Meet the Full Cast of the PH Production of “Spring Awakening”

The Sandbox Collective revealed the full cast of Spring Awakening, which features a powerful ensemble of theater veterans and rising stars to open the company’s 12th year and 2026 season.

Spring Awakening is the groundbreaking, Tony Award–winning musical that follows the turbulent journey of adolescence, where silence is rewarded and curiosity is punished. Exploring timeless themes of mental health, sexuality, growing up, and family life, the show’s power lies in its ability to transcend eras and resonate deeply with audiences across generations.

The musical is based on the play by Frank Wedekind, and features a book and lyrics by Steven Sater, and music by the singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik.

Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, who will direct the Philippine production of Spring Awakening, shared that the show’s story mirrors the oppressive ideas our society continues to grapple with.

“This bourgeoisie, which Spring Awakening takes aim at, manifests today in the form of political elites, conservative religious sects, and a ‘parentocracy’ that seek to preserve the status quo—fearing the so-called corruption of youth and resisting what they deem as ‘radical’ thought and rapidly shifting industries that are reshaping daily life,” Pamintuan said.

“The struggles faced by the young characters in the show—teen pregnancy, sexual and physical abuse, mental health issues, and self-harm—are the very challenges many young people continue to face, particularly in the Philippines,” he said.

THEATER VETERANS, RISING STARS TO TAKE THE STAGE IN THIS LANDMARK MUSICAL

A mix of Philippine theater stalwarts and rising stars is set to breathe new life into Spring Awakening 20 years after its Broadway premiere.

The First Lady of Philippine Theater, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, and multi-awarded artist Ana Abad Santos will share the role of Adult Woman. Meanwhile, the King of Philippine Musical Theater, Audie Gemora, will step into the role of Adult Man.

Lauchengco-Yulo is a multi-awarded actress, director, and artistic director. Throughout her illustrious career, she has brought to life iconic roles such as Eva Perón in Evita, Fosca in Passion, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and Diana in Next to Normal, as well as appearing in the Manila production of Miss Saigon. Most recently, she captivated audiences as the titular character in the Singapore staging of Kimberly Akimbo.

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Santos is a director, producer, and actress across film, television, and theater who is making her much-awaited return to the stage. She has earned recognition for her powerful performances as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, as Candida in Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, and as Miranda in An Evening at the Opera, among others. Most recently, she appeared as Carmen Hernando in the film Quezon.

Gemora is a stage, television, and film actor, singer, recording artist, dancer, host, on-camera and voice talent for TV and radio commercials, director, choreographer, producer, impresario, and educator. He has appeared in over 70 plays, played major roles in productions like Pippin, Evita, and Les Misérables, and won multiple Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards for his performances—notably for Sweeney Todd, The Producers, and La Cage Aux Folles.

Taking the stage alongside theater luminaries are Nacho Tambunting and Alex Diaz, who share the role of Melchior Gabor; Nic Chien and Omar Uddin, who alternate as Moritz Stiefel; and Sheena Belarmino, who will play Wendla Bergmann.

Returning to the Philippine stage after moving to New York, Tambunting began performing professionally in 2006 in The Sound of Music. Tambunting originated the role of Felix Starro, Jr. in Felix Starro—the first Filipino-American musical to premiere Off-Broadway. He was most recently seen as Jake in the world premiere of Everything Beautiful Happens at Night. Tambunting has also appeared on TV and in film as a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Actors’ Equity Association.

Diaz is a multi-hyphenate, Gawad Buhay-nominated stage, film, and television actor whose journey began as a student radio DJ before being launched in Star Magic Circle 2013. He made his theatrical debut as Racetrack Higgins in Disney’s Newsies and was most recently seen as Chris Abueva in Bar Boys: The Musical.

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Chien made his professional musical theater debut in Matilda the Musical and has wanted to be a theater actor ever since. He most recently played Jack in Into the Woods. Chien has also made numerous concert appearances alongside his mother, Lea Salonga. In 2023, he participated in the English Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Competition, where he placed third.

Uddin has been in the entertainment scene since age 12, being a regular for the fourth and fifth seasons of Team Yey! and 2 Good 2 Be True. He made his theatrical debut in Tagu-taguan Nasaan ang Buwan? and has continued to play lead roles in shows such as A Christmas Carol, the international tour of Disney’s The Lion King, Bar Boys: The Musical, Next To Normal, and, most recently, Quomodo Desolata Es?.

Belarmino is a Star Magic singer, dancer, and actress. She started her career in reality competitions like Dance Kids, Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids, and Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids. At the age of eight, she started her theater career in Cebu, and has since played iconic roles such as Basha in One More Chance: The Musical, Eds Delos Santos in Tabing Ilog, and Natalie Goodman in Next To Normal.

Also joining the cast are Angelo Martinez as Hänschen Rilow, Vino Mabalot as Otto Lämmermeier, Jam Binay as Ilse Neumann, Angia Laurel as Martha Bessell, Mijon Cortez as Anna, Felicity Kyle Napuli as Thea, Elian Dominguez as Ernst Röbel, and Davy Narciso as Georg Zirschnitz.

Martinez is a Singapore-based performer and the first Filipino to portray Evan Hansen in the Southeast Asian production of Dear Evan Hansen. He was last seen as Aaron Puckett in Kimberly Akimbo alongside Lauchengco-Yulo. Spring Awakening marks his homecoming debut in the Philippines.

Mabalot is an actor and stratospheric tenor known for his emotionally distinctive performances. He is currently performing as the Mock Turtle in Alice in Wonderland, and was recently seen as Tony Javier in Quomodo Desolata Es? and Gabe Goodman in Next to Normal.

Binay is a sought-after theater actress who has appeared in various productions, including Pingkian: Isang Musikal, Next to Normal, In the Eyes of the People, Bar Boys: The Musical, and as an understudy in Ang Huling El Bimbo.

Laurel is a dynamic, passionate singer-songwriter and actor making her theatrical debut. She graduated from De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde with a degree in Production Design for Theater, and has earned critical acclaim for her debut single “Back Again” under ABS-CBN Music’s Tarsier Records. Her upcoming single “Talon” is set for release this November, with her first full-length album following in early 2026.

Cortez is a musician, singer-songwriter, sound designer, and actor whose work bridges music and theater. She began her artistic journey in student theater with productions such as The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Aoi, and Las Viajeras.

Napuli is an actress known for her work in theater, television, and film. She has portrayed numerous characters onstage, including Becky in A Little Princess, Matilda in Matilda the Musical, and Young Nala in the international tour of Disney’s The Lion King. Recently, she is known for lending her vocals to the Filipino dub of K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Dominguez is a theater artist and eco-warrior with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from Ateneo de Manila University. He made his professional theater debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which was followed by his role as Jepoy in Jepoy and the Magic Circle. He’s most recently seen in Bar Boys: The Musical.

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Narciso is a theater actor who has played various roles in productions such as Next To Normal, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and Othello, among others. During his time in college, he also starred in various productions with the Ateneo Blue Repertory.

Rounding out the cast are female swings Pappel and Nikki Bengzon, and male swings Lance Soliman and Gabo Tiongson.

Pappel is a singer-songwriter under O/C Records and a member of The Busking Community. She’s last seen in Side Show: The Musical and Bar Boys: The Musical. Bengzon makes her professional musical theater debut in Spring Awakening. She was last seen in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Ateneo Blue Repertory’s production of Next To Normal.

Soliman is a musical theater artist, vocal coach, events performer, and recording artist. He was last seen in Alice in Wonderland and Jepoy and The Magic Circle. Tiongson is an accomplished performer, a virtuoso of the acoustic guitar, a versatile voice-over artist, and a champion at cheerdancing. He was recently seen in Alice in Wonderland.

With Pamintuan at the helm, the artistic team of Spring Awakening 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.

Spring Awakening is the inaugural show of The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati. The show will run from February 13 until March 22, 2026. Tickets are now available on Ticket2Me (tinyurl.com/SandboxSpring2026).

Spring Awakening is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York, NY, USA.

For more information, follow The Sandbox Collective on Facebook, Twitter and Tiktok–@TheSandboxCo. You may also visit the website at thesandboxco.com.

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