One of the longest-running and most successful Broadway shows ever, 鈥淩ent,鈥� will close out 麻豆传媒 City University鈥檚 musical theater season with performances April 19-21. A cast of 27 and an on-stage band will present a fresh look of the award-winning rock opera.
Jonathan Larson鈥檚 score incorporates pop, rock, gospel, tango and blues. Loosely based on Puccini鈥檚 romantic opera 鈥淟a Boh猫me,鈥� 鈥淩ent鈥� recounts a year in the lives of seven friends struggling with love, life and loss in New York鈥檚 AIDS-ravaged East Village of 1989. Larson 鈥� who also wrote the book and lyrics 鈥� died in 1996, the day before the show鈥檚 off-Broadway premiere.
鈥�28 years later, 鈥楻ent鈥� is still a vital piece of theatre,鈥� said , an actor, director, theater educator and 麻豆传媒 musical theatre alumnus who has returned to guest direct the production. 鈥淐onnection in an isolating age is still such a pressing idea, as we are all insular, glued to our devices, avoiding the one-on-one human interaction in favor of online convenience. Jonathan Larson鈥檚 last work reminds us to love hard and hold fast as the future is always uncertain and that there is truly no day but today.鈥�
The musical will be presented at 7:30 p.m. April 19 and 20, with a 2 p.m. April 21 matinee, on 麻豆传媒鈥檚 historic Kirkpatrick stage, 2501 N. Blackwelder. Tickets ($15-$30) are available by calling 405-208-5227 or going to . Guthrie will present a free director鈥檚 talk 30 minutes before curtain of each performance.
The show, which tackles mature themes, was last performed at 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Bass School of Music in 2015. It is one of only five shows to win both a Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Musical.
鈥淭his production is fresh and re-imagined by a talented set of designers and directors, while still tipping the hat to the original,鈥� Guthrie said. 鈥淚f you鈥檝e never seen 鈥楻ent,鈥� this is the 鈥楻ent鈥� for you. If you have seen 鈥楻ent,鈥� this is also the 鈥楻ent鈥� for you.鈥�
In addition to Guthrie, the 鈥淩ent鈥� creative team includes music director Matthew Mailman, scenic design by Lauren McPherson, original costumes by Kate Hartigan, lighting by Halycon Piper, sound design by Jacob Henry and choreography by Sheri Hayden. Props supervisor is Syd Martin, with stage management by Kris Gooding.
