Nikki Valdez stars in The Sandbox Collective's 2005 opening salvo 'Next to Normal.' Handout
MANILA -- The Sandbox Collective opens its 11th theater season in February 2025 with the 2008 American rock musical “Next to Normal.”
With book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, “Next to Normal” centers on a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects her illness has on her family. It will star Shiela Valderrama-Martinez and Nikki Valdez alternating in the role of Diana Goodman.
Valdez, who drew raves for her performance in 9 Works Theatrical’s “The Wedding Singer” back in 2010, makes her return to theater with this upcoming production. She recently won the FAMAS Best Supporting Actress trophy for her role in the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Family Matters.”
Valderrama-Martinez, meanwhile, was last seen on stage as Erzulie in 9 Works' “Once On This Island.” A Gawad Buhay and Aliw Award winner, she was also Sita in “Rama Hari” and Fosca in “Passion.”
In preparation for the complex character, Valderrama-Martinez admits that it's a lot of pressure for her.
“I requested the music score and script last October as soon as I got the news,” she said. "I asked for help to prepare for the music before rehearsals started. The music is super complicated. We’ve also been listening to guest speakers who are experts in the field of mental health and grief."
For her part, Valdez said, "I would say taking on Diana Goodman will be the most challenging role I will be doing so I'm very nervous but also challenged in a good way since this is my comeback in theater since my last one in 2010.”
"We've started rehearsals every day as early as November so I think I've had a lot of takeaway on vocal preparation. We also had lectures on mental health and grief."
OJ Mariano and Floyd Tena will alternate in the role of the husband Dan, while Sheena Belarmino and Jam Binay will play the daughter Natalie Goodman, with Vino Mabalot and Benedix Ramos as the son Gabe.
Omar Uddin and Davy Narciso will share the role of Henry, the boy who falls in love with Natalie. Another award-winning actor and musician, Jef Flores, plays the psychiatrist Dr. Madden.
Helming the 2025 production is The Sandbox Collective’s managing artistic director Toff De Venecia. Joining him in the creative staff are Ejay Yatco as musical director, Stephen Viñas as choreographer, and Mark Daniel Dalacat as production designer and associate director.
“Next to Normal” addresses grief, depression, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and the underbelly of suburban life.
It was first staged locally by Atlantis Productions in 2011, with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Diana and Jett Pangan as Dan. In 2020, right before the pandemic lockdowns, Ateneo Blue Rep staged the musical with Cris Villonco and Flores.