Shiela Valderrama is Queen Femina in ‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah’ revival

Theater actress Shiela Valderrama will play Intergalactic Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux in the 20th-anniversary staging of the Filipino musical “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Parteeeh!” in April 2027.

Queen Femina, the ruler of Planet XXX and leader of the Amazonistas, is one of the musical’s central antagonists, known for her flamboyant personality.

Composer, lyricist and musical director Vincent A. DeJesus said Valderrama’s musical theater experience makes her a fitting choice for the role.

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“Ang Zsazsa Zaturnnah ay isang hyper camp universe, at si Queen Femina ay larger than life! She is commanding, theatrical and totally a loose cannon,” DeJesus said in a statement sent to Inquirer Entertainment.

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Valderrama joins a roster of performers who have portrayed Queen Femina in previous productions. Agot Isidro and Kalila Aguilos shared the role in the original 2006 staging, followed by Meliza Reyes-Uy in 2009 and Pinky Amador in 2011. Kakki Teodoro later played the character in the 2023 student production “Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang!”

With a career spanning 35 years, Valderrama has appeared in theater productions as Diana Goodman in “Next to Normal,” Fosca in Stephen Sondheim’s “Passion” and Erzulie in “Once on This Island.” She won the 2025 Aliw Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her performance in “Next to Normal.”

Valderrama was also part of the opening team of Hong Kong Disneyland, where she played Bebe in “The Golden Mickeys” and became the first Asian performer to portray Nala in “Festival of the Lion King.” She also joined Broadway Asia’s Asian tour of “Cinderella” as an alternate for the title role.

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Her other recognitions include awards and nominations from the Awit Awards, Philstage Gawad Buhay, LEAF and the Aliw Awards. PeopleAsia also named her one of its Women of Style and Substance for 2026.

The revival marks 20 years since “Zsazsa Zaturnnah” first reached the stage in 2006. The musical is based on Carlo Vergara’s graphic novel about Ada, a gay beautician who transforms into the superheroine Zsazsa Zaturnnah after swallowing a mysterious stone.

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Further announcements about the April 2027 production are expected in the coming months. /ra