For Immediate Release
Monday, July 27, 1998

Costa Mesa, CA - Seats in the front two rows of the orchestra will be made available for $20 each for every performance of RENT, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, August 5 through August 16.

The $20 tickets will go on sale at the Orange County Performance Arts Center box office, on the day of the performance only, two hours prior to each show.  They are available to anyone, cash only, with a limit of two tickets per person.

"In keeping with the spirit of the show and the vision of Jonathan Larson (the show's creator), we are happy to be able to offer prime seats to people who otherwise would not be able to purchase them," explained RENT producer Kevin McCollum.

"Jonathan was himself a struggling artist and his dream was to create a universal piece of musical theater that's available to everyone."

The tradition of the $20 tickets was started in New York when the show moved to Broadway after a sold-out run in a small downtown theater.  Since that time, people have lined up as early as the night before to guarantee their purchase of the $20 tickets.  The producers of the show are committed to continuing the tradition of offering orchestra seats for $20 in each city the show will play.

RENT makes its Orange County premiere at the Center on Wednesday, Aug. 5 and runs through Aug. 16.  The performance schedule is as follows:  Tuesday - Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m; Sundays at 2 p.m and 7:30 p.m; Thursday, Aug. 6 at 2 p.m. and 8.p.m and there is no performance on Monday, Aug. 10.  The $20 tickets are available at the Center box office, 600 Tower Center Drive, Costa Mesa, only.  For general ticket information, call (714) 556-ARTS.