'Rak of Aegis' is back: Here's a reason to go watch it again

June 20 - Sep 2! #RakOfAegis Season 6!!! pic.twitter.com/R2TJMJyjdv

— PETA (@petatheater) May 22, 2018

When "Rak of Aegis" returns later this year for its sixth run, no doubt that the question on everybody's mind is, "What's new?"

Sure, there's going to be those who haven't seen it yet, but fans who fell in love with its music -- a fusion of popular Aegis karaoke favorites and classic theatrical numbers -- the first time around will surely consider a repeat viewing.

So for them, will it be worth it?

The musical's director, Maribel Legarda, was made to address such questions during a press conference held Tuesday night at the PETA Theater in Quezon City.

Heto na, mga ka-barangay! Direk Maribel in da haus! #RakOfAegis pic.twitter.com/ziUcqlPmxZ

— PETA (@petatheater) May 22, 2018

And her answer was simple: it's all about the cast.

She's confident that the intriguing mix of fresh faces and theater veterans such as Robert Seña and Kim Molina, who will be reprising her lead role as Aileen, will be enough to fill the seats.

"It's the same," she bluntly admitted of this year's run, before adding: "What's going to change is we have new actors with us... That's where you're going to see iyong iba't-ibang flavors."

The new "flavors" will mostly come from its alternates, some of which consider themselves professional production newbies. They were picked through a nationwide talent search.

One of them is Princess Vire, who bagged the coveted role of Molina's alternate. Very much like Aileen in the musical, she's devoted to her dream of becoming a star to help her family.

Her profile is listed with her achievements, chief among is a successful stint at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, which is a competition designed to give aspiring artists some much-needed experience.

She also joined "Tawag ng Tanghalan" -- although she failed to make a mark -- and that she's signed into a rather obscure record label, BIGO Live Philippines.

It's crystal clear that scoring a role in "Rak of Aegis" is her biggest break yet, so it's no wonder she broke down in tears when she spoke of her similarities with the character she will portray.

"Katulad po ni Aileen, may times na hopeless ako. Kung kaya ko ba? Kaya ko bang mag-fit in or kaya ko bang abutin iyong pangarap ko?" she shared while trying to fight back tears.

"Nung nakuha ko po iyong 'Rak of Aegis,' nandoon po ako sa point na, 'Nandiyan na iyan. ito na iyong pangarap mo. Kailangan gawin mo iyong best mo kasi matagal mo nang gusto itong maabot."

Her contemporaries are no different in that they are looking to make up for their relative inexperience with their eagerness to learn from their veteran counterparts.

There's the other Aileen alternate Shaira Ospinar, described primarily as a former "The Voice of the Philippines" hopeful. The new Tolits, Kent Pontivedra, has only worked in a single play prior to this one.

The youngest addition, 22-year-old Crystal Paras, admitted that her last theater production was in 2010.

Though some may view this unripe pool of talent as a weakness, Legarda and her team see it as a chance for authenticity -- one of the apparent "flavors" that they hope will alleviate worries that the sheen of the hit musical is beginning to dull.

Scriptwriter Liza Magtoto summed up the appeal of this year's new run perfectly when she said: "It's like watching somebody's dream come true onstage again."

The sixth season of "Rak of Aegis" will run from June 20 to September 2.

Below is the full list of this year's cast:

Aileen: Kim Molina, Shaira Opsimar, Princess Vire

Mary Jane: Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, Carla Guevara-Lafortreza, Isay Alvarez-Seña, Sweet Plantado-Tiongson

Kiel: OJ Mariano, Lorenz Martinez, Robert Seña, Renz Verrano

Mercy: Kakai Bautista, Joann Co, Neomi Gonzales

Kenny: Poppert Bernadas, Vince Lim, Myke Salomon, Remus Villanueva

Tolits: Joshua Bulot, Pepe Herrera, Jerald Napoles, Kent Pontivedra

Jewel: Ron Alfonso, Jimmy Marquez, Phi Palmos, Adrian Lindayag

Fernan: Juliene Mendoza, Gie Onida, Rody Vera

Ensemble: Gimbey dela Cruz, Marielle Mamaclay, Gab Pangilinan, Crystal Paras, Matel Patayon, Abi Sulit, Teetin Vilanueva, Gold Villar-Lim, Gil Aguedan, Roi Calilong, Gio Gahol, Carlon Matobato, John Moran, Paeng Sudayan, Adrian Lindayag