Theater Group Asia (TGA) Ready to Enchant with Into the Woods
By Art+ Magazine Team
Photos courtesy of Theater Group Asia
August 5, 2025
(L-R)
Back: Mark Bautista, Jamie Wilson, Sarah Facuri, Kakki Teodoro, Niño Alejandro, Ima Castro, Jillian Ita-As, and Jep Go
Front: Eugene Domingo, Joreen Bautista, Nic Chien, Nyoy Volante, Mikkie Bradshaw Volante, Chari Arespacochaga, Clint Ramos, Lea Salonga, Josh Dela Cruz, Arielle Jacobs, Christopher Mohnani, Carla Guevara Laforteza, Teetin Villanueva, and Rody Vera
Anticipation intensifies as Theater Group Asia’s (TGA) star-studded production of Into the Woods opens its 24-show run from August 7-31 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater (S-PAT).
TGA’s Overall Artistic and Creative Director and Tony Award-winning visionary Clint Ramos shares, “We are brimming with excitement. Everyone has been working so passionately, and we can’t wait to welcome the audience into the captivating world of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.”
The show sold out in a record two hours, prompting the producers to line up additional shows due to public demand. TGA Executive Director Christopher Mohnani says, “We are amazed by the public’s reception. This only proves that theater in the Philippines is so alive! We can’t wait to unleash the magic and share with everyone this impeccable theater work.”
Christopher Mohnani, Into the Woods Executive Producer, Theater Group Asia Executive Director, and Samsung Performing Arts Theater Managing Director; Chari Arespacochaga, Into the Woods Director;and Clint Ramos, Theater Group Asia Overall Artistic and Creative Director
Helming the show is director Chari Arespacochaga, who has been overseeing the month-long rehearsals. She notes, “Working with some of the country’s and the world’s best performers has been such a joy. My role is to tap into this world-class collection of artists and give them the avenue to reveal their characters in a way that’s faithful to the narrative. It’s all about celebrating our joint love for the craft and providing the audience with a memorable theater experience.”
Arespacochaga adds that this production will be uniquely Filipino. “We really wanted to think about this through the lens of the Filipino condition, our histories, our resilience, and our storytelling culture. So we tried to find a way to weave all of that.”
Into the Woods features a Filipino cast and production team, delivering a Broadway-level show with local talent at the forefront. Beyond the staging of a beloved musical, it creates more opportunities for Filipino talent to shine.
Lea Salonga
Leading this amazing ensemble is Olivier and Tony Award-winning icon Lea Salonga who plays The Witch in her Philippine musical comeback in six years. Joining Salonga are Broadway star Arielle Jacobs as Cinderella, Philippine comedy legend Eugene Domingo as Jack’s mother, international theater and television actor Josh Dela Cruz as Prince Charming/ The Wolf, seasoned stage performers Nyoy and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante as The Baker and The Baker’s Wife, theater marvel Nic Chien as Jack, international performer Joreen Bautista as Rapunzel, celebrated singer and actor Mark Bautista as Rapunzel’s Prince, breakout star Teetin Villanueva as Little Red Riding Hood, acclaimed actresses Tex Ordoñez-De Leon, Sarah Facuri, and Kakki Teodoro as Cinderella’s evil step mother and sisters; award-winning Carla Guevara Laforteza as Granny/ The Giant, veteran Philippine thespian Jamie Wilson as Cinderella’s Father/ The Steward, and theater impresario Rody Vera as The Narrator. Covers include Ima Castro, Niño Alejandro, Jillian Ita-As, and Jep Go.
Eugene Domingo
Creating the magic from behind the scenes are a collection of renowned and multi-awarded creatives, which include the show’s Music Director Gerard Salonga, Set Designer Ohm David, Costume Designer Raven Ong, Lighting Designer Cha See, and Sound Designer Megumi Takayama. They are joined by Associate Musical Director Farley Asunción, Assistant Costume Designer Hershee Tantiado, Associate Lighting Director Meliton Roxas, Associate Sound Designer Aron Roca, Choreographer Cecile Martinez, Vocal Coach Manman Angsico, Multimedia Designer GA Fallarme, Hair and Makeup Designer Johann dela Fuente, Puppet Designer Aina Bonifacio Ramolete with puppet execution by National Artist Amelia Bonifacio’s Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas.
Arielle Jacobs and Josh Dela Cruz
Into the Woods is the first official production of TGA, apart from last year’s theater breakout show Request sa Radyo, directed by the late theater maverick and TGA co-founder Bobby Garcia.
Ramos muses, “We are committed to exalting Filipino artistry. TGA is a powerhouse collective of globally renowned and locally celebrated Filipino artists intent on cultivating connections and engaging with Filipino audiences. 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 an earnest goal we shared with Bobby.”
Nyoy Volante and Mikkie Bradshaw Volante
Mohnani ends, “This show—together with our various theater community learning initiatives such as our mentoring sessions under The Bobby Garcia Initiative—is our way of honoring Bobby’s legacy. He was a true lover of the arts and of Philippine talent. We celebrate and honor his contributions through this and our forthcoming production of A Chorus Line slated March 2026.”
Nic Chien and Lea Salonga
Under The Bobby Garcia Initiative, artists who work with TGA are invited to hold free master classes on various disciplines including directing, acting, design, and more. Through this, TGA is able to build communities, celebrate Filipino talent, and bring the arts closer to the public.
(L-R) Carla Guevara Laforteza, Teetin Villanueva, Sarah Facuri, and Kakki Teodoro
Into the Woods is made possible by Ayala Land, BPI, Ayala Corporation, Philippine Airlines and Custom Clubmakers. With additional support from Make It Makati, SEDA Residences Makati, Ayala Malls, Circuit Makati, The City Flats Circuit, Panasonic, MQ Lighting, SoundCheck, Mac Cosmetics, SSI and The Specialist, Pitchworks Incorporated and BYD Vehicles.
For more information about TGA, Into The Woods and A Chorus Line, please visit www.theatregroupasia.com, or follow Facebook and Instagram @theatregroupasia.
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Into the Woods is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York, NU, USA. All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI.
www.mtishows.com
A Chorus Line is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com
