Nelson Morales

Alexa Ilacad during rehearsals of 'Liwanag sa Dilim'

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739777939596Alexa Ilacad 02172025.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Alexa Ilacad during rehearsals of &#x27;Liwanag sa Dilim&#x27;"/>Alexa Ilacad during rehearsals of &#x27;Liwanag sa Dilim&#x27; </div>MANILA -- After her well-received theater debut in PETA’s hit musical “Walang Aray,” staged in 2023, singer-actress Alexa Ilacad cannot be any happier that she bagged her sophomore outing, this time as part of the cast of 9 Works Theatrical&#x27;s original musical “Liwanag sa Dilim.”Ilacad joins the lead cast along with Khalil Ramos, Vien King, Anthony Rosaldo, CJ Navato and Nicole Omillo. At the helm is Robbie Guevarra, who also wrote the script back in 2018.“Theater is really different from mainstream TV,” Ilacad told ABS-CBN News. “Of course, there are times when theater can be very taxing, but I’m enjoying the process.”The 24-year-old actress does not discount the fact that she can doing more theater productions in the future.“Kung saan naman may trabaho, doon ako pupunta,” she said. “Nerves are real.”After she wrapped up “Walang Aray,” Ilacad worked on a teleserye, “Pira-Pirasong Paraiso.” It took her two years to return onstage.“Then I got other offers for musical theater like ‘Once On This Island’,” she disclosed. “I was also invited to audition for other plays, but I had taping schedules, shoot. ‘Liwanag sa Dilim’ landed on the right timing and schedule. I’m here.”Ilacad is always excited to try something new. “Hindi biro ang pusong binibigay ng bawat isa dito,” she admitted. “Iba rin talaga. The heart, the soul, the blood, sweat and tears.“Everything that we are giving. Nabalian pa nga ako. For people to see the fruit of our labor and love.”Since she ventured in musical theater, Ilacad has impressed the public with her vocals which even improved while she’s performing live onstage.“That’s my goal in life,” Ilacad said. “Gumaling ng gumaling. Humusay ng humusay. Ayokong maging kampante. You always have to reinvent yourself and make sure you’re better that your last work.”When she first accepted her role in “Liwanag sa Dilim,” Ilacad initially thought it would be a lot easier than playing Julia in “Walang Aray.”“Ibang klaseng hirap din ito,” she said of “Liwanag sa Dilim.” “Sobrang hirap talaga. It’s really challenging for me. You need to watch out for a lot of things.“When I was told it will be the songs of Rico Blanco, I thought it would be a lot easier than playing Julia. I don’t take it lightly talaga. It’s something that I value that I was given a platform to sing the hits of our OPM legend, Rico Blanco. I want to make it good. I want to be great.Character and role-wise, Ilacad was the main lead in “Walang Aray.” In “Liwanag sa Dilim,” she essays the love interest.“Iba ang ways here sa 9 Works Theatrical on how they study the music, the choreography,” she said. “In music, they read notes that I don’t know how to understand. It was a bit overwhelming at first.“But as the days went by in our rehearsals, I got used to it. My goal is to be better than my last production. It’s same-same, but it’s also different.”There are days when Ilacad feels she still doesn’t belong to the theater world. “It’s very humbling to be here and share the stage with them,” she admitted. “Seeing how they give their all from rehearsals alone. Sobrang galing ng mga kasama ko.”There are days when she occasionally doubts herself, whether or not shr could deliver.“Tao lang,” Ilacad insited. “I may not be enough for this. But my fellow artists always tell me, I am.”What remains challenging for her is marrying the acting and singing. “In ‘Walang Aray,’ I haven’t tried singing while crying,” Ilacad maintained. “In ‘Liwanag sa Dilim,’ I didn’t expect that I might cry just by singing ‘Kisapmata.’ It was my first time to sing it.“Buti na lang hindi ako pumiyok. I didn’t expect or knew what to do how to marry the singing and the emotions, movements and still deliver.”Ilacad’s album, which she earlier announced, will have to be on stand by. “I know I said it before that I would release an album, but I’m going to have to put a pause on that and focus on other things, like this (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’).”]“Liwanag sa Dilim” will start its run on March 7 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at RCBC Plaza.

After her well-received theater debut in PETA’s 'Walang Aray,' staged in 2023, singer-actress Alexa Ilacad cannot be any happier that she bagged her sophomore outing, this time as part of the cast of 'Liwanag sa Dilim.'

After her well-received theater debut in PETA’s 'Walang Aray,' staged in 2023, singer-actress Alexa Ilacad cannot be any happier that she bagged her sophomore outing, this time as part of the cast of 'Liwanag sa Dilim.'

Alexa Ilacad bags sophomore theater role in 'Liwanag sa Dilim'

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Alexa Ilacad bags sophomore theater role in 'Liwanag sa Dilim'

Leah C. Salterio

Published Feb 17, 2025 03:42 PM PHT

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theater

Alexa Ilacad

Liwanag sa Dilim

9 Works Theatrical

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