Filipino-American Broadway actress Lissa de Guzman is returning to the Philippines. She will star as Cassie in Theatre Group Asia’s (TGA) upcoming production of A Chorus Line.
De Guzman is best known as the first Filipina actress to play Elphaba in the national Broadway tour of the musical classic Wicked.
She has also played Ann Darrow in King Kong and Jasmine in Aladdin. Her other stage credits include Waitress, Legally Blonde, Cinderella and West Side Story.
De Guzman to bring ‘new dimension’ to the beloved character
Cassie Ferguson is one of musical theatre’s most demanding roles. The character requires strong acting, singing and dance skills.
TGA executive producer Christopher Mohnani described Cassie as a role that “requires a unique blend of vulnerability, strength and dance mastery.”
Mohnani also praised de Guzman’s talent and dedication to theatre.
“Lissa de Guzman’s talent, passion, and dedication to her craft will bring a new dimension to this beloved character,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin-born actress said she is excited to perform in the Philippines. She described bringing her craft to her father’s homeland as “incredibly special.”
The production will therefore give de Guzman an opportunity to take on a demanding role while reconnecting with her Filipino heritage.
Fil-Am actor Conrad Ricamora leads ‘A Chorus Line’
Fellow Filipino-American actor Conrad Ricamora will join de Guzman in the production. He will play Zach, the director who must choose dancers for a Broadway show.
Ricamora has built a successful career in Hollywood, television and Broadway.
He rose to prominence in the thriller series How to Get Away with Murder. There, he played Oliver Hampton alongside award-winning actress Viola Davis.
Ricamora also originated the role of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino in the Off-Broadway production of Here Lies Love in 2013. He later reprised the role when the musical moved to Broadway in 2023 with an all-Filipino cast.
In 2025, Ricamora received his first Tony nomination for Oh, Mary!. He is also a two-time Grammy nominee for The King and I and Soft Power.
His involvement adds another major Filipino-American theatre performer to the Philippine production.
‘Like a homecoming’: Ricamora
“Performing in the Philippines for the first time is incredibly meaningful for me because it’s my father’s homeland,” Ricamora told Together Manila.
He described the experience as “a kind of homecoming.” The actor said it would allow him to connect with a part of his heritage that he has always carried in his heart.
Ricamora also shared his appreciation for A Chorus Line. He said the musical celebrates “the raw, vulnerable truth of being a performer.”
The show asks a simple but powerful question: “Who am I, and why do I dance?” According to Ricamora, that question is universal because performers want to be chosen for who they really are.
Taking on Zach also has special meaning for the actor. He said stepping into the character’s shoes during the musical’s 50th anniversary feels like a “full-circle moment.”
First staged in 1975, A Chorus Line follows a group of dancers competing for roles in an unnamed Broadway musical.
Throughout the story, the dancers share personal experiences as they fight for a place in the production. The musical highlights performers who often remain behind the stars and explores the sacrifices they make for their careers.
Over the years, A Chorus Line has earned major honours. Its accolades include the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Musical.
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the musical is heading to the Philippines with de Guzman and Ricamora leading the cast.
TGA’s A Chorus Line will open on March 12, 2026. The production will run until March 29 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.
Tickets are available through TicketWorld. Prices range from PHP900 to PHP5,500.
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