'Bagets The Musical' takes audiences back to the 80s
In 1984, Bagets took Philippine pop culture by storm, while effectively launching the careers of stars William Martinez, J.C. Bonnin, Herbert Bautista, Raymond Lauchengco, and Aga Muhlach. Following the highs and lows of adolescence through the experiences of five teenage friends, the film was a smash, spawning a sequel that same year. Now, the classic is back, re-presenting the classic story in a big-budget stage musical that pays homage to its ‘80s roots.
Showing at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Bagets The Musical arrives under the direction of Maribel Legarda as a jukebox musical, working a number of local and international hits into the story, including the film’s theme song Growing Up as the opening number.
Here, as in the film, we meet the titular teens on the verge of being expelled from a prestigious school, with their mothers summoned to account for their sons’ actions. The story then shifts to a series of vignettes as the five friends spend the next few months getting into every manner of shenanigan before their final year begins. Filled with teenage exuberance and clad in their ‘80s finest, Tonton, Topee, Gilbert, Arnel, and Adie go through their various adventures while learning valuable lessons about themselves and each other.
The script, by Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Artistic Director J-mee Katanyag, hews closely to the film’s narrative, while adding in multiple opportunities for musical interludes. 80s babies will delight in having songs like So It's You and Farewell fill roughly the same narrative spaces they did 42 years ago, while selected international hits (like Just Got Lucky and Take On Me) are reworked and recontextualized to suit the story.
The cast features a roll call of up-and-coming talents and industry veterans, with Milo Cruz and Migo Valid alternating as the impulsive Tonton; Jeff Moses and Sam Shoaf as martial arts enthusiast Topee (née Toffee); Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez as the insecure Gilbert; Ethan David and KD Estrada as rich kid Arnel; and Mico Hendrix Chua and Andres Muhlach as the lovesick Adie. In a nod to the source material, the surnames of the five protagonists now reflect those of the original film’s actors, a gesture made doubly meaningful with Andres stepping into the very role that made his father famous.
As the adults, Kakai Bautista and Natasha Cabrera alternate as Tonton’s mother, while Neomi Gonzales, Ring Antonio, Mayen Cadd, and Carla Guevara Laforteza play the mothers of Topee, Gilbert, Arnel, and Adie, respectively. The moms and their different parenting styles anchor the kids’ more outlandish antics, while being just as colorful in their own rights. Also featured is Gie Onida (last seen as the father in last year’s Walang Aray), who does double duty as two hilariously put-upon fathers here, sometimes in the same sequence.
The play utilizes a number of dynamic sets to highlight the characters’ different upbringings while deriving humor from how they move from one locale to the next. The expansive Newport stage is maximized, with several sequences featuring the gang tooling around in a fully drivable version of Tonton’s beloved jeep, while also incorporating graphical projections, video clips, and interactive lighting design.
Ultimately, Bagets tells a timeless story on how the insecurities, curiosity, trials, and tribulations of youth are universal. For fans of the film, fans of the era, or fans of the music, Bagets The Musical promises audiences a nostalgic throwback that the entire family can enjoy—regardless of what era they happen to come from.
Disclaimer: PhilSTAR L!fe was given free access to a special preview of Bagets The Musical during its open technical dress rehearsal.
A production of Newport World Resorts with Philippine STAR and VIVA communications, the show is staged by PETA plus led by director Maribel Legarda, playwright J-mee Katanyag, and musical director Vince Lim. This show is also presented in cooperation with Sun Life Philippines.
Bagets The Musical runs from Jan. 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are now available at Newport World Resorts Box Office, Ticketworld, and Ticket2Me: PHP 4,000 (SVIP), PHP 3,500 (VIP), PHP 3,000 (GOLD), PHP 2,000 (SILVER), and PHP 1,000 (BRONZE). For inquiries, contact Customer Care at 7908-8888.
For more information on Bagets The Musical, visit VIVA Communications Inc. (@vivaartistsagency), The Philippine STAR (@philippinestar), and Newport World Resorts (@newportworldresorts) on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
