
Photo / The Sandbox Collective
Theater fans, we have great news for you: Next to Normal will be staged in Manila soon!
The Sandbox Collective will stage the award-winning musical from February 1 to 23, 2025, at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Makati City.
Next to Normal, which features music by Tom Kitt and a book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, tells the story of a family coping after a momentous event rattles the foundations of their relationships. The show explores themes of love, loss, illness, grief, and the intricacies of family dynamics.
Next to Normal debuted on Broadway in 2009 and is credited with launching the discussion of mental health in mainstream theater. The musicalย won three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Literature.

Photo / The Sandbox Collective
Next to Normal will feature Shiela Valderrama and Nikki Valdez alternating in the role of the matriarch Diana Goodman.
Valdez is knownย for her iconic roles in the Ang Tanging Ina film franchise and was recently awarded a FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film Family Matters. The singer and artist returns to theater following her acclaimed performance in The Wedding Singer.
Actress, singer, and host Shiela was last seen on stage as Erzulie in Once on This Island. The Gawad Buhay and Aliw Award winner has played countless roles over the past three decades, most recently as Sita in Rama Hari and Fosca in Passion.
OJ Mariano and Floyd Tena alternate in the role of the husband, Dan.ย Mariano is the resident tenor of the country’s premiere vocal group, The Company. He has received the Awit Award for Best New Male Recording Artist and the Philstage Gawad Buhay Award for his performance in Rama Hari.
Tena, meanwhile, is a multimedia artist with a wealth of work in theater, television, and film. He is a Philstage Gawad Buhay nominee for his featured performance in Sandosenang Sapatos.
Sheena Belarmino and Jam Binay play Natalie Goodman, the perfect daughter. Belarmino is a singer, dancer, and actress represented by Star Magic. She has appeared in Lyric and Beat, ASAP Natin โTo, and Itโs Showtime. Belarmino’s recent theater credits include the musicals One More Chance and Tabing Ilog.
Photo / The Sandbox Collective
Binayย is a singer-songwriter and theater artist whose recent credits include Bar Boys: A New Musical, Sa Babaeng Lahatย from Virgin Labfest, Pingkian: Isang Musikal, Ardor, and Ang Huling El Bimbo.
Vino Mabalot and Benedix Ramos will play the elusive Gabe Goodman. Mabalot is an up-and-coming theater actor and talent under Star Magic, renowned for his compelling performances. His recent projects include Batang Rizal, Dekada ’70, and Tabing Ilog.
Ramos is an actor, singer-songwriter, commercial model, host, and content creator managed by Star Hunt and Star Magic. His recent theater credits include Bar Boys, Tabing Ilog, and Ang Huling El Bimbo.
Omar Uddin and Davy Narciso will share the role of Henry, the boy who falls in love with Natalie. Uddin, an actor and singer under Star Magic, has graced the stage and screen with his talent. He is celebrated for his roles in musicals like Mula sa Buwan, Ibong Adarna, and Bar Boys.
Narciso’s theater credits in 2024 includeย Going Home to Christmas: A Jose Mari Chan Musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and Othello. In 2022, he was a soloist and member of the ensemble in Musikal II, the Cultural Center of the Philippinesโ 53rd anniversary gala.
Jef Flores plays the role of the psychiatrist, Dr. Madden. The award-winning actor and musician is known for performing in theater and independent films. His theater credits include Musikal nAPO, Himala: Isang Musikal, This Is Our Youth, and most recently, Once on This Island.
Photo / The Sandbox Collective
The Sandbox Collectiveโs managing artistic director, Toff De Venecia, is at the helm of the production and directing the show.
Joining him are Ejay Yatco as musical director, Stephen Viรฑas as choreographer, Mark Daniel Dalacat as production designer and associate director, Elliza Dawn Aurelio as hair and make-up designer, Jonas Garcia as dramaturg, Serena Magiliw as intimacy coach, Gabo Tolentino as lighting designer, Aji Manalo as sound designer and engineer, and Francisco Miguel Yabut as technical director.
Tickets to Next to Normal are available now.
For more information, visit the website orย follow The Sandbox Collective on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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