Dare to Defy Productions Stages RENT This Weekend

Dare to Defy Productions is thrilled to present the full stage version of Jonathan Larson's hit musical, RENT. The production hits the stage at 8 pm tonight, September 5 and at 2 pm and 8 pm on September 6, 2014 at the beautiful Victoria Theatre 126 N Main St Dayton, OH 45402.Tickets range from $50 to $25. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

RENT is a rock opera with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera, La Boheme. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of AIDS. It tells the unforgettable story of a group of young artists learning to survive, falling in love, finding their voices and living for today.

Director JJ Parkey has assembled an amazing cast of actors for Dare to Defy's ambitious production. Bobby Mitchum plays the role of MarkCohen, a struggling documentary filmmaker and best friend of "Roger Davis", an HIV-positive musician who is recovering from heroinaddiction played by Mark Beyer. Lisa Glover is Mimi Marquez; a sexyHIV-positive stripper and dancer who is also a heroin junkie and Roger's love interest.

Paige Dobkins plays a spunky performance artist Maureen Johnson, who is Mark's ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend of Joanne Jefferson, a tough, headstrong Harvard-educated lawyer played by Shawn Storms.

Tom Collins, the HIV-positive philosophy teacher, friend and former roommate of Roger, Mark, and Maureen is played by Isaac Tobler. Mike Embree is cast in the role of Angel Schunard, an HIV-positive Drag Queen with a heart of gold and Tom Collins' love interest. Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III, played by Mathys Herbert is the former friend and landlord of Mark, Roger and Mimi's apartment.

The rest of the cast includes: Marcus Bedinger, Jamal Cann, Haylee Dobkins, Zach King, Danielle Kubasky, TC SChreier and Mackensie Vonderbrink.

Director JJ Parkey exudes enthusiasm as he discusses the relevance of this show for today's audience. "Making a connection in an isolating age, is more true today than ever before".

The musical was first seen in a sold out, limited three-week workshop run at the New York Theatre Workshop in 1994. This same New York City off-Broadway theatre was also the musical's initial home following its official January 25, 1996, opening. Tragically, the show's creator, Jonathan Larson died suddenly the night before the off-Broadway premiere.

RENT, opened at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre, on April 29, 1996. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. RENT played its final performance at the Nederlander Theatre on September 7, 2008 after playing 5,124 performances and 16 previews. RENT is the seventh longest running show in Broadway history.

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