Rent

Rent is a musical by Jonathan Larson (1960-1996)[1].

The original text

Loosely based on Puccini's opera La Bohème it deals with a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life for themselves in New York City's East Village in the '90s and living in the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The play previewed in a workshop production at New York's Theatre Workshop in 1993, and opened at the Nederlander Theatre in 1996, with international spin-off productions. A 2005 movie version based on it stars Taye Diggs and many members of the original cast.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

2007-8: First produced by Hazel Feldman and directed by American Amy Hensberry at the refurbished Alexander Theatre and at Artscape. Jill Somers was the choreographer and company manager and musical director was Bryan Schimmel.

2017: Presented by The Stephan Fourie Theatre Company at the Artscape Arena (February) and at the Joburg Theatre in April. With Dean De Klerk (Mark Cohen), Neil Van Bergen (Roger Davis), Arlin Bantam (Tom Collins), Matthew Kriel (Benny Coffin III), Anzio September (Angel Schunard), Nadine Suliaman (Mimi Marquez), Emily Adair (Maureen Johnson), Namisa Mdlalose (Joanne Jefferson) and Tara Macpherson, Jessica Kohler, Robyn Ivey, Maya Spector, Tammy de Klerk, Bonolo Makhele.