HappeningPH Theater! PETA’s WALANG ARAY Returns: A Riveting Revival That Redefines Love and Revolution for a New Generation

Quezon City, Philippines – Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) proudly announces the triumphant return of its award-winning musical Walang Aray—a poignant reimagining of Severino Reyes’ sarsuwela, Walang Sugat. The fiercer and sharper iteration of the well-loved musical runs from August 29 to October 12, 2025, at the PETA Theater Center, as the centerpiece of PETA’s 58th season, themed Love and Power.

Walang Aray proves that classic stories can be timeless when reinforced with a daring spirit that speaks to the pulse of today’s society. Now on its third run, PETA bares a more comedic, more subversive, and bolder and biting Walang Aray that speaks directly to today’s generation of Filipinos. It calls to rise, to love fiercely—or as the spirit of the musical urges, Tumindig at Umibig… pa more!

PETA’s new Artistic Director, J-mee Katanyag explains the necessity of a rerun: “Walang Aray remains to be a relevant theatrical piece for every Filipino trying to live, love, learn, heal, and fight back in a world full of aray.”

The musical delves into how love and power intersect, examining how our romantic, familial, and national relationships are shaped and often wounded by systems of control. She adds, “This version doesn’t pretend we are unhurt. It acknowledges na may sugat, may aray mula sa kasaysayan, sa lipunan, sa pamilya, and that these wounds may change form over time, but they remain.”

Director Ian Segarra reflects on the initial staging of Walang Aray, acknowledging the risk involved in reviving a traditional form like sarsuwela and infusing it with comedy, meta-theater, and commentary. The show resonated deeply by mirroring collective experiences, proving that a story seemingly set in the past could reflect the pains, absurdities, and courage of the present.

As Segarra puts it, “Walang Aray became a bridge between the past and the present—and for many, a realization that the wounds of our history are still open.”

At the heart of Walang Aray‘s new iteration is its revolutionary and inclusive casting. PETA embraced a bold vision and purposefully gave center stage to diverse voices and identities. This is an artistic choice that redefines storytelling. By featuring members of the LGBTQIA+ community in pivotal roles, PETA broadens the lens through which we understand identity, relationships, and community.

The inclusion of new cast members further adds to the excitement, with two sets of actors bringing “double the brilliance, double the chaos, double the heart.” Their fresh interpretations and electric chemistry have transformed the show.

This approach really drives home Walang Aray‘s main points: Love and Revolution. It asserts that true revolution begins with radical empathy and the courageous act of loving regardless of social constructs. This production advocates a non-binary way of looking at the world, where identity is celebrated, and love transcends conventional boundaries. We embrace and we accept.

The whole cast of Walang Aray is full of amazing original and new cast members, and each one adds their own unique touch that enriches the narrative. The casting choices are organically woven into the fabric of the production, making the love story resonate with an unprecedented immediacy. Artistry meets advocacy, which is embedded in the beating heart and DNA of PETA.

For Ian Segarra, the rerun offered a rare opportunity to “dig deeper into the material with new eyes.” The team revisited scenes, questioned previous choices, and refined what needed refining, adding new songs and revisiting old ones. They also focused on ensuring a safe space for everyone in the production during rehearsals.

He shares that “the process was both humbling and thrilling”, especially with Norbs Portales joining as Associate Director, bringing “fresh pulse, insight, energy, and collaboration.”

Why is Walang Aray needed now more than ever? In the current Philippine social and political setting where divisions and prejudice still run deep and voices on the margins often struggle to be heard, Walang Aray offers an important counter-narrative. It reminds us that at the center of our struggles are varying stories of affection, defiance, and hope. The play’s message of love and revolution urges us to fight for a world where everyone belongs and can love without fear of “aray.” It’s a wake-up call, wrapped in laughter, proving theater is still a potent force for understanding the world.

For Katanyag, “Walang Aray reminds us na kahit may sugat, may saya. Kahit may aray, may pagmamahal. At kapag tumindig ka at umibig ka pa more, may pag-asa… May paghihilom.” When artists and audience, past and future, come together to tell these stories of healing, “baka sakali… Walang Aray becomes more than a title and a play. It becomes a way forward.”

The return of Walang Aray is more than a theater run. It’s a cultural moment. It is a celebration of identities, a call to remember together, and a reminder that love will always be the most powerful revolution.

Walang Aray is produced by PETA in partnership with Indie.Go Media, together with its official banking partner, Metrobank. The show runs for 38 shows at the PETA Theater Center from August 29-October 12, 2025. Tickets are now on sale via Ticket2Me.net

For partnerships and inquiries, contact PETA at publicrelations@petatheater.com. For more information about Walang Aray, follow PETA’s social media pages: @petatheater.

About Walang Aray:

PETA’s Walang Aray bursts onto the contemporary scene as a poignant reimagining of Severino Reyes’ classic sarsuwela, Walang Sugat. While the original addressed colonial oppression and nationalism through themes of love and sacrifice, Walang Aray propels these narratives into the 21st century. It magnifies love and revolution with a dynamic lens, creating a production that doesn’t just entertain. It provokes and raises our worldview, while preserving the essence of its source material.

Walang Aray had a total of 58 shows in 2023 alone, having staged two runs in just one year due to insistent public demand. The musical also dominated the 2024 Gawad Buhay Awards, winning eight major awards, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical (Ian Segarra), Outstanding Book of a Musical (Rody Vera), Outstanding Original Score (Vince Lim and Rody Vera), and Outstanding Choreography (Gio Gahol). Walang Aray also bagged the major awards in the female performance categories, with Neomi Gonzales winning the Female Featured Performance in a Musical award and Shaira Opsimar taking home the Female Lead Performance in a Musical.

Walang Aray is produced by PETA in partnership with Indie.Go Media, together with its official banking partner, Metrobank. The show runs for 38 shows at the PETA Theater Center from August 29-October 12, 2025.

About PETA Theater

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) is a non-profit organization and a respected institution in Philippine theater. For over five decades, PETA Theater has been at the forefront of developing Philippine theater arts, producing plays that tackle social issues and promote cultural awareness. PETA Theater is committed to using theater as a tool for education, social change, and community development, nurturing both artists and audiences.

Show Details:

Dates: August 29 – October 12, 2025

Venue: PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Sunnyside Drive, New Manila, Quezon City

Tickets: Available for purchase via Ticket2Me.For specific show schedules and ticket prices, visit the Ticket2Me website or PETA Theater’s official social media pages.

“Walang Aray” Cast Highlights

The updated production features a blend of familiar and new faces.

Returning Leads:

Tenyong: Gio Gahol, Jon Abella

Julia: Shaira Opsimar, Marynor Madamesila

New Cast Members:

Julia: Lance Reblando

Juana: Jolina Magdangal (theater debut), Gold Villar-Lim

Lucas: Ice Seguerra

Miguel: Rendell Sanchez

Monica: Divine Aucina

Padre Alfaro: Roi Calilong

New Ensemble: James Lanante, MC Dela Cruz, Bomba Ding, Otep Madriaga, Miah Canton, Matel Patayon, Zoe Damag

Original Cast Returning:

Miguel: Bene Manaois

Monica: Kiki Baento

Lucas: Carlon Matobato

Juana: Neomi Gonzales

Don Tadeo: Gie Onida, Csairus Habla

Padre Alfaro: Johnnie Moran

Original Ensemble: Jarred Jaicten, Gerard Dy, Yeyin de la Cruz, Ayla Garcia, Ada Tayao

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