Broadway Comes To Kansas City In Rent

Rent Cast. Photo Courtesy The Barn Players.

Disease, drug addiction, love and sexual freedom are just some of the problems that plague the characters of the Pulitzer Prize winning play “Rent.”

The worldwide phenomenon that made its debut on stage in 1996 is now being performed by The Barn Players at the community theater located in Mission.

Patrons are flocking to the theater to see the production, with most performances selling out.

Loosely based on Puccini’s opera “La Boheme,” “Rent” is the tale of a group of young, starving artists living in New York during the late 1980s.

The story begins with two male friends sharing a loft and living in poverty: Mark (Justin Dehmer), an aspiring filmmaker, and Roger (Robert Hingula), an ex-junkie musician living with A.I.D.S.

Their former roommate and now landlord Benny (Bradley Rose) promised they could live in the artist space rent-free, but is now threatening to evict them unless they can come up with last year’s rent.

When rent is due and you don’t even have the money to buy food or heat your apartment, you know you are living life on the rocks. Mark and Roger are being beaten against the rocks.

The pace of “Rent” really picks up early when Mark and Roger’s friend Tom Collins (Matthew King) stops by for a visit with a lively drag queen he’s fallen in love with named Angel (Bryan LaFave). Angel is an extremely likable character and LaFave does a brilliant job bringing her to life.

While Mark is tormented by the thought of his ex, Maureen (Mackenzie Zielke), and her new girlfriend, Joanne (Eboni Fondren), Roger has his own torments.

More than a year earlier, Roger’s girlfriend told him they had A.I.D.S. and she slit her wrists. So, when Mimi (Linnaia McKenzie), an ill druggie stripper who takes a liking to Roger, tries to woo him, he rejects her. But she is persistent and reminds him that there is more to life than waiting for death.

The anthem for all of these characters is “No day but today.”

They might only have a day left, but they each are learning how to live it to the fullest.

This cast really does an amazing job. They are enthusiastic and give a great performance.

It should be noted this play is not for children. It deals with very adult content.

The Barn Players were very advantageous for taking on a production of this scale. “Rent” has been performed at theaters around the world, the set is complex and the characters are not easy to portray.

But thanks to the boldness of the production team, this Broadway classic has been brought to KC for us all to enjoy.

Remaining performances are Friday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays, Nov. 13 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees Nov. 14 and 21 at 2 p.m.

Tickets $15.00 with discounts for groups of 10 or more, seniors and students.  For information and/or reservations call 913-432-9100, or go to www.thebarnplayers.org.

It is highly recommended that you reserve your tickets in advance. Many performances are selling out.

Behind The Scenes:

Wrapping up the theater’s season with the hit “Rent,” Artistic Director Eric Magnus said The Barn Players has had an incredibly successful season.

“Our average attendance is up over last year, the number of actors auditioning and director applying are also up,” Magnus said. “The quality of our shows have been quite good this season, and much more consistent than in past years.”

President of The Barn Players Board of Directors Vida Bikales agreed and added that this season was exciting.

“We are steadily increasing our numbers of not only patrons but also in people auditioning for our shows,” Bikale said. “This tells us that our  slate of shows is attractive and that our reputation is solid.  We have been able to develop some new friends within the community that have also helped us reach a new demographic.”

Magnus said “Rent” was chosen as the official season finale because he has been a fan of it for nearly 15 years.

“There is something about this show, these characters, the music and lyrics that touches the heart and soul,” Magnus said. “Jonathan Larson wrote this show from people he knew and events that came right out of his own life. It’s a very personal show that speak so clearly about relationships, love and the community as a family.”

Months of pre-production work with an inventive and creative production staff went into the production in addition to seven weeks of rehearsal. Rehearsal alone was five nights a week for three hours a night.

“This cast is the most exciting part of this production,” Magnus said. “Their sheer talent and enthusiasm for this show is infectious. Working with each and every one of them has been one of the highlights of my life as an actor and director. They have such joy and love for what they are doing, that I want to run up on stage and sing with them every night during ‘Seasons of Love.’”

Bikale is also very enthusiastic about the performers.

“Rent has brought a new, young and ethnically diverse troupe of actors to The Barn,” she said. “With them come new patrons to our audience. We love increasing our Barn family!”

Bikale said the variety of performances, the accommodations and the experience of going to The Barn sets it apart from other theaters in town.

“Every show has a different look and feel,” she said. “Directors have the opportunity to change the configuration of the stage and also the audience. This, plus the intimacy of our theatre help give the audience a unique theatre experience.”

alexia@the-vignette.com

Next up at The Barn Players
“THE SIX BY TEN PLAY FESTIVAL”
December 3rd, 4th and 5th – three performances only
Six plays, ten minutes in length by local playwrights.