La Vie Bohème Rent is here

Seasons of Love finally arrives at the heart of Manila, as 9 Works Theatrical brings Rent The Musical to the Philippines with our very own local artists and production group. Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson play based from Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème, some part of the story we're updated including the characters, Rent won Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Musical. The story is set at New York City's gritty East Village during the height of liberalism where every one struggle in order to live and united by the death of a friend.

I am a fan of Rent since I saw the Broadway performance thank God for Youtube and Limewire and the movie version produced by Chris Columbus and Robert De Niro and distributed by Columbia Pictures last 2005. I fell in love with some characters and their part in the story; Mimi, am exotic dancer and an HIV positive at the 14th street that fell in love with Roger a songwriter who is an HIV positive too. Marc, an independent film director who dreams to be create his own movie and ends up creating a flick where himself became the artist of his film with his friends. Maureen is a bisexual performing artist who has a conflict with his former roommate Benny, and currently in a relationship with Joanne, Maureen’s lawyer. And every one's favorite Angel, a drag queen percussionist who has AIDS and struggle to survive in order to live and found love with Tom, a gay philosophy professor and anarchist who is also has AIDS.

Here is the complete list of characters of Rent:

• Mimi Márquez, an exotic dancer with HIV
• Roger Davis, a songwriter who is HIV positive
• Mark Cohen, an independent filmmaker and Roger's roommate
• Maureen Johnson, a bisexual performance artist
• Angel Dumott Schunard, a gay drag queen percussionist with AIDS
• Tom Collins, a gay philosophy professor and anarchist with AIDS
• Joanne Jefferson, a lawyer, who is Maureen's partner.
• Benjamin 'Benny' Coffin III, the local landlord and a former roommate of Roger, Mark, Collins, and Maureen

I am excited to see how Philippine version perform with my five favorite songs from the play: Light up my Candle, Today for U, No day but today, I'll Cover You and One Song Glory, of course everyone loves La Vie Bohème and Seasons of Love it will be everyone's last song syndrome once they saw the play. And last December 15, 9 Works Theatrical gives their media friends and supporters a sneak peek of their rehearsals at the Rockwell Dance Studio 1 at the Rockwell Club in Makati City.

The cast of RENT includes Gian Magdangal as Roger Davis, a songwriter who is HIV positive; Fredison Lo as Mark Cohen, an independent filmmaker and Roger's roommate and Nicole Asensio as Mimi Márquez, an exotic dancer with HIV.

The cast also features OJ Mariano as Tom Collins, a gay philosophy professor and anarchist with AIDS; Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Maureen Johnson, a bisexual performance artist; Noel Rayos as Benjamin 'Benny' Coffin III, the local landlord and a former room mate of Roger, Mark, Collins, and Maureen; Job Bautista as Angel Dumott Schunard, a gay drag queen percussionist with AIDS; Jenny Villegas as Joanne Jefferson, a lawyer, who is Maureen's partner; and Cara Barredo, as Mimi Marquez (at certain performances).

Ensemble members include Ring Antonio, Peachy Atilano, Johann Dela Fuente, Harold Cruz, Gary Junsay, Raul Montesa, Anna Santamaria and Mark Tayag.

The RENT production team is composed of Executive Producer Santi Santamaria, Director Robbie Guevara, Production Manager Weng Lopez, Musical Director Ceejay Javier, Vocal Coach Onyl Torres, Vocal Consultant Lionel Guico, Scenographer Mio Infante, Lighting Designer Martin Esteva, Sound Designer Rards Corpuz, PR / Publicity Director Toots O. Tolentino, PR Manager Jonjon Martin, Cast Photography by Jojit Lorenzo, Production Photography by Sandee Guevara, Marketing Manager Shelyn Tayanes, and Stage Manager Jojo Amboy.

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

Rent will be shown on February 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 ( Fridays at 8:00PM and Saturdays at 3:30PM and 8:00PM & Sundays at 4:30PM and 8:00PM) at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati for ticket reservations call 557.58.60 or TicketWorld at 891.9999 or visit or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or www.9workstheatrical.com