On Jan. 25, 1996, a new rock musical by a little- known writer, Jonathan Larson, gave its first performance. Friends and family filed into a small off-Broadway theater to see Rent. The show was a retelling of the opera La Boheme, set on the Lower East Side of New York, as people were dying of a mysterious disease known as AIDS. The show went on to become an international phenomenon, winning the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Score.
However, its amazingly talented writer would never see his show open. Early on the morning of its first preview, Jonathan Larson passed away from an unrecognized heart condition.
And so, in his honor and in honor of all the people he wrote about, Portage Northern Drama is thrilled to bring you the musical: RENT School Edition this fall.
RENT School Edition follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, (Elijah Parker) Mimi, (Grace Birko) Tom, (Michael Williams) and Angel (Vincent Brow). Mark Cohen, (Will Pierce) the show’s narrator and aspiring filmmaker, documents a year in the life of his friends as they struggle to live, love and survive with HIV. His ex-girlfriend, Maureen (Jane Tran) failed as a partner, but is trying to be a social justice advocate by doing a performance piece to protest an upcoming eviction of a homeless encampment. Her new partner, Joanne, (Ethan Steele) wonders if their relationship is worth the stress of her flirtatious nature. Meanwhile, Mark and Roger’s former roommate, Benny (Josh Cavalli) has sold out his Bohemian ideals, married rich, and is now their landlord demanding they pay the rent! How these young bohemians navigate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
RENT School Edition is exuberant, passionate and joyous. Jonathan Larson's iconic musical shaped a generation of audiences and reminds us all to measure our life in love. La Vie Boheme!
Performance dates are November 8-17, 2024 with a 7:30pm showtime on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00pm on Sundays. Tickets are onsale NOW at pndrama.ludus.com.
Note: Due to the heavy nature of this show, some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.