"RENT" at Artistry

Whenever someone asks me what my favorite musical is, I usually respond that while there are many musicals I love, only one is permanently tattooed on my body. Ever since it exploded in 1996, when I was a grad student living on my own for the first time, RENT has had a special hold over my heart, unmatched by any of my other musical theater loves. Something about Jonathan Larson's story of friendship, community, living fully in the face of death, and appreciating life every day, struck a chord with me and continues to do so. Seeing Artistry's new production last night was my 18th time seeing it live, and I was reminded all over again why I love it so much. This brilliant cast pouring their hearts and souls into every poignant, funny, heart-breaking, or inspiring moment of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical brought tears to my eyes, frequently. And although I've seen the show many times, the majority of those productions were the Broadway/touring production, which I know like the back of my hand. So it was fun and exciting, as someone who has loved this musical for 28 years (likely longer than some of the cast has been alive), to see a fresh new take on it, and discover new things in it. Whether you've seen RENT a hundred times, or never seen it, you truly need to get yourself out to Bloomington to experience this wonderful new production. No day but today to get your tickets! (Continuing through October 27.)

Benny (Ninchai Nok-Chiclana) and the boys (Matthew Hall,
Mitchell Douglas, and Caleb Michael, photo by Alyssa Kristine)

Composer/lyricist/book writer Jonathan Larson (who suddenly and tragically died the night before the first Off-Broadway preview, making the themes of the show ever more poignant) used the Puccini opera La Bohème as a framework to tell a story about a community of young artists living in Manhattan's Lower East Side and dealing with issues of poverty, identity, creativity, relationships, and AIDS. It's a story he lived (several of the characters are named after friends of his who died from AIDS), which is perhaps why it feels so real and vital. At the center of RENT are roommates Mark, a struggling filmmaker, and Roger, a rock musician still reeling from his recent HIV diagnosis. Into Roger's life comes Mimi, who convinces him that there is still life to live. Their friends include Mark's ex-girlfriend the performance artist Maureen, who is living with her new girlfriend, the lawyer Joanne; disgruntled college professor Collins; his new love the sweet drag queen Angel; and their old roommate Benny, who has sold out by marrying a rich woman and moving out and up. Over the course of a year these friends argue, love, break up, reunite, die, but most of all live. The characters in RENT don't have easy lives, but they cling to that life and each other because it's the only thing they have. How can a piece about death, disease, poverty, and drug abuse be so uplifting and inspiring? Because it cuts through all of the pain to celebrate the joy of life; that's the genius of it.*

the cast of RENT (photo by Alyssa Kristine)

Executive Artistic Director Kelli Foster Warder directs and choreographs the piece, and does more than just replicate the production us RENTheads are so familiar with. She breathes new life into it, imagines different ways of placing the scenes around the stage, different ways of pacing the story and scenes, and creates movement that feels fresh and modern. I particularly loved the reimagined "La Vie Boheme," those iconic long tables used in different ways, and with different synchronized movements. And she has perfectly cast the show; I fell in love with each of these characters anew, with each actor bringing their own talents and personalities to the familiar people in the RENT world. 

Mark has always been my favorite character, the one I related to the most ("why am I the witness, and when I capture it on film the blog, does it mean that it's the end and I'm alone"), and Wesley Mouri fully embodies that character in all his insecurity and growth and deep love for his friends. Caleb Michael is a heart-breaker as Roger, with a voice that's almost too pretty for the rocker. The two of them have a sweet and believable friend-chemistry, not to mention fantastic harmonies. Michelle de Joya brings her talent at movement and physicality to Mimi, with perhaps the most athletic performance of "Out Tonight" I've seen, and also imbues the character with a fierce toughness covering a raw vulnerability. Sara Masterson and Quinn Lorez are fantastic as Maureen and Joanne, their duet on "Take Me or Leave Me" (the last song Jonathan Larson ever wrote) is a highlight. But of course the sweetest couple in the show is Collins and Angel, and Matthew Hall and Mitchell Douglas portray that relationship beautifully. Mitchell (fresh off a star turn in Lyric Arts' Kinky Boots) is a natural as Angel, the heart of the piece, and when Matthew opens his mouth this unexpectedly gorgeous and velvety deep voice comes out, that'll rip your heart out in the "I'll Cover You" reprise. The creative casting of Ninchai Nok-Chiclana in a pants role as Benny works well, she makes us dislike the character as we should, then warm to him and remember they were all once friends. Last but not least, shout out to the six-person ensemble, playing multiple roles and making this world fuller and richer (Po Cushman, Julia Diaz, Javari Horne, Marley Ritchie, Em Rosenberg, and Ben Siglin).

Roger (Caleb Michael) and Mark (Wesley Mouri)
(photo by Alyssa Kristine)

The design of the show is reminiscent of the original, but also refreshingly different. You can't have RENT without scaffolding and multiple levels, in this case it's the band on a raised platform at the back of the stage (no one better than the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers' favorite musical director Jason Hansen to lead this fabulous band), and two pieces of metal scaffolding that are moved around the stage to create different setups, utilizing both the raised platform and space underneath. The costumes are also original, but suit the characters and hint at those iconic pieces that are literally now housed in the Museum of Broadway. A cool feature is the (I think live, or else a great facsimile) camera work, with Mark's footage being projected onto a sheet onstage. And pay attention to the recorded voice mails for some fun #TCTheater cameos. (Scenic consultant Eli Sherlock, projection consultant Peter Morrow, costume design by Jacourtney Mountain-Bluhm, sound design by Richard Graham.)

I'm destined to love any production of RENT that I see, because it has meant and continues to mean so much to me (especially lately with the sudden and tragic death of my favorite Broadway actor Gavin Creel, rocking the theater community in a way that is similar to what I imagine Jonathan's death did). But more than that built in favoritism to the piece, I really do love what Artistry did with it, the care and thoughtfulness they used to bring this now period piece to life, and the little things they did to make it their own, while staying true to the musical that so many of us love. I don't want to see the Broadway production reproduced on a regional stage verbatim, I want to see a new interpretation of this incredible work that Jonathan Larson left us, and that's what this is. The cast and creative team have made something that's so full of heart, passion, and light.

Artistry's beautiful production of RENT continues at the Bloomington Center for the Arts through October 27.

*Plot summary borrowed from my reviews of previous productions.