BWW Interviews: Musical Director Rick Rea on Utah Rep's RENT

Utah Repertory Theater Company is gearing up to present the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT from September 20 to October 6 at downtown Salt Lake City's The Project.

Musical director Rick Rea spoke with BroadwayWorld about the personal and universal impact of the groundbreaking show and its iconic music.

1. How did you become involved with Utah Rep's production of RENT?

Johnny Hebda, the Artistic Director of RENT had gotten in touch with me in January when I was directing and music directing NEXT TO NORMAL at the Ziegfeld Theater. He, Cooper Howell (director of RENT), and I were able to connect at closing night for that production. We stayed in touch, really liked each other's work, and one thing led to another, and I was honored to receive the invitation to participate as the show's music director.

2. What do you like about RENT?

To me, RENT, in spite of all its imperfections, has a proprietary flavor that no show has had since, and certainly was in no show before it. There is a feeling when you watch RENT, a certain emotional experience that is distinctly RENT. It happens in moments where pain is expressed in beautiful ways that are universal to everyone in the audience, but sometimes it happens when you are simply watching two guys complain about how unfair it is that they can't afford to pay the rent because they refuse to "sell out" and get a job to support themselves.

Even in the moments where I (and others) disagree with characters in RENT, the writing and the music has a way of "selling you." That is what the best writing does. Sometimes it's simply the right orchestration. Or a simple lyric from Jonathan Larson stated in an off-beat, brilliant way no one could have ever said it.

RENT constantly makes its story palatable and relatable. As you watch it, you find yourself rooting for the characters and their struggles in the moments you agree with their viewpoint, but also in the moments you objectively don't. That's beautiful writing. RENT has a defined, totally unique world from anything else in all the arts. As unique as the world of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Willy Wonka, or Lord of the Rings. That's why it will live forever.

3. How does RENT's music inform the characterizations and plot?

The music is the characterizations and plot as far as I'm concerned. People who have listened to the score and never seen the show understand the show. If you didn't speak English and sat in the audience...you'd basically get it. The music has so many ways of expressing what is happening under the character's skin. A drum beat is an anxiety attack. An easy 6/8 bass line is a release of serotonin from the character's mentally escaping to Santa Fe. The best musicals tell the story more through music than lyric. RENT has brilliant lyrics, but its first language is music.

4. What is your favorite song in the show and why?

My favorite songs to listen to are "Santa Fe" and "You'll See Boys," because the groove and melody are so ear-delicious. But my absolute favorite song is "Without You." Want to talk about the power of simple lyrics? Mimi lays there naming all the things that will continue to happen in the world if she lost him.

"The crowds roar, the days soar, the babies cry, without you.

The moon glows, the river flows, but I die, without you."

The song is just a list. Then that last line "but I die, without you." The oh so simple lyrics of that song are better than most of the more complex songs that writers churn out. And when you add the sweeping music to elevate those words...musical theatre just doesn't get better than that.

5. Tell me about the live band and what it adds to the experience.

Our band is incredible. Fortunately for rehearsals, it is a piano heavy show, but the sound when we bring our phenomenal guitar, bass, and drum players to the mix. That's when it's really RENT. It's just one of those crucial pieces to the show. RENT without a rock band would be like Dorothy opening her door to a black and white Oz. It's the pulse and the soul of the show.

6. What has it been like working with the singers in the cast?

Just doing RENT in Utah, you expect have some of the best singers in the state show up, and that's exactly what we got. They are beautiful human beings and you can see it with them both as a group and when working with them one-on-one. They work hard, they have incredible voices, and it is a joy and an honor to make music with them.

7. Why should people see this production?

People who haven't seen RENT at all need to experience the joys and pains of this musical masterpiece. It may be a new favorite show for some, and it may not be up the alley of others, but it is sort of a bucket list musical. There are very few shows that left a mark on the art form that no show could escape from after. You can't escape RENT. Everyone needs to see what all the fuss is about.

To those who have seen it before, they have the unique experience of having it produced for them by artists from their community. When people walk into The Project, they are in a space in their own backyard, filled with artists who are in their community - go to their schools, patron their businesses, serve their meals - making something in a way only they could make it. It is not a Utah story, but it is a universal story. This is the time that Utah artists get to tell that story to Utah audiences. How can you not want to be a part of that?

8. Tell me about your past experiences working in theatre.

While it can be overwhelming, I am grateful to say I am constantly working. I don't know what it is like to be out of work as an artist. I serve as the artistic director of Ziegfeld Theatre Company based out of Ogden. With them I produce eight shows a year. Most recent experiences there were music directing and producing SPAMALOT, which I am thrilled to say will be remounted this November in Ogden at the Ziegfeld Theater, and for two weekends in Park City at the Egyptian Theatre. Favorite other recent experiences include directing NEXT TO NORMAL for ZTC, directing and choreographing AVENUE Q at the Rose-Wagner, and performing as Danny in XANADU at Weber State University where I received my BA in Musical Theatre.

9. What is your favorite memory as an audience member of a musical?

The experience that sticks out in my mind is oddly enough one that I didn't see live. It was watching the DVD (it may have been VHS actually) release of the original Broadway cast of INTO THE WOODS. That's when it all made sense to me, what the art form can do that no other can, and it's been my favorite musical ever since. And sort of set the course of my life (for better or worse...)

Performances of Utah Rep's RENT are Sept. 20-Oct. 6 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinees Saturday, Sept. 21, and Sunday, Oct. 6. The Project is located at 258 West 700 South, Salt Lake City, 84101.

Tickets are $18-$15 at UtahRep.org/tickets or $20-$17 at the door. A Utah Rep tradition, Pay What You May special pricing will be Thursday, Sept. 26.

Contains mature themes and strong language.

Photo Credit: Jaron Hermansen / Underground Creative. Austin Archer as Mark Cohen, Derek Gregerson as Angel Schunard, Karli Lowry as Maureen, Trent English as Roger Davis.

To post a comment, you must register and login.