Atasha Muhlach walked into opening night with plenty of attention already on her.

Her casting as Annie Batungbakal in “Bongga Ka ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical” had people talking long before opening night. As the daughter of Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales, Atasha has grown up in the spotlight. This time, however, the focus was on what she could do onstage.

Then there was Annie herself, a character closely associated with the late Nora Aunor.

Atasha has been open about how much preparation went into getting the role. In a video released by NWR Musicals, she recalled just how nervous she was during the audition.

“Grabe ang kabado ko sa audition process. There was so much preparation leading up to it.”  

For the audition, Atasha prepared a dance routine to “Annie Batungbakal” and two songs from the Manila Sound era. She also spent months working on her dancing, singing, acting, and attending workshops as she prepared to take on Annie.

That preparation continued through rehearsals, where she worked on finding her own version of the character and getting into the world of the musical.

The work finally met the audience on September 18 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, where Atasha made her debut as Annie.

By the end of the night, the cast received a standing ovation, with Atasha visibly emotional during the curtain call. 

Atasha has spent much of her career being introduced as Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales’ daughter. On the Bongga Ka ’Day! stage, though, audiences got to see her take on a role of her own. And there was something fitting about doing it at Newport, the same stage where she once played Brigitta von Trapp in The Sound of Music as a child. Fifteen years later, she was back on that stage, this time as its leading lady. Talk about a full circle moment.  

There will always be expectations that come with the Muhlach name. But “Bongga Ka ’Day!” gives Atasha a chance to make her own mark.

Photos: fullhousetheatercompany (via Instagram)