By Kathy L. Collins
The Village Players will present the award winning Broadway musical Rent beginning on Friday, December 4. Shows will be held on Saturday, December 5, and the next two weekends (Friday, December 11 and 18 and Saturday, December 12 and 19). All shows will be at 8 p.m., and there will be a matinee on Saturday, December 12 at 3 p.m.
Rent is loosely based on Puccini’s La Boheme and follows the lives of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Rent won both a TONY Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Due to the language and content of the play, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult.
Rent is directed by the veteran Director Domin Pazo who said, “Although it is Rated R and has its lead character dying, I still look at it as a very inspirational musical. The music is great, and I love the main message of ‘Live life every day to its fullest.’ I don’t want anyone to think that just because this is community theatre, that the show will not be great. It is and very true Rent fans will love it.”
Gail Pierce, producer of the Village Players, said, “The lyrics and music are superbly delivered by the cast. Their enthusiasm on stage rocks the theatre. The content and language used are uncensored and are delivered as it was performed on Broadway. As such, I would add a personal caution to our regular patrons and want them to know this.”
Tickets to Rent are $15 for general admission, $13 for students, seniors and military with ID and $12 for groups of 10 or more.
Rent will be presented at the historic James McCabe Theatre located at 506 5th St. in Valrico. For more information, call 643-8292 or visit www.thevillageplayersvalrico.com.
