Gritty, bohemian: Rent

Upstage Theatre is proud to present a 20th Anniversary Production of Rent. This production of will feature OKC metro talent as well as students from Oklahoma City University, The University of Central Oklahoma, and Rose State College Theatre.

Based on Puccini’s beloved opera La Bohème, Rent follows the ups and downs of a year in the life of a group of impoverished, artistic friends living in Manhattan’s East Village. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, struggles to find his place in the world; his roommate Roger, an HIV-positive musician, wonders how he will leave his mark before he dies.

Mimi and Angel look for true love as they face the harsh reality of life as HIV-positive young people, while the businesslike Joanne seeks fidelity from her wild-child performance artist girlfriend Maureen.

The group’s dreams, losses, and love stories weave through the musical’s narration to paint a stunningly raw and emotional portrait of the gritty bohemian world of New York City in the late 1980s, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

Rent is rated R for language and mature themes.

Along with the production of the show, Upstage Theatre will be bringing awareness to the issues that the musical faces such as HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, and homelessness. There will be information provided to the audience at every show on the topics. A donation will also be taken at each performance and given to Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids.

The production will run January 21st through January 24th, 2016 at the Upstage Theatre Black Box in Edmond. The black box is located at 844 W. Danforth Road next to Bricktown Brewery.

Tickets for the production are now on sale and can be purchased at www.ticketstorm.com or by calling the studio at (405) 285-5803. Seating is limited so please reserve tickets in advance.

The Gayly - 1/15/2016 @ 2:14 p.m. CST