PHILSTAGE to bring PH theater industry giants to CREATEPhilippines x MIPAM 2026

Theater fans have an even bigger reason to visit the upcoming CREATEPhilippines x MIPAM 2026. Under the banner of the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group (PHILSTAGE), nine of the most prolific performing arts companies in the country will be gracing the event to demonstrate the depth and breadth of the local industry and its readiness to take its place on the international stage.

As the only nationally recognized organization for professional performing arts companies in the Philippines, PHILSTAGE is the proud alliance of Manila-based professional companies in the theatrical arts. It promotes the development of the Philippine performing arts by upholding high ethical standards in the industry and lobbying for laws and policies that protect theater professionals, both on- and offstage. 

PHILSTAGE’s presence at CREATEPhilippines x MIPAM 2026 signals the local theater industry’s capability to be a major player in the Asian region. The Philippines is already known for producing exceptional theater talents whose names have appeared on global marquees and playbills. The PHILSTAGE members coming together to represent the country in the event’s trade marketplace will highlight how original Filipino productions of uniquely Filipino stories deserve to be experienced by global audiences. 

9Works Theatrical

9Works Theatrical wants to turn more Filipinos into theater fans, one award-winning play at a time. It does this through the stellar staging of international classic hits, such as Rent and Grease, to its production of original Filipino crowd-pleasers like Eto na! Musikal nAPO! And Liwanag sa Dilim. The company will next usher in the Philippine debut of Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical, slated for April 2027.

The Sandbox Collective

More than 10 years since its establishment, The Sandbox Collective continues to bring new, groundbreaking, and cutting-edge theatrical work to Manila audiences. Aside from critically acclaimed tearjerkers (Dani Girl) and thought provokers (Himala: Isang Musikal), the theater company has also provided local theatergoers the opportunity to experience the art form in a fresher, more immersive way with initiatives such as the Imaginarium: Festival of the Absurd and, more recently, the twin-billed Sandbox Fest. 

Ballet Manila

A company of storytellers on toes, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Ballet Manila has been bringing ballet to the people and people to the ballet since 1995. Its repertoire spans full-length performances of the classics (Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, La Bayadere, Giselle, Carmen) and original contemporary pieces by distinguished Filipino choreographers such as Agnes Locsin (Arachnida) and Bam Agustin III (El Adwa). Ballet Manila has also staged original adaptations of Filipino literary works (Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, Ibong Adarna, Florante at Laura), living up to its vision of making ballet not just accessible to, but also resonant with the local audience. 

Barefoot Theatre Collaborative

Run by a group of award-winning creators and producers, Barefoot Theatre Collaborative has made a name for being an innovative theater company that creates, produces, and manages relevant theatrical content that lives within and beyond the live performance stage. Some of its well-lauded productions are Mula sa Buwan, Pride Plays, The Last Five Years, We Aren’t Kids Anymore, Bar Boys: The Musical, and anthropology. 

Fire and Ice Media Entertainment

Working across the sectors of media, music, live performances, and consultancy (as well as offering creative production spaces), Fire and Ice Entertainment champions the Philippines’ growing profile in the Southeast Asian region by producing and promoting globally fluent projects that are still deeply rooted in Filipino culture. Just last November, the company’s original series, Never the Bride, won the Series Mania Award and the audience-voted My Pick Project Award at the 2025 Taiwan Creative Content Fest, cementing the international market’s growing confidence in Philippine-produced creative content. 

Philippine Educational Theatre Association

Since its founding in 1967, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) has consistently used theater to educate and empower Filipino communities, amplifying the voices of the underserved through performances, education, and community work centered on urgent social issues. Its diverse repertoire of over 300 plays covers original Filipino-language dramas, locally resonant adaptations of world classics, and contemporary musicals, such as the hit Rak of Aegis. PETA continues to build its all-encompassing body of work and tour its educational performances nationwide, in service of its mission to use theater as a powerful tool for social development.

Philippine Opera Company

Founded in 1999 and managed by Filipino classical singers, the Philippine Opera Company (POC) is the only local company that produces regular classical productions. Beyond the confines of traditional theater, it holds performances in malls, churches, community parks, and schools to shed opera of its elitist image and extend its reach to a wider local audience. POC is also dedicated to nurturing the Filipino style of presenting opera as it works to develop the country’s new generation of classical singers and audiences.

Stages Production Specialists

An esteemed presence in Philippine performing arts that deftly combines creativity and community-building with business savvy, Stages Production Specialists remains at the forefront of the industry’s evolution as it grows with its audience. Under the leadership of its co-founder and President Audie Gemora and other industry veterans on its roster of decision-makers, Stages has grown from a production house into a company that now offers a full suite of entertainment services: talent management, digital marketing, and content creation.  

Trumpets Playshop

As the workshop and training program of Trumpets, Asia’s premier Christian theater company, Trumpets Playshop is home to aspiring performers of all ages looking to hone their talents. Under the mentorship of industry professionals, its students are given well-rounded training in the performing arts, equipping them with the skills to pursue a professional career. 

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Learn more about CREATEPhilippines x MIPAM 2026 through its official website. 

CREATEPhilippines is the country's first government-led content and community platform for the local creative industries. A program organized by CITEM, it is the ultimate resource for stories and updates on the Philippines' creative community and a centralized directory and sourcing platform where Filipino creatives can share their portfolios and engage with a global audience.