The daring coming-of-age rock musical is the first production mounted under Sab Jose-Gregorio’s leadership, with a full cast now revealed.
The Sandbox Collective is kicking off its 2026 Season with the Tony Award-winning rock musical Spring Awakening, set to open in February 2026 at a new venue: The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati City.
The show has won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, features book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Grammy-nominated artist Duncan Sheik. Adapted from the equally daring 1891 Frank Wedekind play of the same name, Spring Awakening delves into the inner lives of teenagers in 19th-century Germany as they confront their burgeoning desires and changing bodies.
The characters’ search for understanding unfolds in a world stifled by strict societal norms, distant parents, and oppressive institutions. Set to an electrifying contemporary rock score, the musical channels raw adolescent angst into a powerful reflection of youth in the modern world. Just as it was when it first premiered in 2006, Spring Awakening remains a global phenomenon that blends morality, sexuality, and rock and roll to paint a striking and unforgettable portrait of the messy transition from adolescence to adulthood, innocence to burdened knowing.
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What To Expect From The Sandbox Collective Production
The upcoming production—presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) in New York—is directed by Gawad Buhay nominee Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan (the mind behind The Sandbox Collective’s Lungs, Sa Wakas, and Fringe Manila), with musical direction by multi-awarded Ejay Yatco (Side Show, Next to Normal, Little Shop of Horrors). Spring Awakening also marks the company’s first production under the leadership of incoming artistic director Sab Jose, who aims to spark dialogue, empower audiences, and strengthen Sandbox’s education and advocacy programs.
Pamintuan leads a creative team that includes Nunoy Van Den Burgh as choreographer, Missy Maramara as intimacy director, Wika Nadera as set designer, Raven Ong as costume designer, Gabbi Campomanes as assistant director, and D Cortezano as lighting designer.
“Spring Awakening marks the beginning of a new chapter here at Sandbox. While it honors the journey we’ve had in the last decade—the coming-of-age and constant rediscovery—it also marks a deliberate choice to continue producing shows that are radical, brave and advocacy-driven,” shares Jose in a statement. “This show isn’t just about adolescence and sexuality. It’s about reclaiming one’s body, voice and destiny and most of all, educating and empowering young audiences.”
There’s also an element of the story that hits close to home when compared to our local context. As director Pamintuan expresses in a statement, the show’s story mirrors the oppressive ideas our society continues to grapple with.
“The struggles faced by the young characters in the show—teen pregnancy, sexual and physical abuse, mental health issues, and self-harm—are the very challenges many young people continue to face, particularly in the Philippines,” he explains.
Meet The Cast Of Spring Awakening
The theater company recently announced its full cast for its 2026 production, which features a powerhouse ensemble of industry veterans and rising stars.
“First Lady” of Philippine Theater Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and multi-awarded artist Ana Abad Santos will share the role of Adult Woman. Meanwhile, “King of Philippine Musical Theater” Audie Gemora will step into the role of Adult Man.
Taking the stage alongside theater luminaries are Nacho Tambunting and Alex Diaz who share the role of Melchior Gabor; Nic Chien and Omar Uddin who alternate as Moritz Stiefel; and Sheena Belarmino who will play the role of Wendla Bergmann.
Also joining the cast are Angelo Martinez as Hänschen Rilow; Vino Mabalot as Otto Lämmermeier; Jam Binay as Ilse Neumann; Angia Laurel as Martha Bessell; Mijon Cortez as Anna; Felicity Kyle Napuli as Thea; Elian Dominguez as Ernst Röbel; and Davy Narciso as Georg Zirschnitz.
Rounding out the cast are Female Swings Pappel and Nikki Bengzon, and Male Swings Lance Soliman and Gabo Tiongson.
“Spring Awakening” is the inaugural show of The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati. The show will run from February 13 until March 22, 2026. Tickets are now available on Ticket2Me via tinyurl.com/SandboxSpring2026.
For more information, follow The Sandbox Collective on Facebook, Twitter and Tiktok @TheSandboxCo. You may also visit their website at www.thesandboxco.com.
Photos courtesy of The Sandbox Collective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spring Awakening is a Tony Award-winning rock musical with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, adapted from Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play of the same name. It follows teenagers in 19th-century Germany confronting desire, identity, and oppressive social norms, set to a contemporary rock score. It won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical when it premiered in 2006.
The Sandbox Collective’s production of Spring Awakening runs from February 13 to March 22, 2026 at The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati City. It is the inaugural production at The Black Box. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me at tinyurl.com/SandboxSpring2026.
The production is directed by Gawad Buhay nominee Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, with musical direction by Ejay Yatco. The creative team also includes Nunoy Van Den Burgh as choreographer, Missy Maramara as intimacy director, and Wika Nadera as set designer.
The cast includes Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Ana Abad Santos sharing the role of Adult Woman, Audie Gemora as Adult Man, Nacho Tambunting and Alex Diaz alternating as Melchior Gabor, Nic Chien and Omar Uddin as Moritz Stiefel, and Sheena Belarmino as Wendla Bergmann, alongside a full ensemble of industry veterans and emerging artists.
Spring Awakening marks the first production under incoming artistic director Sab Jose-Gregorio and the company’s debut at The Black Box at The Proscenium. Jose has framed the production as advocacy-driven, with themes of bodily autonomy, youth empowerment, and education — issues the company sees as directly relevant to young audiences in the Philippine context.
