CUNY Academic Commons

York College Theatre and the Performing Arts Center Bring Jonathan Larson’s, RENT to the life!

To conclude the 2011-2012 Season, in what is the first-ever collaborative effort among the Theatre Discipline, Music Discipline and the York College Performing Arts Center (producer Matthew Katz), the York College Theatre presents the spell-binding, captivating, and energizing Broadway smash hit musical, RENT. This production moves to raving rock music while telling a tale of triumph and finding love in today’s tough world.

RENT is set in New York City’s gritty East Village, and this revolutionary rock musical is an imaginative retelling of Puccini’s 1896 classic opera, “La Boheme”. This unforgettable and timeless story of a group of starving artists, who, despite poverty and illness, learn to fall in love and find their voices, brings a universal message of hope for everyone. The play touches on such controversial themes as homelessness, AIDS, and drug addiction. Filled with compassion and understanding, Rent is about one fulfilling their hopes and dreams despite inexplicable odds.

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize, RENT with Book, Music and Lyrics by the late Jonathan Larson, has made a lasting mark on Broadway with songs that rock and a story that really resonates, such Seasons of Love, Without You, Out Tonight, One Song Glory, I’ll Cover You, and Santa Fe. This production is intended for MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

Under the direction of Professor Timothy J. Amrhein, this production will feature the evocative set designs of David T. Jones, built by York College students under the direction of CLT Garth Belcon. It also features the many costumes of guest designer, Allison Crutchfield, the vivid lighting of guest designer, Daniel Winter, and the beautiful orchestration of Musical Director, Professor Jonathan Quash. CLT, Jessica Morales, member of Actor’s Equity Association, rounds off the list as production/stage manager and choreographer.

Taso Mikroulis leads the cast as Roger Davis, a songwriter who is HIV positive, with Kevin Gomez as Mark Cohen, an independent filmmaker and Roger’s roommate and Sabrina Thomas as Mimi Márquez, an exotic dancer with HIV.

The cast will also feature Solomon Peck as Tom Collins, a gay philosophy professor and anarchist with AIDS; Miya Bass as Maureen Johnson, a bisexual performance artist; Erick Carter as Benjamin ‘Benny’ Coffin III, the local landlord and a former roommate of Roger, Mark, Collins, and Maureen; Daniel Anthony Hidalgo as Angel Dumott Schunard, a gay drag queen percussionist with AIDS and Tatiana Lizcano as Joanne Jefferson, a lawyer, who is Maureen’s partner.

Ensemble members include Marc Beard, Clarence Ilanan, Jarrel Lynch, Stephen Pink, Alex Constantinides, Rickie Tice, Maria Angelina Nidea, Gabrielle Calixte, Nina Oll-Adikankwu and Nakiiya Humes.

Performances begin May 4 at 7PM, and continue running on May 5 at 7PM; May 6 at 3PM; May 11 at 7PM; May 12 at 2PM and 8PM; and conclude May 13 at 2PM. All performances will take place in the Performing Arts Center Auditorium (94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11451). Tickets are $15.00 for General Admission, $12.00 for Seniors and $5.00 for Students (with a valid college ID) and can be purchased at the door, ahead of time beginning April 2, 2012 at the Performing Arts Center Box Office or online at (https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/874295). For more information about tickets or reservations, call the York College Theatre information line (718) 262-5375, or visit RENT at York College (http://www.rentatyork.com/).