It has been revealed that young TV and film actor Ian Pangilinan and seasoned multi-hyphenate actor Markki Stroem will be part of the Philippine restaging of Jonathan Larson’s “Rent.” Ian will be playing the role of Mark Cohen (alternating with Reb Atadero) while Markki Stroem will be playing the role of Benny (alternating with Guji Lorenzana) and Tom Collins (alternating with Garrett Bolden). The local restaging of the broadway musical will be the first production of 9 Works Theatrical for 2024.
The plan to restage “Rent” was revealed last September 2023 during the curtain call of “tick, tick…BOOM!” when the cast sang an excerpt from “Seasons of Love.” Shortly after the reveal, a formal call for auditions was made.
Ian Pangilinan first came into the limelight for being one of the stars of Juan Miguel Severo’s BL series “Gaya Sa Pelikula.” He was also in shows such as “Niña Niño,” “Love In 40 Days,” “K-Love,” and “Love Bites Season 2.” He debuted on the silver screen when he became a part of the cast of “Family Matters” for the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Markki Stroem notably joined the international touring cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” for the Manila leg last year, playing the role of Rolf. He was one of only two Filipino actors who got the rare opportunity to join the cast, the other one being fellow theater veteran Karylle Tatlonghari.
9 Works Theatrical will be making more announcements soon.
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