Book, Best Score, Best Director, Best Choreography, Best Actress (Donna McKechnie), Best Featured Actor (Sammy Williams), Best Featured Actress (Kelly Bishop), and Best Lighting Design. When it closed in 1990, A Chorus Line was the longest-running show in Broadway history until Cats surpassed the record in 1997.
A West End production opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1976, when it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. A North American tour and US tour were mounted in 1976, then again in 1990 around the U.S., and in 1996 and 2008 in North America. Revivals were staged on Broadway in 2006 and West End in 2013.
"To me, A Chorus Line is an immense exploration into the craft of putting up shows and making art. It also delves into what happens when we explore individual human lives within this monolith, this unit, this chorus. It mirrors what we are trying to do. We are trying to tease out the different ways of how to be Filipino and A Chorus Line exemplifies that excellently. When you see a chorus, you see one unit. But upon closer inspection, we get to see individual human beings and their respective complexities. The material speaks to the time that we are in, and how we easily write people off. A Chorus Line is a gift that way," shared Ramos.
Theatre Group Asia's 2025-26 Season
Not much has been revealed by TGA in terms of the casting, except a hint from Echauz: "It’s a stellar lineup of both Philippine-based artists and internationally acclaimed talents of Filipino heritage based abroad just like Clint. Bobby was very instrumental in bringing together these great Filipino talents. The ensemble boasts a stunning assembly of Filipino performers, musicians, choreographers, and production stalwarts. It truly is a Filipino dream team."
Into the Woods will be directed by Chari Arespacochaga, who was originally to co-direct alongside long-time collaborator Garcia. The project will now serve as a tribute: "Bobby was very particular and meticulous. Continuing the work we started is my way of honoring him and carrying on the spirit of fun and love for the craft we infused in everything he did."
Into the Woods (August 2025) and A Chorus Line (March 2026) will be staged at the Samsung Performing Arts Theatre, Circuit Makati.
Into the Woods is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York, NU, USA. All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI.
A Chorus Line is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.
UPDATED (January 17, 2025): This article has been edited to include news that Lea Salonga will play the role of The Witch in Into the Woods.
