RENT, School Edition
Performed Entirely By Students
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements: Tim Weil
Musical Arrangements: Steve Skinner
Original Concept/Additional Lyrics: Billy Aronson
Dramaturg: Lynn Thomson
Directors: Aaron Shapiro & Tamara Drew
Assistant Directors: Kate Masiak, Mollie Alexander
Musical Direction: Robert-Eric West
Assistant Musical Directors: Aimee Radics, Dane Murphy
Set Design Team: A Shapiro, Mac Vaughey, Katy Minix, Natasha Blanchette
Technical Direction: Natasha Blanchette
Lighting Designer: Mac Vaughey
Hair & Make Up Designers: Genacelli Salon & Sandra Harper
Video Design Team: Aaron Shapiro, Karl Geweniger, Titus Fox
Costume Design Team: Robert-Eric West, Liz Wilson
RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop. School Edition specially adapted and licensed by MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL
Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer-prize winning Broadway musical based loosely on Puccini’s opera La Bohème. It follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village. AIDS and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom, and Angel; Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble; Benjamin has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends; and Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part. This adaptation has been carefully done, working with the Larson estate to retain the dramatic intent of the groundbreaking rock musical, and consists of minimal changes to language and the removal of one song (CONTACT) to make it possible for high school students to perform this piece.
Why Choose RENT School Edition?
RENT? For high school students? This initial reaction is understandable, but if you take a step back from your first impression, and look at the show again, you might come back with a different point of view. RENT School Edition tells the story of a group of young people trying to discover who they are, what they stand for, and who they can trust. They are looking for a “connection in an isolated age.” They are individuals who support each others differences, while relishing in their common ground. Mostly, however, they just want to become successful members of society by doing something they believe in. Keeping that in mind, RENT for high schools doesn’t sound so far off base. We understand the subject matter Jonathan Larson chose to address contains mature topics and can even be controversial in some communities. But RENT School Edition is not about homosexuality, it is not about AIDS and ifs not about drug use. It is about a community of people, each with their own quirks and problems, finding a way to live together. Could there be a better way to bring our own community together than by performing a show that highlights young people learning and sharing exactly what a community can be? So. Yes. RENT. For teenagers. BE prepared!
Ticket Prices: General Admission $13, Students $10
Show Dates:
December 12th @ 7pm, December 13th @ 4pm,
December 18th @ 7pm, December 19th @ 7pm
December 20th @ 4pm, December 21st @ 7pm
December 22nd @ 7pm, December 28th @ 7pm
December 29th @ 7pm, December 30th @ 7pm
December 31st @ 6pm * NEW YEARS EVE PERFORMANCE is a special sing along benefit show that will be followed by a Studio BE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY!
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Come BE with us!
