Musicals and Theatre in Manila, October to December 2026

Bongga Ka, 'Day!, the disco musical in its last weeks

Bongga Ka, 'Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical brings 1970s Manila to the stage through the songs of Hotdog. Expect "Annie Batungbakal", "Pers Lab", "Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko" and big ensemble dance numbers. Atasha Muhlach plays Annie, with Sam Concepcion and KD Estrada, and Jackie Lou and John Lapus in the older roles. It is staged with PETA Plus, an arm of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), and the comedy is Filipino.

• When: 3 October, 8PM; 4 October, 3PM; 9 October, 8PM; 10 October, 3PM; 24 October, 8PM. The venue's schedule ends on 24 October, while a later press release says the run goes to 31 October, so check TicketWorld for added dates.
• Where: Newport Performing Arts Theater, Newport World Resorts, Pasay, across the road from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
• Tickets: ₱1,300 (Bronze) to ₱4,500 (SVIP), on TicketWorld and at the Newport World Resorts box office. Senior and PWD (person with disability) tickets are bought directly from the resort.

About Us But Not About Us, a play for grown-ups in Circuit Makati

About Us But Not About Us is IdeaFirst Live's stage version of Jun Robles Lana's 2023 film. A literature professor and his student meet for what looks like a casual conversation, and it turns into a tense psychological fight about secrets, lies and who gets to tell a story. Romnick Sarmenta and Elijah Canlas return to the roles they played on screen, alternating with Epy Quizon, Andoy Ranay, Kobie Brown and director Tuxqs Rutaquio.

At 1 hour 45 minutes with no interval, the Friday 8PM show lets out before 10PM, so it works after work if you are already in Makati.

• When: until 25 October. Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 3PM and 8PM.
• Where: Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati.
• Tickets: ₱2,800 (Orchestra Side), ₱3,360 (Orchestra Center), ₱3,920 (VIP), on Ticket2Me.
• Age: for mature audiences. No one under 18 is admitted.

Gregoria Lakambini, a P-pop musical in Rockwell

Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical tells the story of Gregoria de Jesus, called Oryang, who went from a young woman in Caloocan to the Lakambini of the Katipunan beside Andres Bonifacio. Her story is told through the sound of a P-pop (Filipino pop) girl group. Music is by Nica Del Rosario and Matthew Chang, with a book by Nicanor Tiongson and Eljay Castro Deldoc. Marynor Madamesila returns as Gregoria, and Delphine Buencamino directs.

This is the show's third run in about a year, after the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) and Areté, and it is part of Tanghalang Pilipino's 40th season. For anyone near Makati, Rockwell is the easiest theatre trip of the season, with Power Plant Mall restaurants a short walk away.

• When: 13 to 29 November, Thursdays to Sundays.
• Where: The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati.
• Tickets: ₱1,500 (Dress Circle), ₱2,000 (Orchestra Side), ₱2,500 (Orchestra Center), ₱3,000 (Orchestra Pit), through Tanghalang Pilipino's official channels. A season pass is ₱6,499.

Gabriela: The Musical, a first staging at Areté

Gabriela: The Musical opens the same night as Gregoria. Gab Pangilinan plays Gabriela Silang, who led a revolt against Spanish rule in 18th century Ilocos. Writer Pat Valera, of Mula Sa Buwan and Bar Boys, spent more than five years researching her, and his version puts Gabriela in the revolution from the start rather than only after her husband's death. It leans into myth and her Itneg roots. Myke Salomon wrote the music, and Mikko Angeles directs.

• When: 13 November to 6 December. Fridays at 7:30PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 2PM and 7:30PM, plus Thursday 3 December at 7:30PM.
• Where: Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City.
• Tickets: ₱999 to ₱2,999 for Thursday, Friday and Sunday evening shows; ₱1,299 to ₱3,199 for Saturday shows, Sunday matinees and the closing night on 6 December. On Ticket2Me and through Barefoot Theatre Collaborative's own ticket link.
• Age: rated PG-13 for language and themes. Children under 7 are not admitted.
• Getting there: from Makati or BGC (Bonifacio Global City), leave at least an hour on a Friday evening.

The Nutcracker comes to Circuit Makati

The Nutcracker comes to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati for the first time, with artists from Ballet Manila and dancers from Steps Dance Studio. Jeffrey Espejo restages it, Gino Gonzales designs the sets and costumes, and it follows Clara from Christmas Eve to the Land of the Sweets.

• When: 11 December at 7:30PM; 12 December at 2PM and 7:30PM; 13 December at 2PM.
• Where: Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati.
• Tickets: ₱957.25 (Balcony 2 Sides) to ₱2,659 (Orchestra Center), on TicketWorld.

With small children, the 2PM matinees are the easier choice. If that weekend does not work, Newport World Resorts lists a separate touring Nutcracker at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay on 18 December at 8PM and 19 December at 2PM and 7PM.

Also on stage

• Sayaw ng mga Ilaw, Tanghalang Pilipino's stage adaptation of Cheeno Marlo Sayuno's children's story about a girl learning the pandanggo while her family waits for a father who has not come home. Fridays to Sundays until 11 October at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, CCP Complex, Pasay. ₱1,800 to ₱2,000.
• The Art of Breaking Up, from ABS-CBN Teatro Kapamilya and PETA Plus, based on George de Jesus III's Kung Paano Maghiwalay and directed by Dudz Teraña. Linked stories of couples ending things and learning to let go, with Janella Salvador, Jake Cuenca and Yen Santos in the cast. 6 November to 6 December at the PETA Theater Center, Quezon City. Tickets on TicketWorld.
• Cinderella: The Tale of the Glass Slipper, Repertory Philippines' musical, until 13 December at the REP Eastwood Theater, Quezon City. ₱1,000 (Orchestra Side) and ₱1,500 (Orchestra Center), on TicketWorld and at the REP box office in Eastwood Mall.
• Not theatre, but close: Pakisabi Na Lang, Tuloy Pa Rin puts The CompanY and Neocolours on one stage for the first time, 8 October at 8PM at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

We included only productions with dates, a venue and a ticket route announced by the company, the venue or an outlet quoting them.