After the successful run of their musical Little Shop of Horrors last month, the Sandbox Collective follows it up with the straight play Tiny Beautiful Things, as shared on their social media pages earlier this month.

Last September 23, the full cast was announced with kapamilya actress Iza Calzado making her debut in a stage play with the role of Sugar. Tiny Beautiful Things is a play about "reaching when you’re stuck, healing when you’re broken, and finding the courage to take on the questions that have no answers." 

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Sue Ramirez fulfills childhood dream in 'Little Shop of Horrors'

Set to make its Philippine premiere in mid-November, Tiny Beautiful Things features true stories and real letters and is based on the book-turned-play-turned-limited TV series. Written by acclaimed author Cheryl Strayed (bestselling author of Wild) and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (from the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise), the play "chronicles the journey of Strayed as Sugar, an anonymous advice columnist whose radical empathy won the hearts of many readers." Joining Iza in this production are Rody Vera, Gabby Padilla, and Ketchup Eusebio as the letter writers along with Gawad Buhay awardees Regina De Vera and Brian Sy (swing/letter writer at certain performances) rounding out the cast.

READ: Iza Calzado on suffering from pharyngitis and bronchitis: ‘Not very demure’

A multi-awarded playwright, Rody Vera is also a screenwriter, actor, and singer. A Palanca hall of famer and Gawad Buhay awardee, he has been in several shows including Otelo, Rak of Aegis, and Old Gaze. He appeared in films like Sister Stella L (Mike De Leon, 1984). Ora Pro Nobis (Lino Brocka, 1989), and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

Gabby Padilla has appeared in TV shows and films like Billie & Emma (2019), Dead Kids (2019), Eerie (2019), and Kono Basho (2024) which earned her the Best Actress Award at Cinemalaya 2024. Ketchup Eusebio has appeared in films and TV shows including Ang Tanging Ina films (2003), Maalaala Mo Kaya anthologies (2006), Heneral Luna (2016), and Un/Happy For You (2024).

Brian Sy is a theater, TV, and film actor who has appeared in productions like Coriolano and The Sandbox Collective’s Lungs in films and TV shows like GomBurZa (2023) and the Philippine adaptation of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (2024).

Actress and director Regina De Vera received her MFA in Acting at The Juilliard School in 2019 and  was a resident actor of the Cultural Center of the Philippines for five years. She made her theatrical debut in the US with The Underpants (The Old Globe, 2019) and made her directorial debut in the Philippines at the 17th Virgin Labfest Festival (2022). She most recently appeared in Harold Pinter’s Betrayal. 

Tiny Beautiful Things will run from November 16 to December 8, 2024 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. Friday shows will begin at 8 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday shows will run at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at Ticket2Me.

Jenny Jamora is directing this production with artistic team members assistant director  Marcel David, set designer  Kayla Teodoro, lighting and technical director Kiefer Sison, sound designer Arvy Dimaculangan, costume stylist Krystal Kane, and photographer JV Rabano.

Toff De Venecia serves as managing artistic director, Anna Santamaria as finance and operations director, Sab Jose as marketing and PR director, Maine Manalansan as design director, Charyl De Guzman as production manager, Pachot Festejo as head stage manager, Loreta Arroyo as marketing and PR manager, and Marielle Filoteo as social media manager.