It’s no easy feat to revive a show that helped define a generation, but 2023’s “Tabing Ilog: The Musical” — based on the iconic ABS-CBN series that captured the hearts of the youth in the late 1990s — managed to do just that. The adaptation, in fact, was a big hit thanks to the sure-fire partnership between the famously talented creatives of ABS-CBN and the revered longtime theater group PETA.
With great minds, Filipino talent at its best and passionate hearts coming together, it was no surprise that the production was more than able to tap into the same magic that made the original a classic while giving the adaptation a fresh twist for today’s audiences.
And so, just this week, Tabing Ilog fans, old and new, rejoiced over the exciting news of the musical’s director, Phil Noble, that ABS-CBN and PETA have renewed their ties to give in to the demand for “Tabing Ilog: The Musical Rerun.” The curtain rises on this much-awaited restaging in November and promises to be a “leveled up” re-telling, exploration and appreciation of the show’s beloved characters — Eds, Rovic, Corrine, Fonzy, George, James, Badong, Andoy, et al. — and their Gen Z struggles.
As Noble explained before welcoming back members of the original cast and introducing new additions at a media conference, the re-staging they have prepared has undergone both inevitable and well-thought-out “tweaks” to intensify each character’s journey and feel while improving certain aspects of the script, music, choreography and set design.”Theater is a never-ending process,” Noble acknowledged. “So for the rerun, the story’s core remains the same, but you will see that the actors are more mature and evolved in returning to their portrayals, bringing deeper layers to the roles. In seeing that, I can truly say that their experience from the first run has significantly shaped and enriched their performances this time around.”Humbled by his director’s observations, Benedix Ramos, who reprises the role of Fonzy (portrayed in the TV series by Baron Geisler), reflected on his performance then and now, noting, “After the first run, we had more time to understand our characters so that now, we can add more nuances to make them feel more real. Just like people, characters grow and change, too, and I’m so happy for the opportunity to explore that for this staging.”Jumping back into the discussion, Noble revealed another significant evolution the production underwent. In addition to the original storyline about friendship and growing up, the musical rerun now incorporates modern themes such as mental health and relationship challenges in the digital age.”Story-wise, this tweak keeps Tabing Ilog relevant for today’s audience while simultaneously enhancing the show’s resonance with those nostalgic for the original series,” the director continued.With a pretty good idea of what audiences can expect in November laid out by Noble, The T-Zone then congratulated the production for receiving a stamp of approval from many of the show’s original stars who came to watch them in the first run.The obvious question that followed was to ask the actors how they felt on stage, knowing the “OGs” were among the audience and upon meeting them if they did after the show. Ramos volunteered and recalled, “Sir Baron Geisler watched us, and he was surprised and happy with how the character had evolved, especially in the way we highlighted Fonzy’s struggle with alcoholism, which was not as emphasized in the series.” Geisler’s thumbs up, he added, made him feel proud and all the more challenged to meet — and hopefully surpass — expectations come November’s staging.Vivoree Esclito, who takes on the role of Eds — originally portrayed by Kaye Abad — shared a similar experience. “Miss Kaye came to watch us, and afterward, she told us how much she enjoyed seeing the new twists in the story. She was very warm and supportive.” Esclito was tickled pink when she excitedly revealed at the media con that the popular actress has since followed her on social media. “I couldn’t believe it,” she squealed in delight. Besides Ramos and Esclito, the “Tabing Ilog: The Musical Rerun” will happily see BINI member Jhoanna Robles alternating for the role of Eds in several shows and BGYO’s Akira Morishita returning to the role of Rovic. Completing the talented ensemble are Sheena Belarmino, Miah Canton, Anji Salvacion, Andi Abaya, Kiara Takahashi, Jude Matthew Servilla, Jordan Andrews, Kobie Brown, Vino Mabalot, Adrian Lindayag and Omar Uddin.”Tabing Ilog: The Musical Rerun” will come to life on stage a second time from November 8 to December 1 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. It is proudly produced by ABS-CBN’s Star Magic through Teatro Kapamilya in collaboration with PETA. Tickets are available for online purchase via Ticketworld.
