Livingston Theatre Company's 'Rent' set to show audiences 'La Vie Boheme' this weekend

This weekend, the Livingston Theater Company (LTC) will be performing “Rent,” the first mainstage production of its 26th season at the Rutgers Student Center on the Livingston campus.

"Rent" is a musical written and composed by Jonathan Larson that debuted on Broadway in 1996 and was adapted into a popular movie musical in 2005. 

One of the most iconic and influential musicals to date, "Rent" follows a group of friends in New York City navigating love, loss and everything in between. The musical was groundbreaking at the time for its LGBTQ+ representation and storylines involving the AIDS and HIV crisis.

In LTC’s production of "Rent," these compelling protagonists are portrayed by Aaron Carr, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, (Mark), Sam Tunkel, a Mason Gross School of the Arts first-year, (Roger), Dustin Symonette, a Mason Gross junior (Collins) and Chris Forest, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year, (Benny).

Additionally, Madison Miley and Abhiroop Doddapaneni, two School of Arts Sciences first-years, play Joanne and Angel, respectively. Mia Ongay, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, portrays Mimi, and Lily Mollicone, a Mason Gross School of Arts junior, plays Maureen. 

Behind LTC's "Rent" is an extensive production staff, including choreographer Erin Meiklejohn, a Mason Gross junior, and music directors Gavin Kim and Abdon Andahur, both Mason Gross sophomores.

Other staff for visual and setting aspects include stage managers Amber Kurland and Sydney Dailey, both School of Arts and Sciences first-years, prop manager Aimee Cedeno and costume designer Gabriella Avagyan, both School of Arts and Sciences juniors, lighting designer Ria Mehra, a Rutgers Business School sophomore and set designer John Baker, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, among many others.

"This cast and crew are perfect. This has been the best process I've ever been a part of in student theater in my time at Rutgers," said Sydney Forrester Wilson, a Mason Gross School of the Arts senior, the director of LTC's "Rent." 

Wilson is more than excited to direct her favorite musical for the first time after assistant directing in various other productions.

"I feel like I got really lucky with Rent being chosen," she said.

Anne Gambourg, a School of Arts and Sciences senior and LTC's managing director, explained that in addition to being a major draw for new cast members and production staff, "Rent" as a musical has an especially compelling message.

"The story is also so powerful and we wanted to spread the message of love and community," she said.

Rent is certainly not a straightforward musical — it has a mix of rock opera angst, lighthearted humor and devastating serious moments, all of which showcase the central theme.

"The HIV (and) AIDS crisis really boomed in the late 80s, early 90s. ("Rent") talked about the effects it had on a really diverse group of people living with or affected by it," Wilson said. "But it used that very real and dark theme to showcase how the love, friendships and connections that young people, artists, queer people, anyone really, affect the fruitfulness of one's life."

According to Wilson and Gambourg, some moments to look out for in the show are musical numbers "I’ll Cover You (Reprise)" and "La Vie Boheme."

Wilson wants the audience to take away a lot of things from the production, but mainly she wants people to feel connected to the story and the passion of its performers.

“I just hope people walk away feeling like they have been brought into this community with all of us. So much of the show is blocked in a way to incorporate the audience in the story and the moments. I hope they feel that and walk away feeling touched by it,” she said.