Greenwich High School Theater Arts will present RENT, the Pulitzer Prize Winning musical by Jonathan Larson. Rent also received the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical.
According to the show’s director, Patty Cirigliano, “Rent is a powerful story about friendship, struggle, passion, loss, hope and love. It is a wonderful vehicle to promote discussion about difficult topics like consequences for choices, promoting respect and dignity of all individuals, and finding ‘connection in an isolated age.’ The students are incredibly excited about the opportunity to sing this amazing score and create the world of the show.
Rent’s central story line revolves around 4 roommates. Roger (Brett Steinberg), an aspiring musician, Mark Cohen (Oliver Prose), an aspiring photo journalist, Tom Collins (Alex Benedict), an anarchist professor, and Benjamin Coffin III (Hale McSharry), a former artist who married Allison Grey Coffin (Laura Valentine and Annie Martino) of Westport for money. Mark chronicles the lives of his friends and their romantic entanglements through his film. Roger is afraid to get involved with the high spirited Mimi (Cameron Riolo and Liz Stillman) because he is still recovering from his former girlfriend’s death. Mark too is in a romantic tailspin because his former girlfriend, Maureen (Sarah Zygmont and Patty Kohn) left him for Joanne (Maya Edward and Cyndi Herrera) Meanwhile, Collins returns to NYC to be robbed by three thugs (Ethan Armstrong, Benjamin Hein and Azario Mastrangelo). Collins is rescued by Angel (Alan Harvey), whose generosity of spirit binds the group of friends together.
As young artists, the main characters are largely separated from their parents. Although the parents, Mrs. Cohen (Natalie Wallington and Nicole Salamon), Mr. Jefferson (Chris DeSantis), Mrs. Jefferson (Grace Barber and Rose Arrezzini), Roger’s Mother (Annabel Randolph and Logan Muskus), and Mimi’s Mother (Kiera Rumbough and Julia Rosenfeld) attempt to influence their children’s lives through phone messages, the children shut out the voices and opinions of their parents. Alexi Darling (Carly Polistina and Chelsea Watson) represents commercial artistic success, something the young artists abhor but slowly yield to.
Surrounding the main storyline is the voice of the world around the artists. The voice of the struggle of those infected with HIV and their fear of losing their dignity is represented through Steph (Elizabeth Budinoff and Emma Mathes), Paul (Peter Ferrarese), Gordon (Andrew Schenck), Ali (Sophie Bardos and Bizz Fretty), Pam (Kelly Alogna and Claire Russack), Sue (Annika Tilly and Sam Salony).
The world of the poor is depicted by the homeless people (Megan Muratore, Dayna Bland, Lacey Kennedy) and the Blanket Lady (Audrey Sherr and Melissa Fraioli). The struggle to make an honest living is illuminated through the Squeegiemen (Ian White and Jack Plants), the Shopping Cart Man (Will Armstrong), the Street Musician (Will Floyd), and the street vendors (Lucas Paiva and Eamon Cartine).The seediness of the drug world is also conveyed through The Man (Axel Mark) who is the drug dealer and the junkies (Emilia Donnelly, Danielle Calagna, Jean Gordon and Ashley Rodriguez) who surround him. This world is contrasted with people of mainstream society like the policemen (Alec Febbraro and Alexander Halmgren) and the Restaurant Man (Andrew Restieri).
There are also featured soloists in the production including Amaia Rioseco, Cate Soler, Courtney Hanley, Santi MacLean, and Valentina Ruiz. Featured Dancers include Sarah Bradley, Kristen Ragusa, Cara English, Cara Williams, Sarah Ambrose, Maddie English, Marley MacDougall, Lana Caroleo and Brooke Sweeney.
Rent will be performed at Greenwich High School at 10 Hillside Road in Greenwich on Thursday May 16th and Friday, May 17th at 7:30pm and Saturday, May 18th at 3:00 and 7:30 pm.
All tickets are $20.00.
To make a ticket reservation, call 203-863-8808.
To follow the GHS Theater Department blog on Patch, click here and then click "Get email updates."
