The acclaimed musical ‘Rent’ comes to the Ford Center for one performance Oct. 26 as part of the production’s 20th anniversary tour. Photo by Carol Rose.
OXFORD, Miss. – The 20th anniversary national tour of the smash musical “Rent” visits the University of Mississippi for one performance Thursday (Oct. 26) at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
“Rent” follows the lives of seven impoverished artists in New York City over the course of a year as they fight to pursue their dreams without giving up or selling out. Underneath the story are inspiring messages of joy and hope, facing fears, friendship and love.
“This courageous love story has resonated with opera audiences since 1896 with Puccini’s ‘La Bohème‘ and again with its modern reimagining 100 years later in ‘Rent,'” said Julia Aubrey, Ford Center director. “It is hard to believe that this 1996 musical is now 20 years old. Whether it is your first time or 10th, this musical still rocks.”
The Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical continues to capture audiences two decades later. It is one of only five musicals to win both awards.
“It has enormously valid things to say about the ways in which we all seek out community and form families, and how we take care of one another in very difficult times,” said Michael Greif, who directed the original off-Broadway and Broadway productions. “The message of the musical is to truly appreciate the time that we have and to truly appreciate each other, because you don’t know when someone will be gone from your life.”
The performance, based on the original direction by Greif, is restaged by Evan Ensign and choreographed by Marlies Yearby.
The “Rent” 20th anniversary tour is produced by Work Light Productions, whose other productions include “Cinderella,” “Mamma Mia!” “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” the Vocalosity national tour and “Crazy for You.”
A limited number of tickets are available at the UM Box Office inside the Ford Center. Tickets are $75 for orchestra/parterre and tier 1 box levels, $69 for mezzanine and tier 2 box levels and $63 for the balcony level. A 10 percent discount is available for UM faculty, staff and retirees when tickets are purchased at the box office.
For more information, visit http://fordcenter.org/.