RENT at Theatre Baton Rouge

RENT

November 10th-19th, 2023

Book & Music by Jonathan Larson

Lyrics by Jonathan Larson and Billy Aronson

Directed by: Clay Donaldson

Music Director: Lee Hartman

Choreographer: Adam Tanner Gilbert

Rated R

Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon. with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.

Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, Jonathan Larson's Rent follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general.

How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical. Rent is theatre at its best – exuberant, passionate and joyous.

Join us in November for our City Series Season opener!

Cast:

Mark Cohen - Brady Lewis

Roger Davis - Brandon Smith

Mimi Marquez - Diane Isom

Tom Collins - Tadrian Taylor*

Angel Dumott Schunard- Dion Sideboard

Maureen Johnson - Victoria Clement

Joanne Jefferson - Juniper Cassaway*

Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III- Nick White*

Ensemble:

Alex Arnold

Austin Ventura

Charlie Champagne*

Don Fields

Holly Roubique

Mitchel Courville*

Jamie Leonard-Brubaker

Tiara Spann

Tyler Basley

Veronika Haynes

*indicates TBR Debut