Rent at Second Stage

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Rent is a powerful and poignant musical that follows the lives of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to make ends meet in New York City's Alphabet City in the late 1980s. The shadow of HIV/AIDS hangs heavy over their lives, adding a layer of urgency and heartbreak to their struggles.

The story centers around Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, who documents the lives of his friends Roger, a talented but self-destructive musician grappling with AIDS, Mimi, a fragile and drug-addicted dancer who falls in love with Roger, Collins, a philosophical philosophy professor, and Angel, a drag queen with a heart of gold.

The musical explores themes of love, loss, friendship, addiction, and the search for meaning in a world facing a devastating health crisis. Rent's powerful music, a blend of rock and pop, and its honest portrayal of these characters' struggles resonated deeply with audiences, making it a cultural phenomenon. It became a touchstone for a generation grappling with issues of identity, sexuality, and loss.

Authors

• Billy Aronson
• Jonathan Larson

Tony Awards and Nominations for Rent