Teatro Pinas | The Sandbox Collective Unveils Full Cast of Spring Awakening for 2026 Manila Run – Tony Award–Winning Musical Returns

 

The Sandbox Collective proudly announces the full cast of Spring Awakening, the groundbreaking Tony Award–winning musical that will open the company’s 12th season and 2026 lineup in Manila. Directed by acclaimed theater director Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, this landmark production brings together a stellar mix of Philippine theater veterans and rising stars, promising a transformative experience for audiences. With book and lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik, and based on Frank Wedekind’s original play, Spring Awakening explores the turbulent journey of adolescence, where silence is rewarded and curiosity is punished. The musical tackles timeless and socially relevant themes including mental health, sexuality, teen pregnancy, family dynamics, self-discovery, and the challenges of growing up in a society that often suppresses youth expression.

Leading the cast are theater luminaries Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Ana Abad Santos, and Audie Gemora, who embody the adult characters with nuanced depth, while Nacho Tambunting and Alex Diaz share the role of Melchior Gabor, Nic Chien and Omar Uddin alternate as Moritz Stiefel, and Sheena Belarmino stars as Wendla Bergmann. The ensemble is further strengthened by talented performers Angelo Martinez, Vino Mabalot, Jam Binay, Angia Laurel, Mijon Cortez, Felicity Kyle Napuli, Elian Dominguez, Davy Narciso, and supporting swings Pappel, Nikki Bengzon, Lance Soliman, and Gabo Tiongson.

Together, they bring fresh energy and emotional resonance to the production, ensuring that the musical’s powerful narrative speaks to Filipino audiences today.

Director Pamintuan notes that the themes of the musical remain strikingly relevant, reflecting societal pressures, conservative norms, and the often-unspoken struggles faced by young people in the Philippines. “The challenges faced by the young characters in Spring Awakening—from sexual and physical abuse to mental health issues—mirror the realities confronting Filipino youth, making the show not just a theatrical experience, but a conversation starter for society at large,” he said. The artistic team also includes Ejay Yatco as musical director, Nunoy Van Den Burgh as choreographer, Missy Maramara as intimacy director, Wika Nadera as set designer, Raven Ong as costume designer, D. Cortezano as lighting designer, Gabbi Campomanes as assistant director, Salve Villarosa as dramaturg, Aron Roca as sound designer, Sheik Completado as technical director, and Jaydee Jasa as hair and makeup designer, ensuring world-class production values throughout.

Spring Awakening will run from February 13 to March 22, 2026, at The Black Box, The Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me (tinyurl.com/SandboxSpring2026). Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York, the production continues The Sandbox Collective’s mission of delivering bold, socially relevant, and artistically innovative theater experiences in the Philippines. For updates, follow The Sandbox Collective on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@TheSandboxCo) or visit their website at www.thesandboxco.com. With its powerhouse cast, striking themes, and expert creative team, Spring Awakening promises to be one of the most talked-about musical theater events of 2026 in Manila.