Rent
With the divisive political storm of today, the care-free life of
Bohemianism seems therapeutic. Living an artistic life with no permanent ties, seeking to discover that spiritual you within, is refreshing compared to the incendiary powder cake of today's climate.
Giacomo Puccini's Rent, based loosely on his 1896 opera La Boheme, which tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive, is as relevant today — and Porchlight's performance of Rent is a powerful, tear-jerker. With exquisite vocals and a talented cast, this rock musical is stirringly provocative.
“ Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes. How Do You Measure A Year In The Life?”
The iconic song, Seasons of Love, is both haunting and surreal and reminds us that life is short and the only measure of life is love. It's the framework that links this excellent musical together.
Thanks to Jonathan Larson, telling the story of one year of life of friends living the Bohemian life. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Rent, allows us to glimpse into the lives of several impoverished young artists living in Lower Manhattan's East Village.
The story tackles four major social issues and brings them to the forefront LGBTQ, HIV/AIDS, drugs, and poverty.
Like all of us, they each have their demons and struggles with different issues — but together, they form an everlasting bond of love and friendship, celebrating La Vie Boheme. The message behind the musical was to embrace and pursue life to the fullest, no matter your circumstances, because life, as we know it, can drastically change — and that "No day but today" is the best day to love.
RENT is a timeless musical that allied the gap between conventional music theatre, with groundbreaking new forms of music that revolutionized modern theater. This two-act, with 42 songs that last two hours and forty-five minutes, features all of the songs we've grown to love from Rent. And the cast's vocals and harmony are outstanding.
I have only been to a few musicals where almost all of the performing cast could sing, but with this group, you can't single out one great voice. My friend Hedy Weiss has been trying to get me to audition at Lyric for years, so I know good singing. You can hear the soulful voice of Eric Lewis, the rock stars of Shraga Wasserman and David Mooreland, and the powerful voices of Bridget Adams-King, Lucy Godinez, and Teressa Lagamda. Also, the outstanding performance as Angel by Josh Pablo Szabo, and I heard the savvy voice of Brennan Urbi.
Rounding out the incredible cast is Abrahan Shaw, Leah Davis, Caitlin Dobbins, Nik Kmiecik, TJ Tapp, and the Porchlight debut of Alix Rhode, Chris Knoshaba, Naphtali Curry, Ziare Paul-Emile, Nick Johnson.
After its opening 26 years ago in a small off-Broadway theater, Rent is one of those meaningful rock musicals that have thrilled audiences since hitting the stage in 1996. And Porchlight's Rent continues that great storyline of love.
Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Rent at Porchlight Theatre.
Porchlight Music Theatre
RENT
Book, Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Directed by Adrian Abel Azevedo
October 29 - December 11, 2022
