Jesus Christ Superstar Comes to Manila with Gab Pangilinan as Mary Magdalene

L-R: Javon King, Kodiak Thompson

Gab Pangilinan is cast as Mary Magdalene

Manila-based actress and singer Gab Pangilinan has been cast as Mary Magdalene, joining a principal cast that includes Luke Street (Jesus), Javon King (Judas), Ethan Hardy Benson (Pilate), Grant Hodges (Caiaphas), and Kodiak Thompson (Annas) — all veterans of the production's UK, North American, and Australian tours.

Pangilinan is one of the most decorated stage performers of her generation in the Philippines. A three-time Philstage Gawad Buhay nominee for Pingkian: Isang Musikal, The Last Five Years, and Mula Sa Buwan, she also took home Best Leading Female Performance (Digital) at the 27th Asian Television Awards for Still: A Musical Narrative Series. Her stage work spans some of Manila's most respected companies — PETA, Tanghalang Pilipino, Atlantis Theatrical, and Full House Theater Company — with recent credits including We Aren't Kids Anymore and Othello.

"We are incredibly happy to have Gab Pangilinan in the international company of Jesus Christ Superstar," said GMG Productions CEO Carlos Candal. "Gab is a respected and accomplished artist, and her casting as Mary Magdalene highlights the strength of Filipino theatre talent. The excitement from audiences has been truly remarkable, and this extension allows even more theatre fans to experience this production."

That extension is worth noting: due to strong demand, the Manila run has been stretched from its original May 2–24 window to a full month, now closing on May 31, 2026, with no further extensions possible.

The production itself has an impressive pedigree. Originally conceived at London's Regent's Park Open Air Theatre under director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie, it won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and the 2016 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, selling out two consecutive London engagements before embarking on acclaimed tours across the UK, North America, and Australia. The Guardian called it "a gorgeous, thrilling, heavenly musical"; The Daily Telegraph declared it "an almighty revelation."

The show tells the story of Jesus Christ's final days through the perspective of Judas Iscariot, with the entire narrative unfolding through song — including iconic numbers like Superstar, I Don't Know How to Love Him, and Gethsemane. First released as a concept album and then staged on Broadway in 1971, the original London production ran for over eight years and 3,358 performances, making it the longest-running West End musical of its time.

L-R: Ethan Hardy Benson, Grant Hodges, Luke Street

Creative credits include design by Tom Scutt, lighting by Lee Curran, sound design by Nick Lidster, and music supervision by Tom Deering.

Jesus Christ Superstar runs May 2–31, 2026 at The Theatre at Solaire. Tickets are available exclusively through TicketWorld. For more information, visit gmg-productions.com or follow @gmg.productions.