Manila’s Essential Guide to Rent The Musical

(ANNOUNCEMENT: Congratulations to Edward Capacillo for winning the What’s your favorite Rent Song and Why? contest, and to Silver Surfer for winning the Your “La Vie Boheme” Moment contest! Please email or text me to claim your prize before January 31, 2009)

Seasons of LOVE, Another Day and Finale by Manila Rent Cast 2010!

Here is everything you need to know about Rent The Musical with the 2010 Cast:

SYNOPSIS OF RENT

ACT  I

MARK, a filmmaker and the show’s
narrator, is spending a cold Christmas Eve in the Lower East Side industrial
loft he shares with his roommate Roger, a musician. They receive several phone
calls (TUNE UP/VOICE MAIL #1). The first is from Mark’s mother consoling him
over the loss of his girlfriend Maureen, a performance artist, to JoAnne, a
Harvard Law School graduate. The second is from their friend Tom Collins who is
detained by muggers. The last is from their landlord Benny demanding the rent.
The power blows and so do Roger and Mark’s tops (RENT).

Outside, Collins is reeling from
the mugging. He is comforted by Angel, a street musician, who offers him a
helping hand (YOU OKAY HONEY?). Both HIV+, Angel and Collins head out for a
night on the town and a life support meeting.

In response to a call for help,
Mark sets out for the lot where Maureen is performing a protest against Benny’s
eviction of the homeless from a nearby lot. He urges Roger to come along but he
refuses. As Mark reports, Roger has not left the apartment in six months. He is
still reeling from the suicide of his girlfriend, who slashed her wrists upon learning that she had AIDS. Roger tries to write a song but the only melody he finds is “Musetta’s Waltz” from Puccini’s La Bohème (ONE SONG GLORY). 

Mimi, an S&M dancer who
lives below Mark and Roger, knocks with a request: LIGHT MY CANDLE. The
attraction between she and Roger is immediate, but Roger shies away and shows
her the door. Mimi knocks again. She has lost her stash. Roger helps her look
and Mimi eventually finds it- in Roger’s back pocket.

As Joanne wrangles with the
sound equipment for Maureen’s performance, her parents leave her VOICE MAIL #2,
pleading with her to come to her mother’s confirmation hearings in Washington.
Collins arrives at the loft with a bag full of goodies. This includes Angel,
transvested into Angel Dumott Shunard and gloriously arrayed in his Christmas
finest- wig, glitter, and platform pumps. In TODAY 4 U, Angel explains how he
earned $1,000: a wealthy woman hired him to play the drums until her neighbor’s
yappy Akita barked itself to death.

Benny enters with a proposal
(YOU’LL SEE): if Mark and Roger stop Maureen’s protest, he will forgo the rent.
He entices them with plans for Cyber Arts, a state-of-the-art, multimedia
studio that will realize all of their dreams. Unsuccessful, Benny leaves. Mark,
Collins and Angel try to coax Roger into coming to the life support meeting
with them but he refuses.

Mark finally reaches the lot
where Maureen will perform her protest. He encounters Joanne, still struggling
with the sound equipment and the many demands Maureen makes upon her. Mark
offers help. Though they dreaded meeting, they have a lot in common (TANGO:
MAUREEN). Once he finishes, Mark joins Angel and Collins at the LIFE SUPPORT
meeting.

In her apartment, Mimi dresses
and appeals to an imaginary Roger to take her OUT TONIGHT. She barges into his
apartment and continues her appeal to Roger himself but after a passionate kiss
he vehemently rejects her. They fight, her words blending with the affirmation
of the support group that emphasizes the importance of living the moment
(ANOTHER DAY). A young man from the support group asks quietly “Will I
lose my dignity/Will someone care?” (WILL I?). His thoughts and fears are
echoed by each member of the community. The thoughts are Roger’s too, and he
decides to go outside.

After the meeting, Mark, Angel
and Collins roam the lot and rescue a homeless woman from the taunts and
nightsticks of the neighborhood cops (ON THE STREET). Discouraged by life in
New York, the three dream of opening up a restaurant in SANTA FE. Alone at
last, Angel and Collins finally express their love for each other (I’LL COVER
YOU). Joanne, meanwhile has her hands full juggling work, parents, and the
ever-demanding Maureen…all over the phone(WE’RE OKAY).

The scene changes to St. Mark’s
Place where vendors hawk their wares to the bohemians of the East Village
(CHRISTMAS BELLS). Angel buys a new coat for Collins. Mark finds Roger who
spots Mimi looking for drugs. Roger apologizes and asks her to dinner. Just as
the snow begins to fall, Maureen finally appears on her motorcycle to perform
her protest, OVER THE MOON.

Following the protest, all
convene at the Life Café, including Benny who announces that Bohemia is dead.
Thus ensues a makeshift mock-wake that quickly segues into a celebration of LA
VIE BOHEME. During the song, Benny confronts Mimi and threatens to reveal their
past affair to Roger. Beepers go off to remind the revelers to take their AZT.
Roger and Mimi each discover that the other is HIV+. Frightened, excited, they
vow to be together (I SHOULD TELL YOU).

Joanne has been sent back to the
lot by Maureen several times to check on the equipment. She finally rebels,
telling Maureen that their relationship is over and announcing a riot in the
lot: Benny has padlocked the building and called the cops but the homeless are
standing their ground. And mooing. The artists rejoice, the riot continues, and
Roger and Mimi share a small, lovely kiss.

ACT II

The second act begins with the
company posing the question, “How do you measure a year in the life?”
(SEASONS OF LOVE). It is one week later, New Year’s Eve, and Mark, Roger, Mimi,
Maureen, Joanne, Angel and Collins are having a breaking-back-into-the-building
party (HAPPY NEW YEAR). Once inside, Mark listens to one more phone message
from his mother in Scarsdale as well as one from Alexi Darling, a tabloid TV
producer salivating over his footage of the riot (VOICE MAIL #3). Benny crashes
the party, angering Roger and alienating Roger from Mimi. Dejected, Mimi
wanders outside and into the welcoming arms of her drug dealer.

Mark fastforwards to Valentine’s
Day. Roger and Mimi are still together. Angel and Collins could be anywhere.
Maureen and Joanne are still rehearsing another show, but it is not going well
(TAKE ME OR LEAVE ME).

The company reprises SEASONS OF
LOVE and time marches forward again, to spring. Roger and Mimi have a fight and
Roger walks out. Alone, Mimi reflects on what life would be like without Roger
(WITHOUT YOU). At the same time, Collins nurses a sick Angel; Maureen and
Joanne reconcile; as do Mimi and Roger.

At the end of the summer, Alexi
is still courting Mark for her TV show (VOICE MAIL #4). Roger and Mimi,
unsatisfied by love’s complications, break up, as do Maureen and Joanne Angel
dies (CONTACT). At a memorial service, his friends remember his spirit. Collins
remembers his love (I’LL COVER YOU: REPRISE).

Outside the church, Mark phones
Alexi to accept the job. Mark ponders how life has changed since last year as
he recalls the joys of that one night last Christmas (HALLOWEEN). As the
mourners leave the church, Mimi confirms that Roger has sold his guitar and is
leaving town. Roger confirms that Mimi is now with Benny. A fight erupts among
Roger, Mimi, Maureen, Benny, and Joanne Collins interrupts them with the
sorrowful reality that the family is breaking up. Joanne and Maureen reunite.
Mimi and Benny leave.

Mark tries to convince Roger to stay
in New York and face his pain and the fact that Mimi is very sick. Roger
attacks Mark, accusing him of hiding from his feelings. Mimi enters, having
overheard the entire angry exchange, and bids Roger farewell (GOODBYE, LOVE).
Roger leaves town. Mimi turns to Mark for help. Benny offers one helping hand
to Mimi and extends the other to Collins to help him pay Angel’s funeral
expenses. Mimi refuses the help and flees. Collins accepts and he and Benny go
out for a drink.

Mark considers the events and faces
the last year, as does Roger, who is on his way to Santa Fe. Roger begins to
discover his own song and Mark turns down the television job to finish his own
film (WHAT YOU OWN).

Roger’s mom, Mark’s mom, Mimi’s
mom, and JoAnne’s father all wonder where their children are (VOICE MAIL #5).
Back at the loft, Mark tells us again it’s Christmas and he now has a rough
version of his film, which he’s going to show tonight. Roger has returned, has
written his song, but cannot find Mimi. Collins enters with money he has gotten
from an ATM rewired to give money to anyone with a special code. The password?
Angel.

Maureen and Joanne suddenly
arrive holding Mimi, whom they found collapsed and near death in the park.
Roger begs her not to die and sings for her the song it has taken him all year
to write, YOUR EYES. Mimi dies as Roger wails her name over a blast of
Puccini’s music. Suddenly Mimi awakens, it seems that a guardian Angel was
watching over her.

The company joins in a reprise
of the affirmation that love is all and that there is “no day but
today” (FINALE).

RENT: THE CHARACTERS

•    Fredison Lo as Mark Cohen, a struggling documentary filmmaker, the narrator of the show. He is Roger and Collins’s roommate until Collins moves out; he is also Maureen’s ex-boyfriend.

•    Gian Magdangal as Roger Davis , a once successful, but now, struggling musician. He hopes to write one last meaningful song in his lifetime. He is Mark’s roommate.

•    OJ Mariano as Tom Collins, a computer genius and a teacher; vagabond anarchist. He was formerly a roommate of Roger and Mark.

•    Noel Rayos as Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III, Landlord of Mark, Roger and Mimi’s apartment building and ex-roommate of Mark, Collins, Roger, and Maureen. Now married to Alison Grey of the Westport Greys and is considered a yuppie sell-out by his ex-roommates.

 

•    Jenny Villegas as Joanne Jefferson, an Ivy League-educated public interest lawyer. Joanne has very important parents (one is undergoing confirmation to be a judge, the other is a political figure).

 

• Job Bautista as Angel Dumott Schunard, a drag queen, street percussionist.

•    Nicole Asensio as Mimi Márquez, Roger’s love interest. She lives downstairs from Mark and Roger.

 

•   Cara Barredo as Mimi Márquez (alternate), Roger’s love interest. She lives downstairs from Mark and Roger.

•    Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Maureen Johnson, a performance artist; Mark’s ex-girlfriend, and Joanne’s current girlfriend.

Ensemble members include Ring Antonio, 

Peachy Atilano, 

Johann Dela Fuente, 

Harold Cruz, 

Gary Junsay, 

Raul Montesa, 

Anna Santamaria 

and Mark Tayag.

RENT Production Team

Robbie Guevara directs RENT .

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 Engineer Rards Corpuz, Sound Designer Chuck Ledesma, PR / Publicity Director Toots O. Tolentino, PR Manager Jonjon Martin, Marketing Manager Shelyn Tayanes, and Stage Manager Jojo Amboy. Cast Photography by Jojit Lorenzo and Production Photography by Sundee Guevara.

‘ RENT ’ THE MUSICAL

Show dates are February 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00PM (New York Time)
Saturdays at 3:30PM & Sundays at 4:30PM
Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza
Ayala Corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenues, Makati City 1200

For RENT Musical tickets: 
Buy from showbuyers to maximize their profits. Here is the complete list of Rent Show Dates and Buyers List. (For the Feb. 6 8pm Saturday show, we only have the last 8 tickets — Orch Sides H1, J1, Loge Center MA22, MB22, Balcony BC 1-3, BC22.)

For other show dates, please call 9 Works Theatrical at +632 557.58.60 or visit www.9workstheatrical.com or call TicketWorld at +632 891.9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Live an Awesome Life, 

 

Anton Diaz
Founder and Digital Publisher 
www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

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P.S. For RENT Show Buyers, you can use the content, photos and videos in this blog post to promote your own show 🙂 Free free to use them.