By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Mark and Roger are two roommates, each dealing with life in their own way: Roger numb after dealing with a tragedy while Mark explores it through the tense of a camera.
This is just one story in Jonathan Larson’s Pulitizer Award-winning musical, “RENT,” which will run May 5-7, 11-15, and 18-21 at the Aquinas College’s Performing Arts Center, located 1703 Robinson St. SE. Set in the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the East Village of New York City, “RENT” follows the lives of the Mark, Roger and their friends as they explore love, celebrate happiness and struggle to survive. The musical, which won a Tony Award for Best Musical, is full of memorial songs including “Seasons of Love.”
“‘RENT’ is a protest piece,” said co-director/vocal director Marcus Jordan. “The 1996 cult classic musical encouraged a generation of young people to speak out about the injustices that plagued our country. Police brutality, displacement of the un-homed, and the stigmatization of HIV/AIDS are among the many issues tat are authentically raised in this story.
“But along side the outcry of injustices highlighted in “RENT” are the illustrated light and freedom of the Queer Experience. This piece invites folks to just be folks, to shine one’s light unapologetically. And it is this infusion of holistic living and unyielding advocacy that continues to cement ‘RENT’ as a vital piece in the musical theatre repertoire. Act up AND fights AIDS!”
Show times are at 7 p.m. with a matinee showing on May 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets and details are available at circletheatre.org.
For more information on Circle Theatre’s 2022 season, call the box office at 616-456-6656 or visit circletheatre.org.
