The curtains are wide open, the stage ready, for these Gen Z theater actors to take on the world.
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There’s no shortage of Gen Z talent, and we can see it everywhere, from art to music, filmmaking to musical theater. The most successful artists and performers of today, Gen Z or not, started somewhere, and seeing an artist’s beginnings and peaks is something to behold.
With more Gen Z-focused (and Gen Z-starred) musicals hitting Filipino theaters in recent years, like Zsazsa Zaturnnah, The Musical (‘Yun Lang), Tabing Ilog The Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Bar Boys, and more, the rise of talented young musical theater actors is not unprecedented. Whether they started out just as singers, tried out something new in Philippine theater, or they’ve loved the stage all their life, these young artists are carving their own paths under the stagelights.
If they continued down the path of their passions, growing and learning along the way, they are slowly moving through the ranks as theater icons that weave music, acting, and performance so seamlessly and compellingly. Check out this (definitely not comprehensive) list of young theater actors on the rise, and keep an eye on their work, so one day you can say you knew them when.
SHAUN OCRISMA
Hardly a newbie to theater, Shaun Ocrisma’s commitment and charisma has brought him under the stagelights multiple times. Just this year, the actor took the stage as Leaf Coneybear on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Atty. Victor Cruz on Bar Boys: A New Musical, and Ryan on Love on the Brain, among others. Whether he’s hamming it up on stage or upping the drama, Shaun’s star is on the rise, and he’s taking it all in stride.
ANGELA KEN
Angela Ken‘s come a long way from singing on TikTok to belting on stage. The young artist made her musical theater debut in The Sandbox Collective’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, portraying the kind and smart Olive Ostrovsky, newbie to the Spelling Bee. Her vocals, acting, and nuanced portrayal all made for a sweet performance that shows she’s got major potential in the realm of musical theater. Since then, Angela’s also played Ti Moune in 9 Works’ Theatrical’s Once on This Island, and the young singer and actress is gearing up for more work on stage.
SHEENA BELARMINO
Sheena Belarmino recently ended her run as Tricia on Ben&Ben-soundtracked musical adaptation One More Chance: The Musical. Sheena got her start singing, but in the last two years, has shown she has what it takes to be a solid presence on the musical theater stage. Standing out for her vocals and stage presence on her run as Eds in Tabing Ilog: The Musical (which she’s reprising this November) and as Tricia, Sheena’s name is growing by the second.
KRYSTAL BRIMNER
Eighteen year-old Krystal Brimner has mostly worked on TV and film before, but got a taste of the theater when she was cast in The Sound of Music at only 11 years old. This year, Krystal got her chance as a young adult to perform on stage as Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and brought the vocals and energy unique to the character—well enough that she’s bagged another role in musical Silver Linings Redux, currently showing at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium.
ELIAN DOMINGUEZ
Recent college graduate Elian Dominguez has created quite the portfolio even before ending his journey as a student. After his stint on Ateneo Blue Repertory’s Zsazsa Zaturnnah, The Musical (‘Yun Lang), Elian made his debut on the professional stage on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The young creative (with a background in Environmental Science) has stayed booked and busy, currently playing lead character Jepoy in Repertory Philippines’ Jepoy and the Magic Circle. Regarded for his earnest, energetic portrayals and vocals, Elian’s taking major steps towards a bright future.
THEA ASTLEY
Starting out as a singer on singing competition show The Clash, 23-year old Thea Astley is proving her merit in music, performance, and musical theater. She made her musical theater debut in the Philippine production of Rent, which ended its run this June. She also recently played Ti Moune on Once On This Island: A Musical. With earned praise for her vocals, and room to grow, there’s space yet on the stage for her to blow audiences away.
DIPPY ARCEO
Having played Ellen in Miss Saigon in Guam, Shakespearean characters in Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Othello, Jordan in Island Song, Anj in One More Chance: The Musical, and joining the cast of a revamped Silver Lining Redux this year after having joined its previous iteration Silver Lining, Dippy Arceo’s making a name for herself. Versatile and deemed a standout, particularly in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this young actor’s potential and skill on stage don’t go unnoticed.
JAM BINAY
With credits in Ateneo Blue Repertory’s Next to Normal, Pingkian: Isang Musikal, Ang Babaeng Lahat, and more recently Bar Boys: A New Musical, Jam Binay is pursuing her dreams as fiercely as she started. A Communications and Theater Arts graduate, the young creative has also involved herself in various work in theater, such as teaching and production. An all-rounder, Jam is living out her dreams, one role, one note, one playbook at a time.
VINO MABALOT
In several of the productions he’s starred in, Vino Mabalot has stood out in people’s minds in one way or another. From his “heartbreaking” Fonzy in Tabing Ilong The Musical to his youthful and heroic Pepito in Ateneo ENTABLADO’s Batang Rizal, Vino captures attention when he’s on stage—and he’s just getting started.
MIAH CANTON
Miah Canton’s collecting roles and shows like Pokémon! The young actress and singer has had a full schedule the past couple of years, adding shows like Ang Huling El Bimbo the Musical, Rama Hari, One More Chance: The Musical, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical, Tabing Ilog The Musical, and more to her repertoire. Commended for her vocals, charm, and overall skill, Miah dazzles on stage with the best of them.
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