BrightSide Theatre Presents RENT, 6/14-30

BrightSide Theatre closes their Second Season with the entertaining and enlightening Modern MasterpieceJonathon Larson's Pulitzer and Tony Award winning rock opera, "RENT".

Based on Puccini's La Boheme "RENT" tells the story of one year in the life of a group of friends who are impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in the New York City's Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass - says, "The core message of "RENT" - Unconditional Love and Acceptance - is what has kept this show relevant and running on and off Broadway for over 18 years and continues to inspire and enlighten audiences around the world. 'There's no day but today' to bring this landmark musical to the heart of downtown Naperville and onto our stage to feel how the strength, power and impact of love measures our lives in this modern world."

WHERE: Downtown Historic Naperville at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville, IL 60540. Ample parking is available around North Central College. Please observe all municipal street signs.

WHEN: Opening on Friday, June 14, 2013 8 p.m.

Closes on Sunday, June 30, 2013 3 p.m.

Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.

TICKETS: Publish this number: 630-637-SHOW (7469),

Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College

$24 for all regular performances

$20 for Seniors (62+) and Students w/School ID

$18 for Groups of 10 or more

As a way to positively impact Naperville and its surrounding communities, BrightSide Theatre is looking to its patrons to help support 360 Youth Services. 360 Youth Services provides life-changing services through prevention education, counseling and shelter, the same issues that face the characters in RENT. They believe that children, families and young adults already possess most of the tools they need to lead successful and fulfilling lives. Those who make a monetary donation for 360 Youth Services will be given a raffle ticket with the chance to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming BrightSide Theatre production. A pair of tickets will be given out at each performance.

STAFF: Jonathan Larson (Music/Lyrics/Book), Jeffrey Cass (Director), Oliver R. Townsend (Musical Director),Bobby Johnson Beck (Choreographer), Becky Robbins (Stage Manager), Jarrod Bainter(Scenic/Lighting/Film Design), Shana Hall (Costume Design), (Sound Design), Katie Gibson (Sound Design) Peggy Jensen (Assistant Stage Manager) and Miguel Garcia (Technical Director)

CAST: Darien's Rusty Koenig (Roger), Chicago's Nicole Lambert (Mimi), Kyle Michael Kuhlman (Mark),Jose A. Guerrero (Angel), David Robbins (Collins), Stephanie Souza (Maureen), Rachel Pallante (Joanne), Brett Baleskie (Ensemble), Brittany L. Bradshaw (Ensemble), Aimee Erickson (Ensemble),Bensenville's Steven Bernal(Benny), Addison's Steven Attanasie (Ensemble), Burbank's Donald Fitzgibbons (Ensemble), Westmont's Donterrio Johnson (Ensemble), Naperville's Shynell Owen (Ensemble), and Plainfield's Christopher Selefski (Ensemble)

BIOS: Jonathan Larson (Composer/Lyricist/Book Writer) received the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "RENT". He also won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical and the 1994 Richard Rodgers Award for "RENT" and twice received The Gilman & Gonzales-Falla Theatre Foundation's Comendation Award. In 1989 he was granted the Stephen Sondheim Award from American Music Theatre Festival, where he contributed to the musical "Sitting on the Edge of the Future". In 1988 he won the Richard Rodgers Development Grant for his rock musical "Superbia", which was staged at Playwrights Horizon. He composed the score for the musical "J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation", which was presented by En Garde Arts in 1995. Mr. Larson performed his rock monologue "tick, tick... BOOM!" at Second Stage Theatre, The Village Gate and New York Theatre Workshop. In addition to scoring and song writing for "Sesame Street", he created music for a number of children's book-cassettes, including Steven Spielberg's "An American Tail" and "Land Before Time". Other film scores include work for Rolling Stones magazine publisher Jann Wenner. He conceived, directed and wrote four original songs for "Away We Go!", a musical video for children. "RENT", his rock opera based on "La Boheme", had its world premiere on February 13, 1996 at New York Theatre Workshop. Mr. Larson died unexpectedly of an aortic aneurysm on January 25, 1996, ten days before his 36th birthday.

Jeffrey Cass (Director) most recently directed BrightSide Theatre's inaugural production - Run For Your Wife. This season he has directed Company and the inaugural production of the BrightSide Theatre Youth Project - Alice in Wonderland. He holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater Performance from Roosevelt University where he also studied lighting design and stage management. He previously served as the Producing Director for Circle Theatre where he was a company member for 4 years. Directing Credits include: The Who's Tommy (6 Joseph Jefferson Nominations including Best Musical and Best Director) Bash and The Distance From Here (Midwest Premier) by Neil LaBute, Burning Blue (Midwest Premier),Crazy for You, Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Urinetown, Peter Pan and New Plays Festival 2 and 3 at Circle Theatre.

MISSION: BrightSide Theatre is committed to Enlighten, Educate, and Entertain through comedies and inspirational stories from across the globe. A unique blend of award-winners, premieres, modern works and timeless classics meant to reflect upon and inform our community will inhabit BrightSide's stage.

INFO: BrightSide Theatre, 630-447-8497

info@BrightSideTheatre.com www.BrightSideTheatre.com

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