from left: Joseph ‘Thou’ Reyes, Karylle, and Christian Bautista

MANILA, Philippines -- ABS-CBN talents continue to shine abroad, particularly in Southeast Asia via the forthcoming series “The Kitchen Musical” topbilled by Karylle, Christian Bautista and Joseph “Thou” Reyes.

The TV serial, the first Pan-Asian television musical drama, is an original production of The Group Entertainment. In the Philippines, “The Kitchen Musical” will be launched in October on Studio 23 and 19 other countries across Asia.

March Ventosa, managing director of Studio 23, said, “Combining gripping storylines with brilliant characters and catchy songs, we anticipate ‘The Kitchen Musical’ to become an instant classic and favorite with Filipino audiences. We are proud that Filipino talents like Karylle and Christian have been chosen to play important lead roles in the series, which will showcase Filipino talents in the performing arts.”

In the musical drama series, Karylle, Christian and Thou join internationally acclaimed talents who underwent training at a food boot camp “to behave, think, and act as chefs.”

In the musical, Karylle plays Maddie, a talented graduate of a prestigious culinary school in Paris and the new sous chef of Avilon. Christian plays Daniel, Maddie’s childhood friend and also a sous chef of the restaurant, while Thou portrays one of the cooks in the kitchen.

Other Filipino talents in the cast of “The Kitchen Musical” are Arthur Acuna, a New York-based stage and screen actor, and Ikey Canoy, a theatre actor and a founding member of the Filipino all-male acapella singing group “Akafellas.”Arthur plays Harry, the Avilon’s general manager, while Ikey plays a pastry chef.

“The Kitchen Musical” will also be available to international audiences via Malaysia’s nTV7, Indonesia’s Metro TV, and on pay TV via AXN.