Theatre Group Asia Opens the Line: Broadway’s Iconic A Chorus Line Premieres March 12

From New York to Manila, A Chorus Line brings iconic choreography, powerful storytelling, and world-class Filipino-American talent to the stage.

Words Jewel Chuaunsu
Photos courtesy of Theatre Group Asia
March 13, 2026

After the immense success of Into the Woods, Theatre Group Asia (TGA) closes the season with a bang with its production of A Chorus Line, running March 12–29, 2026 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati. 

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, A Chorus Line brings to life the stories of performers vying for a place in a Broadway chorus—an ode to dedication, perseverance, and the artistry of the ensemble. The musical holds a rare distinction as one of the few to have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama alongside multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction, and Best Choreography.

Directed and choreographed by Emmy Award-winner Karla Puno Garcia, this staging marks a defining moment for Filipino musical theatre, uniting internationally acclaimed talents with an extraordinary Filipino-American ensemble.

Karla Puno Garcia

Puno Garcia believes the idea of the ensemble has evolved. “As an ensemble member on Broadway for the past 20 years, I’ve really experienced all the ups and downs of that journey, and I’m really excited to shine a light on it,” she says. 

“This show is iconic for many reasons. The stories are based on real people and their journeys so we honor that through the material and let it speak for itself. Of course, choreographically, there’s a lot of moments in the show that I want to uphold…the synchronization of the kickline and all of the pops of color and individuality.” 

There is also a strong sense of community within the company. During rehearsals, the cast spent significant time being vulnerable and honest about their personal experiences—something audiences will see that reflected in the show. 

Conrad Ricamora

Leading the cast are Tony Award nominee and two-time Grammy Award nominee Conrad Ricamora as Zach, and Filipino-American Broadway triple threat Lissa DeGuzman as Cassie.

The full cast was selected through an extensive global search spanning New York and key Philippine cities, culminating in an intensive Manila bootcamp under Puno Garcia’s direction. The ensemble features Christina Glur as Diana Morales, Michaela Marfori as Bebe Benzenheimer, Angelo Soriano as Mike Costa, Jordan Andrews as Al DeLuca, Mikaela Regis as Sheila Bryant, Ken San Jose as Mark Anthony, Rapah Manalo as Richie Walters, Lord Kristofer Logmao as Frank, Iya Villanueva as Maggie Winslow, Universe Ramos as Paul San Marco, Brie Chappell as Val Clark, Julio Laforteza as Don Kerr, Sam Libao as Kristine Urich, Stephen Viñas as Bobby Mills, Richardson Yadao as Larry, Jessica Carmona as Connie Wong, Alyanna Wijangco as Judy Turner, and Luca Olbes as Greg Gardner.

Cast of A Chorus Line Together With The Asian Cultural Council Executives

Rounding out the cast are Anyah Therese de Guzman as the female swing and Franco Joaquin Ramos as the male swing. Also joining the lineup are Winchester Lopez as Tom, Jim Andrew Ferrer as Butch, Rofe Villarino as Victor, Vince Denzel Sarra as Roy, Paulina Luzuriaga as Tricia, and Anna Del Prado as Lois Dillettente.

Serving as Associate Director is Jamie Wilson, while Associate Choreographer JM Cabling has been part of the process from the very beginning—from the New York workshops through every audition city—and is an Asian Cultural Council Grantee for Dance.

The visual world of the production is shaped by London and New York-based set designer Miguel Urbino and New York-based costume designer Kat Ibasco. Lighting design is led by Cha See, the first Filipina to head lighting design for a major Broadway production with Oh, Mary!, while sound design is by Megumi Katayama, fresh from her recent work on New York City Center’s Encores! series. Bringing Marvin Hamlisch’s iconic score to life is Music Director Farley Asuncion.

Lissa de Guzman

During the press conference for A Chorus Line, members of the cast shared how their own experiences shaped the way they approach the musical. 

“I think the beauty of this show is that we have all stood in these audition rooms. Every single person up here has stood in an audition room and asked to be wanted, has asked to be chosen…I think there’s something so beautiful about a person standing on a bare stage, asking to be chosen and wanted and seen. And every single person up here knows what that feels like,” says Conrad Ricamora.  

Mikaela Regis shares that she is proud to be part of the ensemble in productions. “Everything I've learned as an actor, as a performer, I've learned from being in the ensemble. And when I was starting off, I thought I had to be a certain way, dance a certain way, look a certain way. But as productions passed, working with so many people, I realized that truly your real superpower is knowing who you are, what you really can do, and using that as your weapon, as your superpower.” 

Photo from Stephen Viñas’ Instagram Post (@stephenvnas)

A Chorus Line is a love letter to the industry and the beauty of live theater, says Jordan Andrews. “No matter how many productions you’ve done, once it’s done, it’s done, and you still have to show up and start at square one at the audition,” he adds.

According to Clint Ramos and Christopher Mohnani, co-founders of Theatre Group Asia, their work aims to use theater as a bridge across the diaspora—creating world-class productions alongside Filipino artists, for Filipino audiences. 

“For us, this isn’t just about staging beloved musicals and plays, it is about creating more opportunities for Filipino talents to shine, and making sure local audiences have access to performances of this scale.”

Photo from Stephen Viñas’ Instagram Post (@stephenvnas)

For its upcoming 2026-2027 season, TGA will stage the international premiere of The Notebook: The Musical in Manila, opening in September 2026; Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba, Federico Garcia Lorca’s masterpiece reimagined in Filipino, in February 2027; and Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, closing out the season in June 2027.  

Performances of A Chorus Line run from March 12 to 29, 2026, with shows scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available via TicketWorld, priced from ₱900 to ₱5,500.

The production is presented by Ayala Land, BPI, and Philippine Airlines, the official carrier, with additional support from Make It Makati, Circuit Makati, and Ayala Malls.

For more information, visit theatregroupasia.com, follow @theatregroupasia on Instagram, or like the official Theatre Group Asia Facebook page.