Thea Astley, Kai Banson, Molly Langley, and Misha Fabian, all newcomers to the professional musical theater scene, shared their experiences preparing for the highly anticipated musical ‘Rent’ on March 12.
Langley, a seasoned singer with seven years of experience on a Caribbean cruise ship, expressed excitement and the challenge of portraying her character Mimi’s complexities.
“She has vices that I wouldn’t be able to understand coz’ I personally don’t have vices like that. So trying to understand being hooked on something like that [and] trying to bring it to my own experience of what I have been hooked on,” she shared during the show’s roundtable at the Mirror Theater Studio in Makati City.
Langley also initially felt intimidated by Astley after learning of her fame. However, the intimidation turned into joy as they learned from each other.
“We are just learning from each other. I watch her, I see her, you know, make a choice. It might be different from mine, but it also tells me, ‘Oh! Actually, I didn’t think of that, did I?’ So it was very insightful and I really like working with Thea.”
Astley, known for her work with GMA, is also making her debut as an alter for Mimi. Being her first role as a musical actress, she felt nervous and overwhelmed. Luckily, her cast members were all welcoming and “so ready to help.”
Meanwhile, Fabian, a former figure skater who started singing professionally in 2023, finds the experience transformative.
“I wanted to perform, tell other people’s stories, and let them know that they are not alone,” she said.
Despite being “tested” as Ally, the Filipina ice skater’s experience has helped her grow as a musical actress.
Banson, portraying Alexi Darling, came from a corporate background. She found immense joy in theater after leaving her corporate career behind.
“I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel like every day I go to rehearsals, my cup just overflows. Versus corporate, it’s like draining when I get back home,” she expressed. “I’m so excited every day, and I don’t know, it’s just such a joy to be in this specific production as my first theater production.”
These newcomers are supported by seasoned musical actors Anthony Rosaldo, Guji Lorenzana, Reb Atadero, Justine Peña, Jasmine Fitzgerald, Garrett Bolden, Adrian Lindayag, Lance Reblando, Mica Fajardo, Fay Castro, Ian Pangilinan, and Markki Stroem.
9 Works Theatrical will perform the award-winning ‘Rent’ from April until June at the RCBC Plaza, Makati. Tickets start at P2,000.
