The spiky stone drops again: ‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal’ is set for 20th anniv revival in 2027

Original creative dream team reunites as Wishbone Collective launches fierce search for new Ada, Didi, and Zsazsa.

Shout it to the heavens, darlings: “Zaturnnah!!!”

After two decades of pure, unadulterated cult-classic glory, the queen of original Filipino musicals is making a monumental, star-studded comeback.

Yes, Wishbone Collective, Inc. is officially bringing “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal” back to the stage for a highly anticipated 2027 run.

Following two intense days of open auditions (June 7 and 8), the high-profile selection panel narrowed the field to 65 callback auditionees for June 9. Radar Entertainment was in on the fun. The search for the next Ada, Didi, and the luscious superheroine herself is officially on—and the competition is fierce!

From self-published comic to National Book Award royalty

For the uninitiated, this theatrical masterpiece is based on the iconic comic book superheroine by Filipino illustrator and graphic designer Carlo Vergara.

Zsazsa first burst into our pop culture consciousness in December 2002 via the graphic novel “Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah.”  Originally a humble, self-published two-part work, it was later seamlessly merged into a single volume by Visprint Inc.

The rest is pure literary and commercial history. It proudly snatched a National Book Award in 2003 from the Manila Critics Circle and went on to become the 12th bestselling fiction book in the entire country by 2005. 

The magic of the spiky stone: Ada meets Zsazsa

While the voluptuous, fiery red-haired superheroine serves as a gorgeous, loving homage to Mars Ravelo’s classic Pinoy icon Darna, Vergara never intended for it to be a mere spoof. Zsazsa is entirely a powerhouse character of her own.

The ultimate, delicious twist? The sexuality and heart of her fabulous alter-ego, Ada (short for Adrian), a wonderfully effeminate homosexual male running a quaint small-town beauty salon in the province.

We all know the legendary routine, divas: Ada receives a massive, spiky, melon-sized stone, swallows it whole, screams “Zaturnnah!” at the top of his lungs, and physically transforms into the statuesque, crime-fighting diva of our dreams. It’s camp, it’s heart, and it’s pure theatrical gold.

A legendary lineage of stars

Over the last 20 years, this musical has birthed some of the most spectacular performances in Philippine theater history. The legendary Tanghalang Pilipino first brought the magic to life in 2006, starring Eula Valdez as Zsazsa, alongside visionary director Tuxqs Rutaquio as the original Ada, and Ricci Chan as the iconic sidekick, Didi.

By 2007, the stage welcomed the hilarious K Brosas alternating as Zsazsa, with Nar Cabico stepping into Didi’s fabulous shoes, while Rutaquio continued to rule as Ada. Fast forward to 2023, and Ateneo Blue Repertory gave the material a fresh, electric spin with “Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang!,” featuring the powerhouse Kim Molina as Zsazsa, and the brilliant tandem of Phi Palmos and Adrian Lindayag alternating as Ada.

The Holy Trinity of creatives returns

What makes this upcoming 2027 Wishbone Collective revival an absolute must-see, gold-standard event is the grand reunion of the show’s legendary original creative team: Chris Martinez handles the theatrical adaptation, Vincent de Jesus steers the lyrics, composition, and musical direction, and Chris Millado returns to the director’s chair to orchestrate the stage magic.

With that powerhouse trio at the helm and a fresh crop of talent currently fighting for callbacks, the 20th-anniversary staging of “Zsazsa Zaturnnah” is bound to be the theatrical event of the decade. The stone is definitely coming back to paint the town red.

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