Opening Night Ovation for RENT: Feels like a Party!
Opening night for RENT 20th Anniversary Tour in Dallas ended with a cheering crowd and a standing ovation. This much-lauded and multi-award-winning show with book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson plays through October 2nd at the AT&T Performing Arts Center as part of its 2016 – 2017 Broadway Series.
It was obvious by the crowd’s cheers and anticipatory applause throughout the show that a good portion of the opening night crowd had not only seen RENT before, but they were very familiar with it. It felt like a party!
RENT’s Storyline: Making a Living versus Making a Life
Set in the 1990’s, RENT follows the lives of seven aspiring creatives throughout a single tumultuous year as they struggle between making a living and making a life for themselves in New York City. Along the way, the characters are confronted with homophobia, class disparity, drug addiction, and what it means to succeed without selling out.
Inspired by an opera
Although inspired by Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème, much of the storyline in RENT is autobiographical. Playwright Jonathan Larson’s best friend growing up was gay, for instance, while Larson dated a fickle dancer who eventually left him for a woman.
RENT: Charismatic Cast
RENT 20th Anniversary Tour features a talented, energetic, and youthful cast, for whom the 1990’s must feel so very far away! David Merino who plays Angel, is charismatic and amazing from the moment he struts onto the stage. I especially loved his moves and whoops a la Prince during the lively “Today 4 U” number.
While the entire ensemble has strong voices, Aaron Harrington’s lush baritone blew me away. I could listen to him sing all day. Speaking of vocals, the solo in “Seasons of Love” gave me some serious chills!
Follow the the #Rent20 Tour site and social media:
RENT cast member’s sites and social media:
Danny Kornfeld as Mark Cohen,
Kaleb Wells as Roger Davis,
Skyler Volpe as Mimi Marquez,
Aaron Harrington as Tom Collins,
David Merino as Angel Dumott Schunard,
Katie LaMark as Maureen Johnson,
Jasmine Easler as Joanne Jefferson
Christian Thompson as Benny Coffin III.
RENT 20th Anniversary Tour in Dallas plays through October 2nd, so grab your tickets while you can. After all, there’s no day but today!
The world has been robbed
Jonathan Larson was posthumously awarded many awards for RENT including: the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score; the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical in the Off-Broadway category; the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics; and three Obie Awards for Outstanding Book, Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music.
RENT 20th Anniversary Tour in Dallas plays through October 2nd, so grab your tickets while you can. After all, there’s no day but today!
RENT tickets & more information:
What: RENT 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
When: Now through October 2, 2016 in Dallas, TX
Closed Captioning: The TDF will be offering live captioning for the following performanc: Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 7:30pm
Where: AT&T Performing Arts Center/Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Tickets: Check availability and book online at the AT&T Performing Art Center official website.
Runtime: Runs for 150 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. No children under 4-years-old allowed.
NOTE: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.
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Tui Snider is an author, speaker, and photographer who specializes in North Texas travel, cemetery symbols, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction – but then, I moved to Texas!”
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[…] Live Theater […]
I’ve never seen Rent, but I want to. I had no idea the creator died on the first preview day of the musical’s performance! That’s so sad! :(
Hi, Mandy! Yeah – isn’t that tragic? I was so sad to hear about that. Just doesn’t seem fair at all! Thank you for dropping by my blog! :)
I saw it, but I probably didn’t enjoy it as much as most people. I really like the traditional shows of the 50’s to 80’s.
Yeah, I must confess; my favorite musical is “Anything Goes.” And I know what you mean about the more traditional style of shows. That was one reason, I enjoyed “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” so much. It reminded me of “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Thank you for dropping by, Crystal! :D
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder… Going to have to watch for that one. Sounds like a good time!
I love watching live theater. I need to go check out the tour for Rent. Now that most of my kids aren’t home, I could afford the tickets. LOL
Yes, I enjoy watching shows live so much more than on DVD. There’s just something about feeling the audience react and the passion that the cast puts forth in person! I hope you get to see Rent and much more this season! :D ~Tui