It’s been almost three years since KD Estrada and his love team partner Alexa Ilacad got their first taste of theater, after starring in the PETA musical Walang Aray. Since then, the former Pinoy Big Brother housemate and singer has shared many career milestones with Alexa, including his latest achievement after landing one of the lead roles in the upcoming Bagets musical, which is set to open in January 2026.
“Alexa was the second person to know after my parents when I got the role of Arnel. She video called me immediately after I sent her the screenshot and she told me she would watch me multiple times, in her happy tone,” KD shared in an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN.
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The 23-year-old Star Magic artist said he has fond memories with Alexa whenever he looks back at their first-ever experience doing a theater production. “When we did Walang Aray, it was a test of our teamwork, discipline and chemistry. We were extremely nervous for the shows since we had no prior experience to doing theatre, let alone musicals. But it felt great because both of us were so open to everything and we were in this student mindset and we were learning from EVERYONE on the PETA production team. We would also help each other with our lines, blockings, songs on our free time and it was an experience that we shared where we both started from square one, and I believe it made us closer than we already were,” he explained.
The Bagets musical star stated that he also gives his full support to Alexa whenever she has a new achievement in her career. “Recently this year, she did Liwanag Sa Dilim as Maria Clara which has closed a few months back where I watched multiple of her shows, and now I'm doing Bagets The Musical where I play Arnel which she will also watch! She is as happy now as I was when she told me about her play. We love watching each other shine,” he added.
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This year also marks KD’s debut on the Newport Performing Arts Theater stage, which will be a way bigger venue than his previous production. “It makes me a bit nervous but more excited. We've watched Ang Huling El Bimbo at Newport and it was an amazing show. Despite how wide the stage was, they were filling it up with their beautiful set, their movements, their voices. We hope, as a whole team, that we can also make the most out of the grand stage and adapt our bodies to the bigger movements we must do since it is a much larger stage than usual, but it’s a challenge we're all willing to take with an excited attitude,” he shared.
Bagets The Musical is scheduled to run from January 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. The musical is a joint production of VIVA Communications Inc., The Philippine STAR and NEXT by Philstar Media Group, and Newport World Resorts, guided by the creative vision of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Plus, with director Maribel Legarda, playwright J-mee Katanyag, and musical director Vince Lim.