Photo Flash: RENT Welcomes Original Soloist Gwen Stewart

Based on Puccini's 'La Boheme', Jonathan Larson's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning revolutionary rock opera ‘Rent' tells the story of one year in the life of eight friends living the Bohemian life struggling to express themselves through their art and "measuring their lives in love." Against the gritty backdrop of New York's East Village, these friends strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic.

On Saturday, February 19th, the Original RENT Broadway "Seasons of Love" Soloist Gwen Stewart paid a visit to The Royal Underground Hollywood production of RENT rehearsals to meet the cast and show her support. Stewart sat down and spoke with the cast about that day RENT creator Jonathan Larson passed away, a day before the show's now-fateful opening night and how the cast found the strength to continue.

Stewart said that the play symbolically became his epitaph, including the themes of ‘No day but today' and ‘forget regret, or life is yours to miss.' Feeling inspired by the emotion from Stewart, the cast went on to perform "Rent", "Support Group", and "Another Day" for Stewart. By the time "Seasons of Love" began, there was hardly a dry eye in the room as Stewart joined them in her famous rendition of the now-classic Broadway tuner, "Seasons of Love."

Stewart told the cast that the show continues to be relevant. "I find it funny when people say this show is outdated and has become a period piece. The show is about love and acceptance, no matter what disease or issues people take from the play. Those who say RENT is about AIDS is missing the point. When the world gets rid of disease, of suffering and intolerance, then RENT would be outdated. But unfortunately, that's not going to happen anytime soon."

Royal Underground/Jerica Productions spearheaded by brother and sister duo Jerianne and Enrico Banson, who mounted the Regional Premiere of RENT in San Francisco, has taken the musical to Los Angeles for the first time. Many RENT fans have credited their rendition as the best regional version paying homage to the iconic original Broadway production while finding new creative staging. So much so, that their production has earn nominations for BroadwayWorld.com's San Francisco Fan Choice Theatre Awards for 2010, earning a Best Leading Actor nomination for Enrico Banson as Roger, and Adrienne Fraser for Best Scenic Design. Both are back for the Hollywood production and coincidentally enough, Jason Aaronson who will play Mark opposite Enrico Banson's
Roger is also nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance of the
West Coast Premiere of Glory Days.

Original Broadway cast member Gwen Stewart is on board with full support for the production and will often visit the rehearsals and lend her unending support to director Jerianne Banson and it's cast and crew. The Bansons met Julie Larson on the set of the 2005 film version of RENT and had a wonderful connection with Julie and her brother Jonathan's legacy. It is no surprise that RENT fans along with Gwen Stewart are showing their support for the highly anticipated production. On March 18th 2011, RENT: The Musical will open at The Hudson Theatre, directed by Jerianne Banson and featuring Enrico Banson as Roger.

Still, even though it's technically a remount of the San Francisco regional premiere, the show will be reworked for the Hudson Backstage Theatre and will implore on some new, interesting choices. "There's a fine line with RENT since many elements in the show have become so iconic," Jerianne admits, "but I'm blessed with such a talented group of actors and a creative team sent from the heaven's above who bring a lot to the table.

In 1998, the brother and sister team of Enrico and Jerianne Banson formed JERICA an independent Production Company based in San Francisco, California. The Production Company primarily focuses on film and cinema while branching out to other forms of media and entertainment such as web publication and performing arts. The production group consists of artists of all kinds who enjoy working in an industry-based environment, practicing industry-style ethics, while maintaining an atmosphere that is accessible and enjoyable. JERICA strives as a film and media group providing young independent artists of all kinds, a doorway to present their works and be heard.

THE ROYAL UNDERGROUND is the performing arts branch of its parent company JERICA, dedicated to producing high quality performance works of all kinds: Theatre, Dance, Poetry, Music, and Performance Arts. Firmly believing that audiences are attracted to new questions, not old answers, the Royal Underground produces exciting, muscular, and intelligent plays, musicals and new works that are innovative, at times provocative, and always entertaining; productions that not only challenge the artists involve but the audience as well. For more information about JERICA and the ROYAL UNDERGROUND please visit www.jericaproductions.com

 

Photo Credit: Kelsea Mayfield

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