3 days ago
Jon Santos returns to stage with 'Bawat Bonggang Bagay' and 'Side Show'
This Pride Month, Filipino theater icon Jon Santos is making a triumphant return to the stage in "Bawat Bonggang Bagay."
As if that's not enough, he will quickly up the ante in July with "Side Show: The Musical," presented by The Sandbox Collective at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater in Circuit Makati.
"Bawat Bonggang Bagay" (BBB) returns for a strictly limited engagement from June 14 to June 22, 2025.
The Filipino adaptation of Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe's acclaimed "Every Brilliant Thing," "BBB" is translated into Filipino by Guelan Luarca, under the direction of Jenny Jamora, who won Outstanding Stage Direction at the 12th Gawad Buhay Awards for her work on the piece.
Turning mental health advocacy into a raw and moving theatrical experience, the play follows a child who begins writing a list of all the brilliant things in life to help their mother through depression. It's an earnest, participatory piece that finds humor and healing in the darkest moments, with audiences invited to literally become part of the story.
Side Show: The Musical
From heartfelt monologue to vaudeville spectacle, Santos pivots into a bold new role in July as "Side Show: The Musical" hits the stage beginning July 26.
Here, he stars as 'The Boss,' the charismatic ringmaster, who introduces audiences to the world of the so-called 'freaks'—centered on the extraordinary lives of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton.
Set in 1930s America, "Side Show" is a fictionalized musical account of the real-life Hilton sisters who rose to fame in the vaudeville circuit. Behind the bright lights and applause lies a story of sisterhood, selfhood, and the search for love and acceptance—a fitting narrative for the month that celebrates queerness, uniqueness, and chosen family.
Directed by Toff de Venecia, "Side Show" marks another daring chapter for The Sandbox Collective, which previously mounted acclaimed productions like "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Next to Normal."
"Side Show" boasts a stellar artistic team, with Ejay Yatco as musical director, JM Cabling as choreographer, Mark Dalacat pulling double duty as assistant director and set designer, Gabo Tolentino (lighting design), and Carlos Siongco (costume design).
Though full casting and ticketing details have yet to be announced, Jon Santos' role alone is enough to generate excitement. As 'The Boss,' he's expected to bring his signature flair to the stage, lacing grandeur with empathy and showmanship.
This double billing of BBB and "Side Show" beginning Pride Month is more than theatrical programming. It's a cultural moment.
A proud member of the LGBT+ community and a pillar of Philippine comedy and theater, Jon Santos returns to the stage not only to entertain but to affirm the power of visibility, vulnerability, and joy.
Catch "Bawat Bonggang Bagay" from June 14 to 22, and "Side Show" from July 26 to August 17 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. — LA, GMA Integrated News
