 FORUM
RENT
WHERE YOU CAN ALSO FIND...
Mark, a filmmaker
and the show's narrator, is spending a cold Christmas Eve in
the Lower East Side industrial loft he shares with his roommate
Roger, a musician. They receive several phone calls (TUNE UP/VOICE
MAIL #1). The first is from Mark's mother consoling him over
the loss of his girlfriend Maureen, a performance artist, to
JoAnne, a Harvard Law School graduate. The second is from their
friend Tom Collins who is detained by muggers. The last is from
their landlord Benny demanding the rent. The power blows and
so do Roger and Mark's tops (RENT).
Outside, Collins is reeling from the mugging. He is comforted
by Angel, a street musician, who offers him a helping hand (YOU
OKAY HONEY?). Both HIV+, Angel and Collins head out for a night
on the town and a life support meeting.
In response to a call for help, Mark sets out for the lot where
Maureen is performing a protest against Benny's eviction of the
homeless from a nearby lot. He urges Roger to come along but
he refuses. As Mark reports, Roger has not left the apartment
in six months. He is still reeling from the suicide of his girlfriend,
who slashed her wrists upon learning that she had AIDS. Roger
tries to write a song but the only melody he finds is "Musetta's
Waltz" from Puccini's La Bohème (ONE SONG GLORY).
Mimi, an S&M dancer who lives below Mark and Roger, knocks
with a request: LIGHT MY CANDLE. The attraction between she and
Roger is immediate, but Roger shies away and shows her the door.
Mimi knocks again. She has lost her stash. Roger helps her look
and Mimi eventually finds it- in Roger's back pocket.
As JoAnne wrangles with the sound equipment for Maureen's performance,
her parents leave her VOICE MAIL #2, pleading with her to come
to her mother's confirmation hearings in Washington. Collins
arrives at the loft with a bag full of goodies. This includes
Angel, transvested into Angel Dumott Shunard and gloriously arrayed
in his Christmas finest- wig, glitter, and platform pumps. In
TODAY 4 U, Angel explains how he earned $1,000: a wealthy woman
hired him to play the drums until her neighbor's yappy Akita
barked itself to death.
Benny enters with a proposal (YOU'LL SEE): if Mark and Roger
stop Maureen's protest, he will forgo the rent. He entices them
with plans for Cyber Arts, a state-of-the-art, multimedia studio
that will realize all of their dreams. Unsuccessful, Benny leaves.
Mark, Collins and Angel try to coax Roger into coming to the
life support meeting with them but he refuses.
Mark finally reaches the lot where Maureen will perform her protest.
He encounters JoAnne, still struggling with the sound equipment
and the many demands Maureen makes upon her. Mark offers help.
Though they dreaded meeting, they have a lot in common (TANGO:
MAUREEN). Once he finishes, Mark joins Angel and Collins at the
LIFE SUPPORT meeting.
In her apartment, Mimi dresses and appeals to an imaginary Roger
to take her OUT TONIGHT. She barges into his apartment and continues
her appeal to Roger himself but after a passionate kiss he vehemently
rejects her. They fight, her words blending with the affirmation
of the support group that emphasizes the importance of living
the moment (ANOTHER DAY). A young man from the support group
asks quietly "Will I lose my dignity/Will someone care?"
(WILL I?). His thoughts and fears are echoed by each member of
the community. The thoughts are Roger's too, and he decides to
go outside.
After the meeting, Mark, Angel and Collins roam the lot and rescue
a homeless woman from the taunts and nightsticks of the neighborhood
cops (ON THE STREET). Discouraged by life in New York, the three
dream of opening up a restaurant in SANTA FE. Alone at last,
Angel and Collins finally express their love for each other (I'LL
COVER YOU). JoAnne, meanwhile has her hands full juggling work,
parents, and the ever-demanding Maureen...all over the phone(WE'RE
OKAY).
The scene changes to St. Mark's Place where vendors hawk their
wares to the bohemians of the East Village (CHRISTMAS BELLS).
Angel buys a new coat for Collins. Mark finds Roger who spots
Mimi looking for drugs. Roger apologizes and asks her to dinner.
Just as the snow begins to fall, Maureen finally appears on her
motorcycle to perform her protest, OVER THE MOON.
Following the protest, all convene at the Life Café, including
Benny who announces that Bohemia is dead. Thus ensues a makeshift
mock-wake that quickly segues into a celebration of LA VIE BOHEME.
During the song, Benny confronts Mimi and threatens to reveal
their past affair to Roger. Beepers go off to remind the revelers
to take their AZT. Roger and Mimi each discover that the other
is HIV+. Frightened, excited, they vow to be together (I SHOULD
TELL YOU).
JoAnne has been sent back to the lot by Maureen several times
to check on the equipment. She finally rebels, telling Maureen
that their relationship is over and announcing a riot in the
lot: Benny has padlocked the building and called the cops but
the homeless are standing their ground. And mooing. The artists
rejoice, the riot continues, and Roger and Mimi share a small,
lovely kiss.The second
act begins with the company posing the question, "How do
you measure a year in the life?" (SEASONS OF LOVE). It is
one week later, New Year's Eve, and Mark, Roger, Mimi, Maureen,
JoAnne, Angel and Collins are having a breaking-back-into-the-building
party (HAPPY NEW YEAR). Once inside, Mark listens to one more
phone message from his mother in Scarsdale as well as one from
Alexi Darling, a tabloid TV producer salivating over his footage
of the riot (VOICE MAIL #3). Benny crashes the party, angering
Roger and alienating Roger from Mimi. Dejected, Mimi wanders
outside and into the welcoming arms of her drug dealer.
Mark fastforwards to Valentine's Day. Roger and Mimi are still
together. Angel and Collins could be anywhere. Maureen and JoAnne
are still rehearsing another show, but it is not going well (TAKE
ME OR LEAVE ME).
The company reprises SEASONS OF LOVE and time marches forward
again, to spring. Roger and Mimi have a fight and Roger walks
out. Alone, Mimi reflects on what life would be like without
Roger (WITHOUT YOU). At the same time, Collins nurses a sick
Angel; Maureen and JoAnne reconcile; as do Mimi and Roger.
At the end of the summer, Alexi is still courting Mark for her
TV show (VOICE MAIL #4). Roger and Mimi, unsatisfied by love's
complications, break up, as do Maureen and JoAnne. Angel dies
(CONTACT). At a memorial service, his friends remember his spirit.
Collins remembers his love (I'LL COVER YOU: REPRISE).
Outside the church, Mark phones Alexi to accept the job. Mark
ponders how life has changed since last year as he recalls the
joys of that one night last Christmas (HALLOWEEN). As the mourners
leave the church, Mimi confirms that Roger has sold his guitar
and is leaving town. Roger confirms that Mimi is now with Benny.
A fight erupts among Roger, Mimi, Maureen, Benny, and JoAnne.
Collins interrupts them with the sorrowful reality that the family
is breaking up. JoAnne and Maureen reunite. Mimi and Benny leave.
Mark tries to convince Roger to stay in New York and face his
pain and the fact that Mimi is very sick. Roger attacks Mark,
accusing him of hiding from his feelings. Mimi enters, having
overheard the entire angry exchange, and bids Roger farewell
(GOODBYE, LOVE). Roger leaves town. Mimi turns to Mark for help.
Benny offers one helping hand to Mimi and extends the other to
Collins to help him pay Angel's funeral expenses. Mimi refuses
the help and flees. Collins accepts and he and Benny go out for
a drink.
Mark considers the events and faces the last year, as does Roger,
who is on his way to Santa Fe. Roger begins to discover his own
song and Mark turns down the television job to finish his own
film (WHAT YOU OWN).
Roger's mom, Mark's mom, Mimi's mom, and JoAnne's father all
wonder where their children are (VOICE MAIL #5). Back at the
loft, Mark tells us again it's Christmas and he now has a rough
version of his film, which he's going to show tonight. Roger
has returned, has written his song, but cannot find Mimi. Collins
enters with money he has gotten from an ATM rewired to give money
to anyone with a special code. The password? Angel.
Maureen and JoAnne suddenly arrive holding Mimi, whom they found
collapsed and near death in the park. Roger begs her not to die
and sings for her the song it has taken him all year to write,
YOUR EYES. Mimi dies as Roger wails her name over a blast of
Puccini's music. Suddenly Mimi awakens, it seems that a guardian
Angel was watching over her.
The company joins in a reprise of the affirmation that love is
all and that there is "no day but today" (FINALE).
|
|
- Roger Davis,
a struggling musician who's HIV+. Roger hopes to write one last
meaningful song before he dies.
- Mark Cohen,
a filmmaker and video artist, and Roger's roommate.
- Tom Collins,
an HIV+ computer genius who's back in New York after being away.
- Benjamin Coffin
III, landlord of Mark and Roger's building. Benny wants to start
a multimedia studio.
- Joanne Jefferson,
a public interest lawyer, and Maureen's lover.
- Angel Shunard,
a transvestite street drummer also infected with HIV.
- Mimi Marquez,
a dancer with AIDS and a drug problem.
- Maureen Johnson,
a performance artist and Mark's ex-girlfriend.
- Mark's mom,
Roger's mom, Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson, Mr. Grey, Alexi Darling,
Steve, Paul, a Christmas caroler, a woman with bags, a pastor,
man with squeegee, a cop, a waiter, and others.
|
|
Informations:
|
|
CREDITS
Book, Music and
Lyrics
Jonathan
Larson
Production
Duke International
(Nicoletta Mantovani, Jenny Benedetti, Serena Argentini, Serena
Belladelli, Stefania Verzoni)
Artistic direction and Italian
lyrics
Michele
Centonze
Direction
Michael
Greif & Fabrizio Angelini
Choreography
Marlies
Yearby & Alan Mingo
Set Design
Paul Clay
Costume
Design
Angela
Wendt & Lisa Zinni
Lighting Design
Blake Burba
Technical
Supervisor
Andrea
Mazzoni
Graphics and
Balena
Corporation (Georgia Matteini Palmerini, Matteo Righi)
(Logo Spot Design)
Programming and hosting of Internet site
Iniziative
Informatiche Italia (Marco Mondadori, Natascia Pederzini)
Production
Photographer
Olivier
Wilkins
CAST
Karima
Machehour (Mimì), Michele Carfora (Roger), Gabriele Foschi
(Mark), Francesca Taverni (Maureen), Roberta Faccani (Joanne),
Laronte (Angel), Alan Mingo (Collins), Claudio Castrogiovanni
(Benny), Michel Altieri (Mr. Jefferson), Graziana Borciani (Alexi
Darling), Paolo Caiti (Gordon), Stefania Caracciolo (cover Mimì),
Serafina Frassica (Mrs. Jefferson), Cristina Ginevri (Mamma),
Umberto Scida (Steve), Matteo Setti (Paul)
The Band
Lorenzo
Sebastiani (Conductor/Keyboards)
Massimiliano Freschi (Bass)
Andrea Morelli (Guitars)
Claudio G. Morosi (Keyboard/Guitar)
Fabio Sartoni (Drums) |
|
MICHEL ALTIERI
- MR. JEFFERSON
French/Italian,
25 years old, Michel started his theatrical life at the age of
11. He trained as an actor and singer at the Centro Teatro Attivo
and the International School of Theatre of Kuniaki Ida in Milan;
at the same time he takes lessons from the actors Narcisa Bonati
(Piccolo Teatro di Milano) and Alessandro Balducci. He studies
soul music and musical theatre with Elaine Mata Jones and Emiliana
Perini and he's attending a course about movies by Lina Bernardi
at Bravo Film.
From 1995 to 1997 he becomes quite successful amongst the teenagers,
as the leader of the avant-garde band "Trendiest Attitude".
Radio and television credits include: Scherzi a parte, Specialmente
Tu and Galagoal. Theatre credits: 'Il flauto magico" by
Mozart. He also had a good success in the Italian musical by
Tony Cucchiara "Cain and Abel", for which he won the
Prize Città di Castello as Best Actor. Recently he appeared
with success in the Italian movie "Nebbia in Val Padana"
with Renato Pozzetto.
GRAZIANA BORCIANI - ALEXI DARLING
Born the 21st November
1965, Graziana starts her career as vocalist for the Italian
singer Viola Valentino. In 1998 she wins the first prize at the
Ariccia Festival of Unknown Talents.
Among her theatre and television credits: A show at the Ruvido
Club in Bologna; the TV show "Ruvido Show"; a tour
with the comedy "Splendori e Miserie della Famiglia Tormiento".
In 1996 she finished a course at the Bernstein School of Musical
Theatre where she had a chance to play in classical musicals
as " Into the Woods" by S. Sondheim and " Godspell"
by S. Schwarz.
PAOLO CAITI - GORDON
Born the 4th October 1973, Paolo is
a singer and a dancer. At the age of 15 he has his own band with
which he starts to make covers of funky songs and compose their
own music, mostly acid jazz. He also attended classes of jazz
dance and took music lessons. His first theatrical experiences
are: "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"
as Judah; Munkostrap in "Dancing on Cats". One of the
most recent and important experiences is "Notre Dame de
Paris meets Carmina Burana" directed by Francesca Calderara
and Giovanna Giovannini.
STEFANIA CARACCIOLO
Born in Taranto the 28th October 1973,
starts as a singer in 1989 when appears in several contests such
as Festival L'Aquilone, Nazional Festival Filo D'Oro di Prato,
Cantagiro, Festival Mediterraneo, and where she often is the
winner.
Stefania appeared in several TV programmes: "Portici d'Estate",
"Karaoke", and "Re per una notte". In the
last two years she attended the courses organised by the European
Centre of Toscolano, directed by the author Mogol, known in Italy
for the long collaboration with famous singer Lucio Battisti.
MICHELE
CARFORA - ROGER
Born
in Salerno, Michele can be called a complete artist. Actor, singer
and dancer, Michele attended the Course of Musical in Hamburg,
Germany, where he studied singing and acting with teachers coming
from Broadway; his theatrical credits include: Grease (Italian
production) in the role of Kenickie; Richie Valens in Buddy Holly
Story; RumTumTugger in Cats (Hamburg production); Pippin; he
also worked with La Compagnia della Rancia in A Chorus Line and
in the theatrical season 1997/98, he successfully played the
role of Cousin Kevin in the Italian production of Tommy. Michele
has also experiences in the classical ballet: he worked with
the Company of Ballet of Carla Fracci in "Romeo and Juliet"
and he was lead dancer in the Italian Jazz Company of Renato
Greco, with whom he toured around the world. Other credits include
several appearances in Italian TV programmes.
CLAUDIO CASTROGIOVANNI
- BENNY
Born
in Catania, Claudio has already experience many aspects of the
arts. He worked as a singer and musician in several bands and
in 1995 is chosen by the Company Teatro della Munizione to play
the role of Simon Zealotes in "Jesus Christ Superstar".
He keeps working with this company also for the production of
the musical "Evita". In the meantime he attends the
School of Theatre "L'Arsenale". Recently he played
the role of Sonny in the Italian production of Grease. Other
credits include an appearance in the movie "Terra Rossa"
by Giorgio Molteni and a role in "Malena" by Giuseppe
Tornatore (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso), soon to be released.
ROBERTA
FACCANI - JOANNE
Roberta
starts her career as a singer in 1990 when she arrives second
in the Italian contest for new voices "Festival di Castrocaro
Terme". In 1994 she wins the contest for New Voices "Ivan
Graziani" and has a successful participation to the finale
of the Contest "Una Voce per Sanremo". Roberta has
a great experience as a vocalist in numerous Italian bands; and
gives her voice for radio and commercials. She also works with
artist such as Thelma Houston, Politbüro, Paola Turci, Pino
d'Angiò and tours with Aida Cooper. TV credits: vocalist
in the Italian show "Meteore". Other credits: appearance
as a vocalist in the last record of Adriano Celentano; Roberta
is also working on her first own record where she also signs
her own songs, with the production of famous singer/author/producer
Mario Lavezzi.
GABRIELE FOSCHI - MARK
Born the 25th February 1971, Gabriele
trained at the Choreographic Centre of Modern Dance in Pesaro
and Rome. Studies at the University of Music in Rome with teacher
Cinzia Spata. In the theatrical seasons 1990/91-92-93 he is part
of the chorus and ensemble of the Rossini Opera Festival. Theatre
credits: Doody in the Italian production of Grease. Other credits
include the dubbing of a cartoon series for the Italian television
and a documentary for the National Geographic, and an appearance
in the TV show hosted by Pippo Baudo "Numero Uno".
SERAFINA
FRASSICA - MRS. JEFFERSON/SOL #1
Serafina starts her career as a singer
in 1989 when he attends and often wins several contests for new
voices: "Leone d'Oro" di Venezia and "Ariccia
Festival of the Unknown". In 1993 she spends a year in London
where she improves her experience as a singer. In 1995 Serafina
attends the European Centre of Toscolano, that gives her the
chance to appear in several TV programmes; the most recent appearance
is in the show "Ci vediamo in TV" conducted by Paolo
Limiti.
CRISTINA GINEVRI - MARK'S MOM
Cristina is a very talented artist
and has experience in almost all the fields of the performing
arts. Since 1985 she has worked as a dancer in the opera seasons
of the main Italian theatres (Arena di Verona, Teatro Verdi in
Trieste, Arena Sferisterio in Macerata, Teatro Comunale in Bologna).
Her theatrical credits include: the musical "Fred"
and "The man who invented television" at Teatro Sistina
in Rome. Other credits: several appearances in movies and TV
shows as well as radio programmes and collaborations as singer
of classical music's arias and vocalist in rock bands.
LARONTE
- ANGEL
Born
in Cuba, Laronte starts his career in 1984 as a model and later
is chosen as a dancer for the musical "Hello Dolly"
produced by the Carlos Mark Theatre. In 1986 he makes his debut
as a songwriter in the "Jazz Plaza" Festival. Among
the other experiences: singer and dancer in the show "Soy
del Caribe"; cabaret artist in Habana Libre. In Italy he
gets noticed by famous TV host Pippo Baudo and joins the show
"Fantastico". In our country Laronte works and releases
his first record "Laronte - Creo en tu Amor" (Warner
Music and CGD). Later in 1993 his record has a great success
in Cuba and in many countries of South America where he appears
in famous TV shows. In theatre, he obtains a great success as
Acid Queen in the Italian production of Tommy.
KARIMA MACHEHOUR -
MIMI
Born
in 1977 Karima has a great experience as a dancer. She studies
classical and modern dance at the S.P.I.D. Academy in Milan and
attends a stage of ballet at the Theatre La Scala. In 1999 she
dances for Lou Bega in the worldwide famous "Mambo N. 5"
and for Miranda (Vamos a La Playa) in the TV program "Festivalbar
1999".
Among other credits: two R&B and Hip-Hop singles with DJ
Gruff; TV appearances in the shows "Tira e Molla",
"Beato fra le Donne". She also worked as a model for
Fiorucci, Onyx, and Phard. Karima is at her first theatrical
experience.ALAN
MINGO - COLLINS
Alan
comes from one of the American casts of Rent, called "The
Angel Tour Cast" where he played with great success the
role of Collins. He trains at the California University and at
Fine Arts. Among his numerous theatre credits: Prospero in Shakespeare's
"The Tempest"; Philinte in "The Misanthrophe"
by Moliére; Daddy Brubeck in "Sweet Charity".
He recently appeared in the TV series "Frasier" and
in the movie "In the name of the law". Among the many
awards Alan received we can name: "the Creative and Performing
Arts Foundation", "The Distinguish Scholar", "NAACP"
as best singer; "Excellent Entertainer" and "Professional
Promise" as best singer and performer.
Alan currently owns a TV production house with high technologies.
In the Italian production of Rent Alan will also collaborate
as a choreographer.
UMBERTO SCIDA - STEVE
Born in Crotone the 16th December 1968,
starts to study piano and accordion at a very tender age. In
1990 he starts his activity as jazz singer. In 1994 he attends
the Bernstein School of Musical Theatre in Bologna where he trains
as singer, actor and dancer. He also attended a class at the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama of London. He works as a
jazz singer in his own band, "Umberto Scida Jazz Quartet"
and performs in numerous shows with the "Pegaso String Quartet"
and the "Jazz Art Orchestra" directed by Carlo Gelmini.
He had the lead role in the musical "No No Nanette"
and in the summer 1999 was lead singer in the Orchestra of Montecatini
Terme.
MATTEO SETTI - PAUL
Born the 17 august 1972, Matteo starts
his career as a singer in 1996. In 1997 creates a band with Giordano
Gambogi (Ladri di Biciclette). The same year he releases his
first single with Time Record, for the Japanese market. In 1999
he appears in the show by Daniele Sala, "Electric Show"
and in June 1999 has a chance to present his single at the "Lakota
People" festival.
FRANCESCA TAVERNI - MAUREEN
Dancer, singer, actress.
Francesca graduated as a classical dancer at the Royal Academy
of Dancing in London and studied jazz and modern dance with famous
international teachers. Since 1990 she teaches classical dance.
Among her theatre credits: "Jesus Christ Superstar";
Old Gumbie Cat in "Dancing on Cats" with the Company
Undici Meno Due; he played and understudied Maggie, Cassie, Diana
Morales and Val in the Italian production of "A Chorus Line";
"Godspell" in the production of the Bernstein School
of Musical Theatre. Francesca also sings as a soprano in the
groups "Plantation Sound Chorus" and " Sarah Sheppard
Spirituals". |
|
