The poster of “Into the Woods” for its 2025-2026 staging. Picture: Courtesy of Theatre Group Asia
One of many key people who introduced collectively the forged of the 2025-2026 staging of “Into the Woods” was the late theater director and producer Bobby Garcia, which is made up of artists primarily based within the Philippines and “internationally acclaimed skills of Filipino heritage.”
Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” is coming to the Philippines in August 2025, whereas Michael Bennett’s “A Refrain Line” will likely be staged in March 2026, as introduced by the Garcia-owned Theatre Group Asia in a launch. The corporate can also be house to the producers of “Request Sa Radyo,” a silent play starring Dolly de Leon and Lea Salonga.
Whereas the forged of “Into the Woods” is but to be introduced, co-producers John and Joanna Echauz mentioned Garcia performed an enormous position in bringing the forged collectively.
“It’s a stellar lineup of each Philippine-based artists and internationally acclaimed skills of Filipino heritage primarily based overseas similar to Clint [Ramos],” they mentioned, referring to Clint Ramos, who served because the costume designer of “Request sa Radyo.”
“Bobby was very instrumental in bringing collectively these nice Filipino skills. The ensemble boasts a shocking meeting of Filipino performers, musicians, choreographers, and manufacturing stalwarts. It really is a Filipino dream group,” they additional added.
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Based mostly on the e book by American playwright and author James Lapine, the musical brings the storylines of fairytales by the Brothers Grimm similar to Little Pink Driving Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack from “Jack and the Beanstalk,” to call only a few. This has been adopted right into a film musical in 2014, starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, and James Corden.
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It tells the story of fairytale characters who’re decided to get their very own variations of a fortunately ever after, which based on Ramos, will likely be portrayed with a “Filipino” twist in its upcoming staging within the nation.
“‘Into the Woods’ explores the themes of energy, disenfranchisement, damaged desires, hope, resilience, and willpower to maneuver ahead. We need to lean into the concept of making a model of ‘Into the Woods’ that considers the Filipino situation. Our distinctive lens influences how completely different our model will likely be,” Ramos mentioned of its upcoming staging.
“Hopefully, our context will give extra which means to the already wealthy work that’s this Sondheim musical. We’re so fortunate and grateful that we received the blessing from the Sondheim property,” he added.
Garcia’s demise was confirmed by his household in December 2024, though the trigger was not introduced. He was 55 years previous.
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