Bagets the Musical gets ready for its audience
By Brontë H. Lacsamana, Reporter
STAGING a beloved Filipino coming-of-age tale 4 a long time after the unique film got here out may very well be considered a no brainer in 2026, given how nostalgia is the large thing in numerous types of storytelling today. Using the flexibility of Philippine theater as a platform, the challenge now could be presenting Nineteen Eighties nostalgia with a refreshed perspective.
As Bagets the Musical opens this 12 months, it’s vital to notice the interesting mix of creative groups that brought the show to life. It’s adapted by PETA Plus (the creative agency of the Philippine Educational Theater Association), produced by Viva Communications, Inc. (which produced the Bagets film in 1984), and helmed by Philstar Next (the Philstar Media Group’s entertainment arm*).
Put all of that together, and you might have a musical that goals to recapture the spirit of Filipino youth — with the assistance of songs from the movie in addition to other iconic Nineteen Eighties hits — while giving audiences some nuggets of reflection to hold home from the show.
“We hope you’ll enjoy this because the children worked hard during rehearsals. It’s a fun show and I hope you all enjoy it!” said director Maribel Legarda at the beginning of the open rehearsals on Jan. 21.
(As with all technical dress rehearsals, the show BusinessWorld saw was not yet fully polished, so there have been a number of mishaps with lighting. Otherwise, it was already mostly the way it must be on opening night.)
“It’s not perfectly clean yet, but generally it’s complete and also you’ll get a way of what Bagets has grow to be from its transition from the 1984 movie to the musical you’re going to see,” Ms. Legarda said.
A cute touch while the audience waits for the curtains to rise is the voiceover announcing the minutes left before the show starts — each is recorded by a solid member announcing the time in character.
The musical opens by traveling back in time, as a big box television set projected on the screen in front takes us from 2026 newsbites to all the best way back to the colourful colours and sounds of 1984.
After that, the energy kicks off, as five young men — Topee, Tonton, Gilbert, Arnel, and Adie — cap off their third 12 months in highschool causing trouble as usual. Hilarious antics follow as they get kicked out of their school and launch right into a series of adventures and misadventures each at home and of their recent school, revealing complex family issues at the identical time.
Tall, rolling set pieces were utilized cleverly, allowing us to glimpse each boy’s house in multiple scenes, while the mini automotive they used onstage was fun to see because it glided around.
While the timing of the lights with the music and dialogue was, indeed, a work-in-progress, using set pieces, props, and LED screens is exciting. It’s fun to observe a dynamic PETA Plus production on a stage as vast because the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
The five leads were played by Sam Shoaf, Milo Cruz, Noel Comia, Jr., Ethan David, and Andres Muhlach throughout the open rehearsals, and it was good to see that a shared chemistry was there.
Admittedly, there have been some glaring pain points when it comes to singing and dancing skills. A number of the performers take to the songs and choreography higher than others, however the chemistry of the five as friends is undeniable.
Each brings something different to the table. Sam Shoaf has a magnetic presence as martial arts ace and athletic heartthrob Topee. Milo Cruz is a solid performer who can sing and bust out moves as he takes on daredevil Tonton. Noel Comia, Jr., stands out as an actor, capable of bring out each the comic relief and endearing geek inside Gilbert. Ethan David lends his beautiful voice to the role of well-mannered wealthy kid Arnel.
Andres Muhlach probably has probably the most pressure on him out of the bunch, having the least performing experience within the group and being in the shadow of his father who originated the role of the baby-faced romantic Adie within the movie. Still, he perseveres through the songs and choreography, offering a singular charm to the role.
Altogether, the five make it work, amid comprehensible first-show jitters and timing issues. The opposite batch of leads — Jeff Moses, Migo Valid, Tomas Rodriguez, KD Estrada, and Mico Hendrix Chua — can be interesting to see, for a special tackle the primary barkada.
Finally, it might be remiss to discuss Bagets the Musical without giving kudos to the actors playing the mothers. Because of director Ms. Legarda and author J-mee Katanyag, a noticeable focus of the show is how moms deal with their sons, expanding the glimpses we see in the unique film.
The ermats are played splendidly by Neomi Gonzales, Natasha Cabrera, Mayen Cadd, Ring Antonio, and Carla Guevara Laforteza, each delivering the quirks and flaws that flesh out dimensions of the boys’ lives. They’ve their very own journey growing up alongside their sons, within the context of working women becoming a norm within the Nineteen Eighties.
One other cool element is seeing the machismo and youth culture that only make sense in that point period. While deemed inappropriate and politically incorrect in today’s milieu, it’s intriguing to witness these outdated elements in a Bagets updated in 2026.
Most of all, Bagets the Musical leans heavily into the nostalgia, offering a fun time within the theater with hits like “Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” alongside iconic Bagets tunes “Growing Up” and “Just Got Lucky.” Your complete ensemble really fills out the stage and brings their A-game every time.
The experience is a great one which each young and old can appreciate. There are even interactive portions that allow the audience to enjoy the music and the youthful energy. While there are still things to fine-tune here and there, it’s a show price trying out.
Bagets the Musical opens on Jan. 23 and runs until March on the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Pasay City. Tickets, ranging in price from P1,000 to P4,000, at the moment are available on the Newport World Resorts Box Office and via TicketWorld.
*The Philstar Media Group is a component of MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., as is BusinessWorld.