The cast of “RENT.” Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
“RENT” is a modern rock musical, with music, lyrics, and book by Johnathan Larson, based on the 1896 opera “La Boheme” by Giacomo Puccini. The first production was in 1993 at the New York Theatre Workshop off-Broadway. The show moved to Broadway in 1996 where it ran for 12 years, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, four Tony Awards (including Best Musical), and six Drama Desk Awards. The critical acclaim and success of the show led to several national tours, many international productions, an off-Broadway revival, a 2005 movie, a documentary, a school edition, a television adaptation, a film of the final Broadway performance, and several soundtrack recordings. “RENT” has been performed worldwide in 26 languages.
…highlighted the vocals of the actors and the intensity their expressions and interactions brought to the lyrics.
The performance opened with an introduction by the conductor of the 16-piece orchestra. Unfortunately he did not introduce himself or the musicians, and there was no information about them in the program. He told the audience that this new, touring concert version allowed them to take cell phone photos and videos (without flash) and participate vocally throughout the show. The orchestra played well under his baton, and he kept a close eye on the cast and occasionally nodded at them for song entrances. This was no easy task since the first act alone was over an hour and a half.
The show was enhanced by blue, green, and pink lights overhead with spotlights on the vocalists. A fog machine created misty atmosphere. Costumes were basically street clothes one might expect to see on urban youth. The singers stood or sat in front of music stands and held scores as they moved to regroup for different solos, duets, trios, quartets, and group songs.
The musical tells the story of a group of poverty-stricken artists trying to create a life and struggling to survive in the bohemian culture of New York’s Alphabet City, a section of Lower Manhattan’s East Village. It features a diverse cast of characters navigating their dreams and relationships in the age of the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The show also explores artistic creation, LGBTQ+ issues, addiction, social injustice, gentrification, activism, and themes of love, loss, community support in times of adversity, and living in the moment without regret.
There are eight main characters in “RENT.” Mark (Tommy Kaiser) is an aspiring documentary film-maker and serves as narrator. Roger (Will Hastreiter) is a rock musician and recovering addict. Mimi (Jasiana Caraballo) is a teenage club dancer and heroin addict. Tom (Terrance Johnson) is described as a gay anarchist and philosophy professor at NYU. Angel (Kris Carrasco) is a street-percussionist and drag queen. Maureen (Alex Lugo) is a bi-sexual performance artist. Joanne (Candice Woods) is an Ivy League-educated lesbian and public interest lawyer. Benny (Ruchir Khazanch) is the group’s former roommate, now their landlord. The ensemble players (Chachi Delgado, Joseph DePietro, Rodney McKinner, Nisa Mercado, and Neema Muteti) portrayed minor characters and sang in ensemble songs.
The characters of Roger, Mimi, Tom, and Angel deal with the emotional and physical complications of HIV/AIDS. The other characters deal with relationship problems between lovers and friends. This was a truly ensemble cast celebrating the 30th anniversary of a ground-breaking show. The concert version highlighted the vocals of the actors and the intensity their expressions and interactions brought to the lyrics. The music was strong, the miasmatic singing powerful throughout, and the message was “in your face.”
“RENT” is an emotional and thought-provoking experience. The show’s most popular ensemble songs, “Seasons of Love,” and the final theme, “No Day But Today,” had the audience singing and cheering. How poverty and disease affect a person’s dreams, hopes, personal relationships, and life in general provides a unique look into “la vie boheme” of the late 20th century through the story and songs of “RENT.”
Running Time: Two hours and 30 minutes, plus a 20-minute intermission.
Advisory: Strong language, profanity, themes of HIV/AIDS, illness, grief and death; references to drug use and addiction; sexual content and suggestive dialogue; brief references to suicide and self-harm.
“RENT in Concert” was performed on February 14, 2026, at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral Street, Baltimore MD 21201. For information and to purchase tickets for future events, please call the Box Office at 410-783-8000 Tuesday-Friday from 10 am-5 pm or Saturday-Sunday from 12 noon-5 pm, or go online. The Box Office is also open one hour before each performance and through intermission for walk-up sales.
