by Chris Saunders
IDS News
November 30, 1999

Roger, the HIV positive rock singer, has but one wish before he succumbs to AIDS.

"One song before I go. Glory. One song to leave behind," he pleads to himself.

And although Roger is merely a fictional character in "RENT," the touring Broadway show opening 8 p.m. today at the IU Auditorium, his desire to outlive his physical life through art presents an ironic parallel to the creation of the rock musical based on the Puccini opera "La Boheme."

Jonathan Larson, "RENT's" young composer, also wanted to create a work of art that was larger than life. Unfortunately, Larson's life ended much sooner than anyone imagined.

Jan. 25, 1996, only hours after the final dress rehearsal of "RENT," before it was to open in previews off-Broadway, Larson suffered a fatal aortic aneurysm while preparing a kettle of tea. He was 35 years old and, like his characters in "RENT," was a poor, struggling artist literally to his dying day.

Larson didn't live to reap the benefits of his work, which has since become one of the most popular and provocative pieces of American theater in the '90s, as well as a recipient of both the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In the three years that "RENT" has sustained the attention of American audiences, the musical has made headlines for tackling sticky social issues, showcasing a typically young, diverse cast, and holding countless open call auditions for those seeking stardom, including one at IU in September.

"The story is so profound," said cast member Horace Rogers, who will play HIV positive computer genius Tom Collins in tonight's performance. "It's a love story. It doesn't have to be gay or heterosexual. It's human. In the end, we all want to know if someone is there for us."

The plot of "RENT" is not easily summarized. It centers around a group of young, "bohemian" friends and lovers living in New York City in the 1990s.

"It's about love between couples: lesbian, gay and heterosexual," Rogers said. "It deals with Roger's [the character] girlfriend's suicide. It deals with homelessness, AIDS, struggling artists and parents wondering why their kids have to be artists. I think it really captures the early '90s when having AIDS was considered a death sentence. Today, some people think the crisis is over, but it's not. This is why it's so important."

The actors in "RENT" have become almost as newsworthy as the show itself. Larson wanted the energy and exuberance of young artists to be captured in the show. He worked with director Michael Greif (who has directed each "RENT" cast since, including tonight's) to cast mostly unknowns, some complete theater amateurs, in the original ensemble. Since then, his wish has been maintained.

And tonight's cast is no exception. "We have a few people in the cast who are in their first show," Rogers said. "Others are more experienced. We have performers from Canada, Los Angeles and all over the country with varying backgrounds and experiences."

Larson wrote the roles to be racially and culturally diverse to reflect his experiences and friends he made while struggling as an artist in New York. But mostly, he wanted to celebrate the lives of those cut short by AIDS.

"I wanted to respond in some way to what I saw," he told a New York Times reporter just hours before he died.

And the response has been unprecedented. Perhaps because of "RENT's" aim at the young, plucky, and rich in spirit, it has appealed to a new audience. Some critics even credit the show with revitalizing Broadway, making theater relevant to a new generation.

"We do have the die-hard 'RENT' people who always show up at the shows," Rogers said. "These people are very familiar with the show. They're enthusiastic because they know it so well, and they always sit in the first two rows. Sometimes they can be too loud, but the support is nice."

After Bloomington, the touring company moves to Buffalo, New York. Rogers said the show's importance to the '90s culture cannot be underestimated.

"I think for those who have a sense of history, the show is even more important," Rogers said. "It's a real timepiece for what was going on in the early '90s. You could easily put it in a cornerstone."