Esteban Mara to play Dodong in 2027 ‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah’ revival
The producers of the musical “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Parteeeh!” announced on Tuesday that Esteban Mara will play Dodong in the production celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Several actors have portrayed Dodong over the years, including Prince Stefan, Red Anderson, Janvier Daily, Lauren Novero, Arnold Reyes, and Rocky Salumbides. Mara joins a cast of brilliant performers who have all given their own unique takes on Ada’s leading man in this musical, which has been staged numerous times.
“Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal’s” longevity, according to Chris Millado, who helmed the first production in 2006 and is back for the anniversary staging, is due to the musical’s universal appeal.
“Zsazsa Zaturnnah celebrates friendship, belonging, and the pursuit of love. And as long as these very human concerns continue to be challenged by self-doubt, discrimination, and hate, the story will continue to engage,” Millado said.
Millado also mentioned that the musical’s larger-than-life characters make a new production exciting. Their exaggerated personalities allow performers to have fun while providing a unique challenge in bringing them to life.
“The characters are bigger than life, eksaherado (exaggerated) and over the top. They are fun and at the same time challenging to play,” he shared.
The role adds to Mara’s growing body of work in theater and film, in which he has played a variety of characters. He began his acting career in 2017 with Dulaang UP, playing the title role in “Bagong Cristo,” and has since appeared in “Dekada ’70” and Virgin Labfest’s “Love on the Brain.” His film credits include Cinemalaya’s “Padamlagan” and Puregold’s BL series “Got My Eyes on You.”
Taking on Dodong is also a new challenge for Mara, as he has always wanted to perform in a full-scale musical. On taking on the role, he said, “This opportunity allows me to discover a part of my artistry that I’ve always wanted to explore. Performing in a musical has always been on my bucket list because I know it brings a different kind of challenge, one that pushes me to grow, learn, and discover more about myself as an artist.”
The role also allows Mara to play a character whose values he shares personally. Aside from his role in Ada’s love story, Dodong sees qualities in the character that are admirable.
“I feel especially blessed to be taking on that challenge through Dodong. His values really resonate with me as a person: hardworking, courageous, and someone who sees love for what it simply is — love. Because of this, I feel that portraying Dodong comes with a great responsibility. He is the kind of man we should aspire to be, and I want to portray him with the care, honesty, and sincerity that he deserves,” he shared.
While Mara is drawn to Dodong’s values, he is also memorable for his romantic appeal. When asked what makes Mara a good fit for the role, director Millado emphasized Dodong’s undeniable charm.
“Disarming smile, swoony charm, croony voice. And abs,” Millado said.
The director also stated that Dodong should have these qualities without realizing how charming he is, with the character’s lack of self-awareness making him all the more endearing.
Determined to do the role justice, Mara has already begun preparing for the production, including taking voice lessons to improve his musical performance skills. Having previously seen “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal,” he brings a personal appreciation for the show and its significance in Philippine theater.
As the musical celebrates its 20th anniversary, Millado hopes that the new staging will remind audiences of its central message, delivered in the wonderfully absurd spirit that has always distinguished the production.
“Love wins. You just need to defeat a giant frog and English-speaking aliens,” he said.
“Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Parteeeh!” premieres in April 2027. Ticketing information, additional cast announcements, and production details are expected to be released in the coming months.