The forged of the Manila staging of “Come From Away.” Picture: Courtesy of GMG Productions
Having the prospect to carry out an “unbelievable piece” is an excellent alternative for the forged of “Come From Away” in itself. Identical to its story, what makes the Manila staging particular is that it one way or the other looks like a homecoming for a few of its lead stars within the theater.
“Come From Away” tells the story of stranded vacationers who had been compelled to remain at Gander Worldwide Airport in the course of the top of the 9/11 disaster. Discovering themselves within the city of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada, allowed the vacationers and residents to rediscover the which means of house and kindness inside themselves.
The lead stars may not have gone by means of the expertise of being stranded, but they nonetheless relate to its themes of kindness and what it means to be actually house—like returning to the theater.
“It’s been six years since I’ve final been on stage. After all, a part of my leaving was attributable to COVID-19, and it was very troublesome,” George Schulze admitted in the course of the musical’s media name. “That is such a particular piece within the timing of what’s taking place on the earth proper now, all people wants hope and one thing to carry on to, and to keep in mind that deep down in all of our hearts, there’s kindness in all of us.”
WATCH: The forged of the “Come From Away’s” Manila staging performs “Prayer” throughout a media name in Makati.
The musical’s Manila staging is dubbed as a gathering of the theater trade’s “Avengers,” because the forged consists of Carla Guevera Laforteza, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Gian… pic.twitter.com/pfTvM7UOJ3
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 11, 2025
Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, who has shifted gears from being a theater actress to working behind the scenes, admitted that returning onstage after six years initially felt “unusual” for her.
“The final present I did was in 2019, ‘Firm.’ After which the pandemic hit, and that was it for me. And I began directing. That is my comeback, I’m again on stage after six years, and it feels unusual,” she mentioned.
“I used to be saying earlier that after the pandemic hit and every part stopped by way of profession, I actually thought I used to be completed. I believed I used to be simply going to be directing — and I’ve been having fun with directing. However this got here alongside, and I felt that I’ve to do that. I’m so honored that I used to be forged on this fantastic musical,” continued Lauchengco-Yulo.
Cathy Avanza-Dy understood the place Schulze and Launchengco-Yulo got here from, as she had additionally been away from the theater for fairly a while. “In the course of the pandemic, there have been a variety of issues that we [could’ve done] within the theater.”
“This is sort of a homecoming for many people as a result of we’ve been working with one another at totally different factors in our careers,” she continued. “I really feel like on this configuration, I’ve gotten to work with all people. It’s been nice, and once we’re in the midst of the present, you’re feeling at house and also you’re like with a household.”
Returning no doubt
Stephen Cadd has been away from the native theater scene and the Philippines for a very long time. This explains why he has to readjust himself utterly, however being welcomed again right into a neighborhood stuffed with “dynamic power” made issues simpler.
“I’ve been away from the theater and the Philippines for fairly some time. We have now been again within the nation, and we now have been embraced once more by the Philippine theater neighborhood, which is exploding in dynamic [energy],” he mentioned.
“Getting again into the groove isn’t straightforward, however when you’re surrounded by this type of forged, they set the bar so excessive. It’s sink or swim; you simply should be there,” he additional added.
‘YOU ARE THERE AND I AM HERE’
WATCH: Carla Guevara-Laforteza captivated the press with a efficiency of “I Am Right here” in the course of the “Come From Away” media name on June 4.
Guevara-Laforteza will tackle the function of Hannah and others within the musical’s Manila staging. | @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/KGIZNwG5iE
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 5, 2025
For Rycharde Everley’s half, he has since embraced a unique profession path, however it was the story of “Come From Away” that made him wish to return to the stage.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please strive once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“I left the theater and began a complete new profession, however this present is simply too particular. It’s such an unbelievable piece about theater and understanding, which we particularly want in the intervening time,” he mentioned. “[It is also about] the prospect to work with these folks. It’s simply too good to not go up, and it’s such an unbelievable alternative to come back again.”
Created by David Hein and Irene Sankoff, the unique staging of “Come From Away” gained Greatest Course of a Musical on the Tony Awards in 2017. A few of its notable songs embrace “I Am Right here,” “Welcome To The Rock,” “Darkness and Timber,” and “Me and the Sky,” to call a couple of.
Additionally a part of the forged are Caisa Borromeo, Carla Guevera Laforteza, Sheila Francisco, Rebecca Coates, Garrett Bolden, Gian Magdangal, Topper Fabregas, Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, Chino Veguillas, and Mayen Bustamante-Cadd. The musical’s Manila staging will run from June 6 to 29. /cb
