by Billy Tyus
Herald & Review
January 28, 2000

It's a theme that's been replayed endlessly in the annals of popular entertainment. A man toils his entire life working to fulfill his dream but dies just as that dream is about to be realized.

Only with the musical "Rent" -- scheduled to hit the University of Illinois at Springfield's Sangamon Auditorium next week -- the story is all too real. Then 35 years old and broke, Jonathan Larson toiled writing the musical for more than seven years only to die of an aortic aneurysm on Jan. 25, 1996, the day of the show's final dress rehearsal.

He never saw the show hit the Broadway stage. "Rent," however, went on to win four Tony Awards (including best musical), six Drama Desk awards, three Obie Awards and the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Newsweek magazine calls the show "the breakthrough musical for the '90s," while Rolling Stone's Peter Travers labels it "a raw and riveting milestone in musical theater" and issues praise for its role in "reinventing Broadway."

The musical represents a 1990s interpretation of Puccini's "La Boheme," billed as a musical that celebrates a community of artists as they struggle with the soaring hopes and tough realities of today's world. Set in New York

City's gritty east village, it tells the story of the oft-unseen culture that lives there weaving rock music's defiance with the civility of live theater.

The most obvious -- and often heard -- comparison is to the high-energy musical "Hair."

"It's a place where young people live trying to survive and do their work," production stage manager Mark Tynan said of the setting. "In Puccini's day, it was young artists, but today it's updated to the 20th century.

"And it's definitely rock 'n' roll in nature, which means that it's a little loud, but that's indicative of today's society."

It is in "Rent" that poet Rodolfo and Mimi the seamstress -- the love interests in Puccini's work -- are replaced by HIV-positive rock musician Roger and Mimi, who has also tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS. Whereas much of "La Boheme" is set in an artists' garret in Paris, "Rent" sees much of its time in Roger's east village tenement.

Critics have applauded the show for its ability to transcend "traditional theater" and attract a wide audience, including those who normally might not see a live stage play. Tynan -- who has also worked on national productions of "The King and I," "Victor/Victoria" starring Julie Andrews and Radio City Music Hall's "Christmas Spectacular" -- said it is that characteristic that has led to the show's overwhelming popularity.

"It's just that the story is so universal," he said. "It appeals to almost every income level, every lifestyle level, and it's a very affirming story of love and acceptance.

"It's easy to identify with everyone in the cast."

Sangamon spokeswoman Debi Edwards agreed, adding that interest in the show has picked up significantly in the last few weeks.

"We've got our usual Broadway crowd, which tends to be a little older, but we've also gotten a lot of interest from the college-age crowd," she said. "We've had purchases from all over Central Illinois and other parts of the state."