RENT Opens at Ocean State Theatre Tonight

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit which brought new life to the historic Theatre By The Sea for the past five years, continues their Inaugural Season with Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking musical, RENT, which opens in previews tonight, February 20.

Sponsored by Charland, Marciano & Company, CPAs, LLP and partially underwritten by National Grid, Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical ran on Broadway for over twelve years to become the ninth longest running show in Broadway history. Loosely based on Puccini's opera La Bohème, RENT tells the story of a year in the life of a diverse group of friends and artists struggling to live in New York. It is a story of hopes and dreams, friendship and loss amid the chaos of HIV/AIDS in their community. RENT addresses adult themes and controversial issues. Parental guidance is suggested.

Directed by Producing Artistic Director Amiee Turner, with musical direction by local musician Esther Zabinski and choreography by MK Lawson, the cast includes Rhode Island native and URI grad, Nile Hawver, and Middleboro, Massachusetts native, Dan McInerney, as Roger Davis and Mark Cohen. Brown University graduate, Nora Fox, who appeared in the Broadway revival of The Sound of Music, portrays Mimi Marquez and Antonio Tillman, who audiences will remember as Seaweed in OSTC's critically acclaimed production of Hairspray, will be appearing in the role of Angel Dumott Schunard. Other local performers include Rhode Island College graduates, Derek Capobianco of Cranston and Andrew Holder of Narragansett, University of Rhode Island graduate, Josh Christenson of Warwick, Valerie Fortes of Pawtucket, Din Griffin of Coventry, and Christiana Rodi of Cranston.

RENT will be presented at Ocean State Theatre from tonight, February 20 - March 10. Previews are scheduled for Wednesday, February 20 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, February 21 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. All other performances will be held Wednesday (except March 6) through Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Conducting Conversations Live!, a free post-show discussion hosted by WCRI's Mike Maino, will follow the 2pm performance on Saturday, February 23.

Following select Friday and Saturday evening performances, the theatre's lobby will be transformed into an intimate cabaret space, at which patrons will be entertained by cast members and OSTC staff members, while enjoying beverages and late night appetizers, which will be available for purchase from the theatre's lobby bar. Attendance at the performance preceding the cabaret is not required. The lobby doors will open for the cabaret at 10:30 pm. Tickets are $10 per person, which directly supports OSTC's Live Music Initiative. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling (401) 921-6800.

The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $39 for preview performances and $39-$54 for all other performances. Discount rates for groups of 20 or more are available by calling (401) 921-1777 x112. $25 "Rush" tickets are available on a limited basis one hour prior to curtain on the day of the performance. Tickets are on sale at the box office Tuesday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm, and from 12 noon until curtain on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.