Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, “Rent,” created by Adelphi University graduate Jonathan Larson (’82), has become a pop culture phenomenon.
The Adelphi University Performing Arts Center (PAC) opened its doors in the fall of 2008 with the first college production of this beloved musical.
Now they will kick off their 10th anniversary season in a similar fashion with a concert version of the show featuring a cast of some of Broadway’s finest performers.
“Rent in Concert” will be performed on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. on the Westermann Stage, Concert Hall in the Adelphi PAC, 1 South Ave. in Garden City.
With a band led by the original associate conductor of “Rent,” Daniel Weiss, original Broadway company member of “Rent,” Fredi Walker-Brown, will be joined by Broadway stars Matt Bogart (“Jersey Boys,” “Aida,” “Miss Saigon,” “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” “The Civil War”), Felicia Boswell (“Shuffle Along,” “Memphis,” “Motown: The Musical”), Sydney James Harcourt (“Hamilton,” “American Idiot,” “Bells Are Ringing”), Lilli Cooper (“SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Wicked,” “Spring Awakening”), Danielle Greaves (“A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Hairspray,” “Rent,” “Showboat,” “Sunset Boulevard”), Douglas Lyons (“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “The Book of Mormon”), M.J. Rodriguez (“Rent” Off-Broadway), and Mike Squillante (NBC’s “The Voice”), among others.
Based loosely on Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Larson’s “Rent” follows a year in the life 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.
The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel.
Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble.
Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends.
Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general.
How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
This is theatre at its best – exuberant, passionate and joyous.
The book, music and lyrics of “Rent” were written by Larson (‘82).
“Rent in Concert” is produced and directed by T. Oliver Reed.
Tickets for Saturday night are priced at $100/$60/$55 and tickets for Sunday afternoon at $55/$50.
The $100 VIP tickets include premium seating and an invitation to the post-show reception with the cast to celebrate the kickoff of PAC’s 10th season.
The Adelphi PAC is one of Long Island’s premier cultural arts venues for entertainment of all kinds.
Tickets are currently on sale and discounts are available to seniors, students and alumni.
Information is available at the Lucia and Steven N. Fischer Box Office at 516-877-4000 or boxoffice@adelphi.edu.
Regular box office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.
The box office is also open two hours before most scheduled performances.
