BWW Reviews: RENT Revival Raises Critical Funding for The Stigma Project

Southern California fans of musical theater are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the musical RENT with a one-weekend-only production of the beloved Broadway smash hit presented by Beyond the Stage productions, with proceeds from the show benefiting the HIV/AIDS outreach and education organization The Stigma Project.

Supported by research giant AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The Advocate Magazine, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Project Angel Food, AIDS/Lifecycle and the cause marketing firm Manchester Labs, the show runs for one weekend from May 31-June 2 at the Founder's Center Auditorium located at 3281 W. Sixth Street, Los Angeles, Ca 90020.

The Stigma Project is a grassroots organization that aims to lower the HIV infection rate and neutralize the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS through education and awareness campaigns, utilizing social media and advertising. The Stigma Project seeks to create an HIV neutral world, free of judgment and fear by working with both positive and negative individuals from all walks of life, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, race, or background. Additional information on The Stigma Project can be found atwww.thestigmaproject.org.

Just in case you are not familiar with why RENT is the perfect show for such a benefit, the musical is set in New York's gritty Alphabet City and follows a year in the lives of eight young bohemians dealing with the hardships of AIDS, poverty, homosexuality, death, hate, homelessness, and love.

The cast includes veterans of Broadway tours and hit television shows, as well as new talent from the Los Angeles area including Justin Alastair, Melissa Anjose, Alicia Armstrong, Brett Chapin, Tiana Damaris, Michael Davanzo, John Devereaux, Carmela Muzio Dormani, Matt Ellis, Caity Engler, Everjohn Feliciano, Megan Francis, Bianca Gisselle, Chris Gutierrez, Ben Heart, David LaMarr, Matthew Lopez, Mary Mather, Larissa McCoy, Brett McMahon, Rosie Moss, Nate Parker, Andreas Pantazis, Annalise Straudt, Ety Terry, and Brittney S. Wheeler.

Directed by Michael A. Sheppard with Music Director Daniel Gledhill, choreography by Palmer Davis and produced by MicheAl Smith and Michael Browne, the production is more of a staged concert than a fully staged musical production with the cast often standing and singing much like a choir. The ensemble numbers soar with beautiful harmonies and all the performers are wonderful singers. However, the too-fast pace of the show seemed to stress just moving from song to song rather than having the characters fully realized in many of the scenes. While the band The Noise sounded great and did justice to every song, it was often difficult to understand the words being sung as the music was a bit too loud or the sound system was tuned too low.

This production does feature state-of-the-art 3D video mapping technology for portions of the set, covering the columns around the stage with tenement like windows as if you are looking out from the loft apartment where most of the action takes place. Lovely photographs of appropriate locations are used as back-drops to delineate scene locations. And the cast fully utilized the minimal furniture, especially the tables which many seemed to fly up and down or even tumble across during their numbers. I do question why the snow kept falling throughout the show, even when the characters talk about it being Spring. It was a lovely effect, but surely it does not snow in New York year-round.

Thanks to the hard-working cast and crew for their dedication and support of the HIV/AIDS outreach and education organization The Stigma Project. Show your support by purchasing tickets for this event in advance at www.TheRentProject.com or before the show at the box office. Last performance is on Sunday, June 2 at 4:00pm. General Admission- $30; VIP Orchestra Seating - $80; Orchestra Seating- $50; Student Admission- $15

Founder's Center Auditorium is located at 3281 W. Sixth Street, Los Angeles, Ca 90020. Ample parking is available adjacent to the venue in the parking lot off of New Hampshire Street. For more information on this event visit www.BeyondtheStageProductions.com.