Fulfill Your Dream of Writing Your Own Musical With This One-Day Workshop
The “Mula sa Buwan” creator leads the Local Parts workshop, offering participants a solid framework to craft the musical of their dreams.
Words Randolf Maala-Resueño
Photos courtesy of Local Parts PH
January 25, 2026
Every musical starts the same way: with a question. A moment of wondering whether a story might sing better than it speaks. For many aspiring writers and theatre lovers, that question often stalls at “how?”
How to begin, how to shape an idea, how to translate emotion into music and movement.
This February, Local Parts opens the door to those first steps with STAGE SPEAK: Steps and Tips for Writing Musicals, a one-day workshop led by acclaimed playwright Pat Valera.
Designed as an entry point into musical writing, STAGE SPEAK is both a classroom and a spark. It invites participants into the anatomy of a musical—from the bones of storytelling to the pulse of character and song—without assuming prior experience.
Whether you are an early-stage playwright, a creative from another discipline, or a theatre enthusiast eager to understand how stories unfold onstage, the workshop promises a grounded, practical way in.
At the center of the day is Pat Valera, a writer whose work has helped define contemporary Filipino musical theatre.
From the romantic lyricism of “Mula sa Buwan” to the social urgency of “Dekada ’70 The Musical” and the courtroom-driven energy of “Bar Boys: The Musical,” Valera’s career reflects a deep understanding of story, structure, and audience.
A two-time Palanca Awardee and recipient of honors from Gawad Buhay, Aliw Awards, and the Asian TV Awards, Valera brings not just credentials, but lived experience as a playwright, director, dramaturg, and producer.
The workshop unfolds as a guided exploration. Participants will learn how to develop characters that carry narrative weight, identify key storytelling moments that call for music, and understand the internal logic that distinguishes a musical from other forms of drama.
Photo courtesy of Jilson Tiu
Beyond craft, STAGE SPEAK also touches on the realities of writing as a profession—artist’s rights, creative pathways, and the practical landscape of making theatre today.
Held at SinePop in Cubao, Quezon City, the workshop will run on February 22, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and will be conducted in both English and Filipino. Open to participants aged 18 and above, it is intentionally beginner-friendly, framed as a starting point rather than a finishing school. The workshop charges a Php 5,000 fee for interested participants.
Local Parts, an ideas exchange hub dedicated to knowledge-based events, positions STAGE SPEAK as an invitation to think boldly, write bravely, and begin.
With musical theatre enjoying renewed momentum, this workshop arrives at the right moment: for those who have always dreamed of writing a musical, and for those still discovering that they might.
Registration opens January 17, 2026. More information is available at bit.ly/stagespeakmusicals.
