The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) opens its 48th season with the return of crowd favorite and hit comedy musical Rak of Aegis. The play runs from June 17 to August 16 from Tuesdays to Fridays (8PM) and Saturdays to Sundays (3:00PM and 8:00PM) at the PETA Theater Center located at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.
This comedy musical has hit a record-breaking 135 shows in the first year of its showing alone, a milestone for the theater company and indeed, for Philippine theater. In 2014 alone it has garnered over 16 citations for performance and technical categories including Outstanding Original Musical, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical, Stage Direction for a Musical (Maribel Legarda), Original Libretto (Liza Magtoto), Musical Direction (Myke Salomon), Choreography (Gio Gahol), Costume Design (Carlo Pagunaling), Sound Design (Salomon and Happy Constantino), Set Design (Mio Infante), Female Lead Performance in a Musical (Aicelle Santos and Joan Bugcat), Female Featured Performance in a Musical (Kalila Aguilos) and Male Featured Performance in a Musical (Myke Salomon, Pepe Herrera, Jerald Napoles and Julienne Mendoza)
Breakout Kapuso star Aicelle Santos, and 2009 WCOPA Champion Kim Molina come back as Aileen; the promodizer with big dreams to raise her family from the knee-deep floods that have plagued their town for months. This all-Filipino, all-original musical features songs from the iconic band Aegis, with a star-studded ensemble on an award-winning set.
The cast of Rak has also enjoyed several new projects in between runs: Poppert Bernadas who plays Aileen’s suitor Kenny was recently seen in The Voice Philippines, while Pepe Herrera (Tolits) enjoys a stint in the romcom TV series, Forevermore. Singer Kim Molina also breaks into the theater scene with production after production, most recently in the upcoming Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady by Dalanghita Productions.
This run also welcomes many new neighbors to Barangay Venizia. Actor and singer Lorenz Martinez plays Aileen’s father Kiel, opposite Lani Ligot (Priscilla Queen of the Dessert; Broad Way, Narrow Way) who plays Mercy, Aileen’s mother; The Company’s Sweet Plantado also joins the cast as Mary Jane while dancer Benj Manalo plays the show’s heartthrob and Aileen’s love interest, Tolits. The ensemble is joined by PETA artist-teacher Roi Calilong (D’ Wonder Twins of Boac, PAMANA), Raflesia Bravo (Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady), Via Antonio (Zsa Zsa Zaturnah, Si Juan Tamad ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto) and Teetin Villanueva (MANHID, Maxie the Musical).
The cast also sees the return of lead and ensemble members made up of Aicelle Santos (Aileen), OJ Mariano (Kiel), Stella Mendoza and Kalila Aguilos (Mary Jane), Kakai Bautista and Neomi Gonzales (Mercy), Jerald Napoles (Tolits), Myke Salomon (Kenny), Nor Domingo, Julienne Mendoza, and Gie Onida (Fernan), Phi Palmos, Ron Alfonso, and Jimmy Marquez (Jewel), Gimbey dela Cruz, Abi Sulit, Gab Pangilinan, Jet Barrun, Gio Gahol, Carlon Matobato, John Moran, and Paeng Sudayan (Ensemble).
Tickets are available via www.ticketworld.com.ph (+632 8919999). For more information, contact PETA at (+632) 7256244 or (+63) 9175765400, email petatheater@gmail.com, or visit www.petatheater.com.