‘Side Show: The Musical’ tells the story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, who rose to fame in the 1930s American vaudeville scene.
Following the critically acclaimed productions of Little Shop of Horrors and Next to Normal, The Sandbox Collective continues its 2025 season with Side Show: The Musical, running from July 26 to August 17, 2025 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati.
Set in 1930s America, Side Show is a fictional depiction of the lives of real-life conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, who rose to fame and notoriety on the vaudeville circuit in the 1920s and 1930s.
Side Show is directed by The Sandbox Collective’s managing artistic director Toff de Venecia, with Ejay Yatco as musical director. It features a stellar mix of Philippine theater veterans and rising stars. This all-new staging will present the original 1997 version.
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The Hilton twins
Alternating in the roles of conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton are powerhouse pairs Tanya Manalang and Marynor Madamesila, and Krystal Kane and Molly Langley. Tanya stars as Violet Hilton. She played Kim in Miss Saigon (West End, London) and originated the role of Joy in Ang Huling El Bimbo. A multi-awarded performer (Aliw Awards, GEMS), Tanya has also appeared in The Sound of Music, The King and I, Rak of Aegis, tick, tick… Boom!, All Out of Love, and more. Marynor plays Daisy Hilton opposite Tanya. An alumna of UP Diliman’s Theater Arts program, Marynor is a singer, mover, and multimedia actor. Her credits include Walang Aray, Sandosenang Sapatos, Batang Rizal, Rak of Aegis, and Buruguduystunstugudunstuy.
Molly Langley plays Violet Hilton in the alternate cast. Trained at Performers College in the UK, her credits include Spring Awakening, The Wild Party, and most recently RENT as Mimi. A seasoned international performer with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines, she was also a Top 6 finalist in Season 6 of The Clash. Krystal Kane, alternating as Daisy Hilton, began performing professionally at age 10. Her previous roles include The Sound of Music, Spring Awakening, and Once On This Island. In 2019, she was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical at the Philippine Leaf Awards and Best Actress in a Musical Show by BroadwayWorld Philippines.
The Boss
Taking on the role of The Boss is comedian, host, and TV/film actor Jon Santos, last seen on stage in The Sandbox Collective’s sold-out run of Bawat Bonggang Bagay. Jon’s stage credits include Ang Huling El Bimbo, Rak of Aegis, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Bituing Walang Ningning, and Ako si Josephine. He is also a mainstay judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race Philippines.
Terry Connor
Alternating as press agent and Daisy’s love interest Terry Connor are theater leading men Reb Atadero and CJ Navato. Reb is an award-winning actor, singer, host, director, and content creator. A Gawad Buhay awardee for Tick, Tick… Boom!, Reb has received nominations for The Graduate, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ang Huling El Bimbo, Lungs, and Little Shop of Horrors. He is also known for his viral educational content and podcast BOOM! Now We Know! on Spotify. CJ, with over 20 years in the industry, rose to fame on Goin’ Bulilit and has since appeared in shows like Luv U, Doc Ricky, Pedia, and Dirty Linen. His stage appearances include Liwanag Sa Dilim The Musical, One More Chance The Musical, and Charot!
Buddy Foster
Sharing the role of Buddy Foster, Violet’s love interest, are leading men Vien King and Tim Pavino. Vien is a multi-awarded performer (Gawad Buhay, LEAF Awards), recently seen in Liwanag Sa Dilim Musical. His credits include Passion, Rama Hari, Tick, Tick… Boom!, and MMFF hits Partners in Crime and Love at First Stream.
Tim Pavino is a BroadwayWorld Awardee and two-time Aliw Awards winner. His theater credits include Miong, The Great Christmas Cookie Bake-Off, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Matilda, and Jersey Boys. A finalist on The Voice of the Philippines (Team Lea), Tim has performed with top orchestras including the ABS-CBN Philharmonic and the Manila Symphony Orchestra.
Jake
Alternating in the role of Jake are theater mainstays Marvin Ong and Joshua Cabiladas. Marvin is a singer-songwriter and Gawad Buhay awardee (Sweeney Todd), with credits in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Rak of Aegis, and Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. He has released two albums under Viva Records, one of which went gold and earned him an Aliw Award nomination. Joshua is an acclaimed actor, singer, and improviser. His theater credits include Delia D., Jepoy and the Magic Circle, Lam-Ang, Ang Huling El Bimbo, Himala: Isang Musikal, and the film adaptation Isang Himala. He has also appeared in Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3, Kapatiran, Florante at Laura, and Bula sa Langit.
The ensemble
Completing the company are the ensemble members portraying sideshow curiosities:
Arion Sanchez, Chan Rabutazo, Fay Castro, Daniel Wesley, Ian Hermogenes, Mikee Baskiñas, Pamela Imperial, Pappel, Raflesia Bravo, Red Nuestro, Reine Paisley, and Rhap Salazar.
Side Show runs from July 26 to August 16, 2025 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. Side Show is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
