Making his debut in the Philippine theater stage, award-winning actor Conrad Ricamora is taking it all in.

From endless rehearsals and TV guest appearances, Conrad embarked on a small side quest with his husband, Peter Wesley Jensen, to explore the culture and beauty of Manila.

During the media brief of his upcoming stage play, "A Chorus Line", Conrad shared some of the memorable things he did while staying in Manila.

"Well, because I love going to drag shows. In every new city I'm in, I have to check out the drag scene. The drag scene in Manila is the best. It is a full show. It feels like you're watching a Broadway-type level show. When you go to Rampa, they've rehearsed, they've got characters, they've got costumes, they've got choreography," Conrad said.

As a fan of local drag shows, Conrad shared that he likes Manila drag shows for their creativity and full-on production.

"It isn't always like that in other areas of the world when you go see a drag show. Usually, sometimes it's just somebody with a mic singing a song. But it's just next level. And that club, the lighting, everything, that space with the runway in that club, it's incredible. It's the best drag show I've ever seen," he added.

Embracing the warm welcome of the Philippines, Conrad shared that his husband, Peter, is currently reading "Noli Me Tangere" and that they have explored the historical Intramuros.

"It's been great. My husband's reading Noli Me Tangere. He's almost finished with it. It's great because he's white, and it's good to see him really learning about Philippine culture. And we went to Intramuros together. And we've been eating Filipino food. I feel like... Oh, it makes me emotional," he said.

Making the most of his time in his father's homeland, Conrad also attended local theater productions, including "About Us But Not About Us" and "Spring Awakening."

Portraying different roles on the Broadway stage and making his way to the Philippine stage is a way of healing for Conrad.

"My dad was born in Cebu, and he left when he was 10 years old and never came back, never brought us back. Growing up in the U.S. with little Filipino representation, fighting through this industry. You are often marginalized as a Filipino performer on Broadway. Now, to be a part of this gorgeous, all-Filipino cast is so healing for me personally," he said.

Working with another award-winning theater actress and director, Karla Puno Garcia, Conrad said it helped him portray his character more effectively.

"Carla, I think, is incredible because she can get the best performance out of all of us without having to traumatize us at the same time, which a lot of directors don't know how to do. So it's a testament to Carla's directing skill that she can create a space where we can use our instruments the best way that we know how," Conrad shared.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Broadway classic, A Chorus Line brings to life the stories of performers vying for a place in a Broadway chorus; an ode to dedication, perseverance, and the artistry of the ensemble.

The musical holds a rare distinction: one of the few to have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, along with multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction, and Best Choreography.

Joining Conrad on the upcoming stage play is Filipino-American Broadway triple threat Lissa DeGuzman as Cassie, and Filipino-American seasoned dancer and performer Christina Glur as Diana Morales.

The ensemble features Orlando-born theater performer Michaela Marfori, New York–based theater actor Angelo Soriano, theater performer Jordan Andrews, performer and playwright Mikaela Regis, and Filipino-American dancer, singer, and choreographer Ken San Jose.

Theater performer Rapah Manalo, multidisciplinary performer Lord Kristofer Logmao, theater actress and dancer Iya Villanueva, Filipino-American theater actor and dancer Universe Ramos, and Hong Kong–based theater performer Brie Chappell.

Dancer and dance teacher Julio Laforteza, dancer and theater performer Sam Libao, choreographer and theater actor Stephen Viñas, two-time Gawad Buhay awardee, dancer, educator, and choreographer Richardson Yadao, New York–based Filipino-American performer Jessica Carmona, performer, vocalist, and host Alyanna Wijangco, and Luca Olbes, who makes his professional theater debut.

The production’s creative leadership reflects its international scope. Serving as Associate Director is Jamie Wilson, while Associate Choreographer JM Cabling has been part of the process from the very beginning, from the New York workshops through every audition city, and is an Asian Cultural Council Grantee for Dance.

The visual world of the production is shaped by London and New York–based set designer Miguel Urbino and New York–based costume designer Kat Ibasco. Lighting design is led by Cha See, the first Filipina to head lighting design for a major Broadway production with Oh, Mary!, while sound design is by Megumi Katayama, fresh from her recent work on New York City Center’s Encores! series. Bringing Marvin Hamlisch’s iconic score to life is Music Director Farley Asuncion.

Performances run from March 12 to 29, 2026, with shows scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.