Theatre Group Asia (TGA) announces London-based theater and film actor Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Prince Charming/Wolf in its production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods slated this August at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater (S-PAT).
After years of working in the West End, Valdes shares, “Performing in the Philippines again and on this incredible scale, alongside this fantastic cast, is truly special. Being back home and on stage is a full-circle moment. Philippine theater is where it all started for me, and to return to it after all these years is inexplicably profound. While my life in London has deeply shaped me into the actor I am today, it has always been a dream to bring all that experience back home if only to say, ‘thank you’.”
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Into The Woods* is based on James Lapine’s book, who also directed the original Broadway run. The plot intertwines several fairy tale characters and dramatically portrays the impact of human choices and actions.
Valdes is no stranger to the this Sondheim material as he played the role of Jack in the New Voice Company production of the iconic musical which was staged in Manila in 2007.
On playing Prince Charming/ Wolf, Valdes notes, “It’s such a well-written character. I’m excited to visit this modern classic with a distinctly Filipino lens alongside Filipino theater makers I’ve loved and respected for a long time.” He reminisces, “I have been in love with this show all my life. This was my introduction to Sondheim. I remember when I was a young boy in Manila, watching a filmed performance of the 1986 Broadway cast on Betamax! That started a fire in me for musical theater, and it continues to keep me going.”
Behind this production of Into The Woods is Tony Award-winning visionary Clint Ramos, who serves as overall artistic and creative director alongside co-producers John and Joanna Echauz, and S-PAT Executive Director Chris Mohnani. The show is directed by Chari Arespacochaga.
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