Ask any theater or non-theater fan about the first title that comes to mind when asked to name Filipino stage productions, and Rak of Aegis is sure to come up. With a lineup of songs from OPM band Aegis’ iconic jukebox and karaoke hits, the the quintessential Filipino musical has successfully made its mark on local pop culture with captivating renditions, knee-slapping comedic gold, and a story that’s wholly Pinoy.
Its ongoing legacy has run for a whopping seven seasons, housing a cast of both veteran and newbie musical actors into the industry’s most promising show. After seven runs, and clamor from theater fans and Filipinos raring to see the musical at the comfort of their own homes, PETA has since announced to stream last season’s show for two weekends as their banner project to fundraising campaign #TakePETAbeyondCOVID. This is to support PETA’s survival amidst this lack of live shows and performance theater.
The spirit of survival is, of course, a strong theme in Rak of Aegis as well, making it the perfect headline show for the campaign, on top of it having such a successful legacy already. The story, written by Liza Magtoto and directed by PETA’s artistic director Maribel Legarda, follows the story of Aileen, a young girl with a big voice who dreams of becoming a viral YouTube sensation. She lives in the vibrant and tight-knit community of Barangay Venezia, full of personalities just trying to survive constant challenges thrown at them by unceasing floods. A scene that’s all too familiar for most Filipinos.
While the live show cast varies every season, the streaming ensemble is made up of last season’s cast, which ran until September 29, 2019. Some familiar names include Aicelle Santos as Aileen, Pepe Herrera as Tolits, Poppert Bernadas as Kenny, Isay Alvarez-Seña as Mary Jane, Robert Seña as Kiel, Joann Co as Mercy, Jimi Marquez as Jewel, and Gie Onida as Fernan, together with John Moran, Matel Patayon, Marynor Madamesila, Lemuel Silvestre, Teetin Villanueva, and Rafael Sudayan as part of the ensemble.
The show will be available for streaming on July 31-August 1, and the following weekend on August 7-8, 2021 from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Philippine Standard Time). Viewers can choose from three different streaming options: Live Stream, Video on Demand and Video on Demand Premium.
For Live Stream ticket holders, they can watch the show on the time slot of their selected date for P350. Video on Demand, meanwhile, allows viewers to watch the show from 10:00 AM to 10:00 AM the next day (Philippine Standard Time) of their selected date for P500. The Video on Demand Premium option is priced at P1,000, with the same 24-hour window for viewing, plus the added exclusive access to the Rak with Aegis Live Virtual Concert on August 8, at 8:00 PM. The concert will feature the Aegis Band, as well as some select cast performances.
Patrons are also welcome to send in donations to support PETA as an institution at https://ticket2me.net/e/33287.
Whether or not you’re a fan of theater at all, Rak of Aegis is definitely something to check out, even if it’s just through streaming. With music that we’re sure you know, and a story that is undeniably charming, now is the time to check out what the hype is all about.
Get your ticket at https://ticket2me.net/.