What Atasha Muhlach was like during auditions for 'Bongga Ka 'Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical'
Atasha Muhlach made a strong first impression when she auditioned for Bongga Ka 'Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical.
After being put on hold for years, the musical will officially debut on the theater stage in September. Playing the titular role is Atasha, who will make her return to the theater after 15 years.
When the former child star came in to audition, the musical's director Chris Millado was captivated.
"She walked in like nobody. Gym pants. Plain tee. Bare face. Ponytail. No entourage. No arte. Then the music hit. She caught the choreography on the first eight-count and slid into the song's high notes like they were made for her. She matched the leading boys' swoony charm and swagger," Millado wrote in a Facebook post in June.
"First impressions? Sometimes they bring their own invisible spotlight with them," he added.
Melvin Lee, president of the Philippine Educational Theater Association, also looked back at how Atasha became Annie.
"Atasha delivered a strong audition, showcasing solid singing, dancing, and stage presence. She displayed natural chemistry with the male actors and blended seamlessly with the ensemble of triple-threat theater performers," he said. "More importantly, she brought the charisma, warmth, and panache needed for Annie Batungbakal, with the charm and look to convincingly lead the production. Overall, she proved to be a strong choice for the role."
The Philippine STAR's Business Development Head Booboo Atayde, who was present during the callbacks, praised Atasha's "comedic timing" during improv exercises.
"I'm guessing that's her TV training from Eat Bulaga and hosting gigs. Especially when she did scenes with Gerhard Krysstofer (who will play Toots), parang ang tagal na nilang bffs," she recalled.
"Then when she also did scenes with John Lapus (who will play Tarurit), and you know he's like a comedy genius, right? Ang bilis niya magbounce back and throw the lines as the director was shouting different ways on how she should attack the comeback. Ang bilis lang talaga ng pick-up ni Atasha."
In a June interview, Atasha gave a glimpse into her audition, where she sang Hotdog's Pers Lab and another 70s tune.
"I even prepared an extra dance choreography production," she shared. "Then on the spot, si Direk Chris, he taught a dance tapos kasama din si Sam Concepcion doon. Grabe kaba ako kasi siyempre naman si Sam Concepcion, magaling bilang theater actor and as a performer. I'm just happy it went [successfully]," she added.
Gold Lim, PETA Plus Deputy Director, said they held over 300 auditions per day for the musical.
"Andami-dami talagang nag-audition. Seeing Atasha being part of that audition, sobrang nakakatuwa," Lim previously said. "'Pag nag-aaudition, siyempre maraming magaling, pero when you go on stage, especially with a stage like Newport, kailangan mo ng certain bigness, certain charm so that the audience will focus on you, and it was so fun to see Atasha do her auditions. Ang kengkoy niya, she knows her [songs]."
Annie is described as a creative, lovable, spirited, and generous 20-something who's also a little naive. She's a dispatsadora, or staff, of the House of Pasion with a dream of becoming a fashion designer. She joins the Coco Banana circle, but they initially turn her down due to her lack of authenticity.
Bongga Ka, ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical transforms Hotdog’s iconic music into a full theatrical experience. Set in the colorful world of 1970s Manila, the production promises to capture the energy, humor, and heart that made Manila Sound resonate across generations.
Produced by Newport World Resorts in partnership with VIVA Communications and The Philippine STAR, the original musical opens in September 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. General ticket sales begin on July 10.
