Theatre Arts

The season concludes with the iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning RENT. Based loosely on Puccini's La Bohème, RENT follows a year in the life of a group of young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. RENT is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. This play contains mature themes and language. Dana Cavada (Mimi Marquez) says: “This show isn’t only important to the theatre community, but also to the world today. It covers a lot of important topics to relate to people in many different ways.” Lucas Fawer (Roger Davis) says: “Although over thirty years old, the content remains strikingly relevant to our present moment. Larson’s message of love and protest now rings through the voices of our ensemble.” Ashley Chavez (Ensemble) says: “People should come see RENT because in times like these we need love, community, and solidarity, and that is what RENT is all about. When you’re in our audience, you’re in a space where you belong and are celebrated for being who you are.”

Book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, original concept and additional lyrics by Billy Aronson, directed by Jake Keller and assistant directed and dramaturged by Ryan Castiglia for the Student Storefront Series, the musical runs April 23-26 in Pfeiffer Hall Auditorium.

The production is stage managed by Beatrice Harbaugh, and assistant stage managed by Caitlyn Stech. The company includes Daniel Sarmiento, Lucas Fawer, Brandon Luna, Isaac Iga, Autumn Dunn, Kenny Miller, Dana Cavada, Lily Barger, Riley Knoop, Luke Gordon, Christina Raz, Marisa Blomberg, Isabella Creech, Mariella Santoro, Suzy Summers, Bella Hallberg, and Ashley Chavez. With scenic design by Zach Johnson and Eric Lanclos, costume design by Morgan Kenneavy, assistant costume design by Marina Jòkanović, lighting design by Aidan McGuire, assistant lighting design by Momoka Hirano, sound design by Casey Bretz, props design by Noora Kassem, assistant prop design by Nick Ilo, hair and makeup design by El Bianchi, assistant hair and makeup design by Elmeka Elme, and violence and intimacy choreography and Storefront Series theatrical intimacy consulting by Sheryl Williams. Light board operator Sofia Raices, sound board engineer Gaby Sorrentino, deck lead Olivia Roth, hair/make-up lead Mikayla Moore, wardrobe lead Gabrielle Kaprak, and spot operator Marcus Fawer. Production staff includes Mitzi Smith as faculty advisor and production manager, Zach Johnson as technical director, Jake Stake as scene shop supervisor, Jon Rippe as interim department production manager, and Ruby Lowe as student design/tech mentor. Social Media Team: Carleanne Cagampang, Isabella Hallberg, Jake Keller, Aidan McGuire, Kayla Norris, Sofia Raices. Social Media Coordinator: Mitzi Smith. Fine Arts and Box Office Staff: Jennifer Berosek, Andrew Butler, Allison Carter, Chris Drennan, Jennifer Holloway, Colin Trevor. Paint Crew: Eris Lanclos, Liz French, Catherine Houck, Madeline Cuttle. Poster and Program Development: Alexander Stoner, Veronica Regelbrugge, and Blyth Wallace.

During the production weekend, there will also be an art gallery in the upper lobby of Pfeiffer Hall, titled “Love Against Oppression” in collaboration with NCC Galleries, and a display of parts of the AIDS quilt from the National AIDS Memorial Foundation, in collaboration with NCC Engaged and the Center for Social Impact.

RENT runs:

Thurs April 23, Fri April 24, Sat April 25 at 7:30pm

Sat April 25 and Sun April 26 at 2pm

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/show.

Pricing: $14, free for NCC students, faculty, and staff with ID.