Beneath the shimmer and swagger of a Manila male revue pulses a tale of identity, chosen family, survival, and the uncertain hush that falls when the music threatens to fade.
A dressing room before showtime vibrates with intimacy. Mirrors glow, costumes are fussed over, makeup is perfected, and anxious laughter bounces off the walls. Beyond the door, an audience waits for the magic to begin. But what if everyone inside knows this could be their last dance?
That is the question at the heart of LAST DANCE – HUBO’T HUBAD, a new ensemble play by theater actor, writer, and producer Jojo Urquico, set inside the dressing room of a struggling male revue bar in Manila.
The story unravels in the fragile space where performance blurs into reality. Here, laughter masks old wounds, costumes transform into shields, and for perhaps one fleeting night, the men behind the sparkle can finally reveal their true selves.
At its core, LAST DANCE is a story about belonging.
It follows men in search of dignity, love, acceptance, and a place where they truly belong. Their journeys unfold through laughter, music, heartbreak, and unguarded confessions, slowly revealing a chosen family bound by affection, need, and the quiet knowledge that sometimes survival means dancing on, even when tomorrow is a mystery.
Five Men, Five Stories
An ensemble of performers, each with their own creative odyssey, breathes color and depth into these characters, painting the production with their particular experiences.
Gerald Magallanes plays Ace, the fearless one.
An accomplished theater actor, dancer, and choreographer with over a decade of stage experience and multiple Aliw Award nominations, Magallanes brings confidence and playfulness to a character who seems unafraid of anything. Ace knows how to command a room. He is outspoken, funny, and comfortable in his own skin.
Still beneath that fearless exterior is someone who has learned to transform pain into strength—and smiles into armor. His question is deceptively simple: How much of me is just an act?
Paolo Domingo takes on Jay, the dreamer.
A film and stage actor, creative professional, and resident DJ at Halxyon Club, Domingo brings youthful energy to a character still trying to discover his place. Jay dreams of becoming a professional dancer and living a life in which he is accepted without having to give up who he is. For Jay, the question is not simply whether he can make it onstage, but how far he is willing to go for the dream he refuses to abandon.
John Segui plays Dodong, the heart of the group.
A model and pageant performer who represented Cainta, Rizal at King of the World Philippines 2025, Segui portrays a man whose humor and kindness make him the emotional center of the ensemble. Dodong is funny, caring, and protective of those around him. Yet the strength he projects conceals a deeper longing to be loved, understood, and chosen for exactly who he is. Dodong is left with a question that reaches outside the stage: Who am I when the lights go out?
Kriszan Manipon plays Mark, the veteran.
A theater actor, improviser, and artist, Manipon brings intelligence, wit, and theatrical confidence to a character who has spent years learning how to survive the realities of the industry. Mark is practical and resilient. He understands how the business works and knows the compromises required to keep going. But experience has its price. After years of sacrificing for the people he loves, Mark is beginning to wonder how much longer he can keep dancing. When do you know it’s time for the last dance?
Robbie Padilla plays Rafa, the quiet soul.
A photographer and visual storyteller accustomed to working behind the camera, Padilla steps into the spotlight as a man who observes more than he reveals. Rafa is quiet and grounded, but his silence carries its own weight. Under his calm presence are questions about purpose, identity, and what remains when the music finally stops.
From Performer to Storyteller
For Urquico, LAST DANCE is more than a new show; it signals a crucial point in his creative path.
A German-Filipino actor, singer, director, and artistic leader, Urquico has built a career performing across Europe and Asia. His stage credits include Thuy in Miss Saigon, Angel in Rent, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. His career has taken him to institutions including the Göteborg Opera and the Staatsoper Stuttgart, as well as projects connected with the Berlin International Film Festival. His work has also been recognized with a “Most Outstanding Theater Performing Artist” award.
Since 2017, Urquico has served as Artistic Director of World Theater Productions, working with international artists to create theatrical experiences for audiences on Guam.
But LAST DANCE challenges him in a new way. This time, he steps beyond performing another’s words and begins to share his own story.
LAST DANCE marks Urquico’s first foray as a playwright. He directs and stages the production himself, turning it into an intensely personal creation. After years spent living in the skins of others’ characters, Urquico now claims the stage as his own storyteller.
That is why the production’s central metaphor resonates so deeply. Every dancer knows the show must end; the real question is what remains when the lights return, and the applause fades.
A Night Behind the Curtain
Amid the pulse of Makati’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, LAST DANCE – HUBO’T HUBAD welcomes audiences into a sphere rarely seen. The spectacle may dazzle, and the music may beckon, but the true story unfolds backstage, when the performers shed their costumes and reveal their hearts.
Five men. One stage. Five lives, each struggling with the same haunting question: What remains when the performance ends? For one night, they decide to keep the dance alive.
LAST DANCE – HUBO’T HUBAD runs from September 29 to October 29 at Halxyon Club, Poblacion, Makati, Philippines.
Their bodies may captivate you, but it is their stories that will remain long after the curtain closes.
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