Theater vet Bituin Escalante tops ‘Yemaya’ lineup

Benedix Ramos and Sheena Belarmino join the powerhouse lineup as Ed Lacson Jr. returns to direct the Filipino staging of Quiara Alegría Hudes’ play.

9 Works Theatrical has officially revealed the cast for its upcoming production of “Yemaya,” a play by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes. 

Translated into Filipino by Eljay Castro Deldoc, the production marks the highly anticipated directorial return of Ed Lacson Jr.

Bituin Escalante as the Divine Yemaya

Legendary powerbelter Bituin Escalante takes on the titular role of Yemaya (or Inay). A powerhouse of Philippine theater, Escalante is a multi-Gawad Buhay awardee, recently seen in “Pingkian: Isang Musikal.”

In this production, she embodies the central deity of an Afro-Caribbean, fantasy-driven landscape. As the goddess of the ocean, Escalante represents the sea’s duality—at once life-giving and destructive, nurturing and fierce.

On taking the role, Escalante shared a simple motivation: “I haven’t really given it much thought; I just wanted to work with Ed again.”

Rising stars take the lead

The production also features two Kapamilya standouts in lead roles: Benedix Ramos as Jesus (Mulo) and Sheena Belarmino as Maya. 

Both actors previously worked with 9 Works Theatrical’s sister company, The Sandbox Collective, in last year’s “Next to Normal.”

Ramos is a versatile singer-songwriter and actor managed by Star Magic, Ramos is well-known for “Bar Boys: The Musical” and his stint on “Pinoy Big Brother.”

“I felt an immediate connection to [the character’s] spirit and innocence,” Ramos noted regarding his audition.

Belarmino, on the other hand, is fresh from a Gawad Buhay-nominated role in “One More Chance The Musical,” Belarmino is eager to further her theater education. 

“I’m at that point in my career where I just want to do everything,” she said. “I want to learn more, especially in the theater scene.”

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