After an award-winning turn on the big screen, Nikki returns to theater
Photo by the Sandbox Collective
ON the heels of its 10th anniversary season, The Sandbox Collective opens its second decade with the Tony Award-winning musical, Next To Normal in February 2025. The show explores themes of love, loss, illness, grief and the intricacies of the family dynamics.
The cast will feature Shiela Valderrama-Martinez and Nikki Valdez alternating in the role of the matriarch Diana Goodman. A singer and an artist, Nikki makes her return to theater with Next To Normal.
She is known for her iconic roles in Ang Tanging Ina film franchise and was recently awarded a FAMAS and The Eddys Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film Family Matters, shown in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
She also makes her theater return after her acclaimed performance in 9Works Theatrical’s The Wedding Singer (2010).
Actress, singer and host Shiela was last seen onstage as Erzulie in 9 Works Theatrical’s Once On This Island. She is a Gawad Buhay and Aliw Award winner who has played countless roles spanning over three decades, most recently being Sita in Rama Hari and Fosca in Passion.
Alternating in the role of the husband Dan are OJ Mariano and Floyd Tena. A multimedia artist, Floyd’s resume boasts a wealth of work in theater, television and film. He is a Philstage Gawad Buhay nominee for his featured performance in Sandosenang Sapatos. He also joined the cast of this year’s MMFF entry, Isang Himala.
OJ is the resident tenor of the country’s premiere vocal group, The Company. An Awit Award recipient for Best New Male Recording Artist with several albums under his belt, OJ is also a Philstage Gawad Buhay awardee for his performance in Rama Hari.
Playing the perfect daughter Natalie Goodman are Sheena Belarmino and Jam Binay. Jam is a singer-songwriter and multi-faceted theater artist whose recent credits include Bar Boys: A New Musical, Virgin Labfest 19: Pintog’s Sa Babaeng Lahat, Pingkian: Isang Musikal, Ardor and Ang Huling El Bimbo.
Sheena is a singer, dancer, actress and Star Magic. She has appeared in the various shows such as Lyric and Beat, ASAP Natin ‘To and It’s Showtime, of which she served as a host in the Showtime Online Universe. Sheena’s recent theater credits include the musicals One More Chance and ‘Tabing Ilog.
The elusive Gabe Goodman will be alternately essayed by Vino Mabalot and Benedix Ramos. Vino is an up-and-coming theater actor and talent under Star Magic, renowned for his compelling performances.
A graduate of the Ateneo De Manila University, Vino’s recent projects include Batang Rizal, Dekada 70 and Tabing Ilog, among others.
Benedix is an actor, singer-songwriter, commercial model, host, and content creator managed by Star Hunt/Star Magic ABS-CBN. A vibrant talent in theater, his recent theater credits include Bar Boys, Tabing Ilog and Ang Huling El Bimbo, to name a few.
Omar Uddin and Davy Narciso will share the role of Henry, the boy who falls in love with Natalie.
Omar, a distinguished actor and singer under Star Magic, has graced both the stage and screen with his versatile talent. Celebrated for his roles in musicals like Mula sa Buwan and Ibong Adarna, Omar also shone in Bar Boys.
A sought after theater actor, Davy’s credits for 2024 include: Going Home to Christmas: A Jose Mari Chan Musical, Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (male swing) and Othello. In 2022, he was a soloist and member of the ensemble in Musikal II, the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ 53rd Anniversary Gala.
Playing the role of the psychiatrist Dr. Madden is Jef Flores. An award-winning actor and musician, Jef is known for his nuanced performances in theater and independent films. His theater credits include 9WT’s Musikal nAPO, The Sandbox Collective’s Himala: Isang Musikal, This Is Our Youth and most recently, 9WT’s ‘Once On This Island.
At the helm of the production is The Sandbox Collective’s managing artistic director, Toff De Venecia.
Ejay Yatco as musical director, Stephen Viñas as choreographer, Mark Daniel Dalacat as production designer/associate director, Elliza Dawn Aurelio as hair and make up designer, Jonas Garcia as dramaturg;
Serena Magiliw as intimacy coach, Gabo Tolentino as lighting designer, Aji Manalo as sound designer/engineer and Francisco Miguel Yabut as technical director.
The Sandbox Collective’s Next to Normal will open in February 2025 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater. The musical will have music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey.
Making its Broadway debut in 2009, Next to Normal has been credited with launching the discussion of mental health in mainstream theater, winning three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Literature.
