‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Spelling Bee’, and ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ Coming in 2024
The Sandbox Collective, which is celebrating its 10th year anniversary next year, has just unveiled its line-up for its 2024 season.
Fresh off from this year’s Sandbox Fest, which featured productions of Lungs, Every Brilliant Thing, and Bawat Bonggang Bagay, the 2024 season will be underpinned by the themes of coming of age and rediscovery. It will include shows that speak of growing pains, milestones, finding one’s voice and place in society, and ultimately, figuring out the answers to life’s biggest questions.
“While the three shows aim to honor and commemorate the company’s first decade and transformative journey, they also serve as a nod to life in general—where joy meets pain, where love is coupled with loss, and where seasons end to give way to new ones,” says The Sandbox Collective. “As the collective ushers in its first decade in the industry—a milestone that reinforces that we have come of age—we aim to continue evolving with the times, and to continue growing alongside the local theater industry and our ever-changing audience.”
“Join us this season as we celebrate our first decade and usher in a period of rediscovery. See you at the theater in 2024!”
The season begins in February 2024 with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, an award-winning Broadway musical about an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents who vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, the musical will include a mix of rising stars in the entertainment industry and theater veterans under the direction of Missy Maramara, along with SPIT’s Dingdong Rosales as assistant director. Rony Fortich joins the artistic team as musical director.
Featuring a book by Rachel Sheinkin and a score by William Finn, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will run from February to March 2024 at the PowerMac Center Spotlight Theater, Circuit Makati.
As previously announced, The Sandbox Collective will be staging the sci-fi musical Little Shop of Horrors in the second half of 2024. One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows, the tongue-in-cheek comedy has been produced worldwide and will make its return to the Philippine stage under the direction of The Sandbox Collective’s Managing Artistic Director, Toff De Venecia, with musical direction by pianist and musical director Ejay Yatco.
Little Shop of Horrors, written by Howard Ashman (book and lyrics) and Alan Menken (music), first premiered Off-Broadway in 1982. The Sandbox Collective staging will run from July to August 2024 at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC.
The Sandbox Collective will conclude its 2024 season with the Manila premiere of Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the bestselling book by Cheryl Strayed and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos. Recently released as a limited TV series starring Kathryn Hahn, Tiny Beautiful Things is a play about reaching when you’re stuck, healing when you’re broken, and finding the courage to take on the questions that have no answers. The show is set to be directed by Jenny Jamora.
Tiny Beautiful Things will have a 3-week limited engagement in November 2024 at the Zobel De Ayala Recital Hall, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC.
Casting, ticketing, and other details will be announced in the coming weeks.
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