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RENT , a Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical, with lyrics and music by Jonathan Larson débuted in New York City on February 13, 1996 at the New York Theatre Workshop before moving to Broadway, where it is still playing as the seventh-longest-running Broadway musical ... AND now it's coming to South Africa thanks to Hazel Feldman and showtime Productions..
The eight principal roles will be filled by seven highly talented young performers; DUANE ALEXANDER (Cats - local production and international tour; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat; Chicago, Jesus Christ Superstar - Johannesburg and Cape Town 2006 and Athens, Greece in 2007), SEAN V ("Oh Boy, "Nataniel and Friends" at the Royal Albert Hall, London, Hi-5, We Will Rock You, Rock me Amadeus), TALIA KODESH (Sound of Music, Cats, Born in the RSA, We Will Rock You, Egoli, Jozi Streets), SIVAN RAPHAELY (We Will Rock You, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Jo'burg Follies 2000), AUBREY POO (Annie, Far From the Maddening Crowd, Aladdin, Soweto Story and television programmes Muvhango, Zero Tolerance, Nomzamo, SABC TV's All You Need is Love), ZANE GILLION (Fangs, Villa Rosa, Komplex, Best of the Boys - Calendar Boys) and THOKOZANI NZIMA (Soweto Story, Rock Me Amadeus, Rock On, Kings and Queens of Music, Strictly Come Dancing), who share the stage with the experienced singer, award-winning stage and screen actress, ILSE KLINK (Fiddler on the Roof, The Fantasticks, Beehive, Scribble, Snoopy, Showboat, Big Band Blast, Chicago, Menopause - The Musical and Isidingo).
Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, RENT is a modernised story that follows the lives of a group of Bohemians living in New York City's East Village over the course of a year as they struggle with relationships, drugs, loss, love, creativity, AIDS and paying their "rent".
DUANE ALEXANDER plays the role of "Mark Cohen", a struggling documentary filmmaker and best friend of "Roger Davis", an HIV-positive musician who is recovering from heroin addiction played by SHAUN V. TALIA KODESH is "Mimi Marquez"; a sexy HIV-positive stripper and dancer who is also a heroin junkie and Roger's love interest. SIVAN RAPHAELY plays a spunky Caucasian soul/rock singer "Maureen Johnson", who Mark's ex-girlfriend and ex-girlfriend of "Joanne Jefferson", a tough, headstrong Harvard-educated lawyer played by ILSE KLINK. "Tom Collins", the HIV-positive philosophy teacher, friend and former roommate of Roger, Mark, and Maureen is played by AUBREY POO. ZANE GILLION is cast in the role of "Angel Schunard", an HIV-positive Drag Queen with a heart of gold and Tom Collins' love interest. "Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III", played by THOKOZANI NZIMA is the landlord of Mark, Roger and Mimi's apartment.
The eight-member ensemble features five male performers; JACO VAN RENSBERG (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Showboat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Stepping Out, Thoroughly Modern Millie), GRANT ALMIRALL (Abbamaniacs, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Showboat, ANTON LUITINGH (Rocky Horror Picture Show, Grease, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Showboat, Jesus Christ Superstar), JONATHAN SWART (Fiddler on the Roof, Stuart Little, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Babe, Showboat and Thoroughly Modern Milly), KEENO-LEE HECTOR (FAME, Witnesses, Stuart Little and he has performed in Spain, Taipei, Taiwan and Bangkok) and three female performers; CHANTAL HERMAN (Charlotte's Web, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Isidingo, Generations, Jozi Street), LORRI GLAJCHEN (Hot Shock, We Will Rock You,Music in You, Blondes, 7de Laan, Backstage) and GENNA GALLOWAY (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Showboat - Germany, The World of Beatrix Potter, Home Affairs). Each of the ensemble members will play a role in the production. Most of the RENT cast members live in Gauteng excluding DUANE ALEXANDER, ANTON LUITINGH, GRANT ALMIRALL, JONATHAN SWART and KEEN-LEE HECTOR who are Cape Town-based.
RENT is acclaimed Musical Director Bryan Schimmel's third production for Hazel Feldman, having helmed both CHICAGO and WE WILL ROCK YOU. The RENT band includes Jean Gabriel on drums, Jiggs Downing on bass and Rowan Bakker working with Bryan for the second time as Assistant Musical Director.
The talented South African creative team of Jill Somers (Choreographer and Company Manager); Bryan Schimmel (Musical Director and keyboard player accompanied by a five piece band), Alistair Kilbee (Technical Manager) and Craig Urbani (Resident Director).
Johannesburg bookings for the international, highly acclaimed award winning musical, RENT are now open at Computicket. Performance times: Tuesdays - Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm and Sundays at 2pm and 6pm. Ticket prices: Tuesdays to Saturdays (late show): R 135, R 245, R 310; Saturday matinee and Sundays (both shows) R 110, R 210, R280. FREE, SECURE PARKING is available just 300 metres away from the theatre entrance. Book now on line at www.computicket.com or call Computicket on 083 915 8000 or visit your nearest Computicket outlet. In view of the adult content of this production, parents are advised of a PG 10-age restriction. Regret, no children under three years of age. Cape Town ticket sales will open at a later date.
A 10% discount on the top price only is offered for group bookings of 20 or more tickets. Group discount excludes Saturdays and Sundays. For group bookings contact Samantha or Allison on (011) 340-8128.
Exclusive to students and scholars only is a special discounted ticket price of 50% off limited to one RENT ticket only per student, valid on Tuesdays only and subject to presentation of an original student ID card. Student bookings must be made at the Alexander Theatre box office or at a Computicket outlet. Online and telephone bookings are not applicable. |
