Everything About The Sandbox Collective’s ‘Side Show’
Everything About The Sandbox Collective’s ‘Side Show’
The Sandbox Collective’s third show for its 2025 season is another one-to-watch for audiences. ‘Side Show: The Musical’ follows a fictional account of the real-life conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton as they navigate the vaudeville scene of the 1920s and eventually find fame in their respective industries. The musical, penned by Henry Krieger (music) and Bill Russel (lyrics and book) first premiered on Broadway in 1997 and garnered numerous nominations, including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical.
The musical has been staged several times since then, including here in the Philippines. Now, it will make its return to the Philippine stage this July. While anticipating its comeback, here is everything you need to know about this production.
The Cast
The cast is packed with talented veterans and up-and-coming actors from the local theater scene. Just like The Sandbox Collective’s first offering this year, Next to Normal, their production of Side Show also features an alternating cast that you surely don’t want to miss out.
Tanya Manalang (Miss Saigon) and Marynor Madamesila (Walang Aray) will play the leads Violet and Daisy Hilton, the conjoined twins who discovered fame in the vaudeville scene. Krystal Kane (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) and Molly Langley (Spring Awakening) will also have their starring-role turns.
After his stint last June for Bawat Bonggong Bagay, Jon Santos will grace a Sandbox Collective production once more this year as The Boss in the musical.
Terry Connor, the love interest of Daisy, will be portrayed by Reb Atadero (Grace) and CJ Navato (Liwanag sa Dilim). Meanwhile, Violet’s love interest Buddy Foster will be portrayed by Vien King (Liwanag sa Dilim) and Tim Pavino (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical). Marvin Ong (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) and Joshua Cabiladas (Delia D.) will share the role of Jake.
The ensemble also features multi-talented actors from the local scene including: Arion Sanchez, Chan Rabutazo, Fay Castro, Daniel Wesley, Ian Hermogenes, Mikee Baskiñas, Pamela Imperial, Pappel, Raflesia Bravo, Red Nuestro, Reine Paisley, and Rhap Salazar.
The Crew
The production is directed by Toff de Venecia, Sandbox Collective’s artistic director. Sandbox regular Ejay Yatco serves as the musical director of the show. Mark Dalacat assumes dual roles as assistant director and set designer, and joining him are Carlos Siongco as costume designer, Gabo Tolentino as lighting designer, JM Cabling as choreographer, and Colin Dancel as photographer.
Toff de Venecia’s final show as Artistic Director
Just this week it was announced that Side Show will be Toff de Venecia’s last directorial stint for The Sandbox Collective (for now). As he announced his hiatus to pursue postgraduate work abroad, Sab Jose, Sandbox’s Head of PR and Marketing, will take over as Artistic Director.
De Venecia has made significant contributions to the arts in the country. As a cultural advocate and public servant, he launched Anakbanwa Arts Residency Program, the Galila Arts Festival, Placemaking Dagupan, and the construction of the soon-to-rise Victorio Edades and Salvador Bernal Cultural Center in honor of the two Dagupeño National Artists in Pangasinan, his home province. As a congressman, he penned and/or supported national policies such as the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act and the Eddie Garcia Movie Workers Welfare Welfare Act.
De Venecia, alongside Anna Santamaria, co-founded The Sandbox Collective and since then, the theater company has offered a variety of theatrical production, including directorial works All Shook Up, Side Show, Little Shop of Horrors, 13: The Musical, A New Brain, Dani Girl, The Boy in the Bathroom, No Filter, No Filter 2.0, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, Ang Tugon Ni Conchita, F(r)iction, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, and most recently, Next To Normal.
Sab Jose is an award-winning actress and entrepreneur. She served as The Sandbox Collective’s Marketing & PR Director for over a decade. Off stage, Jose is a certified memorial celebrant with a passion for grief education and bereavement care. She was a grief consultant for Next to Normal. Jose is also a Gawad Buhay nominee and an Aliw Award winner for the show Lungs. She has also dabbled in writing and directing.
In sum, this will be a new adventure and role for Sab Jose and a final curtain for Toff de Venecia, for now.
The Location
The Sandbox Collective’s Side Show: The Musical opens on July 26 and will run until August 16 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. Tickets are still available.
SINEGANG.ph is one of the media partners of The Sandbox Collective’s Side Show: The Musical
