The upcoming musical Delia D will showcase the works of Filipino songwriter and producer Jonathan Manalo, whose music has shaped the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) scene for over two decades.
Running from April 25 to June 8 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Delia D: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo follows the journey of a drag performer competing in a global singing contest. The production will incorporate Manalo’s popular hits along with original songs written for the show.
The musical will feature tracks tied to themes of ambition, love, and national pride. Among the songs included are Patuloy Ang Pangarap by Angeline Quinto, Pangarap Kong Pangarap Mo by Zephanie, and Strings by BINI. Ballads such as Gusto Ko Nang Bumitaw by Sheryn Regis and Morissette and Pagbigyang Muli by Erik Santos will also be performed.
Other songs set to be reimagined include Pinoy Ako, the Pinoy Big Brother theme, and Tara Tena, Manalo’s winning piece from the 2001 Himig Handog songwriting competition. The show will also feature R&B tracks such as Kyla’s Beautiful Days and Vice Ganda’s Boom Panes.
Manalo is currently the most-streamed Filipino songwriter-producer, with over eight billion streams as of March 5, according to music credit platform Muso AI. His compositions were previously featured in the iWantTFC teen musical drama Lyric and Beat.
The production stars Phi Palmos, Shaira Opsimar, and Floyd Tena, with a supporting cast that includes John Lapus and Tex Ordoñez-De Leon. It is directed by Dexter Santos, with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as associate director and Michael Williams as assistant director.