Lea Salonga Returns to Manila | Into the Woods Is More Than Just a Fairytale

Photo Courtesy of Theatre Group Asia and ABS-CBN News.

Lea Salonga is back in Manila and she’s taking us deep Into the Woods. But this isn’t just another typical musical run. It’s where Broadway brilliance and Filipino artistry collide with a powerhouse cast. For Filipino Americans, it feels like an overdue homecoming of a legend and a sign of the times. Here’s what it means for all of us stans and why we are booking our tickets asap.

1. A Homecoming for a Global Icon

Lea Salonga’s career reads like every theatre kid’s dream: Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Aladdin, Mulan. Now, she steps into the role of the Witch in Into the Woods, returning to a Philippine stage for the first time in six years after her run in Sweeney Todd.

Having played the Witch three decades ago, Salonga reflected:

“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.”

That depth isn’t just stagecraft, it’s lived experience. A full circle moment not only for Lea, but for everyone who has followed her career for years.

2. A Stage Shared with Family and Identity

This production isn’t only about star power, it’s about family, identity, and solidarity. Lea shares the stage with her son, Nic Chien, marking one of their first major collaborations since Nic came out as transmasculine.

Nic came out at 14 and began testosterone therapy in January 2025. Speaking about parenting through transition, Salonga said:

“Musical theater is quite an unpredictable, sometimes think-on-your-feet type of art form... The one thing I’ve learned is that you have to raise your child the way your child needs to be raised.”

This isn’t just a performance. It’s a statement of visibility, courage, and the power of unconditional love. Most importantly, it shows what that love looks like in action. A moving tribute to maternal pride and radical openness.

3. A Fairytale Wrapped in Filipino Design, Guided by Clint Ramos

The production’s magic deepens under the vision of Clint Ramos, Theatre Group Asia’s artistic director and the creative heartbeat behind this staging. As Ramos puts it:

“We didn’t change a single word. We didn’t re-orchestrate, but it’s still definitely, indelibly ours.”

Salonga also spoke about the challenge of Sondheim’s music:

“Sondheim is no joke! Learning the material before day one of rehearsals takes a few weeks… but so rewarding once it all comes together.”

On the story’s themes, she added:

“What I love about this piece is the whole ‘what if’ premise of fairy tales… ‘nice is different than good’ is one that hits home every time… The final song, ‘Children Will Listen,’ is a reminder that what we do as adults impacts impressionable minds.”

This is more than a performance. It is Filipino artistry reimagining a Broadway classic with cultural nuance and heart.

4. Representation as a Standing Ovation

Lea returning with her son under the creative direction of Clint Ramos, both celebrated in the American theatre scene, signals something powerful. It shows that Filipino theatre is not mimicking Broadway, it is elevating, reshaping, and leading. Filipino Americans get to witness a piece of global theatre that speaks in their own language.

Why It Matters for Filipino Americans

We grew up on Disney cast albums and harana nostalgia. Into the Woods Manila bridges those worlds. It’s Sondheim with anahaw-inspired design, feminist complexity, and intergenerational representation, all created by Filipino hands.

Lea’s return, and her reflections on age, parenthood, and identity, make it more than a show. It’s a visceral reminder that our heritage, our artistry, and our stories are not just present. They are powerful.

Here’s everything you need to know to convince your friends that Manila is calling, because this is a show worth crossing oceans for:

• Where it’s playing: The Samsung Performing Arts Theater (S-PAT) in Circuit Makati, a state-of-the-art venue at the heart of Manila’s creative scene.

• Run dates: Originally set for August 7–24, the show was extended to August 31, 2025 after selling more than 30,000 tickets in just two hours.

• Performances: 18 in total, with a mix of Thursday to Sunday shows and double runs on weekends.

• Running time: About 3 hours with a 15-minute intermission, perfectly manageable even with jet lag.

• Who’s behind it: Produced by Theatre Group Asia, co-founded by Tony winner Clint Ramos and the late Bobby Garcia. Directed by Chari Arespacochaga, with Gerard Salonga as Music Director.

• Why it’s worth the trip:

• ⭐ Iconic faces: Lea Salonga as the Witch performing alongside her son Nic Chien as Jack in their first musical together, plus Filipino-American Broadway star Arielle Jacobs as Cinderella.

• ⭐ All-Filipino powerhouse cast: Eugene Domingo, Nyoy and Mikkie Volante, Josh Dela Cruz, Joreen and Mark Bautista, Carla Guevara Laforteza, and more.

• ⭐ Visually Filipino, globally polished: Sets and costumes infused with Filipino culture, from anahaw leaves and bahay kubo silhouettes to capiz shell details, all while meeting Broadway standards.

Bottom line: Into the Woods in Manila isn’t just theatre. It’s legacy, family, and Filipino pride all sharing one stage.