Like Filipino culture, A Chorus Line reminds us of the beauty that exists in shared humanity.
For years in the Philippines, theater has always been considered an art form reserved for the elite. It’s a belief that stems partly from costly tickets, upscale venues, and opulent sets. But the arrival of the Broadway hit A Chorus Line in the country is changing that narrative.
As the iconic musical celebrates its 50th anniversary, its Philippine production shines a spotlight on the deeply human stories of 17 dancers—portrayed by an all-Filipino cast—to prove that the stage belongs to anyone with a dream. These dancers are depicted giving their all as they compete for a coveted spot in a Broadway chorus.
Conceived by Michael Bennett in 1975, A Chorus Line is based on personal stories of real Broadway performers and the universal stories of ambition, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of belonging. It has won multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction, and Best Choreography, thanks to its ‘concept musical” format that broke the rules of traditional 1970s musicals.
Unlike many “mega-musicals” in that era, Bennett’s 1975 hit had no intermission, no opulent sets, and no star-driven plot. Instead, it focused on the intense, competitive, and sometimes “sadistic” nature of a Broadway audition. It revolutionized Broadway by focusing on the raw, personal, and often heartbreaking journeys of dreamers.
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Revived with Filipino spirit
While A Chorus Line is already a moving story, Filipino theatergoers—whether avid fans or casual viewers—may find it even more relatable, with its latest production helmed and starred by an all-Filipino ensemble from Manila, Hong Kong, London, New York, and Los Angeles.
Running from March 12 to 29 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, A Chorus Line Manila is directed and choreographed by Emmy Award-winner Karla Puno Garcia, with veteran theater actor and director Jamie Wilson as associate director. During the musical’s media preview last March 5, Puno Garcia said that forming an all-Filipino cast for this production was exhilarating and that it made “the art very rich.”
“It is wild how everyone is coming from all corners of the globe and all being Filipino,” she told The POST and other media outlets at the event. “Everyone’s experience is so different but when they come together for this material, it is like they were all born from the same person. And I think that’s what makes it very Filipino—we are all interceptions of many different experiences. The idea that we are connected through the performance bone and performance quality ties the show.”
Leading the cast are two-time Grammy Award nominee Conrad Ricamora as casting director Zach, alongside Filipino-American Broadway actress Lissa De Guzman as Cassie, a featured dancer who auditions for a chorus role after failing to achieve stardom in Hollywood.
Ricamora relates closely to A Chorus Line, having navigated the same struggles as a Filipino performer pursuing success in the United States for over 20 years. “Growing up in the US, there is not enough Filipino representation. You fight through this industry where you get marginalized as a Filipino performer in Hollywood and Broadway,” he said.
“Now to be part of this gorgeous all-Filipino cast is healing for me because I spent so much of my life feeling like I just didn’t belong. I was trying to fight just to get into works, fight to perform on stages, fight to get on camera,” he continued. “A Chorus Line feels like I’ve come home after all this fighting and struggles in the industry.”
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Other than the all-Filipino cast, A Chorus Line’s similarity to Filipino culture lies in one of the musical’s core themes: shared humanity. While the show focuses on the struggles of the 17 distinct individuals, it conveys the powerful message that working as “One” is stronger than the sum of its parts.
It closely mirrors the strong sense of camaraderie Filipinos have for one another, according to New York–based theater actor Angelo Soriano, who plays Mike Costa in the musical. He said that the show not only gives an inside-look of the “cut-throat competitive nature of an audition process,” but more so the sense of “Filipino community” from how the 17 dancers bond through shared vulnerability, trauma, and passion for their craft. They fight not just to improve themselves “but to make each other better versions of themselves.”
Joining Ricamora, De Guzman, and Soriano in the cast are 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 Viñasas Bobby Mills, Richardson Yadao as Larry, Jessica Carmona as Connie Wong, Alyanna Wijangco as Judy Turner, and Luca Olbes as Greg Gardner.
A Chorus Run Manila runs from March 12 to 29, 2026, with shows scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. Tickets are available via TicketWorld.
