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.