Lea Salonga's son Nic Chien joins cast of 'Spring Awakening' PH staging
The cast for the Philippine staging of Spring Awakening has been unveiled, and it includes Lea Salonga's son Nic Chien.
The Sandbox Collective announced the actors to star in the local production of the Tony Award-winning musical over the past few days.
Chien, who starred in the Manila staging of Into the Woods with his mom, will play Moritz, the best friend of protagonist Melchior Gabor. Bar Boys the Musical actor Omar Uddin will serve as his alternate.
Meanwhile, playing the smart schoolboy Melchior are fellow Bar Boys star Alex Diaz and Nacho Tambunting. In the role of his love interest, Wendla Bergmann, is Sheena Belarmino.
The rest of the cast includes Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Ana Abad Santos as Adult Woman, Angia Laurel as Martha, Felicity Kyle Napuli as Thea, Mijon Cortez as Anna, Pappel and Nikki Bengzon and Gabo Tiongson as Swing, Angelo Martinez as Hanschen, Audie Gemora as Adult Man, Davy Narciso as Georg, Vino Mabalot as Otto, Elian Dominguez as Ernst, and Jam Binay as Ilse.
The Philippine staging of Spring Awakening opens on Feb. 13, 2026 at the Black Box at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell.
Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan will serve as the director with Ejay Yatco as musical director.
Based on the 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind, Spring Awakening made its off-Broadway debut in 2006. The original Broadway production won eight Tony Awards, considered the highest achievement in theater, for Best Musical, Direction, Book, Score, and Featured Actor.
The musical follows a group of teenagers as they navigate their sexuality at a time when it's still widely considered taboo.
Steven Sater wrote the book and lyrics, while Duncan Sheik provided the music.