Texas Tech University’s Department of Theatre & Dance presents RENT October 10th through 13th and 17th through 20th on the Maedgen Mainstage, located at 2812 18th Street between Boston and Flint Avenues. Curtain times for the 2013-2014 Mainstage Theatre season are 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sundays.
A pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences, with book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson and directed by Dr. Linda Donahue, RENT is loosely based on Puccini’s La Boheme and follows a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side under the shadow of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Music Direction is by Debbie Gelber and choreography is by Courtney Brown. The cast features a mix of graduate and undergraduate students from the Texas Tech Department of Theatre and Dance.
When asked about why she was excited to bring RENT to the Maegden Mainstage Director Dr. Linda Donahue said "This story includes a tribe of Bohemian artists who are struggling with AIDS, loss, hypocrisy, and defeat. Underlying all this, however, is the message of the necessity of love and living for today. I think those themes are universal and timeless. Maybe that's why our students connect so strongly to this show. The edginess of this rock show, which was very shocking when it first appeared on Broadway, still strikes a chord with the audiences today."
She continued with “I've been in Lubbock since 1997, and RENT has only been produced once by a touring company. I'm excited about bringing this award-winning piece to our community. In 1996, RENT garnered ten Tony Awards (Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book), as well as six Drama Desk Awards, three Obie Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical , and a Drama League Award. Also, the students listed this rock opera as their number one choice for this year's musical.”
WARNING: Contains adult language and situations.
Tickets for RENT are $18 for individuals and $5 for students with a valid student ID. A limited number of free student rush tickets are available for Texas Tech Students. For more information please call the Maedgen Theatre box office at (806) 742-3603.