The smash musical RENT extended in Mesa

Mesa, AZ – Due to audience response Mesa Encore Theatre proudly extends the rock opera RENT another weekend, November 27-28 at the Nesbitt-Elliott Playhouse Theater in the Mesa Arts Center. RENT is about a group of young artists and musicians in the East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City. It tells the unforgettable story of a group of friends struggling to survive, falling in love, finding their voice, and living for today.

RENT was inspired by Puccini’s classic opera, “La Boheme.” The show’s creator, Jonathan Larson, lived in poverty similar to that endured by his characters. He stopped working in a SoHo diner only two months before the play opened and dreamed of earning enough money to afford cable TV. The historic musical first opened Off-Broadway on January 25, 1996 at the New York Theatre Workshop. Tragically, Larson died suddenly the night before the off-Broadway premiere from an aortic aneurism. Due to the overwhelming audience response, RENT moved to Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre and went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

RENT played its final Broadway performance on September 7, 2008 after 5,124 performances and it is currently the seventh longest running show in Broadway history. Over the course of its groundbreaking 12-year New York run, RENT transformed the definition of musical theater. It changed Broadway and revolutionized the way a generation feels about musical theatre.

Phillip Fazio returns to Arizona from New York City to direct the production, with musical direction by Debra Jo Davey and choreography by Elizabeth Reynolds. The cast of RENT features several local stage favorites including Edgar Torrens, Damon Bolling, Lucas Coatney, Cassie Davis, Jenn Jackson, Brett Aiken, Summer Masuda, and Myles Vann. Whether this would be your 1st time or your 100th time, you won’t want to miss this production of RENT.

Tickets may be purchased at the Mesa Arts Center box office located at 1 E. Main St. in Mesa or by calling 480-644-6500. RENT contains adult language and situations and is recommended for mature audiences.

Remaining RENT performance dates are Friday evening, November 27 and Saturday, November 28 with a matinee and evening show. Discount tickets are available for students, teachers and seniors. In the original tradition of making this production accessible to everyone, tickets will be discounted to $15 in an Everybody Rush the last 15 minutes before show time, and then dropped to $10 after the show starts.

Published on behalf of Mesa Encore Theatre
Mesa Encore Theatre strives to bring the fun and excitement of live theatre with integrity and dedication to excellence. For more information, visit www.mesaencoretheatre.com.

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