MANILA, Philippines — In what can easily be described as a glittering, revolutionary gala staging, “Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo” officially roars to life at Newport World Resorts, to mark a bold new milestone for Filipino original theater. With a crowd of music, theater, and pop culture lovers, the production delivers a dazzling celebration of ambition and resilience, a testament to how homegrown productions can rival the world’s best, with all the glitz, grit, and heart Filipino audiences deserve.
Following an April 25 opening, to a sea of avid theater fans to OPM enthusiasts, a star-studded gala performance on May 2, saw a theater pulse with excitement as celebrities, drag queens, cultural icons, and industry trailblazers gathered to witness the show.
At the center of the spectacle is Delia, a drag queen who dares to dream louder than society says she should. A fierce, humorous, and profoundly human tale of love, family, and unrelenting dreams, Delia’s journey gets brought to life through the music of Jonathan Manalo, the hitmaker behind anthems that have defined generations. In Delia D., Manalo’s most iconic songs, from “Paano Bang Magmahal” to “Tara Tena,” are reborn alongside new originals, capturing the heartbeat of Filipino dreams in every note.
Phi Palmos as Delia D. Image courtesy of NWR Musicals.
Directed by Dexter M. Santos, behind celebrated stage productions including now-iconic productions as “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and “Buruguystunstugudunstuy: A Parokya ni Edgar Musial”, “Delia D.” stands as the 11th major theatrical offering from Newport World Resorts’ production outfit, Full House Theater Company. The loved production brings a vibrant, living celebration of OPM’s evolution, and a fearless leap forward for Philippine musical theater.
With show-stopping choreography, soaring vocals, and jaw-dropping stagecraft, “Delia D.” dared to be more. It has become a movement, a story of self-belief, and a reminder that the Filipino spirit shines brightest when it sings its truth.
(Left) Delia (Palmos) with born- and chosen family played by John Lapus, Shaira Opsimar, Joann Yap Co, and Joshua Cabiladas. (Right) Idols of the Galaxy contenders played by Alfritz Blanche, Natasha Cabrera, Chaye Mogg, Palmos and Opsimar (center), Liway Perez, and Omar Uddin. Images courtesy of Newport World Resorts.
‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo runs until June 8 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are now available at SM Tickets, TicketWorld, HelixPay, and Newport World Resorts Box Office: PHP 3,500 (SVIP), PHP 3,000 (VIP), PHP 2,500 (GOLD), PHP 1,800 (SILVER), and PHP 1,000 (BRONZE). For inquiries, contact Customer Care at 7908-8888 or 0917-872-8237 or email info@fhtcentertainment.com. For bulk purchases and show buyers, reach out to the Newport World Resorts National Sales Team via James Rodriguez at 0917 829 2173 or Jan Paulo San Jose at 0917 810 5031.
For more information on ‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts and @nwr.musicals on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Join Newport World Resorts Viber Community at https://newportwr.com/nwrvibercommunity for exclusive updates. Every visit is made more rewarding with an Epic Rewards membership, download the Epic Rewards Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
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