Harbor Lights' Fresh Retelling of RENT Begins Tonight

Harbor Lights' production of the landmark 1996 Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT will be helmed by award winning director Alex Perez. The production begins tonight, September 18, and runs through October 4, 2015 at The Music Hall at Snug Harbor.

Perez has a long history with show, having toured with it nationally, and having directed seven previous productions.

"When we decided we wanted to do RENT to celebrate the show's 20th year, we were clear that we didn't want a re-mounting. We did not want a carbon copy. We wanted a new vision for the show. We wanted a fresh, young, cast -- not of imitators, but of real people. We have found a superbly talented cast to bring the show to life at Harbor Lights and a director with a clear, new vision," added Ms. Jenkins.

Concerning his new vision of the show, director Alex Perez stated, "This production will have a fresh retelling - told with strong movement and dance. Jonathan Larson stated in interviews how he really wanted RENT to be the new 'MTV for Broadway'. What was imperative for MTV at the time, and was prevalent then, were music videos with strong, bold choreography and visuals. I'm treating the show as a long form music video. Telling the story through dance, and the timeless music of Jonathan Larson. It's enough to satisfy RENT fans, and to intrigue new audiences. Storytelling through movement and song. That's where we give it a fresh new look after 20 years."

Based on Puccini's La Boheme, RENT transfers Puccini's young artists to New York City's East Village and bohemian Alphabet City at the end of the millennium. RENT is a celebration of friendship, survival, and the struggle to find meaning in life. RENT's rollicking score boasts "One Song Glory," "Take Me or Leave Me," "I'll Cover You," and the now iconic pop anthem "Seasons of Love."

The cast features Travis Artz (Roger), Nick DeVito (Mark), Denzel Edmondson (Benny), Madeline B. Fansler (Joanne), Monte J. Howell (Collins), Michael J. Mainwaring (Angel), Emily Jeanne Phillips (Mimi), and Zuri Washington (Maureen.)

Filling out the cast are Philip Bolton, Hannah K. MacDonald, Nate McClure, Gavyn Pickens, Ben Rosenbach, Michael Sheehy, and Josephine Spada.

Charles Santoro is the Musical Director; Kia Rogers will handle Lighting Design, Nathaniel Butler Sound Design, Carl Tallent Set Design, and Kurt Alger the costume design. Natalie Wisniewski is Props Mistress, the Production Stage Manager is Brendan O'Brien, the Assistant Stage Manager is Chris Luner, and the Technical Director is Michael Mastromarino.

Harbor Lights is the first and only professional Equity Theater Company in Staten Island's history. Since founding Harbor Lights in 2010, Broadway veterans and Harbor Lights Founding Artistic Directors Tamara Jenkins and Jay Montgomery, have begun building a bridge from Broadway to Staten Island, bringing the nation's best to work with their community's finest. In four seasons of producing plays and musicals, Harbor Lights has presented over 75 Broadway professionals, including Tony, Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, Drama Desk, and Obie award-winning and - nominated artists, in sixteen productions at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens. Visit www.hltc.org for more information.

Photo Credit: Bittenbyazebra