As part of the Sandbox Collective’s newest musical Next to Normal, Benedix Ramos was happy to start off the year on a busy note, with rehearsals leading up to their one-month run this February. “It’s been good. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na meron ka kaagad ginagawa sa January and Next to Normal is one of them. I auditioned for this. It’s so great,” he said.
Next to Normal has a main theme of mental health and focuses on the life of Diana Goodman, a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder and the damaging effects it has had on her family for more than 17 years. In the musical, Benedix plays the role of Diana’s son Gabe. The 26-year-old actor admits he has learned a lot about grief and depression from being part of this production.
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“I learned that grief is not just about death. SoI feel like I’m grieving pala each time I feel like I lost something. Yung grief pala sa akin is not easy to handle, pero at the same time, you know that when you already grasp the concept of grief, you’ll somehow know the first step of how to cope,” he explained.
Last year, the former “Streamboy Apo ng Pangasinan" in ‘Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10: Celebrity Edition housemate admitted that he did not initially plan to do consecutive dramatic roles on stage. He made his theater debut in 2023 Ang Huling El Bimbo: The Musical before playing dual roles for PETA’s and Teatro Kapamilya’s Tabing Ilog The Musical as Rovic (originally played by John Lloyd Cruz in the TV series) and Andoy. His most recent role was in Bar Boys The Musical last year where he played the role of one of the leads as Eric Vicencio, originally played by Carlo Aquino in the 2017 film.
“Actually, it just happens na after Bar Boys na tatay ko yung ka-eksena ko ng mabibigat tapos dito naman nanay ko ung mabigat na eksena dito. So parang nagkakataon na I’m really inclined to dramatic productions. If given the chance, I would definitely do other stuff pero ito talaga yung nalalapit ako na mga projects eh, yung medyo mabigat talaga siya. I’m not complaining naman. It’s just that ito pa lang yung dumarating na opportunities. And there are some productions I had to decline because din of the schedule nauna na and nagkataon na Next to Normal talaga yung nandito ako (laughs),” he admitted.
With a demanding theater schedule taking up most of his time right now, Benedix said it still doesn’t mean that vlogging and other projects will take the back seat.
“Not entirely because we all know naman na theater really takes so much of the time of your schedule or sa buong calendar mo blocked off yan for rehearsals and for shows and all that. There are so many sacrifices that you have to do when you’re doing your passion which is theater. And acting is really something that I’ve always loved doing even when I was still a child. Napupuslit puslit ko naman yung mga ibang acting gigs,” he added.
Watch Benedix in The Sandbox Collective musical Next to Normal which will run from February 1 to 23 at the PowerMac Spotlight Theater in Circuit Mall, Makati. The Tony Award-winning musical Next To Normal is directed by Toff de Venecia, with musical direction by Ejay Yatco. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me or by visiting ticket2me.net/sandboxn2nā .