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Metro Exclusive: In Conversation With "Into the Woods" Cast Members Mark Bautista, Joreen Bautista, Sarah Facuri, Kakki Teodoro, Teetin Villanueva, and Carla Guevara Lafoteza

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<div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754319854491Into the Woods Cast and Creatives.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Back: Mark Bautista, Jamie Wilson, Sarah Facuri, Kakki Teodoro, Niño Alejandro, Ima Castro, Jillian Ita-As, and Jep Go | Front: Eugene Domingo, Joreen Bautista, Nic Chien, Nyoy Volante, Mikkie Bradshaw Volante, Chari Arespacochaga, Clint Ramos, Lea Salonga, Josh Dela Cruz, Arielle Jacobs, Christopher Mohnani, Carla Guevara Laforteza, Teetin Villanueva, and Rody Vera</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><strong>Theatre Group Asia</strong> (TGA) brings <strong>Stephen Sondheim</strong>’s beloved musical &quot;<strong>Into the Woods</strong>&quot;<strong></strong> to Manila this August, opening this week and marking the start of its sold-out 24-show run from August 7-31 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.</p><p>&quot;Into The Woods&quot; is based on the book by<strong> James Lapin</strong><strong>e</strong>, who also directed the original Broadway run. The plot weaves together several fairy tales against a fantastical and elaborate backdrop that will capture the public’s imagination.</p><p>Behind the TGA production of &quot;Into The Woods&quot; is an impressive creative team led by Tony award-winning visionary <strong>Clint Ramos</strong>, who serves as the overall creative and artistic director, TGA Executive Director <strong>Christopher Mohnani</strong>, and acclaimed director and educator <strong>Chari Arespacochaga</strong>. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754319511670 Clint Ramos, Christopher Mohnani, and Chari Arespacochaga.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Christopher Mohnani, Into the Woods Executive Producer, Theater Group Asia Executive Director, and Samsung Performing Arts Theater Managing Director; Chari Arespacochaga, Into the Woods Director; and Clint Ramos, Theater Group Asia Overall Artistic and Creative Director</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Leading the star-studded cast is Olivier and Tony Award-winning icon <strong>Lea Salonga</strong>, <strong></strong>who plays The Witch in her Philippine musical comeback in six years. Joining Lea are Broadway star <strong>Arielle Jacobs</strong>;<strong></strong> Philippine comedy legend<strong> Eugene Domingo</strong>;<strong></strong> international theater and television actor <strong>Josh Dela Cruz</strong>;<strong></strong> seasoned stage performers <strong>Nyoy </strong>and <strong>Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante</strong>;<strong></strong> theater marvel <strong>Nic Chien</strong>; international performer <strong>Joreen Bautista</strong>; celebrated singer and actor<strong> Mark Bautista</strong>; breakout star<strong> Teetin Villanueva</strong>; acclaimed actresses <strong>Tex Ordoñez-De Leon</strong>,<strong> Sarah Facuri</strong>, and <strong>Kakki Teodoro</strong>; award-winning <strong>Carla Guevara Laforteza</strong>; veteran Philippine thespian<strong> Jamie Wilson</strong>;<strong></strong> and theater impresario <strong>Rody Vera</strong>. </p><p><strong>Metro.Style</strong> got to talk to some of the amazing actors on one fine fantasy-filled afternoon about the magic that unfolds when you enter &quot;Into the Woods&quot;—and how they approach their characters, which are shaped by Sondheim’s unique vision seen through a distinctly Filipino lens.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754320307667joreen bautista mark bautista into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Joreen Bautista and Mark Bautista</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>Joreen Bautista on becoming Rapunzel</strong></div><p>Dubbed the “Filipina Disney Princess” on TikTok and celebrated for her portrayal of Kim in multiple Miss Saigon productions across Europe, Joreen Bautista brings a quiet yet compelling voice to the role of Rapunzel. </p><p>&quot;Into The Woods&quot; is Joreen’s first Sondheim and first musical in the Philippines. She excitedly talks to us about Rapunzel’s arc—one that goes beyond the classic fairy tale fantasy and damsel-in-distress trope. “The character has moments of brokenness,” Joreen Bautista told Metro.Style. “She’s the result of control.” </p><p>She added, “I like what Clint says—that ‘she screams a voice that was never her own.’”</p><p>Sondheim’s Rapunzel moves through a more haunting emotional landscape, shaped by isolation, manipulation, and control. To bring her to life, Joreen taps into something familiar and deeply rooted in our Filipino culture, like parental love, and how, while well-meaning, it can sometimes manifest as control and become stifling. A dynamic she understands well. She explained, “My portrayal of Rapunzel is trying to get as much of that Filipino ‘<em>dalaga</em>’ experience, not necessarily in my family… but I know a lot of Filipino young girls, young ladies who experience being shielded, ‘caged’ outside of the world.”</p><p>Joreen deeply relates to the character, saying, “While so many can portray Rapunzel in whatever way they want, what I know I have na they don’t have is I know what it’s like to be Filipino. I know what it’s like when I see my friends crying because of parents’ fear masked in love, resulting in control, and what that control brings out in a young girl or a young boy. And so Rapunzel, when her character develops and grows, you’ll see that.” </p><p>She continued, “It’s something even our director, <em>Direk</em> Chari, would say ‘uniquely ours’.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754320252808joreen bautista into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Joreen Bautista</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754320742926mark bautista into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Mark Bautista</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>Mark Bautista’s first taste of royalty</strong></div><p>Accomplished theater performer, singer, and film and television actor Mark Bautista plays a prince for the first time in a musical, which also happens to be his first Sondheim production. Mark explains that in Sondheim’s &quot;Into The Woods,&quot; audiences will get to know Rapunzel’s Prince beyond the surface. Here, he becomes a three-dimensional character with personality, unlike the typical nameless, voiceless princes from the classic fairy tales of our childhood.</p><p>“I grew up watching Snow White, Cinderella, <em>pero &#x27;yung mga</em> princes <em>kasi hindi nade</em>-depict <em>du&#x27;n</em>. <em>Hindi mo naririnig nagsasalita</em>, so here, <em>mas makikilala mo ang mga</em> personalities <em>nila</em>. <em>Dito lang mas ibang klase lang kasi &#x27;yung pino</em>-portray <em>dito</em>… <em>Alam mo</em> they’re pampered and privileged,” Mark pointed out.</p><p>When asked about the rehearsal process, Mark recalled the challenge of learning the material. “Since this is my first Sondheim musical, I had a hard time learning the music. I don’t read musical notes, so I had to listen to the songs over and over again. I’m just thankful to our director, <em>Direk</em> Chari, for helping us out every step of the way, and also to our music person, Manman [Angsico]. It was fun.” </p><p>Mark also shared that they were given more freedom to express themselves onstage, especially in singing their songs. And though challenging to master, Mark finds Sondheim’s music undeniably beautiful. For him, finally being able to sing it with confidence makes all the effort worthwhile. “<em>Ang ganda lang talaga ng</em> Sondheim songs. It’s so hard to study <em>pero &#x27;pag nakuha mo na</em> and <em>nasa</em> system <em>mo na</em>, <em>ang sarap</em>… and you have the confidence to sing it. So now, <em>nasa</em> confidence stage <em>na</em>. We’re happy <em>na</em>-survive <em>namin</em>,” he confided.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754321635573teetin villanueva carla guevara laforteza into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Teetin Villanueva and Carla Guevara Laforteza</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>Teetin Villanueva dons the iconic red cape</strong></div><p>Theater, television, and film actor Teetin Villanueva brings to life Sondheim’s Little Red Riding Hood with wit, youthful charm, and a fiercer spirit. She shares that this version feels less like a fairy tale and is more rooted in reality, which she believes makes Sondheim’s Little Red more relatable.</p><p>To play a younger role with credibility, Teetin channels wonder and innocence by tapping into childhood memories and bringing to the surface the feeling she remembers having as a child. “I look back on how I felt when I was younger. I really try my best to remember how excited I was for things, how hopeful I was. Because, of course, I&#x27;m not a teenager anymore, so I have personal experiences already, and there are times when you can get very guarded when it comes to doing things. But as a child—when I think of Little Red—she&#x27;s not like that. She&#x27;s someone who is like, ‘Oh, I want to do this. I will do this.’ So at the start of the day, before we do our runs, I do my best to clear my mind and focus on what excites me today, what brightens up my day, so that I&#x27;ll be able to bring out her youth, her innocence, her wonder.”</p><p>With unfaltering dedication to her craft, Teetin makes sure she’s ready to tackle her character with vigor and strength, even after a recent asthma diagnosis. As part of her daily ritual, she shared, “I’ve been putting extra effort into making sure my asthma doesn’t get triggered. So first thing in the day, I make sure to do the physical things I need to do to be able to do my job well—that I can sing, that I can say my lines properly.” She also keeps herself prepared for anything by eating proper meals and drinking coffee to help her focus and organize her thoughts.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754320842397teetin villanueva into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Teetin Villanueva<br/><br/></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754321063915carla guevara laforteza into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Carla Guevara Laforteza</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>Carla Guevara Laforteza—from Granny to Giant</strong></div><p>In TGA’s production of Sondheim’s &quot;Into The Woods,&quot; award-winning actress Carla Guevara Laforteza takes on the dual roles of the doting Granny, the formidable Giant, and the cover Witch. While she recognizes certain parallels between Granny and the Giant and finds her own connection to each, both characters require a distinct tone and energy. </p><p>“As The Giant, it was so much fun discovering how I was going to portray it… Spontaneous <em>&#x27;yun e</em>. It depends on how other cast members would throw their lines at me… <em>Iba &#x27;yung</em> reaction <em>ko</em> every time. But of course, once the show opens, that’s gonna be set <em>na</em> for me.”</p><p>On being Granny, Carla shifts naturally into maternal mode with Teetin Villanueva, who plays Little Red, as this isn’t their first roadshow and they’ve already established a meaningful connection, apart from the fact that she’s a mother herself. “She (Teetin) is my baby no matter what,” she said affectionately. “It’s natural for me to be worried about her, to take care of her, to feed her.”</p><p>With no pegs or a fixed point of reference for either role, Carla finds rehearsals fun, spontaneous, and collaborative, allowing for a more fluid interaction with the rest of the cast. She attributes this to how their director, Chari Arespacochaga, allows them to discover and shape their characters on their own. “She doesn’t spoon-feed us because she knows that we’re all professional and experienced actors. She knows we have something to bring to the table. She is a wonderful, wonderful leader. She’s capable of directing us in the right direction and, at the same time, gives us the freedom to explore and follow our own instincts.” </p><p>She goes on to say that the late TGA co-founder <strong>Bobby Garcia</strong> also played a big part in this dynamic because of how deeply he trusted each and every person in the cast.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754321727273kakki teodoro and sarah facuri into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Kakki Teodoro and Sarah Facuri</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>Sarah Facuri and Kakki Teodoro give “wicked” a witty and stylish twist</strong></div><p>Actress, director, and artist Sarah Facuri and award-winning theater, film, and television performer Kakki Teodoro step into the roles of Florinda and Lucinda, Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters, with flair and panache. </p><p>Their roles demand close collaboration, including songs performed in tandem, and they do it so well they are almost brilliantly in sync on and off stage—making Sarah and Kakki the perfectly imperfect stepsisters. </p><p>The emotional aspect of their characters is layered, and as Sarah shared, “We’re not really mean to be mean. But this is what we know, and this is how we overcome what’s happening to us… And the lengths we would go through to achieve something greater, no matter how hard it is, which is up to a fault… of course, that’s humanity.” </p><p>“Sometimes you can’t choose what you’re born into... All the characters in this show have specific wants. And hopefully, we’ll be able to show our wishes and wants clearly,” she added.</p><p>One of the things that Sarah and Kakki find fascinating about their roles is the sisters’ wardrobe, which has a Filipino twist to it. Among all the characters, only theirs and Cinderella’s are the ones with multiple costume changes. Costume design plays a significant role in their character development and helps move their narrative forward—it even helps them step into their roles with ease and authenticity. </p><p>“Our costume designer is a master. We love and have worked with <strong>Raven Ong</strong> on many, many other shows. <strong>Johann dela Fuente</strong> is also doing our wigs, and he designed them also. And I&#x27;m glad that they also get our input,” Kakki mentioned.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754321972191kakki teodoro into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Kakki Teodoro<br/><br/></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754322059289sarah facuri into the woods.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Sarah Facuri</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>Sarah and Kakki point out that Sondheim’s music and lyrics are difficult to get used to, and that their greatest challenge is the timing. Sarah explained, “...there are crucial moments and the stories overlap, so when you miss one thing, everyone is affected… and if we don’t get it in that moment, it will have a domino effect.”  </p><p>For both actors, being part of Sondheim’s &quot;Into The Woods&quot; is a dream, and now they’re living it. When it comes to preparing for their roles, Sarah says it’s “really more about mastering the music. It&#x27;s a Sondheim, so you have to prepare extra in learning the timing and the music, and the notes. It&#x27;s more that because it&#x27;s natural for us to have fun and just do what we do when we&#x27;re on stage, but getting everything right when we&#x27;re there is, it&#x27;s very crucial <em>kasi</em> for everybody.” </p><p>Kakki added, “<em>Parang may baon na kaming</em> characters, and then we match. <em>Tama si </em>Sarah, it’s the technical aspects. Reviewing every day, and even if we&#x27;re out of rehearsals, just singing the notes to each other. It’s really just being prepared and being very comfortable with the notes and the entrances. And always actually reminding each other if we have new notes from our director. Before we enter the scene, we&#x27;re like, remember she said this.”</p><p>Together, Sarah Facuri and Kakki Teodoro bring wit, style, and a fresh perspective to the much-reviled wicked stepsisters in all of the kingdom.</p><div><br/></div><p>Photos courtesy of <strong>Theatre Group Asia</strong></p>

<p><b>Metro.Style</b> got to talk to some of the amazing actors on one fine fantasy-filled afternoon about the magic that unfolds when you enter "Into the Woods"—and how they approach their characters, which are shaped by Sondheim’s unique vision seen through a distinctly Filipino lens.</p>

Metro.Style got to talk to some of the amazing actors on one fine fantasy-filled afternoon about the magic that unfolds when you enter "Into the Woods"—and how they approach their characters, which are shaped by Sondheim’s unique vision seen through a distinctly Filipino lens.

How Actors Joreen, Mark, Kakki, Sarah, Teetin, and Carla Put Their Own Twists on Their Classic 'Into the Woods' Characters

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How Actors Joreen, Mark, Kakki, Sarah, Teetin, and Carla Put Their Own Twists on Their Classic 'Into the Woods' Characters

Athena Gabriel

Published August 04, 2025 11:45 PM PHT

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Updated August 05, 2025 09:52 AM PHT

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Into The Woods

Mark Bautista

Joreen Bautista

Kakki Teodoro

Sarah Facuri

Teetin Villanueva

Carla Guevara Laforteza

Theatre Group Asia

Samsung Performing Arts Theater

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