Rent: Utah Repertory Theater Company

Way, way back many centuries (days) ago, I caught Utah Rep's last evening performance of Rent.  They even went out of their way to make sure we had police escorts to leave the building that night.  I kid.  Ends up they faced their own true version of "Rent" because the entity renting them the building didn't get the odd's and end's properly straightened out and they were being "evicted" so-to-speak.  Thankfully, the police let this modern day version of "La Boheme" endure to the end.

First and foremost, I want to start a controversy with two words: Audience Interaction.
Love/hate.  Right?
For me, as an actor or an audience member, this always makes me feel uncomfortable.  I participate as instructed or prompted, either way, I just don't like it.  As an audience member, I go to a show to let the actors take me to another world so I can escape from reality and whatever burdens are weighing on my mind.  The last thing I want to do is interact with a person who isn't even a person I can ever talk with or associate with again - it is a character played by an actor.  I feel dread and panic - not knowing what to say or do...because if this person is acting, shouldn't I too?  Wait...no I shouldn't....yes I should...ugh.   As an actor, I wonder if that audience member feels the same way I do when an actor approaches me in the audience.  That being said, if audience interaction has to happen, this troupe did a fine job of staying in character.

I must have been really into the show (or freezing because the warehouse setting was brrrrrr), because I only made a few notes.

• Intro too long
• The entire cast entered on the number "Rent," but why?  The setting is in the apartment of Roger and Mark...are there just vagrants wandering in and out of their place? 
• The volume on the mics was overpowering and the chorus could not battle that sound.  The soloists were mic'd quite well, but then the chorus number seemed underwhelming because of the sound differential.
• Angel and Collins were absolutely adorable together!
• Mark was amazing, his pants were not
• Mimi's solo number had "single ladies-esque" backup dancers.  This was a cool production element, yet I can't help but remember the vision of this being Mimi's big "coming out" moment where she steals the show and we really learn who she is as a strong individual and the backup dancers distracted from her strength.
• Mimi's solo impressed me because she was dancing her tail off and wasn't winded in the least - way to go!
• The entire cast, ensemble included, are amazing soloists - each person continued to blow me away in their own unique style.
• Alex, Alex, Alex.  His voice could melt butter.  He continues to grow as an actor while his voice is what wins audiences again and again.
• I loved the ambition of the musical director with the new harmonies in the songs.  Some worked, some didn't.
• During La Vie Boheme, there was a very clever staging of a "Last Supper" scene - I dug it.
• The staging of "Without You" was touching and extremely well executed.  The choreography allowed each aids patient to leave the stage one by one throughout the song - leaving Angle in the end.  I loved the symbolism behind this vision.

I'll sum this up with the words of  Director and Choreographer, William Cooper Howell, "We cannot control what passions and feelings we are brought into this world with.  However, we can control what we do with the gifts and feelings we are given.  We have the power within us to change the world around us with our love and our light.  May you leave here tonight infused with the need to express, to communicate, at all times, for any reason.  Change is in your grasp.  No Day But Today."

Roger Davis - Trent English
Mark Cohen - Austin Archer
Tom Collins - Aleksndr Arteaga
Benjamin Coffin III - Sean Carter
Joanne Jefferson - Nneka Barcelona
Angel Schunard - Derek Gregerson
Mimi - Connor Norton
Maureen - Karli Rose Lowry
Ensemble
William Cooper Howell - Choreographer
Rick Rea - Musical Director

Midvale Main Street Theatre: Rent

Any Broadway fan will know that Rent changed the face of American musical theater - bringing in a new era.  I hold my head high and proudly say that Rent is also bringing in a new era for Midvale Main Street Theatre.  

All of my readers need to first know that Rent is not for the faint of heart, please be aware it is very suggestive and contains vulgar language...as well as an important message of community and love.

Speaking of community - not that this will make my thoughts on the show any more relevant - but I grew up performing with, including a 30-minute montage of Rent, Dan Rosenbaum.  Who is Dan?  None other than the man who performed the leading role of Roger Davis in the 2004-2005 touring Broadway production of Rent (watch him blow away "One Song Glory" here).  He also understudied the role of Radames in Aida.  I have performed parts of this show with a Broadway Roger.  Now tell me it is going to be easy to impress me when there is that to live up to.  

Straight from the theater's website, here is the summary of Rent: 
Midvale Main Street Theatre presents the modern rock classic that defined a generation, RENT by Jonathan Larson.  Based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème, Rent (the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical) tells the story of a group of artists in the East Village of New York City struggling with life, love, AIDS, and the impact they have on America.

As the show began, I heard the immediate whispers of my darling friend Leah fill my ears about Roger (Daniel Silva),  "He sounds just like Adam Pascal (the original Roger on Broadway).  He sounds just like him!"  

I could individually dissect each actor's performance, but I want to point out my three favorites:

1. Aleksndr Arteaga as Tom Collins.
This young man is phenomenal and blessed with the gift of natural talent.  I maybe gushed to him after the show (he is the most humble, grateful sweetheart, in case you are wondering) and he shared with me he has a mere couple of months of training under his belt.  This part is about as vocally challenging as a role can get and yet, as an audience member, you will never worry he's not going to send every note soaring through the rafters.  I am not exaggerating.  His version of "I'll Cover You" left half the audience in tears (you can see everyone wiping their eyes), and touches some place in the bottom of your soul where you rarely let that kind of vulnerability take hold.  He's breath-taking.  Which brings me to his counter-part.

2. Frank Castro as Angel Dumott Schunard.
I see Angel as the character that truly is an angel - the person who teaches love, unity, and acceptance to everyone, as well as living those principles.  Not to mention the comic relief.  Angel has sass and att-i-tude.  Every time I saw Castro enter the stage, I was filled with anticipation for what laugh I was going to get or what musical number with which my ears were about to be tickled.   Angel is also the character through whom vulnerability and the fragility of life are conveyed beautifully and tenderly.

3. Carolyn Crow as Joanne Jefferson.  
Ladies and Gentleman.  Wow.  This woman can blow the roof off the theater.  Every time she sang I just wanted to shout, "Amen!"  Her character is the lawyer straight-man to her romantic interest, and wild-child, Maureen.  At first, you see this plain-Jane laywer and you could easily dismiss the character.  But then.  Ohhhhh, but then.  She transforms every time she opens her mouth and you root for her.  In her duet with Maureen, "Take Me or Leave Me," you will find yourself rooting for team Joanne all the way and then screaming with applause as she exits the stage. 


I hope to find time to write more about this show but until then, let me just say...

Midvale Main Street Theatre has put on some great productions before - think Sweeney Todd or Hairspray.  After Hairspray (the best production of the show I saw state-wide) I did not think they could parallel the success of such a cohesive cast, an electric audience, and all-around strength in talent (aka no weak player in the lot).  I'm so glad they proved me wrong.  And then some.   I have seen this show on Broadway and parts of Midvale's production thrilled me more than the professional cast.  Not to mention that Rent is a difficult show to pull off in a respectful manner, but I'd say Midvale does it in about as classy of a way as you can with this subject matter.  You will be hard-pressed to find an all-around better production of this show at the community level anywhere.

You can still catch the show August 2, 3, 4 @ 7:00pm, August 4 @ 2pm at Midvale Main Street Theatre 7711 Main Street.  Admission is $15 and worth every penny - buy them here.  Both shows last Saturday were sold out, so you will want to make sure you reserve your tickets.


CAST
Aleksndr Arteaga.....Tom Collins
Ashlee Brererton.....Mimi Marquez
Frank Castro.....Angel Dumott Schunard
Carolyn Crow.....Joanne Jefferson
Michael Howell.....Mark Cohen
Shawnee K. Johnson.....Maureen Johnson
Daniel Silva.....Roger Davis
Sterling Young.....Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III
Garrett Fairbourn.....Ensemble
Ryan Fallis.....Gordon, Ensemble
Thomas Fitzgerald.....Steve, Waiter, Ensemble
Travis Fryer.....Ensemble
Anna Harris.....Ensemble, Maureen Johnson (Matinee)
Ryan Honeycutt.....Ensemble
Liz Rowley Hilst.....Ensemble, Joanne Jefferson (Matinee)
Richard Johnson.....Mr. Johnson, Mr. Grey, Ensemble
Charity Jones.....Alexi Darling, Ensemble
Taylor Lawrence.....Ensemble
Cassidy Ross.....Ensemble, Mimi Marquez (Matinee)
Berlin Schlegel.....Ensemble
Kristina Stone.....Mrs. Cohen, Ensemble