INFORMATION FOR
Music students at William Paterson University in Wayne will present RENT: School Edition, an adaptation of the groundbreaking rock musical, for three performances in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus from April 17 to 19.
Based loosely on Puccini's La bohème, 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. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves, and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Jonathan Larson's iconic musical shaped a generation and has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
William Paterson’s production features an all-student cast. The cast includes: Zana Allajbegu, El Barba, Timothy Barral, Grace Cascio, Damian Castañeda-Chamberlain, Ezekiel Frasier, Koushani Gupta, Rowen Hackett, Mint Hermann, Virginia Lackey, Payton Marx, Carlos Navarro, Derek Sandoval, Joseph Villalona, and Leah Yates
RENT: School Edition is presented through a special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com 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.
Christopher Dylan Herbert, vocal area coordinator and associate professor of music, serves as producer, with Rebecca Jo Loeb as stage director, Hannah Comia as musical director, Koushani Gupta as assistant director, Lou Hamel as production stage manager, and Emily Wynne as assistant stage manager.
Performances will be presented on April 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m., and April 19 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $28 for the general public and $13 for students and members of the WP community. For tickets, visit wp-presents.org, or contact the box office at 973.720.2371 or boxoffice@wpunj.edu.
