Jose Mari Chan is a name synonymous with Philippine Christmas music, and his ongoing legacy is getting an even bigger spotlight with the help of Repertory Philippines. “Going Home to Christmas” is Repertory Philippines’ first original jukebox musical featuring the songs of Mr. Music Man himself.
The production will feature some of his most popular holiday hits and will be based on two of his Christmas albums: “Going Home to Christmas” and “Christmas in Our Hearts.” The musical is written by Robbie Guevara, Luna Griño-Inocian, and Joel Trinidad, with additional storyline by Cathy Azanza Dy, and musical direction by Ejay Yatco.
According to Inocian, the musical will tell four different stories about family and love—all set in an airport, which is why it’s called “Going Home to Christmas.” The stories are said to revolve around the relationships between parents and children, spouses, and lovers.
She also likens it to a Filipino version of “Love Actually,” but featuring stories closer to home and the musical stylings of Chan.
Chan will be directly involved in the creative process of the musical that features his life’s work. He has a hand in the stories that’ll be told, as well as the musical arrangement alongside Yatco.
There’s no set date and cast for the musical as of writing, but the production team is eyeing for a late 2024 premier.
In the meantime, we can look forward to other shows on Repertory Philippines’ roster, such as “Betrayal” by Harold Pinter, to be directed by Victor Lirio; “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” to be directed by Menchu Lauchengco Yulo; new musical for Rep Theater for Young Audiences “Jepoy and the Magic Circle” with book by Rody Vera and music by Ejay Yatco.