New performing arts collective Theatre Group Asia will be staging the Stephen Sondheim classic this year as well as “A Chorus Line” in 2026
There’s a new theater group in town and for their 2025-2026 season, they’re bringing in iconic Broadway musicals to the local stage.
From the team of “Request sa Radyo” comes Theatre Group Asia (TGA), who has just announced their upcoming productions. This August, they will be staging the Stephen Sondheim classic “Into the Woods.” First staged in 1986, the musical links the plots of different Brothers Grimm stories, following 18(!) main characters and the outcomes of their wishes.
Chari Arespacochaga, who was the late Bobby Garcia’s long-time collaborator, is set to co-direct “Into the Woods.” The cast is yet to be revealed.
In 2026, TGA will then be staging “A Chorus Line.” The iconic musical revolves around Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on the eponymous chorus line. The story is a glimpse into the lives and inspirations of each character.
The upcoming musicals are expected to feature local theater artists as well as international talents “of Filipino heritage based abroad just like Clint [Ramos],” they hint in a press release.
“Bobby [Garcia] 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,” they add.
Garcia’s final directorial work was a notable return to Manila through “Request sa Radyo” headlined by Lea Salonga and Dolly De Leon in October 2024.
“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. This is a vision Bobby was very passionate about… 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,” Ramos says.
Bringing in these internationally acclaimed productions to the local stage, to be helmed by Filipino artists, is part of TGA’s goal of “championing global Filipino artistry.”
View this post on Instagram
“Through theater, we can highlight the millions of ways we live the Filipino experience and broaden each other’s perspectives. Together, we navigate how we can transform iconic works of art like ‘Into the Woods’ and ‘A Chorus Line’ and give them more meaning in the context of how we live today. I’m excited about the possibilities,” Ramos says.
Samsung Performing Arts Theater executive director Christopher Mohnani adds, “We want to present world-class theater that brings the global dramatic canon to life while placing the Filipino experience at its heart. Through theater, we honor the depth and richness of our history and culture, creating a space where Filipinos resonate within a global context. We want to bridge the gaps and foster connections among Filipinos within the international theater community.”
