Love and revolution revived onstage

After winning awards in its first run, Walang Aray returns sharper

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TWO YEARS after its debut, the original Filipino musical Walang Aray will return to reinforce its themes of love and revolution, at the PETA Theater Center from Aug. 29 to Oct. 12.

The musical garnered acclaim in 2023, with eight wins at the Gawad Buhay Awards in 2024, for outstanding Musical, Ensemble Performance, Stage Direction, Book, Original Score, Choreography, and acting performances for Neomi Gonzales and Shaira Opsimar.

This year, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) is giving Walang Aray new life, to be enjoyed by new audiences.

"This season, we explore how love and power intersect, examining how our romantic, familial, and national relationships are shaped and often wounded by systems of control," said PETA artistic director J-mee Katanyag, at a press conference in Quezon City on July 28.

She added that Walang Aray "reimagines history and invites us to ask, what if love is not a feeling, but a revolutionary act?"

Inspired by Severino Reyes' sarswela Walang Sugat, the latest production of Walang Aray is helmed by director Ian Segarra, playwright Rody Vera, and musical director Vince Lim. For this run, they are joined by Norbs Portales as associate director.