Theater Calendar: 4 must-see shows to catch this August 2025
Without a doubt, it's a month that celebrates both world-class imports and fearless Filipino works, each bringing a distinct voice and vision to the spotlight.
Here's your guide to what's opening this month, numbered by start date:
1. Side Show: The Musical
Runs: Now showing until August 17
Venue: Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati
Based on the true story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, "Side Show" explores the pain, wonder, and humanity behind the spectacle of 'freak shows.' Once displayed in circus tents, the Hilton sisters rise to vaudeville fame while navigating love, betrayal, and their deep longing for independence and normalcy.
The musical features alternating casts—Tanya Manalang and Marynor Madamesila, and Molly Langley and Krystal Kane—as the twins, supported by a powerhouse ensemble including Bibo Reyes, David Ezra, and Gab Pangilinan. Directed by Steven Conde, the production by The Sandbox Collective shines with powerful vocals, stirring choreography, and a haunting score.
More than a musical about identity, "Side Show" dares audiences to reflect on society's obsession with difference, and the price of being seen only for what makes us 'other.'
2. Into the Woods
Runs: August 7 to 24
Venue: Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati
Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical makes its much anticipated Manila return in a lavish staging by GMG Productions. With a dream cast featuring Lea Salonga as the Witch, Eugene Domingo as Jack's Mother, and Arielle Jacobs (Broadway's Aladdin) as Cinderella, "Into the Woods" promises a thrilling mix of nostalgia, wit, and emotional depth.
The show intertwines multiple Brothers Grimm fairy tales—Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel—and follows what happens after the 'happily ever after.' It's a darker, wiser look at human desire, consequence, and connection, filled with Sondheim's signature lyrical genius and layered harmonies.
For local theater fans, this is a rare opportunity to see a fully staged, Broadway-caliber version of one of the most influential musicals of all time—led by some of the country's most celebrated performers.
According to GMG Productions, it's their fastest-selling title to date. If you missed out this time, fingers crossed for an extension or return run in the future.
3. Alice in Wonderland
Runs: August 24 – September 21
Venue: REP Theater, Eastwood Mall
Repertory Philippines is inviting families down the rabbit hole this August with its colorful, kid-friendly adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland." Featuring live music, dynamic choreography, and immersive sets, the show is a whimsical reimagining of Lewis Carroll's classic—perfect for young audiences and the young at heart.
Directed by Cara Barredo, the play puts a playful spotlight on curiosity and courage, while offering a visual feast that includes larger-than-life costumes, fantastical characters, and interactive staging. It's also part of REP's Theater for Young Audiences series, which aims to foster love for theater among children through engaging and accessible storytelling.
Whether you're attending with kids or just looking to revisit a childhood favorite, Alice in Wonderland offers a joyful escape into fantasy and imagination.
4. Walang Aray
Runs: August 29 – October 12
Venue: PETA Theater Center, Quezon City
After sold-out runs and rave reviews, PETA's "Walang Aray" returns with a fiercer and funnier revival that reclaims Filipino love, history, and resistance. A contemporary spin on Severino Reyes' zarzuela "Walang Sugat," the production mixes irreverent comedy, biting satire, and pop culture flair to tell the story of lovers caught in the crossfire of colonial repression.
Directed by Ian Segarra with new artistic director J-mee Katanyag, this third run features refreshed staging, queer-inclusive casting, and new musical arrangements that deepen the show's themes. Still at its core is the timeless question: How do we continue to love, laugh, and fight amid wounds—both past and present?
Backed by an ensemble cast and a live band, "Walang Aray" has become a modern protest musical that speaks to today's youth, tackling identity, resistance, and romance with wit and radical joy. —JCB, GMA Integrated News
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