‘Bar Boys: The Musical’ Tells Us to Sing the Tunes of Justice
In Bar Boys: The Musical, the portrait of the Filipino lawyer’s dream is restaged and scored with pop musicality.
Words Randolf Maala-Resueño
Photos courtesy of Barefoot Theatre Collaborative
November 12, 2025
“But can you hold the flame alive? Can you endure the heat and survive?”
In this court, your only defense is music. Geared up from its successful 2024 run, Bar Boys: The Musical remains a staple to musical lovers and law enthusiasts alike—a long-enduring tale of ambition, hopes for justice, and the Filipino virtue of camaraderie.
Photo by Kevin Sembrano
Inspired by Kip Oebanda’s film of the same name, the musical transforms the intensity of law school and the pursuit of justice into something melodically and lyrically comical yet profoundly human.
Through Pat Valera's (book and lyrics) and Myke Salomon’s (music and lyrics) musicography, the story swells into a collective catharsis, navigating narratives of injustice, societal pressures, and the realities of the legal industries.
Photo by Sace Natividad
Performances that passed the Bar
Reprising their roles as Erik, Chris, Torran, and Josh, Barefoot Theater Collaborative ushers in once again the theatrical talents of Benedix Ramos, Alex Diaz, Jerom Canlas, and Omar Uddin, transforming themselves into the four-member club “BURNIKS”—boys sharing the same dreams of being lawyers, yet face different battles.
Erik strives to uplift his working-class family, Chris seeks to escape his father’s shadow, Torran navigates his identity, and Josh dares to defy the system that shapes them all. Many of their key musical moments—anthems of friendship, duets of doubt, and ballads of failure and pride—mirror the grit-and-grind culture that defines the Filipino experience in adulthood and academia.
Photo by Kevin Sembrano
Theater luminary Sheila Francisco, in her role as Justice Hernandez, illuminates the stark realities of the legal institution, commanding and engaging while also showing tenderness and care for her students.
In her solo “Dear Future Lawyers,” the cheeky number positions Francisco as a symbol of inspiration, embodying not only an exemplary lawyer but also a nurturing mentor.
Photo by CJ Ochoa
Gio Gahol as Atty. Victor Cruz should not go unnoticed. A masterclass on subtlety and timing, Gahol’s performance as Justice Hernandez’ protege breathes soul to every scene he appears in.
Photo by Kevin Sembrano
Many other key roles should also be given their flowers: Juliene Mendoza as Paping, Nor Domingo as Atty. Maurice Carlson, Gimbey dela Cruz as Boss Mama & Ate Tinay, and stellar duo Natasha Cabrera and Carlon Matobato as professors and other multiple roles.
Behind the beats
The all-new staging also boasts a larger production team. After co-directing the 2024 run, Mikko Angeles now takes the helm as Director, joined by returning collaborators—Myke Salomon (Musical Director), Jomelle Era (Choreographer), Ohm David (Stage Designer), Julio Garcia (Set and Property Designer), Meliton Roxas Jr. and Jethro Nibaten (Lighting Designers), Joyce Garcia (Video Designer), and D Cortezano (Technical Director)—with new additions to the team including Yvonne Russell (Assistant Director), Aron Roca (Sound Designer), and Hershee Tantiado (Costume Designer).
Photo by CJ Ochoa
“Bar Boys: The Musical was always meant for a bigger stage. And now, every element, from its story and music to choreography and design, has been reimagined with greater depth and intention, marking its bold evolution from A New Musical to The Musical.”
Showrunner and theater staple Gab Pangilinan also noted the musical’s significance, pointing out its relevance to the Filipino people. “It’s about us. Kung Filipino ka–kung mahal mo ang iyong kapwa Pilipino, kung mahal mo ang iyong bayan–it is a story that is not to be missed.”
Photo by Raffy Cabrera
Singing through the system
At its heart, Bar Boys: The Musical is unbounded by its four law students and their dreams. It is a reflection of how young Filipinos navigate ambition, fairness, and belonging within systems that often feel unyielding.
Photo by CJ Ochoa
Beneath its humor and infectious score lies a meditation on the pressures of education, class, and self-definition. The law becomes a stand-in for every structure that promises order yet demands conformity.
But when the characters break into song, they reclaim their humanity. Music becomes the language of what cannot be spoken in the classroom or courtroom—fear, exhaustion, pride, and hope.
Ultimately, Bar Boys: The Musical stands as proof that justice, in all its imperfections, can still inspire empathy when set to song. It reminds us that even in a world ruled by rules, art gives us freedom. And that sometimes, the truest form of protest, resilience, and hope, perhaps, begins with a song.
Witness the all-new staging at Hyundai Hall, Arete, in Quezon City. Limited show dates run until November 23, 2025. Tickets are available through Ticket2Me or by clicking here.
