RENT with Broadway cast member and star Alan Mingo Jr January 25, 2013

Jan 25-Feb 10: Fri and Sat, 8pm; Sat Feb 2, Sun Jan 27, and Sun Feb 10 at 2pm

Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, Rent tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City.

Award-winning director, Jasen Jeffrey, brings a fresh vision on this contemporary piece of musical theatre. Rent is about "community, support, love....the telling of personal stories we can all relate to." Jason goes on to explain, "in the show, we have gay/lesbian couples, transgenders, drug addicts, the topic of HIV/AIDS, but it's not about that; it's about the relationships....It's about community, true relationships, and how they ultimately end up changing our lives." In talking about Rent being performed in the Firehouse Arts Center, Jason replies, "what's beautiful about the Firehouse is that it is so close, intimate. It makes all the emotion the actors will be doing that much more powerful. The people are going to feel that intensity right off the bat and know that they are going to experience something special." With technical designer Pat Brandon's set and Mick Oesch's lighting design, "you will get the idea that this is a raw, gritty, downtown New York, eclectic bohemian atmosphere."

Broadway actor Alan Mingo, Jr. (AEA) joins this cast of Rent reprising the role of "Tom Collins" he performed on Broadway. Alan has also been seen in Broadway's The Little Mermaid as "Sebastian" and on the National Tours of Shrek the Musical (Donkey), Hairspray (Seaweed J. Stubbs) and Lion King (Simba). In addition, Adam Theodore Barry (AEA) will be returning to PCRT as "Angel" after receiving rave reviews for his performance as "Gaston" in last fall's Beauty and the Beast. A very talented group of professional and regional actors complete this ensemble cast.

* A Free Inside the Show discussion with the actors and director will take place after the Sunday Matinee performance on January 27th, 2013.

Official Website: http://www.pcrtproductions.org