New Musical Featuring Songs by Rico Blanco Is Coming Out in 2025

9 Works Theatrical, which just closed its run of Once on This Island, announced the company's next production: Liwanag sa Dilim. The all-original Filipino musical features songs by Rivermaya founding member Rico Blanco. It is scheduled for a March 2025 run.

9 Works Theatrical revealed this exciting news during the curtain call of Once on This Island, directed by Robbie Guevara, who's also doing the book and direction of Liwanag sa Dilim.

It can be remembered that the company had previously teased about this new show in October 2019, when they posted a visual rendering of Rico Blanco under the pouring rain with the caption "Prepping up for next year! Isang panibagong musikal!" They never confirmed nor denied that a Rivermaya musical was coming soon, and then the pandemic happened in 2020. Five years later, we finally got an official announcement.

Blanco served as the chief songwriter of Rivermaya when the band started out in 1994. He was also on backup vocals back then before taking over for Bamboo Mañalac as the band’s lead in 1998.

Rivermaya is famous for "214," "Kisapmata," "Awit ng Kabataan," "Umaaraw, Umuulan," and "Balisong."

9 Works Theatrical also staged Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!, which is inspired by the story and songs of the Filipino musical group APO Hiking Society in 2018.

Liwanag sa Dilim opens in March 2025 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.