Your Guide to Into The Woods Manila 2025: Cast, Tickets + More
Isn't it nice to know a lot? (And a little bit not?)
(SPOT.ph) Metro Manila is getting a production of Into the Woods this August.
It's been a hot minute since we first got word that Manila will be getting an all-Filipino production of Sondheim's Into the Woods. Since then, Theater Group Asia (TGA)—the folks behind the production— has been teasing the public with bits of information from bombshells like Lea Salonga and Eugene Domingo castings to practical deets like ticket prices. If all the drops got you overwhelmed (and excited), don't worry. We've crafted this handy guide for all things Into the Woods. This way, when ticketing and the show finally comes, you're ready for a hassle-free night of music and wonder.
Here's everything you need to know about Into the Woods Manila 2025:
Into the Woods is a dark comedy retelling of the fairy tales we all grew up with. It intertwines the stories of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel—while adding an original storyline about a childless Baker and his Wife. This is all set in a beautiful combination of music and lyrics by the renowned composer Stephen Sondheim. The musical has since received accolades such as a Tony Award for Best Musical Score in 1988, a Grammy for Best Musical Theather Album also in 1988, and an Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival in 2011, among many others.
Into the Woods has gained enormous acclaim throughout its years of being staged around the globe. However, for this Manila production, TGA Founding Collaborator Clint Ramos hints that it won't be an exact copy of the Broadway and London runs based on the original 1986 playbook by James Lapine. According to Ramos, there will be distinctly Filipino touches made to make the show resonate more with the audience.
"We want to create a version that considers the Filipino condition. Hopefully, our context will give more meaning to the already rich work that is this Sondheim musical,” says Ramos.
Into the Woods Manila Show Schedule
Into the Woods takes the stage at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater for a strictly limited run from August 7 to 31, with shows running Thursday to Sunday. There will be 18 performances, as the weekend shows will have two runs each. The exact show timings have yet to be posted.
Into the Woods' additional show dates:
After selling over 30,000 tickets in just two hours—and with demand still soaring—Into the Woods Manila is extending its 2025 run. Six additional shows have been added, pushing the festival through to August 31. Here are the newly announced dates:
Tickets to the additional shows will go on sale to the general public on March 30. If you want to increase your chances of getting seats this time around, you could sign up for the Theater Group Asia newsletter until March 20. This will grant you access to a special one-day-only presale on March 28.
Additionally, PWDs and Senior Citizens can also get tickets to the show through an on-site ticket selling at the ticket booths in the Samsung Performing Arts Theater on March 29.
The Cast of Into the Woods Manila 2025:
Into the Woods Manila 2025 features an all-star cast of international-caliber artists of Filipino descent. All performances will be done by the same cast (barring any need for alternates.)
Lea Salonga as The Witch
Broadway legend Lea Salonga returns to her roots. Into the Woods marks Salonga's return to the Philippine stage in six years. Fresh from her acclaimed performances in Old Friends and Here Lies Love, she is set to weave magic—and maybe a little menace—as The Witch in Into the Woods.
Best known for her Tony Award-winning role in Miss Saigon, Salonga has conquered stages from London to New York, with standout turns in Les Misérables, Once on This Island, Allegiance, and Flower Drum Song. She’s also the iconic voice behind Disney’s Princess Jasmine and Fa Mulan, solidifying her place as a global musical powerhouse.
With a voice that can shatter hearts and a presence that commands the stage, Salonga is the perfect choice to bring both the fiery wrath and tender vulnerability of Into the Woods’ most complex character.
Arielle Jacobs as Cinderella
Arielle Jacobs is ready to don the glass slippers as Into the Woods’ Cinderella! A seasoned Broadway star, Jacobs first made waves as Nina Rosario in In the Heights, later captivating audiences in Wicked, Aladdin, and Here Lies Love, where her portrayal of Imelda earned high praise from Variety and The New York Times. Fun fact: This isn't Jacobs' first time playing a character in Into the Woods. Previously, she played the Baker’s Wife in a Florida production.
Born to a Filipino mother and an American-Jewish father, Jacobs brings a rich cultural heritage to her roles, which means we can expect her to bring depth and nuance to Cinderella’s journey of self-discovery.
Eugene Domingo as Jack's Mother
Who better to bring Jack’s no-nonsense, sharp-tongued mother to life than the “Comedy Star for All Seasons” herself, Eugene Domingo? A force in Philippine cinema, Domingo has proven her range across indie gems and box office hits, from the love-it-or-hate-it Kimmy Dora to the internationally acclaimed Ang Babae sa Septic Tank. With a string of Best Actress awards under her belt—including recognition from the Metro Manila Film Festival, Cinemalaya, and even the Asian Film Awards—she’s no stranger to commanding the stage (or screen) with her personal brand of comedic timing laced with emotional depth.
Josh Dela Cruz as Prince Charming
Filipino-American performer Josh Dela Cruz is stepping into the role of Prince Charming and The Wolf in Into the Woods. A certified triple threat, Dela Cruz made waves on Broadway as Aladdin, after starting out as an ensemble member and understudy in the Disney hit.
His theater résumé includes Here Lies Love at The Public Theater, The King and I opposite Lou Diamond Phillips, and Merrily We Roll Along under the direction of the legendary James Lapine. He’s also helped develop new works like the Tony-winning Maybe Happy Ending.
Born in the UAE to Bicolano and Ilocano parents and raised in the U.S., Dela Cruz found his artistic voice within the Filipino-American community. While many know him as the beloved host of Blue’s Clues & You!, he’s also appeared on shows like, Law & Order Toronto, and Bull.
Nyoy Volante & Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante as The Baker and the Baker's Wife
Nyoy Volante and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante bring their chemistry to Into the Woods as The Baker and The Baker’s Wife. The theater power couple first met during Rock of Ages in 2012, and now, more than a decade later, they reunite under the same director, Chari Arespacochaga, to tackle one of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved musicals.
Nyoy, an acclaimed recording artist and theater veteran, has wowed audiences in Sweeney Todd, Jersey Boys, Little Shop of Horrors, and Kinky Boots. Mikkie, whose impressive 14-year theater career began as Liesel in The Sound of Music, has built an extensive résumé with standout roles in Carousel, Aladdin, The Addams Family, Ghost the Musical, The Bridges of Madison County, Saturday Night Fever the Musical, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Carrie the Musical.
With their shared love of fairy tales and Sondheim’s intricate melodies, we can expect this dream team to deliver a deeply heartfelt and dynamic take on Into the Woods’ central couple.
Nic Chien as Jack
Nic Chien steps into the role of Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. Despite his young age, Chien is no stranger to the stage, having performed in numerous concerts alongside his mother, the legendary Lea Salonga.
Chien made his professional musical theater debut as Alice in Atlantis Productions’ Matilda and has been hooked on performing ever since. In 2023, he showcased his dramatic prowess by placing third in the English-Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Competition.
This production of Into the Woods marks a special milestone for the mother-son duo as it will be their first musical together.
Joreen Bautista as Rapunzel
Stepping into the role of Rapunzel—and doubling as Cinderella’s Mother and Sleeping Beauty—is the "Filipina Disney Princess of TikTok," Joreen Bautista.
Beyond social media, Bautista is an accomplished theater actress and has made an impact on the European theater scene, playing Kim in Miss Saigon across the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland from 2017 to 2019. She reprised the role in Danish for the Miss Saigon Copenhagen run in 2023, showcasing her linguistic versatility. More recently, she performed in Do You Hear the People Sing and took on the role of Anna in Frozen in Concert in Manila.
Mark Bautista as Rapunzel's Prince
Singer, actor, and stage veteran Mark Bautista adds another notch to his belt as he steps into the role of Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods.
Bautista has graced both local and international stages with standout performances in The Full Monty, Noli Me Tangere, South Pacific, Bituing Walang Ningning, and Here Lies Love, which he performed at London’s Royal National Theatre and the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
With Into the Woods marking his first Sondheim musical, Bautista is eager to take on the challenge of the composer’s infamously intricate melodies. His stage presence and vocal prowess make him a fitting choice for the dashing yet comically self-absorbed prince.
“I’ve never played the role of a prince before, so this is going to be exciting for me,” Bautista shares.
Teetin Villanueva as Little Red Riding Hood
Stage and screen actress Teetin Villanueva brings her charm and energy to the role of Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods. Known for her work across theater, television, and film, Villanueva has taken on diverse roles in productions with PETA, Dulaang U.P., and Atlantis Theatrical. She has also appeared in ABS-CBN’s Oh My G!, Maalaala Mo Kaya, and #BoysLockdown.
Her musical credits include Rak of Aegis, Rock of Ages, Ang Huling El Bimbo, Matilda, Waitress, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Tabing Ilog The Musical, and the recent staging of Mula sa Buwan.
On playing the feisty and adventurous Little Red, Villanueva shares, “This is the wordiest repertoire I’ve been given the opportunity to learn in my career so far. Apart from learning Little Red’s songs and getting to be a kid again onstage, I’m also looking forward to exploring and adding my own flavor of wonder and feistiness to the role.”
Added to the slew of talent to watch out for in Into Woods are MMFF 2024 Best Supporting Actress Kakki Teodoro as Cinderella's stepsister, Lucinda; breakthrough theater and television actress, Sarah Facuri as the other stepsister Florinda; multi-awarded actresses Carla Guevara Laforteza and Tex Ordonez as Granny, Giant, & Snow White, and Cinderella's stepmother respectively; Jamie Wilson as Cinderella's Father/steward; and veteran actor and playwright, Rody Vera as the Narrator or Mysterious Man.
How to get tickets to Into the Woods Manila 2025:
With such a star-studded cast and an intriguing take on the tales we all love, I bet you can't wait to save your seats. But hold your horses. We're not there yet.
Ticket selling Into the Woods starts on February 28. As the official bank partner for Into the Woods Manila, BPI cardholders have a special presale from February 24 to 26. Don't have a BPI card but are dying to secure your spots for the show? As an alternative to the bank presale, those who signed up for the TGA newsletter before February 20 can reserve their seats one day ahead, on February 27.
Tickets for Into the Woods start at P1,500 and can go as high as P6,000. Here are the seven ticketing tiers for the show:
- Giants Lair (F-Reserve): P1,500
- The Baker's House (E- Reserve): P1,800
- The Farm (D- Reserve): P2,800
- Grandmother's House (C-Reserve): P3,500
- The Forbidden Tower (B-Reserve): P4,750
- The Palace (A-Reserve): P5,500
- The Woods (VIP): P6,000
Unsure of where you want to sit? You can use this seating guide from the Samsung Performing Arts Theater to help you decide. It shows you what the view will be like depending on your selected zone.
Also read: The Most Memorable Theater Moments of 2024
UPDATE: March 14, 11:30 a.m.: Due to overwhelming demand, Into the Woods Manila 2025 has announced six additional show dates. Additionally, more cast members have been announced to complete the set. The article has been updated to reflect this development.
UPDATE: June 27: Dosh Dela Cruz is stepping in as Cinderella’s Prince Charming, replacing Joaquin Valdez due to scheduling conflicts. The article has been updated to reflect this development.
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