Jerianne Banson News

Next to Normal is best described as a 'feel everything' rock musical. Playwright and lyricist Brian Yorkey (Netflix's 13 Reasons Why) employs humor through funny lines and situations to balance and lighten the play's serious and painful situations of human life. The music by Tom Kitt (If/Then, Freaky Friday) provides pleasure in itself. The music connects to the audience's emotions in ways that simple spoken words cannot. Bringing these two masters together birthed this extraordinary, award winning masterpiece.

Presented by The Royal Underground Theatre Company, RENT has been extended through May 21 at Hudson Backstage Theatre - 6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90038. Directed by Jerianne Banson, featuring Jason Aaronson, Kate Alden, Benjamin Alicea, Enrico Banson, Barry Brisco, Deosick Burney, Valerie Charles, Cy Creamer, Nathan Crocker, Ali Eagle, Jason Esposito, Leigh Golden, Amelia Harris, Timothy Hearl, Rashonda Johnson, Matt Pick, Charlie Rayshad, Jepoy Ramos, Tiffany Van Cott, and Ana Villafane.

Based on Puccini's 'La Boheme', Jonathan Larson's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning revolutionary rock opera ‘Rent' tells the story of one year in the life of eight friends living the Bohemian life struggling to express themselves through their art and 'measuring their lives in love.' Against the gritty backdrop of New York's East Village, these friends strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic.

Royal Underground/Jerica Productions spearheaded by brother and sister duo Jerianne and Enrico Banson, who mounted the Regional Premiere of RENT in San Francisco, has taken the musical to Los Angeles for the first time. Many RENT fans have credited their rendition as the best regional version paying homage to the iconic original Broadway production while finding new creative staging. So much so, that their production has earn nominations for BroadwayWorld.com's San Francisco Fan Choice Theatre Awards for 2010, earning a Best Leading Actor nomination for Enrico Banson as Roger, and Adrienne Fraser for Best Scenic Design. Both are back for the Hollywood production and coincidentally enough, Jason Aaronson who will play Mark opposite Enrico Banson's Roger is also nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance of the West Coast Premiere of Glory Days.

RENT will begin performances Friday March 18, 2011 with Friday and Saturday shows at 8PM, Sunday Matinees at 3PM, and a special 2PM Matinee on Saturday April 23, 2011. Tickets available for all shows through Saturday, April 23, 2011

Here are some photos from The Royal Underground Theatre Company's production of Jonathan Larson's musical RENT currently playing Southside Theatre, Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, California. Directed by Filipino stage director Jerianne Banson, RENT is part of the 'In Performance' Series at Fort Mason, which has been getting support from the Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, and the Williams and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The show runs 'til Sunday, February 21, 2010.

Filipino siblings Enrico and Jerianne Banson are producing Jonathan Larson's Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT at the Southside Theatre, Fort Mason Center, Building D in San Francisco, California via The Royal Underground Theatre Company, a JERICA Productions subsidiary. Their production of the popular rock musical opened last January 21, 2010 and runs until February 21, 2010.