TUTS Sets All-Teen Cast of RENT

Theatre Under The Stars' (TUTS) Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) proudly presents the inspiring, all-teen production of Rent September 18 & 19 at The Hobby Center. Winner of the TONY Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.

"I'm honored and excited to have the opportunity to direct the rock opera that impacted the whole world," said director Bobby Linhart. "Based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La Boheme, Jonathan Larson's Rent is a complex journey that highlights many themes - community, survival, relationships and hope. The bohemian way of life and Tuberculosis were at the center of Puccini's opera. Larson's tells the story of bohemian life in New York City's East Village under the shadow of the HIV/AIDS virus."

"There are millions of people worldwide who are currently infected with HIV/AIDS and sadly, one of every four new cases in the United States is among youth ages 13-24. Our amazingly talented cast of students from the Greater Houston Area fits into this age bracket and is posed to bring its unique perspective to the characters."

Roger Davis, played by Raheem Maughn, is a struggling musician living in the East Village of New York City. Maughn appeared as Enjolras in Klein High School's production of Les Miserables School Edition, nominated for a Tommy Tune Award earlier this year. Playing the role of Mark Cohen, Roger's loft roommate and a young filmmaker, is Dylan Lambert. Lambert is a student at St. Pius X High School and was most recently seen as Wilbur Turnblad in TUTS' HSMT production of Hairspray at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Former loft roommate and liberal professor, Tom Collins, is played by Manvel High School student Jamir Brown.

Appearing as Benjamin Coffin III, the landlord of Mark and Roger's apartment building and a former roommate himself, is Alex Rudd. Rudd was a member of Friendswood High School's Mary Poppins cast, earning a Tommy Tune Award nomination earlier this year. Joanne Jefferson, a smart public interest lawyer, will be played by Mallory Bechtel. Bechtel is a student at The John Cooper School and recently appeared as Velma Von Tussle in TUTS' HSMT production of Hairspray at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Acting as Angel Dumott Schunard, the eccentric street drummer with a magnetic personality, is Dawson High School student Aaron Strack.

Playing the role of Mimi Marquez, a club dancer living in the same building as Mark and Roger, is Melissa Ramos. Ramos was a Tommy Tune Awards Best Leading Actress nominee earlier this year for her role as Wednesday Addams in Kerr High School's production of The Addams Family, The Musical. Also appearing in Rent is High School for the Performing and Visual Arts student Samantha Williams, who plays Maureen Johnson, an unpredictably zany performance artist.

Other residents of New York City's East Village include Jaylen Axel, Cardero Berryman, Anthony Buzbee, Chase Callahan, Treat Carrier, Gerra Gistand, Blake Harlson, Austin Karkowsky, Ashlyn Maddox, Alexa Magro, McKenna Marmolejo, Jacob Masson, Savannah May, Grace Nardecchia, India Sherman, Aiden Snasdell, Desi Stephens, Elvin Stewart, Kerry Sullivan and Danielle Troiano.

Directing the TUTS production of Rent is Bobby Linhart. Linhart is a Tommy Tune-nominated director, technician and choreographer who has been acting and directing in Houston for many years at various venues. Recognized for his commitment and excellence in teaching, Linhart received the Houston Crystal Apple Award for Teacher of the Year and a nomination for the 2014 Houston West Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year. Mr. Linhart currently runs the theatre program at Houston Christian High School.

Choreographing this inspiring production is the incredibly talented Shay Rodgers, a native Houstonian who is currently in her 28th year with Theatre Under The Stars. Rodgers not only serves as the Manager of Education for the Humphreys School, but has also choreographed several HSMT productions including Big The Musical, Xanadu, Legally Blonde The Musical, VOTE! A New Musical, The Who's Tommy and 13.

Serving as Rent's Music Director is Jim Vukovich. Vukovich has worked on multiple Broadway productions and national tours including Hairspray, Rock of Ages, The Wedding Singer, Hot Feet, Whistle Down The Wind and The Duke Ellington Songbook. He has music directed several shows for TUTS and the TUTS Underground series and is also on the voice faculty at TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. Vukovich has conducted numerous symphonies throughout the country and has many prominent clients, such as Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin and Barry Manilow. Other members of the creative team include sound designer Andrew Harper and costume designer Colleen Grady.

Tickets (starting at only $24) are available online at TUTS.COM/RENT, by phone at (713) 558-TUTS (8887), outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882 or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, located at 800 Bagby at Walker, Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Special offers are available for groups of 10 or more by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at groupsales@tuts.com.

TUTS' production of Rent is made possible by the generosity of The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, the Immanuel & Helen B. Olshan Foundation and TUTS' HSMT Association. For more information on Rent, please visit TUTS.COM/RENT.

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