As a young boy growing up in the Philippines Jeremy Rafal had few links to the wider world – until his dad bought a TV and he discovered cartoons.
With no mobiles, home computers, Internet or social media, in a place with little in live entertainment and where even telephones were rare this was something truly amazing.
Jeremy adored them all – Bugs Bunny, The Smurfs, ThunderCats, He-Man. But it wasn’t just their adventures which caught his imagination, it was the music.
As a result he learned the piano, becoming ever-more passionate after the family moved to Hawaii, and eventually earning a place on one of the world’s most prestigious classical piano programmes, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.
But life has been far from straightforward. Aged 10 Jeremy was left devastated by the death of his brother in an accident.
The Boy From Bantay is a solo show with music (and cartoons) which follows Jeremy’s life, its successes and struggles and introduces some of the people who have influenced him along the way.
He said: “Watching cartoons was a huge part of my childhood and that has led me to become a concert pianist. Come to the show and you’ll meet some quirky characters like my family, piano teachers, friends, and some interesting ones in between.
“This story may be unique to me, but there is something for everybody.
“If you were once a kid, you’ll relate to this show. If you had struggles growing up, there’s something for you. And if you like music, nostalgia, comedy, or anything else in between, you will love this show.”
The Boy From Bantay premiered at the New York Fringe where Playbill named it as one of six unmissable solo shows. Theatre Made Easy described it as “a delightful and lively journey into the life of a brightly smiling and greatly talented artist,” and Inquirer.Net called it “a heartwarming autobiographical journey of growth and self-discovery.”
Jeremy has performed around the U.S. and abroad, collaborated with many artists and, most recently, composed an opera called Standing Above Pajaro inspired by the Watsonville riots in the 1930s against Filipino migrant workers.
Born in the Philippines, raised in Hawaii, and now a New York City-based artist as an actor, musician, writer, director, and educator, he was last seen on stage in Heart Strings (The Atlantic Theater), Maple & Vine (Constellation Stage and Screen), Machinal (The Mechanicals), The King & I (Interlakes Theatre), Richard III and King John (American Theatre of Actors).
As a pianist, he has performed around the US and abroad including Japan, Russia, the Philippines, Italy, and Taiwan. He earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance from CCM in Cincinnati and a Doctor of Music degree from Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He is excited to bring The Boy from Bantay to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe August 1 to 16 after its premiere in FringeNYC July 22 to 24.
The production is supported by Leviathan Lab and Pace University and Sands College of Performing Arts. Visit the www.theboyfrombantay.com
