9 Works Theatrical's "Rent" (February 12-March 6, 2011)

Due to insistent public demand,  9 Works Theatrical will bring back Rent - the revolutionary rock musical starting February 12, 2011 at the Carlos P. Romulo auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

After staging Rent back in February and December 2010 respectively, 9 Works Theatrical has received a lot of inquiries and  requests from RENTheads, students, school groups and ‘rock’ music fans both young and old to stage it again. The 2011 version of Rent will be newer, fresher and bolder in approach and is under the over-all supervision and direction by  Robbie Guevara.

Rent - a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical was written by Jonathan Larson as an imaginative retelling of the classic Giacomo Puccini opera, “La Boheme” set in the gritty Lower East Village of New York City.

Rent is the unforgettable and timeless story of a group of starving bohemian artists. Despite poverty and illness, they all learned to struggle with life and survived during the rise of a mysterious, deadly disease - AIDS. Eventually, they all learned to fall in love and found their voices through a universal message of hope for everyone.

Socially relevant, youthful, and moving, Rent lives on, along with the affirmation that there is “no day but today. And synonymous to Rent is the iconic score that brought the whole world to sing the timeless hit “Seasons of Love.”

Some of the country’s talented theater artists who will reprise their roles for the restaging of RENT (previously staged by 9 Works Theatrical – Feb. 2010 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, and Dec. 2010 at the Rockwell Power Plant Cinema 2) include singer/TV host Gian Magdangal as Roger Davis, the songwriter. Gian recently starred in 9 Works Theatrical’s hit musical The Wedding Singer and regularly appears in GMA-7’s Party Pilipinas.

Sheree Bautista, TV personality / singer and Magdangal’s real-life girlfriend will reprise her role as Mimi Marquez, the AIDS-afflicted dancer from the Cat Scratch Club.

Alternating with Sheree and joining the cast for the first time is singer/TV personality Ciara Sotto. Ciara recently appeared in the local theater production of Magsimula Ka! and is thrilled to be playing a role that both challenges her and puts her pole dancing skills to good use. 

 
Also returning are Fredison Lo as Mark Cohen, the nerdy filmmaker; OJ Mariano as Tom Collins, the computer genius; Job Bautista as Angel Dummott Schunard, Collins' drag queen street musician lover; Jenny Villegas as Joanne Jefferson, Maureen's public interest lawyer lover, and Lorenz Martinez as Benjamin Coffin III, a former member of the group who, after marrying a wealthy woman, has since become their greedy landlord.

Carla Guevara-Laforteza rejoins the cast as Maureen Johnson, the larger-than-life performance artist who sings “Over the Moon.” Alternating with her is newcomer Mian Dimacali who got the critic’s nod in the December 2010 run.

The rest of the ensemble is composed of Peachy Atilano, Harold Cruz, Johann dela Fuente, Pam Imperial, Gary Junsay, Anna Santamaria, Alys Serdenia, and Mark Tayag. Al Gatmaitan also joins the ensemble and will play the role of Roger in certain performances.

The artistic team of RENT is led by Director Robbie Guevara, with Jojo Malferrari as musical director – band; Onyl Torres as musical director – vocals; Choreography by Charles Stephen Thompson with additional choreography by Francis Matheu and Mara Andres of Polecats; Mio Infante as scenographer; Martin Esteva as Lighting Designer; Chuck Ledesma as sound designer; and Bek Soriano as costume stylist.

The RENT production team is composed of: Santi Santamaria, executive producer; Anna Santamaria, company manager; Toff de Venecia, Marketing & PR Director; Toots Tolentino, PR Consultant; Jonjon Martin, PR Manager; Carlos Canlas, HR Manager; Shelyn Tayanes, Marketing Manager; and Jojo Amboy as Stage Manager.

Show dates are February 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, March 4, 5 and 6. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00PM. Saturdays at 3:30PM & Sundays at 4:30PM. Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenues, Makati City.

For tickets: call (632) 557.5860, 586.7105, or +63917-5545560, or visit www.9workstheatrical.com, or call TicketWorld at (632) 891.9999.

RENT is brought to you by the following sponsors: Energizer, The Spa, Skin Dermatology and Laser Center, Jing Monis Salon, Wella Professionals, Power Mac Center, Café Mediterranean, Styles Entertainment, The Philippine Star, The Manila Bulletin, Business World, Lifestyle Network, When in Manila, Focus Media, Status Magazine, and Uno Magazine.

RENT is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) 421 West 54th Street, New York, New York 10019 Tel.: (212) 541-4684 • www.mtishows.com.

Viva La Vie Boheme!