Imagine being a musician living in Lower Eastside New York. You fight constantly with your stripper girlfriend, yet cherish every moment you spend with her, knowing HIV could take either of your lives at any time.

This is the life of Roger, one of the central characters in the modern Broadway production Rent.

Today through Oct. 15, Roger and the other unique characters of Rent will put their lives on stage at Hancher Auditorium.

When Rent came to Iowa City in February 1999, ticket sales broke the Hancher Box Office record, said Winston Barclay, assistant director of Arts Center Relations. Ticket sales for that run of Rent surpassed the $717,000 record set by Les Miserables in the 1996-1997 season.

Rent appeals to many, but particularly to college students who are living on their own for the first time.

The musical follows the lives of a performance artist, a mathematician, a transvestite and several other characters who struggle with fame, love and hope while trying to remain true to their beliefs.

UI sophomore Melissa Kaser, who this week will see Rent for the third time, feels a special connection with Roger's girlfriend, Mimi.

"She's wild and does what she wants to," she said.

By living independently, Kaser has found that becoming a responsible adult has many advantages but also causes a lot of stress.

"The freedom to do what you please is definitely nice, but you also have to balance your life and manage your time," she said. "You have to start becoming responsible."

Fortunately, the majority of college students have the opportunity to live in a place that ensures a meal on the table and a bed at night. Students attend classes with the hope that they will one day land a dream job.

When forced to take on the challenges of independent living, many students realize that friends and family are the most important influences when there is a need for a helping hand.

"Sometimes I have to float a check or two to pay rent and then frantically call my parents and beg to borrow the cash," UI junior Beth Clasen said. "Rent made me realize that it could be worse. Much like the characters in Rent, I know that I have friends here to help me out."

Rent, which has won both a Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, allows the audience to go into the lives of ordinary people who remain optimistic about their futures while living in a worst-case scenario.

Rent's powerful music and adult content (the movie deals with issues such as homosexuality and AIDS) force viewers to take a look into their own lives. The musical serves as a reminder to hold onto dreams that seem impossible.