Iza Calzado in a poster for “Tiny Beautiful Things.” Image: Instagram/@thesandboxco
Iza Calzado is returning to the theater stage as Sugar in the Manila run of the upcoming play “Tiny Beautiful Things,” which is based on a bestselling book by Cheryl Strayed.
The play was announced by The Sandbox Collective during the final curtain call of “Little Shop of Horrors,” which starred Karylle, Sue Ramirez, Nyoy Volante, and Reb Atadero in alternate roles, on Saturday, August 3.
Calzado will take on the role of Sugar in the straight play — which relies on spoken dialogue to allow its storyline to move forward — that is based on Strayed’s experiences as an anonymous advice columnist.
The theater company also announced the Manila run of the play on its respective social media platforms, noting that “Tiny Beautiful Things” is its final play of the year.
“Known as the bestselling book-turned-play-turned-TV show by Cheryl Strayed, ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ is based on her experiences as an anonymous advice columnist. Celebrated actress and TV host Iza Calzado will be stepping into the role of Sugar, making her straight-play debut,” Sandbox’s post read.
In a separate post, a video showed Calzado introducing the play to the audience.
“What is ‘Tiny Beautiful Things?’ It is a play with letters from real people,” she said.
“We had the sweetest surprise for our closing night audience. Iza Calzado headed down Skid Row to introduce our season-ender, ‘Tiny Beautiful Things: A Play About Life in Letters,’” its post read.
The upcoming play marks Calzado’s second foray into theater after portraying the Adult Sabel and narrator in “Sabel: Love and Passion” in 2015. It will run from November 16 to December 8 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati.
Based on the 2012 self-help book, “Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar” is a compilation of letters from Strayed’s “Dear Sugar” advice column which covers the facets of life. The play is portrayed in an epistolary format.