Gab Pangilinan to Tanya Manalang-Atadero: 7 Filipina theatre actors and their must-see productions

Villanueva brings a nuanced and introspective approach to her craft, distinguished by her ability to create authentic and vulnerable character portrayals. Her remarkable work in productions such as Collections, Rak of Aegis, and Desaparesidos has highlighted her exceptional range. This August, she will be starring in a production of Into The Woods, remarking that “this is the wordiest repertoire I’ve been given the opportunity to learn in my career so far…I’m looking forward to exploring and adding my own flavour of wonder and feistiness to the role.”  

With an energetic performing style, Go excels in bringing vibrant characters to life. Her work in productions like Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ​​ng Gitnang Tag-araw (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Katsuri (Of Mice and Men) and Anak Datu demonstrates her unique ability to seamlessly blend her distinctive voice with each character’s emotional transformation. She is currently an Actors Company Senior Member of Tanghalang Pilipino, the National Performing Arts Company for Theatre in the Philippines. She is also a three-time PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay nominee and received two Aliw Awards nominations for Female Featured Performance in a Play. Recently, she delivered a riveting performance at Tanghalang Pilipino’s adaptation of Kisapmata.

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Nuevo is characterised by her bold stage presence, tackling challenging roles with unfiltered power. She has been part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ resident theatre company since 2013. She starred in productions like Ang Pag-uusig (The Crucible) and Tartuffe: O ang Manloloko. At the 13th Gawad Buhay Awards, she received the Outstanding Female Featured Performance in a Play award for playing Khadaffy Janjalani in Batang Mujahideen. She also received the award for Best Featured Actress in a Play during the 35th Aliw Awards for her performance in Anak Datu. Her recent portrayal of a victim of domestic abuse in Taghalang Pilipino’s Kisapmata was worth noting.

Celebrated for her versatility and technical precision, Madamesila inhabits diverse characters with remarkable authenticity and emotional intelligence. Her notable work in television productions like Oh, Mando!, House Tour and Ano'ng meron kay Abok? reveal her versatility as a crossover artist. She also recently performed in Buruguduystunstugudunstuy, a jukebox musical inspired by the discography of Ang Parokya ni Edgar. She was nominated for Best Female Lead Performance in a Musical in the 14th Gawad Buhay Awards. 

Read more: Of absurdities and realities: Dissecting the Parokya ni Edgar musical ‘Buruguduystunstugudunstuy’

A theatre actor since she was eight years old, Tanya Manalang-Atadero has developed an elegant, profoundly emotive approach to her performances. She has been a guest performer at the FAMAS Awards, the KBP Golden Dove Awards, and the Aliw Awards. After college, she joined the cast of Resort World Manila’s KAOS, the first production staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Her most notable performance was as Kim in Miss Saigon, a West End production in the United Kingdom from 2014 through 2016. She was also cast in tick, tick… BOOM! in 2016 and 2023.

Read more: How ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ perfectly communicates the anxiety of time running out

Theatre and voice actor Maronne Cruz was born in San Francisco to a father who would bring her and her siblings to Broadway shows in New York. While studying business management, she fell in love with theatre performances. Some of her most notable theatrical performances include Ako si Josephine and Sa Wakas. In 2017, she was nominated at the Gawad Buhay Awards for her performance as Jeanie in Hair. Her most recent role was Emilia in C.A.S.T. PH’s Othello, with an upcoming production of We’re Not Kids Anymore this coming May. 

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