Overview
Synopsis
Based on Puccini’s beloved opera La Bohème, Rent follows the ups and downs of a year in the life of a group of impoverished, artistic friends living in Manhattan’s East Village. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, struggles to find his place in the world; his roommate Roger, an HIV-positive musician, wonders how he will leave his mark before he dies. Mimi and Angel look for true love as they face the harsh reality of life as HIV-positive young people, while the businesslike Joanne seeks fidelity from her wild-child performance artist girlfriend Maureen. The group’s dreams, losses, and love stories weave through the musical’s narration to paint a stunningly raw and emotional portrait of the gritty bohemian world of New York City in the late 1980s, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Show Information
- Book
- Jonathan Larson
- Music
- Jonathan Larson
- Lyrics
- Jonathan Larson
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- New York City, Late 1980’s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Rock Combo
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, High School, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Jonathan Larson first began work on Rent when he was 29 years old. Living in a shabby Manhattan apartment not unlike the one Mark and Roger inhabit in the show, his New York City in 1989 was awash with homelessness, crack cocaine, and the deadly AIDS epidemic. He was recommended as a composer/lyricist to playwright Billy Aronson, who was interested in creating a musical adaptation of Puccini’s opera La Bohème. The two met and workshopped some of the musical
to read the context for Rent - School Edition and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
It is Christmas Eve in 1987. Mark Cohen, an aspiring filmmaker and the show’s narrator, is setting up his camera in his sparse East Village loft apartment. He turns his camera on his roommate Roger Davis, a former junkie and songwriter and trying (unsuccessfully) to write a new song ("Tune Up #1"). Mark’s mother calls; they screen the call, and she leaves a message saying how sorry she is to hear about Mark’s ex-girlfriend Maureen Johnson, who left him for a woman ("Voicemail #1").
to read the plot for Rent - School Edition and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
Songs
Act 1
- "Tune Up #1" — Mark and Roger
- "Voice Mail #1" — Mark's Mother
- "Tune Up #2" — Mark, Roger, Collins and Benny
- "Rent" — Mark, Roger, Benny, Collins, Joanne and Company
- "You Okay, Honey?" — Preachers, Angel and Collins
- "Tune Up #3" — Mark and Roger
- "One Song Glory" — Roger
- "Light My Candle" — Mimi and Roger
- "Voice Mail #2" — Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson
- "Today 4 U" — Collins, Roger, Mark and Angel
- "You'll See" — Benny, Mark, Roger, Collins and Angel
- "Tango: Maureen" — Joanne and Mark
- "Life Support" — Gordon, Paul, Mark and Company
- "Out Tonight" — Mimi
- "Another Day" — Mimi, Roger and Company
- "Will I?" — Steve and Company
- "On the Street" — Preachers, Squeegee Man, Mark, Collins, Angel and Homeless Woman
- "Santa Fe" - Collins, Angel, Mark and Company
- "I'll Cover You" — Angel and Collins
- "We're Okay" — Joanne
- "Christmas Bells" — Company
- "Over the Moon" — Maureen
- "La Vie Bohème A" — Mark, Waiter, Roger, Benny, Mimi, Collins, Angel, Maureen, Joanne, Mr. Grey and Company
- "I Should Tell You" — Mimi and Roger
- "La Vie Bohème B" — Maureen, Collins, Joanne, Mark, Angel and Company
Act 2
- "Seasons of Love A" — Company
- "Happy New Year A" — Mark, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Angel, Maureen, and Joanne
- "Voice Mail #3" — Mark's Mother and Alexi Darling
- "Happy New Year B" — Mark, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Angel, Maureen, Joanne, and Benny
- "Take Me or Leave Me" — Maureen and Joanne
- "Seasons of Love B" — Company
- "Without You" — Roger and Mimi
- "Voice Mail #4" — Alexi Darling
- "I'll Cover You" (Reprise) — Collins and Company
- "Halloween" — Mark
- "Goodbye Love" — Mark, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Maureen, Joanne, and Benny
- "What You Own" — Roger and Mark
- "Voice Mail #5" — Roger's Mother, Mimi's Mother, Mr. Jefferson, and Mark's Mother
- "Finale A" — Preachers, Mark, Roger, Collins, Maureen, Joanne, and Mimi
- "Your Eyes" — Roger
- "Finale B" — Company
There are a few songs in which verses are cut in order to accommodate a cleaner script and shorter run time. These songs with changes are, “Light My Candle,” “Out Tonight,” “Another Day,” “I’ll Cover You,” “Christmas Bells,” “La Vie Boheme,” “Without You,” and both parts of “Finale.” The song “Contact” is removed entirely due to its inappropriate nature for a school audience.
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a medical condition caused by the HIV virus that weakens the immune system. It has had a profound impact on the performing arts community, particularly in the late 20th century, as many artists and organizations have addressed its social and personal effects through theatre.
A medication used to treat HIV/AIDS. Frequently referenced in plays addressing the AIDS crisis, such as 'Angels in America.'
A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.
Describes characters or artists who reject conventional norms, often romanticized in theatre and musicals.
A public performance before official opening night, used to fine-tune a show based on audience response.
A genre or technique that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize human folly or societal flaws. Satire is common in political and literary theatre.
A silent, motionless group of actors representing a scene or moment, often used for dramatic effect or to end a scene visually.
A developmental process for a theatrical work involving readings, rehearsals, and informal performances to refine material.
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