Repertory Philippines (REP) is making the holiday season merrier and brighter with The Great Christmas Cookie Bake Off!, the first REP Theatre for Young Audiences (RTYA) production in two years. Streaming exclusively on Broadway On Demand on November 12-December 12, this family-friendly musical combines the spirit of Christmas, the delight of cookies, and the thrill of musical theater in bringing joy and life lessons that make the biggest celebration—and the most wonderful time—of the year truly meaningful.
The Great Christmas Cookie Bake Off! revolves around the story of eight young cookie chefs who have been selected from all over the country to battle it out for first prize at the Cookie Coliseum. Over the course of the competition, their feelings of intense rivalry give way to the virtues of family, charity, and forgiveness, as these chefs learn what really makes for a winning Christmas recipe.
It stars Becca Coates as Patty Mañosa, a beautiful sensitive soul who longs for her Grandma’s cookies; Tim Pavino as Javi Carreon, a video game buff who feels out of place in the kitchen but whose heart is definitely in the right place; Jep Go as Gabe Gomez, a bully who’s more than happy to bend the rules; Jillian Ita-as as Anna Santos, the perfect overachiever; Luigi Quesada plays Julian Zamora, a culinary artiste with a talent for fine cuisine; Justine Narciso is Amy Garcia, a Disney devotee who’s slightly scattered in the kitchen but super adorable just the same; Steven Hotchkiss is Josh Bernardo, a science enthusiast who knows his formulas; and Rachel Coates is Samantha Lopez, a fun and fabulous social media fanatic who loves the spotlight.
Joining the cast are REP and theater veterans like Carla Guevara-Laforteza playing multiple roles for the show—first as the stylish Isabel Guevara, a food fashionista with a high sense of aesthetic and one of the judges of the bake off; as Anna’s Mom, your quintessential helicopter parent who watches every detail; and Patty’s quirky-loving Grandma!
Arnel Carrion is also part of the show playing a double role as Michael Holmes, the meanest guy in the food industry and in the Cookie Coliseum, and as Gabe’s Dad, a big wig TV exec who pushes his son to win at all costs. Jaime Wilson, meanwhile, plays pop singer and celebrity guest judge Del Ray who has never baked but can certainly lay down some tasty grooves! Hans Eckstein completes the cast as Larry, the faithful host and announcer of the competition.
The Great Christmas Cookie Bake Off! is created by Broadway musical director Rick Hip-Flores who wrote the musical to provide some sort of relief and delight amid a challenging time.
“I wrote the show just about a year ago when I felt like we needed a little bit of joy in our lives. I figured that the combination of Christmas and cookies and baking competitions and musical theater would be the perfect recipe for a truly joyful theatrical experience,” says Flores.
Produced with the streaming audiences in mind, The Great Christmas Cookie Bake Off! is directed by RTYA Creative Director Joy Virata. The production also includes an all-star creative team composed of set designer Ed Lacson, lighting designer John Batalla, costume designer Bonsai Cielo, and choreographer Deana Aquino. Multi-awarded director Treb Monteras helms the video production managed by Silver Media.
“The Great Christmas Cookie Bake Off! is the first-ever Filipino production to be available on Broadway On Demand. It’s the first musical in the country that is purposely filmed for an international online streaming service,” Virata points out. “REP is beyond honored to bring the magic of theater and Christmas to your homes and make this season a bit brighter and merrier for everyone.”
Catch RTYA’s The Great Christmas Cookie Bake Off! with the entire family exclusively on Broadway On Demand. Ticket prices are P700 (24-hour access) and P1,000 (48-hour access). Broadway On Demand can be accessed via computer or mobile device through a web browser (Google Chrome is recommended for optimal streaming) or via tablet or smartphone through the Broadway On Demand app on App Store and Google Play. It’s also available on AppleTV and Roku.
Book your tickets through Broadway On Demand, TicketWorld, or Ticket2Me, or via the REP Box Office by calling 0966 905 4013.
For updates, log on to www.repertoryphilippines.ph, like and follow Repertory Philippines on Facebook and Instagram. Educators and school representatives who are interested in the show can email sales@repphil.org.
