MANILA
Menchu is a multi-awarded actress in theater , and recently has won rave reviews for her portrayal of Pepang in the movie version of Ang Larawan. Fondly known as the First Lady of Musical Theater, she has been doing theater since 1978. Some of her most notable roles are Eva Peron in Evita, Fosca in Passion, Guinevere in Camelot, Jadis in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Diana in Next To Normal, Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha, Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Nancy in Oliver!, Aurora in Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Diana Morales in A Chorus Line, The Baker’s Wife in Into The Woods, The Witch in Into The Woods, Annette in God of Carnage, Luisa in Nine, Luisa in The Fantasticks, Maria in West Side Story, Cathy in The Last Five Years, Erzulie in Once On This Island, Older Joy in Ang Huling El Bimbo, Anna in The King and I, Nora in A Dollhouse Part 2, Ellen in the Manila production of Miss Saigon, Margaret in Carrie, Velma in Hairspray, Fantine in Les Misérables, Maria in The Sound of Music, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Martha Livingstone in Agnes of God and Martha in The Secret Garden to name a few.
Besides acting, she has also ventured into directing musicals like Jekyll &Hyde, Little Women, Peter Pan and West Side Story. Menchu also directed the concert version of South Pacific, the first time an entire Broadway musical was done in concert form in the Philippines.
Most recently, Menchu conceptualised and directed the online concert of Nadine Lustre. Menchu is currently the Artistic Director for Full House Theater Inc. The theater wing of Resorts World Manila, and is also president of the OPPA (Original Pilipino Performing Arts) Foundation.