Fiddlehead Theatre Company Presents 20th Anniversary Celebration of Rent
(© Courtesy Fiddlehead Theatre Company/© Eric Antoniou)
Rent begins performances this evening at Fiddlehead Theatre Company at the Back Bay Events Center.
Loosely based on the opera La Bohème, by Giacomo Puccini, the musical follows a group of friends struggling to survive and achieve their dreams in New York City. Roommates Mark and Roger attempt to make a groundbreaking movie and "one song of glory" respectively as they form friendships and relationships with other aspiring artists. Over the course of a year, the group struggles with love, loss, disease, and disillusionment.
In conjunction with the production, Fiddlehead is offering a free master class with Fredi Walker-Brown, who created the role of JoAnne Jefferson in the original Broadway production of Rent. The seminar, "Storytelling for Actors," presents a close look at the art of storytelling, structure, character development, and understanding how each performer’s character arc enhances the overall story. As the basis of this study, Walker-Brown will break down both Rent and La Bohème.
Written by Jonathan Larson, the musical is directed by associate producing artistic director Stacey Stephens and features choreography by Wendy Hall and musical direction by Nathan Urdangen. The cast is composed of Scott Caron as Mark Cohen, Matthew Belles as Roger Davis, Ryoko Seta as Mimi Marquez, Jay Kelley as Angel Dumont Schunard, John Devereaux as Tom Collins, Katie Howe as Maureen Johnson, Brandi Porter as Joanne Jefferson, and Cristhian Mancinas-Garcia as Benjamin Coffin III.
Performances will run through February 21.
