Picking up on TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS

At the matinee performance of Tiny Beautiful Things by The Sandbox Collective, I found myself reflecting on lessons that could enrich our daily lives. The show gently tugs at the heartstrings, but in the best possible way—it lifts you up, giving you a sense of strength and courage. It’s a letter of advice you didn’t realize you needed, one that quietly reminds you of your own resilience.

One of my favorite lines, “Dear Sugar,” encapsulates the heart of the play. The letters of advice are intimate, personal, and delivered with such warmth that they feel almost like a conversation with an old friend. The experience was immersive—not just as a spectator, but as someone who could relate deeply to the themes of vulnerability and compassion. I found myself longing for the art of writing letters again, the kind that offer anonymous solace and the freedom to express without judgment.

The cast, led by Iza Calzado, Rody Vera, Ketchup Eusebio, and Gabby Padilla, are nothing short of outstanding. They are mirrors of us all, embodying the struggles, hopes, and messy realities that Cheryl Strayed’s Dear Sugar column addresses. Through their performances, we see our own lives reflected—our challenges, our triumphs, and our need for a little guidance when life gets tough. Tiny Beautiful Things reminds us that we are all connected in our shared humanity. We may be luckier or less fortunate than others, but we’ve all been—or will be—Cheryl at some point in our lives.

Directed by Jenny Jamora, Tiny Beautiful Things is the opening production of The Sandbox Collective's 10th season. The show is currently running at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Ayala Circuit, Makati, and will run until December 8, 2024. Tickets are available through thesandboxco.com or via Ticket2Me.

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Tiny Beautiful Things: Finding Familiar Communities with Anonymous Voice

Making its Philippine premiere, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS: A Play About Life – In Letters will serve as The Sandbox Collective’s season finale this November 2024, capping off the theatrical company’s 10th-year anniversary season, #SandboxNowandTen.

Cast of Tiny Beautiful Things: (L-R) Rody Vera, Ketchup Eusebio, Jenny Jamora, Iza Calzado, Gabby Padilla, Regina De Vera and Brian Sy

Straddling the line between fiction and non-fiction, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS: A Play About Life – In Letters draws its plot from author Cheryl Strayed’s stint as an anonymous advice columnist. Director Jenny Jamora sought to create a set that was at once nebulous and familiar, while never straying from the physical constraints of Sugar’s apartment, noting the collaborative journey both the actors and the artistic team have taken to create the world of TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS. “How much Sugar shares of herself is reflected in how she and the letter writers share the physical space,” she shares. “The space is physically the same, but toward the end of the play the way they use it should also reflect the community this group of people has become.”

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS will feature Iza Calzado in the role of Sugar. She will be joined by three other cast members who will portray a revolving door of letter writers, all seeking advice from Calzado’s character. Although the characters maintain anonymity by using code names in their letters, their stories reflect the wide human experience–with all the highs and lows–that will strike a familiar chord with the audience.

Iza Calzado as Sugar

Joining Calzado are Rody Vera, Gabby Padilla and Ketchup Eusebio as the letter writers. Rounding out the cast are Gawad Buhay awardees Regina De Vera and Brian Sy (swing/letter writer at certain performances).

At the helm of the production is Gawad Buhay awardee Jenny Jamora who will be directing the show. Joining her in the artistic team are Marcel David as assistant director, Kayla Teodoro as set designer, Kiefer Sison as lighting and technical director, Arvy Dimaculangan as sound designer, Krystal Kane as costume stylist, and JV Rabano as photographer.

Leading the production team is Toff De Venecia as managing artistic director, alongside Anna Santamaria as finance and operations director, Sab Jose as marketing and PR director, and Maine Manalansan as design director. Joining the production team are Charyl De Guzman as production manager, Pachot Festejo as head stage manager, Loreta Arroyo as marketing and PR manager and Marielle Filoteo as social media manager.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. The play is based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, and was co-conceived by Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail, and Nia Vardalos.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS will run from November 16 to December 8, 2024 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. Friday shows will begin at 8 PM, while Saturday and Sunday shows will run at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM. 

Tickets are available at Ticket2Me (bit.ly/tinybeautifulmnl) and through our official show buyers.

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DEAR SUGAR... Tiny Beautiful Things Full Cast Revealed

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS: A Play About Life – In Letters is set to make its Philippine premiere this November 2024. Featuring true stories and real letters, the play is based on the book-turned-play-turned-limited TV series. Written by acclaimed author Cheryl Strayed (bestselling author of Wild) and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise), the straight play chronicles the journey of Strayed as Sugar, an anonymous advice columnist whose radical empathy won the hearts of many readers.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS will feature Calzado in the role of Sugar. She will be joined by three other cast members who will lend epistolary voices to the letter writers.

Joining Calzado are Rody Vera, Gabby Padilla and Ketchup Eusebio as the letter writers. Rounding out the cast are Gawad Buhay awardees Regina De Vera and Brian Sy (swing/letter writer at certain performances).

Rody Vera is a multi-awarded playwright, screenwriter, actor, and singer. A pillar of the Philippine theatrical scene, Palanca hall of famer and Gawad Buhay awardee, he has been in several shows including Otelo, Rak of Aegis, and most recently in Old Gaze. Rody is a seasoned actor, also appearing in films such as Sister Stella L (Mike De Leon, 1984) and Ora Pro Nobis (Lino Brocka, 1989). Last seen in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Gabby Padilla is a theater, film, and TV actress. She has appeared in TV shows and films such as Billie & Emma (2019), Dead Kids (2019), Eerie (2019), and Kono Basho (2024) which earned her the Best Actress Award at Cinemalaya 2024. Making his return to the stage, Ketchup Eusebio is an actor and comedian with a career spanning over two decades. He has appeared in films and TV shows including Ang Tanging Ina films (2003), Maalaala Mo Kaya anthologies (2006), Heneral Luna (2016), and Un/Happy For You (2024).

Most recently seen in Mula Sa Buwan, Brian Sy is a sought after theater, TV, and film actor. He has appeared in various productions including his award-winning turn in Coriolano and The Sandbox Collective’s Lungs. Brian has also appeared in films and TV shows including GomBurZa (2023) and the Philippine adaptation of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (2024). An actress and a director, Regina De Vera received her MFA in Acting at The Juilliard School in 2019. She was a resident actor of the Cultural Center of the Philippines for five years. She made her theatrical debut in the US with The Underpants (The Old Globe, 2019) and made her directorial debut in the Philippines at the 17th Virgin Labfest Festival (2022). De Vera most recently appeared in Harold Pinter’s Betrayal.

At the helm of the production is Gawad Buhay awardee Jenny Jamora who will be directing the show. Joining her in the artistic team are Marcel David as assistant director, Kayla Teodoro as set designer, Kiefer Sison as lighting and technical director, Arvy Dimaculangan as sound designer, Krystal Kane as costume stylist, and JV Rabano as photographer.

Leading the production team is Toff De Venecia as managing artistic director, alongside Anna Santamaria as finance and operations director, Sab Jose as marketing and PR director, and Maine Manalansan as design director. Joining the production team are Charyl De Guzman as production manager, Pachot Festejo as head stage manager, Loreta Arroyo as marketing and PR manager and Marielle Filoteo as social media manager.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. The play is based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, and was co-conceived by Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail, and Nia Vardalos.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS will run from November 16 to December 8, 2024 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. Friday shows will begin at 8 PM, while Saturday and Sunday shows will run at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Special Thanks to our major sponsors MAC Cosmetics, official makeup partner; Privato Hotel, official hotel partner; Pitchworks, official billboard partner.

Tickets are available at Ticket2Me (bit.ly/tinybeautifulmnl) and through our official show buyers.

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