Theatre Group Asia proudly announces acclaimed iconic Filipino performer Celeste Legaspi will take on the role of Older Allie in its highly anticipated production of The Notebook, The Musical. A defining figure in Philippine performing arts, Legaspi brings with her not only a storied career, but a lifetime of shaping the very landscape of Filipino music, theater, and cultural advocacy.
Born into a family of artists as the daughter of National Artist for Visual Arts Cesar Legaspi, Legaspi’s creative foundation was established early. She began singing in kindergarten and rose to prominence in 1969 as part of The Ambivalent Crowd before transitioning into a solo career that would redefine the possibilities of Original Pilipino Music.
Her splendid recording career boasts legendary successful albums such as Ako si Celeste and Bagong Plaka, Lumang Kanta that achieved gold and double platinum status, while songs like “Saranggola ni Pepe,” “Tuliro,” “Mamang Sorbetero,” and “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal?” became enduring Filipino classics. These works not only solidified her place in OPM history but helped popularize Filipino songwriting on an international scale.
Parallel to her music career, Legaspi cultivated an extraordinary presence in theater. She appeared in early productions such as Showboat and Oliver! before gaining widespread acclaim through performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where she collaborated with literary giant Rolando Tinio. Her repertoire would come to include seminal works like Manila, Manila, Doon Po Sa Amin, Jesus Christ Superstar, Katy!, Paglipas ng Dilim, North Diversion Road, and Ang Larawan, each contributing to the development of a distinctly Filipino theatrical tradition.
In 1988, alongside longtime collaborator Girlie Rodis, Legaspi co-founded Musical Theater Philippines, a company that became instrumental in producing original Filipino musicals. Through this platform, she helped bring to life works such as KenKoy Loves Rosing, Alikabok, Sino Ka Ba Jose Rizal, Fire Water Woman, and Saranggola ni Pepe, championing narratives rooted in Filipino identity and history.
Her contributions extended into film and television, where she worked with acclaimed directors including Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal, and appeared in projects ranging from Santiago and Mamang Sorbetero to contemporary series such as Can’t Buy Me Love. In recent years, she has taken on roles that explore aging and memory, including a critically recognized performance as an elderly woman living with dementia, earning a Best Actress nomination and further demonstrating her range and relevance.
Offstage, Legaspi’s impact is equally profound. She served as founding president of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), advocating for the rights and recognition of Filipino musicians, and helped establish PHILSTAGE, the country’s alliance of professional performing arts companies. She continues to serve the industry as Vice President of the Performers’ Rights Society of the Philippines, reinforcing her commitment to protecting and uplifting artists.
Her lifetime of achievement has been recognized through numerous accolades: Aliw Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Best Actress, multiple Tinig Awards, the TOWNS Award, the Natatanging Gawad Buhay Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Ryan Cayabyab Award.
TGA Creative and Overall Artistic Director Clint Ramos remarks, “It is our honor to have a Philippine icon play the role of Older Allie. This is a dream casting for us. Ms. Celeste Legaspi is a titan in the musical theater industry and Philippine music in general. She brings gravitas and wisdom to the role; and we can’t wait for the Philippine audience to see another side of this legendary artist. We are so excited to see the evolution of Allie’s character from her younger version with the vulnerable innocence of Sheena Belarmino, her blossoming through the strength and prowess of Morissette, and onto her full unravelling into the masterful insight of Ms. Celeste Legaspi.
In stepping into The Notebook, The Musical, Legaspi embraces both the artistic challenge and emotional depth of the role. She reflects: “The characters in Notebook are interesting. How it shows their growth and learnings. To be able to portray that is a challenge. And as I study the music of older Allie I learn that the music is modern and exacting; at the same time I will need to get to the heart of her. A great challenge. And I love challenges. Accepting challenges has been my motivation through all my years.”
Her portrayal of Older Allie is shaped by personal experience as well. “My family suffered when my mother got sick with Alzheimer’s for 10 years. It was one of the most difficult times in our lives. Although remembering that is painful, it will be my responsibility to honor my mother by bringing understanding and compassion to my role.”
As a pioneer who has witnessed the evolution of Philippine theater firsthand, she reflects on its journey, “I still remember the times when we were more numerous on stage than the audience. A painful but learning time. We, the thespians, would always be even more driven to deliver our best. I have watched many young actors these recent past years and the talent is amazing! It just emphasizes that the Filipino has no equal in creativity and talent in many fields.”
Her advice remains grounded in excellence and responsibility, “My advice would be to always seek for excellence. In whatever role, big or small. The unique feature of theater is that it’s live… every minute is exciting and unpredictable. Thus it is all our responsibility to deliver only our very best, keeping audiences interested and mesmerized. That we can control and realize!”
And at the heart of the story she now helps tell through The Notebook, The Musical, she describes, “What I see is the family. How its strength helps us all; how love as it goes through the ages can remain even stronger and more textured. When we say ‘love story’ it does not remain the same. It transforms and changes. That is the strength of true love.”
With Celeste Legaspi bringing her unparalleled legacy, emotional insight, and lifelong dedication to the craft, TGA’s production promises to be a landmark theatrical event, one that honors both a beloved story and the enduring brilliance of Filipino artistry.
Together with Morissette as Middle Allie and Sheena Belarmino, the casting reflects TGA’s commitment to assembling a multi-generational ensemble capable of capturing the sweeping emotional scope of The Notebook: The Musical. Featuring music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson and a Tony Award-nominated book by Bekah Brunstetter, the musical is celebrated for its intimate storytelling and its portrayal of love as it evolves through youth, adulthood, and old age.
Watch Celeste Legaspi’s performance of “I Know” from The Notebook: The Musical.
For more information, visit TGA’s website www.theatregroupasia.com, Instagram @theatregroupasia, or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theatregroupasia.
