Mico Hendrix Chua. HandoutMANILA — The wait is over as “Bagets The Musical” has announced its final lead actor. Rising artist Mico Hendrix Chua will play the new-generation Adie, the baby-faced charmer played by Aga Muhlach in the 1984 coming-of-age classic.
The 22-year-old performer, who got his start in local theater in Iloilo before joining the reality competition “Born to Be a Star” in 2021, is making his acting comeback through the stage adaptation.
“After I signed [with Viva], I had to move to Dubai, where I worked multiple jobs while studying,” Chua said. “I started as an admissions counselor, then became an administrator.”
Despite his years abroad, Chua said performing remained his first love. “I had a pretty stable life abroad, but deep down, my heart was always with performing,” he said. “I can always go back to that life, but I’m not getting any younger. I want to give my all to what I truly love.”
Returning to the Philippines, Chua auditioned for “Bagets The Musical” — his first project since coming home. “This is my first project since I returned,” he said. “During the auditions, I was anxious, especially with so many callbacks. At first, I didn’t expect anything. But the more I went through the process, the more I wanted the character.”
Interestingly, Chua initially auditioned for the role of Topee but was later offered Adie. “We’re a lot more alike than I thought,” he said. “I think many can relate when I say we’ve all had that time in our lives when we were young, naive, and just letting our emotions get the best of us.”
Chua said he drew from personal experiences of youth and recklessness to connect with the role. “I’ve had those encounters before — stealing glances at your crush and all. But it’s all in the past now,” he said with a laugh. “I think I’ve matured since then.”
Portraying such an iconic character, Chua admitted, comes with pressure. “The pressure went higher, but it’s also a great challenge,” he said. “It means I get to give my best and portray someone as legendary as Aga Muhlach. I’m excited and deeply honored.”
Chua completes the lineup of new-generation “Bagets The Musical” leads. He will alternate performances with another Viva artist, to be announced soon.
The musical is set to run from Jan. 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Also in the lead cast are Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez as Gilbert, Milo Cruz and Migo Valid as Tonton, Ethan David and KD Estrada as Arnel, and Jeff Moses and Sam Shoaf as Topee.