Powerhouse cast for Atlantis' Rock of Ages

MANILA, Philippines - Atlantis Productions continues its 2012 season with Rock of Ages, the critically-acclaimed five-time Tony Award nominated Broadway musical, which is a hilarious, feel-good love story told through such ’80s hit anthems as I Want To Know What Love Is, Don’t Stop Believin’, We Built This City, Hit Me With Your Best Shot and Every Rose Has Its Thorn.

In the show, it is 1987 on the Sunset Strip in L.A. Drew, a young busboy, dreams of being a rock star while he works at the Strip’s most famous bar, The Bourbon Room. There, he meets Sherrie, a small-town girl who goes to L.A. to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress. They fall in love and then lose each other when the (in)famous, sexy, over-the-top rock star, Stacee Jaxx, comes into the picture. 

Giving life to these roles in Manila are three powerhouse performers. International rock sensation MiG Ayesa returns to his homeland to play Stacee, a role he played on Broadway which he creates anew for the Manila production. MiG, who is in London performing in the musical Thriller Live!, says, “It is such a great honor to bring the show to the Philippines. Playing the role of Stacee Jaxx around the US and on Broadway was an amazing experience but is nothing compared to performing it back in my home land. I am so looking forward to rocking the very foundations of Manila with Rock of Ages. It ain’t nothing but a good time, and it don’t get better than this!”

Nyoy Volante, fresh off his triumphant turn as Usnavi in In The Heights, plays Drew while Vina Morales brings the energetic song-and-dance performances she is known for to the theater for the first time as Sherrie. Their love story plays against the backdrop of the music, the wild nights and the energy of the Sunset Strip in the ’80s where we meet a bunch of very colorful characters.

The show’s wild and wacky narrator, Lonny, is played by Jett Pangan. Rock of Ages marks Jett’s 10th musical and 10th year with Atlantis Productions. He has received critical acclaim for his numerous theatrical roles in shows such as Next to Normal, Jekyll & Hyde, Dreamgirls, Urinetown, Tick, Tick…Boom!, among many others. He has become Philippine theater’s new favorite leading man and now gets the chance to bring his rock ’n roll roots on stage.

Lonny works at the Bourbon Room alongside bar owner Dennis Dupree who will be played by veteran theater actor, Jamie Wilson. Jaimie returns to the Atlantis stage where he last played the role of Benny in Rent.

Threatening to close down the Bourbon Room to turn the Strip into a “model of clean and efficient living” are father and son German developers, Hertz and Franz. Calvin Millado plays the tightly-wound tycoon Hertz following his very moving performance as Kevin in In The Heights and King Triton in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Bibo Reyes whose breakthrough performance as Sonny in Heights earned high praise from audiences continues to conquer the theater scene as Franz, the young tycoon-in-training who soon gets caught between pleasing his father and following his heart. Bibo has become one of theater’s fast-rising stars.

Passionately protesting against these developers is bohemian activist Regina played by Aiza Seguerra. Last seen as Gary Coleman in all five runs of the hit musical Avenue Q, Aiza returns to the stage as you have never seen her before.

Down the road from Bourbon Room is the Venus Club, a haven for “gentlemen,” rockstars ad every persuasion in between. The club is run by diva and wise sage, Justice Charlier. Playing the part will be Jinky Llamanzares. With an impressive international stage career that includes having played Gigi in Miss Saigon and The Acid Queen in The Who’s Tommy, Jinky was last seen on stage as the villainous Ursula in Disney’s The Little Mermaid earning a standing ovation every night for her unforgettable performance.

Rounding off Rock of Ages’ cast is a mix of champion singers and theater performers Apple Chiu, Japs Treopaldo, Mikkie Bradshaw, Berl William Angeles and Altaire Alonso.

Rock of Ages, directed by Chari Arespacochaga, runs from June 15 to July 8 at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at the RCBC Plaza, Makati. For tickets and showbuying inquires, call 892-7078 or 840-1187.