Theatre Group Asia announces eight actresses joining Lea Salonga in ‘Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba’

Theatre Group Asia (TGA) has announced the eight actresses who will join Tony Award winner Lea Salonga in Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba, its upcoming adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s classic drama. Adapted by Chay Yew and translated by Guenlan Varela-Luarca, the production is set to open in February 2027 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati.

Joining Salonga in the production are some of the Philippines’ respected theater and film performers, bringing together a cast with diverse artistic backgrounds and experience.

Veteran actress Sheila Francisco takes on the role of María Josefa, Bernarda’s elderly mother, whose words reveal truths that the other women in the household struggle to express. Francisco is a Gawad Buhay Award winner for her performance in Bar Boys: A New Musical and is also known for Ang Huling El Bimbo and the film Leonor Will Never Die. She made history as the first Filipina to perform at London's National Theatre in South Pacific, later joining its UK tour as Bloody Mary.

Maita Ponce plays Angustias, Bernarda’s eldest daughter. Her theater credits include Orosman at Zafira, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Avenue Q in California. She received the 2025 Manila Society of Theater Reviewers Award for Best Performance of a Lead Actor in a Musical for Si Faust! After Goethe. She also spent six years performing in Cirque du Soleil’s X: The Land of Fantasy in Hangzhou.

As Magdalena, the second daughter, Toni Go-Yadao brings her experience as a senior member of Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors Company. She is also the co-festival director of Virgin Labfest XXI. Her performances in Balete and Kisapmata have earned recognition, while her work in theater directing and devising was supported by a 2024 Asian Cultural Council Fellowship.

Maronne Cruz takes on the role of Amelia, whose quiet and reserved personality offers a contrast to the more assertive characters Cruz has portrayed onstage. Her theater credits include Hair, Waitress, The Band’s Visit, Ang Huling El Bimbo, and Ako si Josephine. She has also lent her voice to the Filipino versions of KPop Demon Hunters, Work Later, Drink Now, and Blind.

Meanwhile, Mikaela Regis plays Martirio, approaching the character with empathy rather than judgment. Regis has appeared in productions such as A Chorus Line, Shrek The Musical, Delia D, Mula sa Buwan, and Bar Boys. A graduate of Creative Writing and English Literature from Ateneo de Manila University, she also received a Gawad Buhay nomination for Best Original Script for Unica Hijas.

Taking on the role of Adela, Bernarda’s youngest daughter, is Gabby Padilla. Known for her performances in independent films such as Gitling, Billie and Emma, and Kono Basho, Padilla won Best Actress at the 2024 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival for the latter. Her theater credits include I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Tiny Beautiful Things. Adela’s desire for freedom places her at the center of the conflict against her mother's authority.

Rounding out the cast are Frances Makil-Ignacio as Poncia, Bernarda’s longtime housekeeper, and Jam Binay as Blanca, another servant in the household.

One of the Philippines’ most recognized theater actresses, Makil-Ignacio has built an extensive career across stage and screen. She is known for her portrayal of Mama Josie in GMA’s Mundo Mo’y Akin and has worked on various productions for ABS-CBN and TV5. She also brings previous experience with Bernarda Alba, having portrayed Poncia in an earlier staging of the play.

Jam Binay, meanwhile, has appeared in Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, and Bar Boys: A New Musical. A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University with degrees in Theatre Arts and Communication, she considers the play’s examination of patriarchy particularly relevant today.

Through this ensemble, Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba brings together performers from different generations and disciplines to revisit a powerful story about women, power, repression, and the desire for freedom. With Salonga leading the cast, the upcoming production offers audiences a new opportunity to experience Lorca’s enduring drama through a Filipino theatrical lens.

Don't miss the chance to witness this powerful theatrical production led by Lea Salonga and an outstanding ensemble of Filipino actresses. Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba opens in February 2027 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati. For ticket prices and booking details, visit TicketWorld and follow Theatre Group Asia on Facebook and Instagram (@theatregroupasia) for the latest production updates.