Flonique Guimary

Nikki Valdez on starring in the musical Next to Normal

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

<p>After making her theatrical debut in the 2010 production of <em>The Wedding Singer</em>, actress Nikki Valdez returns to the stage in The Sandbox Collective’s new rock musical <em>Next to Normal,</em> whose main theme is about mental health. The story revolves around Diana Goodman, a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder, and the effects her illness has on her entire family. The main role has Nikki alternating with veteran stage actress Shiela Valderrama-Martinez. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Bata pa ako nung <em>The Wedding Singer</em>. But yes, <em>Next to Normal</em> is totally different from that. When I was asked to audition, I really went for it because, sabi ko nga sa career ko, it would be nice to do something like this kasi hindi lang siya musical. It’s something that has a message to anyone out there, to any family going through the same thing. Magandang advocacy and awareness ng mental health of course,” she told ABS-CBN in this exclusive interview. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFIzxSySKvx/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3944628.8%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="902" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Nikki, whose most recent project for ABS-CBN was in the 2024 teleserye <em>Pamilya Sagrado</em>, admitted that she has always wanted to act for a live audience. “Ang first love ko talaga is singing and I started with theater before auditioning to be part of Star Circle in ABS-CBN. I’m just so happy that theater is alive, local theater. If we can watch musicals or stage plays from abroad, can we also have that ability to support local theater? These guys work so hard to give you a good show. We work so hard, day in and day out, to give you a good entertainment. At saka iba ito kasi live. The emotions are raw, they’re organic. So I really hope people support and watch theater more. It’s a different journey,” she shared. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFI0qruyPZQ/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3971214.5999999996%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="864" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Nikki says that she went all in on the project from the moment Star Magic told her about the auditions. “Actually, they sent me the information and the material. Pinakinggan ko agad and then binasa ko yung history ni Diana Goodman (her character). Sinabi ko okay, I want to do it. And then  there was a time na hindi sana ako makakapunta kasi I was doing something then. Sabi nila just tape yourself or send a video, sabi ko no, I want to do it in person talaga. I really wanted to go to the (audition) venue. So everyone in Sandbox were nice enough to accommodate my request. Pinapunta nila ako along with other auditionees. Nung sinabi nilang napili nila ako, thank you ako ng thank you because I really wanted to be part of it,” she recalled. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2024/12/14/nikki-valdez-to-make-theater-comeback-in-next-to-normal-2034" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Nikki Valdez to make theater comeback in &#x27;Next to Normal&#x27;</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Apart from theater, Nikki says her television career has also been doing very well. “Hiniram ako ng GMA 7 and we just recently aired last week. Actually ang ganda ng end ng taon ko and ang ganda rin ng start ng taon ko. I found out about being part of the cast of both my TV series and <em>Next to Normal</em> parang two days apart (laughs). So I don’t know what to feel. Sabi ko, siguro it’s about time that I do something like this na kahit siguro sabay-sabay, okay lang na napagkasya naman ng schedule. Because I really wanted to do <em>Next to Normal</em>,” she admitted. </p><div><br/></div><p>She made her acting debut in 1993 on the iconic kapamily sitcom <em>Home Along da Riles</em> where she played the niece of the late Philippine King of Comedy, Dolphy. Nikki shared how she has managed to retain her youthful looking features. </p><p>“I just turned 46 last Saturday! Siyempre kasama sa trabaho namin yun. Of course, may derma ako. But at the same time, I guess priceless ‘yung happy ‘yung heart mo,” she revealed. “Because when you’re happy from within, it comes out in anything that follows. You know, a good sleep is really helpful. Now, as I get older, okay na ako sa six hours. But when I get to sleep eight hours, sobrang bonus na yun. And then, drink lots of water. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and be active. I do a lot of sports. If I am not playing tennis, I am walking or running, ganun.” </p><div><br/></div><p>The <em>Next to Normal</em> actress admitted that doing theater means performing for a different audience , but she hopes that more Filipinos will give theater a chance. “I hope you support me because this is my comeback to theater after 15 years since <em>The Wedding Singer</em> and it’s really a different kind of journey. It’s a journey of healing and coping of the family. Magdala kayo ng tissue! At saka sariling lalagyan ng itatapon ng tissue (laughs). So I really hope to see you all at the theater!” she said. </p><div><br/></div><p>The Tony Award-winning musical <em>Next To Normal</em> will run from February 1 to 23 at the PowerMac Spotlight Theater in Circuit Mall, Makati. The show is directed by Toff de Venecia, with musical direction by Ejay Yatco. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me or by visiting ticket2me.net/sandboxn2n⁠.</p>

<p>Star Magic artist Nikki Valdez admits she is excited to be part of The Sandbox Collective’s Tony award-winning musical “Next to Normal” which runs through February in Makati City.</p>

Star Magic artist Nikki Valdez admits she is excited to be part of The Sandbox Collective’s Tony award-winning musical “Next to Normal” which runs through February in Makati City.

Nikki Valdez on starring in the musical Next to Normal: ‘I really wanted to be part of it’

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Nikki Valdez on starring in the musical Next to Normal: ‘I really wanted to be part of it’

Rhea Manila Santos

Published January 27, 2025 07:36 PM PHT

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Nikki Valdez

The Sandbox Collective

Next to Normal

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