‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal’ Returns to the Stage Starting April 2027

‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal’ Returns to the Stage Starting April 2027

Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal is returning to the stage in 2027, with performances set to run from April to June at Shooting Gallery Studios.

Produced by Wishbone Collective, the musical is based on Carlo Vergara’s graphic novel Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah and follows Ada, a gay beautician who discovers a mysterious stone from outer space. After swallowing it and shouting “Zaturnnah!,” he transforms into the superpowered heroine Zsazsa Zaturnnah.

Together with his assistant Didi and his love interest Dodong, Ada finds himself facing a series of threats, including the extraterrestrial Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux and her army of Amazonistas. Beneath its superhero story, the work explores Ada’s experiences as a gay man, including his search for love, his relationship with his family, and the homophobia he encounters.

The musical, adapted for the stage by Chris Martinez with music and lyrics by Vincent A. DeJesus and direction by Chris Millado, was first staged by Tanghalang Pilipino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2006. Eula Valdez originated the title role, with Tuxqs Rutaquio as Ada and Ricci Chan as Didi.

The production went on to have several subsequent runs from 2006 to 2011, including stagings at the PETA Theater Center and the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at RCBC Plaza.

Its most recent major staging was Ateneo blueREP’s Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ’Yun Lang! in 2023 at the Doreen Black Box, Areté, with Kim Molina as Zsazsa. Phi Palmos, Adrian Lindayag, and Shaun Ocrisma alternated as Ada, while Kakki Teodoro played Queen Femina.

The character of Zsazsa Zaturnnah first appeared in Vergara’s graphic novel in 2002 and has since become closely associated with queer representation in Philippine pop culture. The story was also adapted into the 2006 film Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh, starring Zsa Zsa Padilla in the title role.

While Vergara created the story from a personal perspective, he has found its themes to be enduring. In a 2020 interview with When in Manila, he said, “May timeless quality siya. A lot of the concerns sa libro about LGBTs, not just LGBT, but also about women, about love — favorite topic natin yung love — nandiyan pa rin siya. Hindi siya nawawala.”

“Sad to say, habang nandiyan pa rin yung mga problema, hindi talaga mag-eexpire yung relevance ni Zaturnnah,” said Vergara.

Writing for the WiTech Blog, Alain Tavita said, “Zsazsa has proven herself as an everlasting symbol to the LGBTQ+ members and their mass fights for representation, equal rights, and survival in the casually cruel Filipino society.”

The 2027 revival brings back the musical’s original creative team, with Martinez handling the theatrical adaptation, DeJesus serving as composer, lyricist, and musical director, and Millado directing.

Further details, including casting, exact performance dates, and ticketing information, have yet to be announced.