Into the Woods Cast Announced
March 5, 2025
Into The Woods, a 1986 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, sees 18 main characters amidst a fantastical and elaborate backdrop that captures the public’s imagination. Considered a dark comedy, the plot intertwines several fairy tale characters’ exploits tied together by a childless baker and his wife who set off on a journey to break a witch’s curse preventing the couple from having a child. What ensues is a magical spectacle that dramatically portrays the impact and consequences of specific choices and actions.
Theatre Group Asia (TGA) has announced the cast of its production of Into The Woods, slated for this August at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater (S-PAT).
Lea Salonga – The Witch
Tony Award-winning creative visionary and a founding collaborator of TGA, Clint Ramos shares, “We are so pleased and proud to have an actress of Lea’s caliber lead the spectacular and stellar ensemble of TGA’s production of Into The Woods. This is Lea’s first musical in the Philippines in six years, and what a grand comeback it’s sure to be!
Into the Woods is a very complex and thought-provoking piece. We want to create a version that considers the Filipino condition. Hopefully, our context will give more meaning to the already rich work that is this Sondheim musical. And Lea, with her remarkable talent and abilities will be very instrumental in imparting that message.”
Salonga says, “It’s very exciting, as well as, exhausting. Sondheim is no joke! Learning the material before day one of rehearsals takes a few weeks because his patterns can be puzzling and challenging but so rewarding once it all comes together. It’s also cool that I get to revisit a role that I played as a younger adult. I was about 23 years old when I previously played The Witch. Playing her again 30 years later is going to be illuminating.
So much life has happened in the intervening years. I’m hoping to bring as much of that as I can to this production.”
Arielle Jacobs - Cinderella
New York-based Fil-Am Broadway star Arielle Jacobs has long wished to perform in the Philippines: “I feel so lucky to have this opportunity to bring my art back to where my family came from, for the Filipino people I love so much, and in a show that is very special and dear to my heart.”
Jacobs’ Broadway credits include playing Nina Rosario in In the Heights, Nessarose in Wicked, Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, and Imelda in Here Lies Love. Jacobs has starred in the Florida production of Into The Woods, playing the Baker’s Wife. This time, she steps into Cinderella’s glass slippers and smiles, “This is a role I’ve always wanted to play. To be playing it, while sharing the stage with my friend and hero Lea Salonga, on a Philippine stage, is a dream come true on so many levels.”
Joaquin Pedro Valdes – Prince Charming / Wolf
After years of working in the West End, Valdes says, “Performing in the Philippines again and on this incredible scale, alongside this fantastic cast, is truly special. Being back home and on stage is a full-circle moment. Philippine theater is where it all started for me, and to return to it after all these years is inexplicably profound. While my life in London has deeply shaped me into the actor I am today, it has always been a dream to bring all that experience back home if only to say, ‘thank you.’”
Nyoy and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante – The Baker and the Baker’s Wife
Nyoy Volante, the veteran singer-songwriter and stage actor, sweetly remarks, “I get to play with my wife in this musical! I’m so thrilled to be working with her again!” The couple famously met when they starred together in the musical Rock of Ages back in 2012, staged by Atlantis Production. The duo last worked together in the local run of Kinky Boots where Nyoy played Lola while Mikkie did his makeup. The Philippine run of the Tony Award-winning musical was directed by the late theater impresario and TGA founding collaborator Bobby Garcia.
Mikkie reminisces, “I’m looking forward to paying tribute to my mentor and dear friend Direk Bobby Garcia by tapping into everything he taught me. The Baker’s Wife has been a dream role of mine, and I can’t wait to breathe life into a character I’ve fantasized about playing for over a decade now.”
On his portrayal of The Baker, Nyoy shares, “I’m excited about developing the character’s road to discovery—his resilience and bravery while overcoming insecurities and struggles. And just like all of Sondheim’s creations, the music of Into The Woods is fabulous and beautiful.”
Joreen Bautista – Rapunzel / Sleeping Beauty / Cinderella’s Mother
Dubbed the “Filipina Disney Princess” on TikTok, where she has amassed millions of views, Joreen Bautista has likewise garnered an impressive presence in the European theater scene, notably playing the role of Kim in Miss Saigon productions in the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland from 2017-2019. She reprised the role in Danish in the Miss Saigon Copenhagen run in 2023, highlighting her linguistic versatility.
On playing Rapunzel, Bautista shares, “I’m excited to bring Rapunzel’s whimsical yet emotional journey to life in my first musical in the Philippines, surrounded by such talented artists.”
Mark Bautista – Rapunzel’s Prince
An accomplished theater performer, Mark Bautista has to his name a long list of memorable stage credits including roles in The Full Monty, Noli Me Tangere where he played Crisostomo Ibarra, South Pacific, Bituing Walang Nining, Heto Po Sila, The Band’s Visit, and Here Lies Love, which he performed in the Royal National Theatre in London and for the Seattle Repertory.
Bautista says, “I’ve never played the role of a prince before, so this is going to be exciting for me. Falling in love with a princess is quite interesting as well. It’s a musical with so many intriguing characters and loads of references and elements in the story.”
Teetin Villanueva – Little Red Riding Hood
Testament to her versatility, Teetin Villanueva’s musical appearances include roles in hits Rak of Aegis, Rock of Ages, Ang Huling El Bimbo, Matilda, Waitress, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Tabing Ilog The Musical, and the recently staged Mula sa Buwan.
With Into The Woods, Villanueva recalls enchanting memories from her youth. She shares, “When I was growing up, my dad read us stories and fairy tales. I love that in this musical, we get to see familiar characters from different fairy tales all together in one story. I also love how catchy and challenging the songs are, and there are lots of little nuggets of wisdom in the material.”
Nic Chien – Jack
Nic Chien made his professional musical theater debut as Alice in Atlantis Productions’ Matilda, and has been bitten by the theater acting bug ever since. In 2023, Chien participated in the English Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Competition and garnered third place. No stranger to performing under the spotlight, Chien has made several concert appearances since he was young, alongside his mother, the legendary Lea Salonga.
Chien shares, “I’m very excited to play such an innocent character. In the past, I’ve played characters who know what’s going on, but Jack is such a pure character. I think it will be so much fun to play. And I love everything about this show! The music, lyrics, the way things reference each other, how crazy and complicated it may be. Overall, it’s just beautiful! It’s beautiful music with smart, heartfelt, meaningful lyrics. You don’t always find that nowadays.”
Eugene Domingo – Jack’s Mother
Eugene Domingo shares, “I am so excited to be a part of this popular and critically acclaimed musical as Jack’s mother. I love that the material is inspired by fairy tales yet reveals a realistic twist we can all relate to. I love all the surprises that come after the characters are all put together. This one entertains as much as it teaches.”
Behind this production of Into the Woods is Clint Ramos, who serves as overall artistic and creative director alongside co-producers John and Joanna Echauz, and S-PAT Executive Director Chris Mohanani. The show is directed by Chari Arespacochaga.
For more information about Into The Woods, please visit www.theatregroupasia.com, or follow Facebook and Instagram @theatregroupasia.
