MARQUETTE, Mich.—Northern Michigan University will present the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning rock musical Rent Tuesday, Feb. 16 through Saturday, Feb. 20.

The show begins at 7:30 each evening in Forest Roberts Theatre, with an added matinee at 1 p.m. on Feb. 20. Tickets are $10 for NMU students and $15 for the general public. They can be purchased at the theatre box office, which is open from 1-5 p.m. weekdays, or at any NMU EZ Tickets outlet.

            Rent is based on Puccini’s opera La Boheme. It tells the tale of love and loyalty among friends living the Bohemian life in New York City’s East Village as they deal with loss, AIDS, addiction and other modern-day issues.

            The characters include love-struck filmmaker Mark Cohen; his former girlfriend, Maureen Johnson; Maureen’s lawyer and lover Joanne Jefferson; Mark’s musician roommate Roger Davis; Roger’s new girlfriend, dancer Mimi Marquez; former roommate Tom Collins and his drag queen lover Angel; and Benjamin Coffin III, a former member of the group who married for money and became their landlord and the antithesis of what they stand for.

            NMU professor Shelley Russell is directing the Forest Roberts Theatre production. The following NMU students are playing major roles: Marquette’s Alyssa Erspamer as Joanne, Benjamin Filipowicz as Mark and Raven Locadia as Maureen; Curtiss O’Rorke of Manistee as Roger; and Ashley Stein of Mt. Prospect, Ill., as Mimi. Other cast members include Mark Jamrozek as Tom, Michael Vincente as Angel and Max Labode as Benjamin.

            The technical staff includes Denise Townsend, choreographer and assistant director; Jen Henry, stage manager; Vic Holliday, set designer; Kim Hegmegee, light and sound design; Ella Bartlett, costumes; and Jennifer Skogman, makeup.

              For more information, call 227-2553.



 

 

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Prepared by Alyssa Bersine and Kristi Evans