Theo Ubique's RENT to Extend Through Mid-May After All

After having to cancel its extension of Jonathan Larson's musical RENT just days after it was announced, an extension is now back on, according to the Theo Ubique's Artistic Director Fred Anzevino.

Permission to perform the musical beyond the original May 1 closing was initially denied by the musical's licensing agency, Music Theatre International (MTI), as performance rights had been restricted due to an upcoming national tour. After the extension's cancellation was reported in news media the afternoon of Monday, March 28, a spirited online discussion protesting the decision ensued and was noted by an employee of RENT's ranking rights-holder Kevin McCollum. Within hours, McCollum reached out directly to Anzevino by phone and offered to grant an exception to the restrictions. The show will now run through May 15.

The insider advocating for Theo Ubique was Lucas McMahon, who is an associate producer at McCollum's production company and was a Northwestern University classmate of the Theo Ubique production's director Scott Weinstein. After McCollum's call with Anzevino, McCollum personally called Drew Cohen, President of MTI, to authorize the additional performances the company had requested.

Anzevino says McCollum's call was "very personal and warm. We are thrilled and grateful to Mr. McCollum, Mr. McMahon and Mr. Cohen for their kindness in making an extension possible."

The company held off making a public announcement about the change of events until contracts could be signed and availability of the cast and musicians could be reconfirmed. As it turned out, some of the performers had in fact made new commitments in the interim and as a result, the company will be able to extend for just two weeks. Tickets for the extension are now on sale at www.theo-u.org and by phone at 800.595.4849.

According to TheatreinChicago.com, RENT is currently the most lauded show on Chicago stages at the moment - earning the highest ratings possible from 15 of 15 critics. The rock-infused score by Jonathan Larson is performed in the intimate No Exit Café; a venue with more than a slight resemblance to the Life Café, the musical's setting for its first act finale.

This legendary musical ran on Broadway for over eight years and 5,123 performances, making it the 10th-longest running Broadway musical of all time. Its off-Broadway production ran at New York Theatre Workshop from January 26 to March 31, 1996, and it opened on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on April 29 of that year.

Performance days of the week and times and ticket prices for the extension are the same as for the originally announced regular run. Performances Thursdays at 7:30 pm are $39, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm are $44, and Sundays at 7 pm are $39. There is a $5.00 discount for seniors and students. Dinner is available for an additional $25.00 per person and must be ordered in advance. Tickets are currently on sale at www.theo-u.org.

Theo Ubique was founded in 1997 by artistic director Fred Anzevino. Productions were first staged at the Heartland Studio Theatre, and then in 2004, at No Exit Café, where the company began focusing on musicals and revues, reigniting the cabaret theatre trend in Chicago. Since then, Theo Ubique has produced more than 50 shows and received more than 40 Jeff Awards, having received more than 100 nominations. It has also received three After Dark Awards.

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