Theatre Artists United Present RENT, 3/30-4/7

Alaska Theatre of Youth and Theatre Artists United present the cultural phenomenon, RENT, at the Sydney Laurence Theatre. The production is scheduled to run March 30 and 31, April 1, and April 4-7.

Set in the corner-shop, fire-escape bohemia of the East Village in New York City, RENT portrays a group of musicians and artists determined to survive the rawness of falling in love, finding one's voice, and living for today during the rise of HIV/AIDS. With music and lyrics created by the late Johnathon Larson and based off Puccini's opera LA BOHEME, RENT has become a landmark in Broadway's history, credited for opening gritty side-street doors for many other modern shows that dare to be honest, and real enough to be emotionally haunting.

The musical was first seen in a limited three-week workshop production at New York Theatre Workshop in 1994. This same New York City off-Broadway theatre was also the musical's initial home following its official January 25, 1996 opening. The show's creator, Jonathan Larson, died suddenly the night before the off-Broadway premiere. RENT went on to win the Pulitzer Prize and four Tony Awards the season it opened at the Nederlander Theatre in April of 1996. The show ended its run in 2008, running for 12 years, spawning a major Hollywood film and countless national and international productions. RENT currently plays Off-Broadway at New World Stages where it opened in 2011.

Tickets for RENT are available at www.centertix.net, or by calling the Sydney Laurence Theatre box office at (907) 632-2212.