Interview: Cast Members of RENT at Emerging Professionals Ensemble

This summer EPE’s production of RENT is lighting up the stage at Performing Institute of Minnesota thru July 29th and BroadwayWorld was lucky enough to chat with Paul R. Cushman who is rocking it out nightly as Roger, Sandi Flahn who is a key part of the Ensemble, and Joe Klinker who brings aspiring filmmaker, Mark, to life. Below is our brief but insightful conversation:

The Performing Institute of Minnesota’s Emerging Professional Ensemble (EPE) was founded in the summer of 2017 with the opening of the PiM’s Eden Prairie campus, and is envisioned as a rigorous, theatrical playground for professionally-minded performers.

EPE is committed to ensemble-driven, compelling, and contemporary storytelling and strives to empower a creative space where all voices are heard and honored; a space where young emerging artists can collaborate and create with peers and those starting their professional journeys. Artists ages 16 to 24 are encouraged to engage in the collaborative process in the production of high-quality, impactful theatre and musical theatre.

What inspired EPE to mount Rent this summer? Did the current social climate impact that decision at all? 

S: I believe what inspired EPE to do RENT this summer was definitely the current climate. Although the show takes place in the 90s, the themes surrounding queer relationships, discrimination, struggling artists, unhoused folks as well as HIV/AIDS are still relevant and the overall message of the show is about empathy and showing a glimpse of life for people in the 90s in New York, as it was not spoken about a lot, but many people died from the epidemic.

J: As an actor in the show I really cannot give a 100% response as I was not directly involved in show selection. But, I can give insight into our conversations we had as a cast while preparing for the show. RENT is a unique show in the sense that is was initially written as a protest piece for a specific time in history, but has gone on to carry so much weight in our modern world. Many of the topics touched in RENT can still apply today. This leads me to believe that our hyper-political world today absolutely impacted the decision to take on the massive undertaking that is RENT.

What characteristic(s) of your character would you say that you identify with the most and why?

P: I play Roger Davis, a recovering drug addict who deals with grief, poverty, and AIDS, while rediscovering love with Mimi.  As a young queer person I remember learning about HIV/AIDS and how it impacted the queer community in the 80s/90s and how we are still fighting to eradicate this disease.  The fear that I felt around sex + sexuality, and how that affected my early relationships is something that I relate to in Roger.

S: I'm a part of the ensemble, so I have multiple roles I play such as Ali from the Life Support Group, Joanne's mom, Squeegieman, a junkie, and an unhoused person. The main character that I heavily resonate with is Ali. The affirmation of No Day But Today hits me the most because I too try to live every day as if it will be my last day because life is unpredictable and uncertain. 

J: Coming into this show I knew I related to Mark as a character but I had no idea the extent that I truly relate to this character. Mark is the pinnacle of not truly understanding but caring so much. He is never directly involved in any other characters struggles but does everything in his power to help and care. That is why the camera is such a beautiful metaphor for him. Everything is literally through a small lens, there is a physical object in the way of him being there. Even with those barriers he puts his struggles to the side and pushes down his own emotions to take on others in an attempt to help.

What song within the show resonates with you most?

P: What You Own, one of the duets that I sing with the incomparable Joe Klinker is definitely a favorite.  Rent is a period piece about the AIDS crisis in the 90s, but so many of the problems that these characters face are still relevant to today.  The line “We’re dying in America, to come into our own,” comes to mind.  As an artist and queer person the way that society is structured to produce workers instead of fostering creativity and … happiness? Joy? Comfort?  The financial and social barriers to a life in the arts prevent so many from sharing their gifts with the world.

S: There are so many beautiful songs in the show, but I really likw the I'll Cover You Reprise. John Brownell, who plays Collins in the EPE Production of RENT, sings it so beautifully and you can really feel the love that Collins had and always will have for Angel. It also makes you wish that someone was as expressive with their love as Collins is. 

J: It absolutely has to be Halloween. As mentioned above, I relate to Mark in almost an uncomfortable level. Mark loves to shove his emotions down to help others. For better or for worse, I tend to do the same. When he finally lets his emotions out it is in this one song. On top of that, no one is there to listen and for once his camera is not out. In my life I generally do the same thing. I am working on that and getting better but that song just hits me so hard because of how much its just me Im singing about.

What song that your character does not sing, would you like to have the chance to sing? Why did you choose that song?

P: There are so many great songs in Rent, but I’ll Cover You is absolutely the ultimate love song.  It’s very selfless.  I think the world would be a much better place if we all shared space and love in the way Angel and Collins do.    

S: Out Tonight is such a fun song in my opinion, and Ani, who plays Mimi in EPE's Production of RENT, kills it every time. The instrumentals in the song are so good and make me wanna dance every time. 

J: To me this is the same question as “What role were you auditioning for?” Me response to this is always the same: From a character perspective I would love to play Mark, and from a singing perspective I would choose Roger. I absolutely love singing all of Rogers songs but if I had to choose one it would be “One Song Glory.” Fist, musically its such a fun and dynamic song. You get to show your powerful side of you voice and you soft gentle side of your voice. On top of that, the song carries so much emotion for the character. It would just be so fun to play with and develop the song.

RENT is a very demanding show emotionally. What are some things that you do to re-ground yourself after a performance?

P: After a performance I like to check in with each of the members of the cast, and on the drive home I like to listen to a musical smorgasbord with the windows all the way down.

S: Checking in with other castmates to tap out is always important. We also have days too of hanging out, whether it be at a restaurant, or playing ghost in the graveyard at a park at 1 am. Everyone in the cast cares about each other and we're always there for each other and we have so much fun. 

J: Thats the beautiful thing about the show RENT, it has a built in re-grounding at the end. Unlike the show this was based on RENT has a happy ending. On top of that, in our production of RENT at the end we exit the roles we have been in and become ourself for the last few bars. We all go around give hugs hand shakes and whatever other inside jokes cast members have. It allows us to come together as a cast and celebrate the amazing show we just performed.

Living for today is a main theme throughout the show, what is something that, if you were to die tomorrow, would want people to remember most about you?

P: I would hope that people remembered the laughter that we shared.  This cast in particular can make me laugh like no other group of people.  I’m very grateful for each of them.

S: I hope people will remember me as someone that they could always come to for advice or just someone to listen to because it's good to just be able to vent to someone. I also wanna be remembered as someone that made others feel comfortable with their presence. It's really important for me that I make someone feel welcome in an unfamiliar space and feel included in things. 

J: The biggest thing I would want people to remember is the joy I try to carry with me. Granted, I can get caught up in mistakes and things that go wrong. But, my goal in life is to bring people a little more joy. If its jokes, or being a shoulder to lean on, or just simply being there.

Fun Question: What is your favorite pre (or post) show meal and why?

P: I like to have some mints before each show.  So much kissing!

S: Lately, after each show, I've been craving mozzarella sticks! It's an obsession at this point. 

J: My favorite post-show meal has nothing to do with the food itself. It id all about who I am with! I absolutely LOVE going out with the cast for a good meal after a great show. Just hanging out, talking about the show, laughing and smiling. Thats what matters to me :)

RENT is running July 20-July 29, 2023 at Performing Institute of Minnesota.

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