Plays and musicals to watch during the ‘ber’ months

JUST as the year enters the home stretch (and starts the Philippines’ extended Christmas season) the theater scene heats up even more, closing the year with a wide variety of plays and musicals from September to December.

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There are new shows, and for those who missed them the first time, some restagings set to fill up theater lovers’ calendars until the end of 2025.

Dear Evan Hansen

Sept. 4 to Oct. 5

GMG Productions presents the Manila run of the UK touring production of Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen at The Theatre at Solaire in Parafiaque. It tells the story of Evan, an anxious high school student longing for a sense of belonging, and features music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Steven Levenson. It stars Ellis Kirk in the titular role, Tickets are available through TicketWorld.

Kaliwaan

Sept. 5-7

Stages Production Specialists, Inc., with MusicArtes, Inc., presents an adaptation of Betrayal by Harold Pinter. Titled Kaliwaan, it is a Filipino translation by Guelan Varela-Luarca, directed by Loy Arcenas and starring Missy Maramara, Nor Domingo, and Ron Capinding. Its final weekend, an extension from its August run, will be staged at The Mirror Studio Theater, SJG Bldg., 8463 Kalayaan Ave., Makati City. Tickets can be purchased through the Google Form here: hitps://bit.ly/KaliwaanMNL2025.

Walang Aray

Sept. 5-Oct. 12

Two years after its debut, the original Filipino musical Walang Aray is back at the PETA Theater Center, running until Oct. 12. It is centered on the love story between Julia and Tenyong, set during the Philippine revolution of 1896. Many of the award-winning lead cast from 2023 are returning: Shaira Opsimar and Marynor Madamesila who alternate in the role of Julia, and Gio Gahol and Jon Abella as Tenyong. They are joined by a new cast member, Lance Reblando who also plays the role of Julia. Tickets are available through Ticket2Me.

Alice in Wonderland

Sept. 7-Dec. 14

Repertory Theater for Young Audiences presents the fantastical world of