The spirit of Christmas is alive in Makati as one of Broadway’s most beloved holiday musicals, ‘A Christmas Carol’, makes its way to the Philippine stage this November and December 2025.
Presented by 9 Works Theatrical and Rockwell Land, the production will be staged at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell Center, promising a festive treat for Filipino theatergoers of all ages.
A press conference held last November 7 at the Proscenium Theater unveiled the full cast and creative team behind the highly anticipated musical. The event featured remarks from Santi Santamaria, Executive Producer at 9 Works Theatrical, and Tracey Castillo, VP for Marketing of Rockwell Land, both expressing excitement over bringing such an iconic production to life.
“A Christmas Carol is on the top of our list — the music is great, it’s perfect for families and kids, and it truly embodies what Rockwell’s Christmas is all about,” said Castillo.
“In my mind, and in our minds, it’s only fitting that the Proscenium’s first Christmas musical be A Christmas Carol,” added Santamaria.
Directed by Robbie Guevara, the musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Ahrens and Mike Ockrent. Menken, an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winner, is best known for his work on Disney masterpieces like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Hercules.
Seasoned actor, singer, and DJ Arnel Carrion headlines the cast as the iconic miser Ebenezer Scrooge, a role he calls his biggest theater milestone yet.
“I played Bob Cratchit for the first time. Then I did it again as Scrooge’s nephew, Fred. And now, this is the third time — I’m finally Scrooge. So parang lume-level up ako nang lume-level up,” Carrion shared with a laugh.
Rising theater actor CJ Navato joins the cast as Young Ebenezer, with Nicole Omillo portraying Young Emily. The musical also features a powerhouse ensemble, including Franco Laurel as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Lorenz Martinez as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Carmelle Ros as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Navato reflected on how the production mirrors the Filipino Christmas spirit: “Maraming mga tao who get lost in the sense of what Christmas is really about. But ultimately, we’re all reminded it’s about the people we love and want to be with. Scrooge represents our own journeys to find love and happiness in all seasons of life,” he said.
The press event concluded with a live performance by the full ensemble outside the Proscenium Theater, offering a glimpse of the musical’s joyful energy and grand staging.
‘A Christmas Carol: The Musical’ will run on all weekends from November 29 to December 21, 2025, with showtimes at 7:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available via TicketWorld and the Rockwell Box Office. (with reports from Lau Balocos)
