TOPBILLED by international musical star Ima Castro, Summit Theatre Productions’ staging of the hit Jonathan Larson musical “Rent” goes onstage this Feb. 21 and 22 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium, Silliman University, Dumaguete City.
Miren Sofia Jordana Fernando directs this musical, which talks about a group of New Yorkers struggling with their careers, love lives and friendships, and the effects of the AIDS epidemic on their community.
“Part of the objective of this staging is to give people in the Visayas a chance to enjoy and be exposed in musicals,” says director Miren, who is based in Cebu. “I have gathered some of the most generous, talented cast and artistic team from all over the globe to make this production truly memorable.”
Aside from West End star Ima, this staging also features actors plucked from different parts of the globe: Manila’s Gino Ramirez, Karenina Ng; Cebu’s Eli Razo, E.G. Arganza and Jed Alerta; Dumaguete’s Earnest Hope Tinambacan, Jessa Cabading; and Guam’s Stephen John Ramirez and Bennett Spence.
Joining Miren in the Artistic team are multi-awarded set designer Faust Peneyra, New York City-based costume designer Shirlee Idzakovich, and artistic consultant Jojo Urquico, a German/Filipino actor who played Thuy in “Miss Saigon” in Germany and has been performing for more than 20 years, and is now also Artistic Director of World Theater Productions Guam.
“I am extremely excited to be doing ‘Rent’ with such talented people from everywhere,” said Ima. “This will certainly be a memorable show. I really hope people in the region will come and watch.”
Proceeds for this show will go to Saint Martin de Porres Special School under Special Child Association Foundation Inc., a non-profit, non-sectarian school located in Tres de Abril St., Labangon, Cebu City, meeting the needs of children and young adults with special needs. (PR)