David Cromer Directs ATC and About Face Co-production of RENT, Now thru 6/17

American Theater Company (ATC), together with About Face Theatre, presents a co-production of Jonathan Larson's Rent, directed by David Cromer. Rent will run tonight, April 27, 2012 – June 17, 2012 at ATC, 1909 W. Byron. The press openings are Sunday, May 6, 2012 and Monday, May 7, 2012 at 7 pm.

East Village. 1990. American Theater Company teams up with About Face Theatre to create a look at Jonathan Larson's 1996 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning rock opera. At the end of the 1980's, a group of Bohemian artists struggle to find life, love and art in a brutal economy and the height of the AIDS crisis. Director David Cromer will bring a staggering reality to this landmark musical.

"The forces at work in Rent are just so exhilarating," says David Cromer. "What's richer than exploring that time in your life when you're freezing cold, and terrified, and in love, and completely broke and inspired, and besieged. And hopeful, and hopeless, and somehow strong enough to survive all (or most of) that?"

Rent features Alex Agard (Tom Collins), Karla Beard (Woman 2), Lili-Anne Brown (JoAnne Jefferson), Esteban Andres Cruz (Angel Dumott Schunard), Grace Gealy (Mimi Marquez), AIleen May (Maureen Johnson), Aaron Nelson (Man 4), Danielle Plisz (Woman 1), Tyler Ravelson (Man 2), Tony Santiago (Benjamin Coffin III), Alan Schmuckler (Mark Cohen), Steve Tomlitz (Man 3), Derrick Trumbly (Roger Davis), Anji White (Woman 3), and Luke Wygodny (Man1).

ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and About Face Artistic Director Bonnie Metzger add, "The number one question of 2012: what is Cromer doing with Rent? He is simply embracing Larson's call to celebrate each moment of life: the exuberant and the debilitating. We're all looking at Rent moment to moment, and this production is the sum of those moments. I'm so glad About Face and ATC are together with Cromer on this journey right here in Chicago."

The creative team for Rent includes Tim Splain (Music Direction), Jessica Reddish (Choreography), Collette Pollard (Scenic & Props Design), David Hyman (Costume Design), Heather Gilbert (Lighting Design), Lindsay Jones and Victoria "Toy" Delorio (Sound Design). The Production Stage Manager is Katie Klemme.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Jonathan Larson (Book, Music, Lyrics) received the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for RENT. He also won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical and the 1994 Richard Rodgers Award for RENT and twice received The Gilman & Gonzales-Falla Theatre Foundation's Commendation Award. In 1989 he was granted the Stephen Sondheim Award from American Music Theatre Festival, where he contributed to the musical "Sitting on The Edge of the Future". In 1988 he won the Richard Rodgers Development Grant for his rock musical "Superbia", which was staged at Playwrights Horizon. He composed the score for the musical "J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation", which was presented by En Garde Arts in 1995. Mr. Larson performed his rock monologue "tick, tick... BOOM!" at Second Stage Theatre, The Village Gate and New York Theatre Workshop. "tick, tick... BOOM!" has subsequently been produced off-Broadway, in London, Los Angeles, and in numerous cities around the world. In addition to scoring and song writing for "Sesame Street", he created music for a number of children's book-cassettes, including Steven Spielberg's "An American Tail" and "Land Before Time". Other film scores include work for Rolling Stones magazine publisher Jann Wenner. He conceived, directed and wrote four original songs for "Away We Go!", a musical video for children. RENT, his rock opera based on "La Boheme", had its world premiere on February 13, 1996 at New York Theatre Workshop. Mr. Larson died unexpectedly of an aortic aneurysm on January 25, 1996, ten days before his 36th birthday.

David Cromer (Director) returns to ATC where he directed Celebrity Row. Most recently he directed When the Rain Stops Falling at Lincoln Center Theater, for which he won a Lucille Lortel Award for Direction. Broadway credits: Brighton Beach Memoirs. New York credits: Our Town (Barrow Street Theatre, 2009 Obie and Lortel Awards for Direction), Adding Machine (Minetta Lane Theatre, 2008 Obie and Lortel Awards for Direction) and Orson's Shadow (Barrow Street Theatre). Other Chicago credits include: Come Back, Little Sheba (Shattered Globe), Cider House Rules (Famous Door), A Streetcar Named Desire, Picnic, Booth, The Price and Oscar Remembered (Writers' Theatre), Angels in America (Journeymen), The Dazzle, Golden Boy, Orson's Shadow (Steppenwolf Theatre Company). Regional credits include: The Glass Menagerie (Kansas City Repertory), The Farnsworth Invention, SantaLand Diaries, Orson's Shadow (Alley Theatre).

Location: American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St., Chicago

Tickets: Previews: $10 rush tickets at the door, or reserved seats for $40

Regular run: Wed., Thurs. & matinees $45; Fri. & Sat. evenings $50

Opening night including post-show reception $50

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 1909 W Byron St., Chicago;

773.409.4125; www.atcweb.org

Need more Chicago Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...