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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

Based on the Play/Book/Film
La Boheme
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1996
Genres
Drama
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
late 1980s
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
Musical Staging
Ideal For
College/University, Ensemble Cast, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Diverse Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Lead Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Roger Davis

Lead

Male

Tenor

Mimi Márquez

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mark Cohen

Lead

Male

Tenor

Angel Dumott Schunard

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Maureen Johnson

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Joanne Jefferson

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Tom Collins

Supporting

Male

Bass-Baritone

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either or Both

Variety

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
  • "Contact" — Angel and Company
  • "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

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

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    The name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when the body's immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.

    An antiviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS.

    References a singer who sings in a more chest voice dominant manner.

    Socially unconventional, often using artistic expression.

    Public performances of a theatrical production before the official opening, in which the director, cast, or crew can make adjustments to the performance before critics attend.

    A form of comedy that presents ridiculous extremes in order to make a point about society or human nature.

    French for "living picture," a posed scene in which actors communicate meaning through facial expressions and posture.

    The process of reading a new play out loud, receiving feedback, and making any necessary edits and revisions.

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