Featured image courtesy of Theatre Group Asia.
MANILA, Philippines — In 2025, Theatre Group Asia (TGA) has officially delivered the announcement of Tony and two-time Grammy-nominee Conrad Ricamora joining the cast with the lead role in the upcoming Philippine staging of “A Chorus Line”.
The Fil-Am Hollywood, TV, and Broadway star is set to play Zach, the director and choreographer in the musical’s story who serves as the driving force and emotional mirror of the show. In the musical, Zach runs an audition, pushing the performing aspirants to their physical limits and unlock their motivations and insecurities while confronting his own in moments of vulnerability and emotional tension. Throughout, he uncovers the human side of the characters, driven by passion and ambition, yet mostly regarded as ‘in the shadows’.
On his first time performing in the Philippines, Ricamora previously shared in a statement, “Performing in the Philippines for the first time is incredibly meaningful for me because it’s my father’s homeland. To bring my work here feels like a kind of homecoming—a chance to connect with a part of my heritage that I’ve always carried in my heart. The Philippine theater community is known for its passion, talent, and heart. I’ve been so inspired watching artists from here make their mark globally, and I can’t wait to share the stage with them and learn from their artistry. There’s warmth and joy in Filipino storytelling that I’ve always felt connected to, and I’m honored to finally be part of it.”
Image courtesy of Theatre Group Asia.
“I’ve always loved ‘A Chorus Line’ because it celebrates the raw, vulnerable truth of being a performer. To step into Zach’s shoes, especially in its golden year, feels like a full-circle moment. I’m excited to explore how this show—written nearly fifty years ago—still speaks directly to artists today: the hunger, the heartbreak, the need to be seen. And as someone who started in musical theater before moving into television and film, it’s thrilling to return to that sense of community and truth that only the stage can offer,” the 46-year-old actor answered when asked about the upcoming production.
TGA Overall Artistic and Creative Director and Tony Award winner Clint Ramos previously shared in a statement, “We are very proud and overjoyed to have someone of Conrad’s caliber and experience in our staging of A Chorus Line. We can’t wait for Manila to see his brilliance centerstage. He brings the gravitas Zach possesses and likewise the raw fragility the character requires. He is the quintessential triple threat whose professionalism and impeccable talent have been embraced beyond Broadway. Not only is he highly respected in the arts community for his talent, he also wears his heritage and identity with pride, which is the ethos of TGA. We are very excited about this collaboration. He is sensational.”
The musical’s director and choreographer, Emmy Award-winner and Broadway powerhouse Karla Puno Garcia, echoed this, “’A Chorus Line’ has to demonstrate the unflinching and emotionally charged audition process for a coveted spot in the chorus line. For the audience to see through those depths, we needed a powerful presence to lead the audience through the immersion into the auditioning performers’ psyche. And that’s exactly what Conrad brings. I can’t wait to start tackling the material with him and embark this journey with someone of his accomplishments.”
Taking on the role, Ricamora opened up, “Zach’s job is to see people clearly, to push them to go deeper—to reveal not just what they can do, but who they are. That’s something I relate to deeply, both as an actor and as a human being. I’ve spent much of my life learning to take down my own walls, to turn pain into art and vulnerability into strength. The show’s core question— ‘Who am I, and why do I dance?’—is universal. We’re all just trying to be chosen for who we really are”.
In his return to the Philippines, Ricamora he wrote about retracing his roots, “60 years ago, my dad said goodbye to the Philippines as a 10-year-old, unsure if he’d ever return. Now, I’m here for the first time, walking in his shoes, on the soil of my ancestors, carrying him in my heart.”
Before this, the celebrated actor most recently starred on Broadway in the critically acclaimed Tony-winning play “Oh, Mary!”, where he portrayed the role of Abraham Lincoln. The role, earned him his first Tony nomination in the category of Best Featured Actor in a Play in 2025.
On television, Ricamora was a series regular in the Hulu and Disney+ Philippines series How To Die Alone and starred in the film Fire Island from the same network. Most notably, Ricamora starred in six seasons of the Shonda Rhimes’ ABC drama series How To Get Away with Murder as Oliver and was also seen in the Fox series The Resident. Ricamora was announced as a cast member in the forthcoming and highly anticipated second film edition of The Devil Wears Prada.
As it enters its 50th Anniversary this year, “A Chorus Line” remains a landmark in American theater that has revolutionized Broadway by spotlighting the lives of ensemble artists—the unsung heroes of every musical. As it follows 17 hopefuls vying for eight spots, it becomes an ode to ambition, sacrifice, and individuality.
This local production of “A Chorus Line” honors the groundbreaking legacy of its original 1975 premiere while breathing new life into its message for a new generation. The musical is notable for its stripped-down set, iconic choreography, and intensely personal monologues that explore identity, perseverance, and the often invisible cost of chasing a dream. It remains one of the few musicals to ever win the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama aside from winning the Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of A Musical (James Kirkwood), Best Original Score (Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban), Best Director (Michael Bennett), and Best Choreography (Michael Bennett and Bob Avian) that same year.
Tickets are available through Ticket World premiere.ticketworld.com.ph. Ticket prices start from PHP900 to PHP5,500. A Chorus Line will run from March 12-29, 2026. Thursday and Friday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Two shows are staged on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
“A Chorus Line” is presented by Ayala Land, BPI, and Philippine Airlines with additional support from Make It Makati and Circuit Makati.
For more information, visit TGA’s website www.theatregroupasia.com, Instagram @theatregroupasia, or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theatregroupasia.
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