OVERHEARD: Is the ‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah’ musical returning on stage soon?

radar learned that Chris Millado and Vincent de Jesus will return to helm the new production.

The stage musical of Filipino queer superhero Zsazsa Zaturnnah is set to return 20 years since its original staging, radar has learned.

A source told radar that that original 2006 stage director Chris Millado and lyricist-composer-musical director Vincent de Jesus will helm the new production.

Created by Filipino comic book artist Carlo Vergara in 2002, “Zsazsa Zaturnnah” follows a shy gay beautician who transforms into a flamboyant superhero after swallowing a magical meteor. It has since become a cult classic, adapted across multiple formats.

Tanghalang Pilipino first brought the story to the stage as “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal,” starring Eula Valdez, Tuxqs Rutaquio, Ricci Chan, Lauren Novero/Arnold Reyes, and Agot Isidro/Kalila Aguilos. Valdez won an Aliw Award for best stage actress, with a latter restaging featuring K Brosas as her alternate. The musical ran until 2011.

The property was also adapted into the 2006 film, “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh,” directed by Joel Lamangan. It starred Zsa Zsa Padilla, BB Gandanghari, Pops Fernandez, Chokoleit, and Alfred Vargas. It earned multiple recognitions, including from Gawad Urian, Gawad Tanglaw, PMPC Star Award, and Film Academy of the Philippines Luna Award.

The character continues to evolve. This June, its first-ever animated feature, “Zsazsa Zaturnnah vs. the Amazonistas of Planet X,” will premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. It’s directed by Avid Liongoren (“Saving Sally,” “Hayop Ka!”) and co-written with Vergara.

 

 

Tanghalang Pilipino first brought the story to the stage as ‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal in 2006.

 

 

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