Andres Muhlach reprising the role that catapulted his dad to teenage superstar status 40 years ago is certainly an interesting case of life’s inevitable cycles.
Viva Communications has recently announced that Aga Muhlach’s unico hijo Andres will be recreating the same role in the contemporary stage adaptation of the hit movie musical Bagets, set to take local theater by storm when it opens in early 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
‘It’s both an honor and a big challenge for me to step into the shoes of Adie, the same character that my dad gave life to in 1984. I cannot aptly describe the feeling when I first learned that I was confirmed for the project because so many emotions came rushing to me. I guess it is too surreal, I mean the feeling that has engulfed me up to this very day. It’s shaping up to be a full circle experience for me,’ he told us.
I asked Aga how he feels about his son reprising his role. ‘It’s unbelievable. Imagine my son will play the same role I did more than four decades ago. Ang saya lang. It will be interesting how they will update the material, the mood, the music to make it relatable to their generation. I am so happy that they are doing a stage musical version of Bagets and I am confident that he and the entire cast will rise above the challenge!’
‘Dad is really cool and so supportive, and he is just as thrilled as everyone else in the family. Even my parents’ longtime friends are talking about it as early as now, and they are also excited how the cast will be interpreting the five characters this time around,’ Andres said. Aside from Aga, the original movie transformed Raymond Lauchengco, Herbert Bautista, JC Bonnin and William Martinez into instant heartthrobs and matinee idols during their time.
Andres continued, ‘I’ve watched Bagets countless times, and I really looked up to my dad growing up. He enjoyed what he was doing and he was happy working on his craft. Dad’s career took off after Bagets and I hope it will do wonders for my career as well.’
Taking it one rehearsal at a time is how Andres does it. ‘I want to be really focused on this project. It’s my first venture into professional theater. A few of the cast members have theater experience, and it helps that we all build a bond this early, and make the bond stronger when the show opens in January.’
The cast have started to undergo intensive workshops. ‘These workshops are certainly eye-openers for the young cast. These help close the gap between how we transition into theater actors from doing work for television and the movies. The first few days were all new to us but we are all moving forward quite well and enjoying all the activities we are part of.’ Andres shared that he appreciates the experts who are all very patient and pleasant since day one-musical director Vince Lim, playwright K-Mee Katanyag and director Maribel Legarda.
Since this is a musical, Andres says he has to polish his vocals and learn the techniques and skills needed for him to sustain both his speaking and singing voice-starting from rehearsals, and throughout his assigned performances.
All the five main actors will have alternates and Andres will share his role with Mico Hendrix Chua. Joining Andres and Hendrix in the cast are Noel Comia Jr., Tomas Rodriguez, Jeff Moses, Sam Shoaf, Milo Cruz, Migo Valid, KD Estrada, Ethan David.
This early, ticket reservations have been announced and Andres is getting more and more hyped up to give his mark to the same ‘Adie’ role that has been attached to his dad for many, many years.
Bagets: The Musical aims to revive the spirit, and reimagine the essence of a film so well-loved in the past so that this new generation can embrace and appreciate it, too. Andres Muhlach takes the lead in this very tall order which I’m sure that he will do so with flying colors, at the same time capture our hearts, too-just like how his famous dad stole ours more than 40 years ago.