Chicagoland fans of both college basketball and musical theater know Wichita State is not the only team to enjoy an undefeated regular season.
Aurora’s Paramount Theatre completes its own 2013-14 perfect campaign with its absolutely spectacular production of “Rent,” following the equally triumphant trio of “In the Heights,” “Miss Saigon” and “42nd Street.”
And know that there are at least 525,600 reasons to see this show before it closes on April 6.
That’s the number of minutes the story of “Rent” tells, measuring a year in the lives of a group of impoverished artists and musicians dodging the landlord of their run-down lofts and homeless tent village on New York’s Lower East Side. The edgy, rock musical by Jonathan Larson is based on Puccini’s “La Boheme” with a backdrop of the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the mid-late 1980s.
A full synopsis of the 1996 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, the 2005 motion picture and 2008 final Broadway film may be found here.
The first notable highlight in Director Jim Corti’s staging is his dazzling Scenic Designer Kevin Depinet’s full use of this stage’s generous height. Transformed into a three-story industrial loft with numerous levels, Corti’s stage offers him maximum flexibility and, together with brilliant lighting design by Jesse Klug and Nick Belley, can only be described as visually stunning.
The backdrop is well deserved for a cast so talented it could perform this show at any Broadway theater in an open run that would last long enough to make the most tight-fisted producer smile.
The true ensemble cast (they bow as a family, singing a reprise of “Seasons of Love”) has a plethora of signature performances. Welcome home to Andrea Prestinario, last seen in these parts as Louise in Drury Lane’s 2012 “Gypsy.” She’s a stellar Maureen, and her “Take Me or Leave Me” with Meghan Murphy as Joanne may be this year’s finest onstage duet.
Andrew M. Mueller and Adam Michaels as roommates Mark and Roger offer solid performances in their roles of relative normalcy. They provide the structure to spotlight the daylights, sunsets, midnights and cups of coffee lived by the characters of Angel (Sawyer Smith), Tom Collins (Evan Tyrone Martin) and Mimi (Adaeze’ Kelley).
Additional music highlights include Kelley’s “Out Tonight;” “Seasons of Love,” with jaw-dropping solos from Raven Monique Dockery and Michael Potsic; the stunningly beautiful “I’ll Cover You” by Martin and Smith, the two Michalels/Kelley duets, “Without You” and “I Should Tell You;” and the comical “Tango Maureen” by Mueller and Murphy.
Indeed, Corti and his terrific Music Director Shawn Stengel ought to have a cast recording made of this entire, splendid songbook.
While the grittiness of “Rent” may keep the title from more sensitive patrons’ picks for their final four, everyone else needs to take a break from college hoops and find their way to Aurora (it’s a lot closer than one might think) before this show closes in early April.
Because among the 525,600 journeys to plan for 2014, Paramount’s “Rent” is “One Shining Moment” not to be missed.
“Rent” runs through April 6 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets ($36.90–49.90) and information are available online, by calling 630-896-6666 or visiting the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and two hours prior to evening performances.
Barry Reszel is a Libertyville-based writer, reviewer, at-home dad and executive director of the not-for-profit entertainment company Liberty Town Productions.
