Audition Notice: RENT
RENT
Directed and Choreographed by Amy Fritsche
Music Directed by Jonathan Swoboda
About RENT
(Provided by MTI) Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, Jonathan Larson's RENT follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom, and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
Rehearsals
Tentative Music Rehearsals Nov 27-30, 2023
Before Semester Start:
Saturday, January 13, 2024 | 1-6 p.m.
Sunday, January 14, 2024 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (With an hour lunch break)
Rehearsals continue Tuesday, January 16th following this weekly schedule:
Monday-Friday 6-10 p.m.
Saturday or Sunday 6-hour rehearsal blocks
Performances
February 16-25, 2024
Preliminary Auditions
When:
November 13th (Starting At 6:00)
November 14th (Starting at 6:00)
Where:
Black Box
Come Prepared With:
One late ’80s /early ’90s Rock song, in the style of the show, no longer than 32 bars. Please, NO Musical Theatre or Pop.
Sign-Up:
Auditions will be scheduled in 5-minute slots.
To sign up for an audition, you must first create a free account with www.myshowbuilder.com
1. Go to www.myshowbuilder.com. Click “Register” in the upper left corner of the site, and create an account using your Kent Email Address.
2. Once you’ve registered, you will be sent a confirmation email (this may go to the junk/spam folder if you don’t see it in your inbox).
3. Click on the link in that confirmation email and login.
4. “Next” through steps 1-3 (About ShowBuilder>Production Name>Production Logo) and fill out Your Profile with the information you feel comfortable sharing, but at minimum, name and easy contact phone number for stage management. You can also upload your headshot here as well.
5. “Next” through to completion. If you have any problems, please feel free to contact Tom Humes (thumes2@kent.edu).
6. Once you have completed setting this up you can follow these links to the different audition days to sign-up:
Callbacks
Will be Wednesday, Nov 15th starting at 6:00 PM. Anyone being called back should receive an email by noon on the 15th. There will be a group dance call.
Character Breakdown
We are intentionally opening up the racial breakdown or Rent please see the following
MARK COHEN Vocal Range: Tenor (C#3-G4) Ethnicity: Any ethnicity
Mark is an aspiring filmmaker who narrates the show as he films the lives of his friends. Mark never leaves home without a camera.
ROGER DAVIS Vocal Range: Rock Tenor (B2-A4) Ethnicity: Any ethnicity
Roger is a once successful, now struggling musician who discovered he had HIV/AIDS in a note his girlfriend left him before she took her own life. His main goal in life is to write one great song before he dies, but he has not been able to play his guitar in a year, fearing that he has lost his creative energy. Guitar skills are desired
MIMI MARQUEZ Vocal Range: Alto (F#3-E5) Ethnicity: Black / Indigenous / Multiracial / Person Of Color
Mimi Marquez works in a strip club and struggles with her addiction to heroin, which has resulted in her contracting of HIV/AIDS. She falls in love with Roger, who is unable to commit to a relationship with her.
BENNY COFFIN III Ethnicity: Black / Indigenous / Multiracial / Person Of Color
Benny used to be Mark and Roger’s roommate, but he married Alison Grey, who is from a rich family involved with real estate, and he is now Mark and Roger’s landlord.
MAUREEN JOHNSON Vocal Range: Soprano Belt (C4-F5) Ethnicity: any ethnicity
Maureen is a bisexual performing artist and Mark's ex-girlfriend. She left Mark to be with her new girlfriend, Joanne. She is sexy, flirtatious, sassy, and funny.
JOANNE JEFFERSON Vocal Range: Soprano Belt (Bb3-E5) Ethnicity: Black / Indigenous / Multiracial / Person Of Color
Joanne is a lesbian Ivy League-educated lawyer and activist. She struggles to not be jealous of Maureen’s flirtatious nature with others.
TOM COLLINS Vocal Range: Bass/Baritone (F#2 – A4) Ethnicity: Black / Indigenous / Multiracial / Person Of Color
Tom Collins is a gay computer genius, teacher, and anarchist who was recently expelled from MIT. Tom and Angel’s relationship is the heart of the show, as the genuine love and devotion they have for one another brings hope and inspiration to the entire group.
ANGEL SCHUNARD Vocal Range: Tenor with Falseto (C3-A4) Ethnicity: Black / Indigenous / Mulracial / Person Of Color
Angel is a young drag queen and street percussionist who meets and falls in love with Collins. Angel is the most generous and selfless character in the show. Though they are living with HIV/AIDS, they embrace life and live it to its fullest. People are naturally drawn to Angel, and their smile lights up the room.
Multiracial/Multiethnic Ensemble to play the following roles:
• Mark's Mother
• Pam
• Mrs. Jefferson
• Woman with Bags
• Coat Vendor
• Mimi's Mother
• Ali
• Seasons of Love Soloist Female Identifying
• Alexi Darling
• Roger's Mother
• Sue
• Mr. Jefferson
• Christmas Caroler
• Preacher
• Seasons of Love Soloist Male Identifying
• Gordon
• The Man
• Mr. Grey
• Steve
• Waiter
• Squeegee Man
• Paul
• Cop
• Vendor
Content Information
Rent contains adult content such as: adult language, sex, LGBTIA relationships, homophobia, suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, AIDS/HIV epidemic, and homelessness.
Intimacy Information
The actors playing Maureen and Joanne must be comfortable with same-sex physical intimacy. The actors playing Angle and Tom Collins must be comfortable with same-sex physical intimacy. Maureen and Mark have a moment of intimacy. The actors playing Mimi and Roger must be comfortable with physical intimacy. The actors playing Mimi and Benny must be comfortable with physical intimacy.