Lea Salonga takes on title role in ‘Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba’

Broadway icon Lea Salonga will take on the role of a formidable matriarch in Theatre Group Asia’s (TGA)  production of “Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba,” which will have its Philippine premiere on February 11, 2027, at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati.

The production marks Salonga’s return to the Philippine theater stage following her acclaimed performance as The Witch in TGA’s staging of “Into the Woods” in 2025. It will also be her first-ever theatrical production performed entirely in Filipino.

TGA recently introduced Salonga as the lead star in a short promotional clip released after the run of "The Notebook: The Musical" concluded. In the video, she appears in an all-black outfit with a veil over her head, offering a glimpse of her transformation into the play’s central character.

“Hihintayin ko kayo sa aking tahanan. Magkita-kita tayo sa teatro,” Salonga said in the clip.

The story follows Bernarda Alba, a widowed and domineering mother who imposes an eight-year period of mourning on her five daughters following the death of her second husband. Under her strict rules, the daughters struggle with their own desires and growing resentment, setting the stage for conflict within the household.

The production is reportedly designed around an all-female cast. However, TGA has yet to reveal the other performers who will appear alongside Salonga.

The play is based on “The House of Bernarda Alba,” written by Spanish playwright and theater director Federico García Lorca. For its Philippine premiere, the production will present an adaptation by playwright and theater director Chay Yew, with a Filipino translation by director and writer Guelan Varela-Luarca.

Salonga’s casting also adds another complex character to a theater career spanning some of the stage’s most memorable productions. In recent years, she has taken on darker roles, including Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd,” The Witch in TGA’s “Into the Woods,” and Madame Thénardier in “Les Misérables: World Tour Spectacular.” These characters reflect a different side of the performer, whose best-known theater roles include Kim in “Miss Saigon” and Eponine and Fantine in “Les Misérables.”

The production will run from February 11 to March 21, 2027, with two performances each on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets range from ₱2,800 to ₱4,000 for the Reserved B to VIP tiers. An exclusive presale begins on October 19, 2026, followed by sales for the general public on October 23 through TicketWorld Philippines.