Rent: School Edition

[maya5892]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 5:05pm

I found these pictures of a performing arts center in Florida's production on Rent.

http://www.starstruckstudio.biz/pages/shows/rent.html

It looks pretty cool, actually.

*I guess the page was removed..
Updated On: 4/14/08 at 05:05 PM

[broadwayrules]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 5:11pm

It does actually look good!

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 5:33pm

It definitely looks like a school production but it doesn't look bad. Although the wooden table(s) make me think of Godspell more than Rent.

[dramagirl487]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 7:39pm

theres clips of this version, of today for you on youtube. also, i'll cover you.

i think i just searched rent high school.

the clips looked really good. their angel ended up looking beautiful

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:19pm

This looks pretty good!

[EmieMarie]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:33pm

how much changed is the school version?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:42pm

http://www.compulsivebowlers.org/boards/viewtopic.php?t=7434

[maya5892]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:46pm

That's not the same place, Lizzie

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:49pm

No, but you can read about cuts and changes...

[maya5892]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 9:00pm

Ohhhhhhhhhh haha sorry. Yeah thanks.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 9:29pm

Wow, that looks great. Good job to everyone involved as far as the look of the show goes. I'm impressed!

[LittlexFallxOfxRain]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 10:05pm

I still need to make up my mind. It looks like they're doing a really great job, but the idea of Rent not on broadway makes me feel so...weird. I feel uncomfortable almost. It'll take some getting used to. But the cast and the costumes were chosen very well.

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 6:47pm

Champaign Central High School just concluded its production of Rent: School Edition. The MTI license isn't available until June, but they are one of, I understand, 4 high schools who got the license early to see how it would do and be received.

The school (which in recent years tackled Chicago and The Laramie Project) did a really good job. They had posters with AIDS information and brochures out as well. The music did sometimes overwhelm the actors. Some of the actors were able to connect with the material and some weren't. Mimi was a little too strong for my sensibilities. The young lady playing Maureen - Mollie Vigart - was excellent and really understood and related her character. The young man playing Roger - Corbin Dixon - also did an excellent job.

The high school crowd at first reacted as high schoolers - lots of reaction to the young man playing Angel when he came out in drag. Lots of reactions to Mimi gyrating in Take Me Out, and applause for American Idol verbal gymnastics in Seasons of Love. They calmed down for the second act and let the material reach them. There was audible crying and tears for Angel's funeral.

Some of the profanity was left in - no "freakin" substitute.
Kissing was minimal, and I don't think Angel and Tom ever kissed on stage.

I think the show does work with high schoolers - although the cast may get more out of it than the high school audience will. The only issue is one that is common to high school productions - the actors don't have the life experience or understanding to really bring the characters to life. They can say the lines - they can sing the notes - but, with some exceptions, don't really communicate the character.

I was talking to one of the local theatre directors at intermission and he noted the audience seemed to connect more with issues of sexual identity with Angel and Maureen than the audience connects with the drugs/AIDS issues, which are more significant to those of us from an earlier generation. So, he thinks the show is connecting differently, albeit with the same material.

[LittlexFallxOfxRain]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 6:57pm

Thanks for the review, it sounded awesome.

[maya5892]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 7:04pm

Yeah, thanks for your review.

[maya5892]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 12:30am

Here's a photo montage from it:
http://www.starstruckstudio.biz/rent.html

[HoshiForever]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 12:38am

OP link is 404ing.

[maya5892]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 12:45am

I think it's because the original page was removed. Weird. Just look at the link I just posted.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 3:31pm

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/927650,2_1_AU02_RENT_S1.article

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 3:38pm

Thanks Lizzie. If only West Auora wasn't an hour 1/2 away!

[nitsua]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 4:10pm

But it's RENT! It's worth the drive.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 4:11pm

Noone is willing to take me.

[timesquare01]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 7:03pm

the Angel in the video montage is beautiful. He truly has the face of what Angel should look like in my eyes.

[haleynn.piczo.com]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 1:59pm

i saw it last night... it was okay. the roger was so horrible that hes keeping me from seeing it again. he had one note and mumbled everything so you couldnt understand him. they took out "contact" so angel just slips away in 'without you"to signify him dying. He was good. kind of a weird singer but still any high schoolers willing to crossdress in front of huindreds of people get my respect. they changed "over the moon" to where its faster and it takes out the dramatic pauses we all know and love. But it was good. Al larson (Jonathon larsons daddy) sent them a letter and the director read it out loud before the show and by the end was crying... the "seasons of love"female soloist was AMAAAAAAAAAAAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 2:00pm