A Chorus Line Director

Karla Puno Garcia will serve as director and choreographer for its local production of A Chorus Line, opening March 2026 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

Puno Garcia’s impressive performance résumé includes numerous Broadway credits, most notably as the first Filipino cast member, and dance captain at that, in Hamilton. Her other Broadway performances include West Side Story where she played Lupe, Gigi, and Hot Feet. She also toured the U.S. in Wicked and The Addams Family. On television, she was a finalist on Season 5 of So You Think You Can Dance and appeared in NBC’s Smash, Annie Live!, and Disney+’s Better Nate Than Ever.

In 2023, Puno Garcia made history as the first woman of color to choreograph the opening number of the Tony Awards, earning her an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming. She made her Broadway choreographic debut in Days of Wine and Roses alongside Sergio Trujillo. Since then, she has choreographed Cher, The Connector, Noir, and Rent. She also worked on the TV series Power Book III: Raising Kanan and contributed choreography for and appeared in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s film directorial debut, the Oscar-nominated Tick, Tick… BOOM!.

She has also directed and choreographed several short dance films such as The Spot, They Wake, and Bustin’ Loose, which have been featured in several international dance film festivals. An alumna of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she teaches at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, while also conducting global dance workshops.

TGA’s Overall Artistic and Creative Director, Tony Award-winner Clint Ramos, describes, “Karla is a great Filipina force. She’s incredibly lauded and celebrated on Broadway. For A Chorus Line, we needed someone who can honor the original choreography by Michael Bennett and his associate Baayork Lee [the original Connie Wong], but who can also bring her own artistry and excellence to make the material come alive and resonate in the modern context. We are thrilled to have Karla helm this project and can’t wait for the Philippines to see her work.”

On leading the iconic musical, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Puno Garcia reflects: “I was very flattered when Clint asked me if I was interested in directing and choreographing A Chorus Line. I got so excited, I immediately said yes. Although I’ve never performed in the show itself, my connection to A Chorus Line is quite deep. I have lived its story my entire life. I’ve been a chorus member countless times and have danced in ensembles for the past 20 years. I think the spirit of the show is something I’ve trained all my life to embody.”