‘Rent’ @ Lewisville Playhouse
—Carol M. Rice
I remember seeing RENT for the first time in the late ‘90s – probably one of the legs of the first national tour. I was blown away. Since then, I’ve seen several local productions and, of course, the various iterations on film, but I didn’t realize this was the 30th anniversary of RENT until I saw it mentioned in the program at Lewisville Playhouse.
Most musical theatre aficionados know that Jonathan Larson, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics, died suddenly the night before the show had its first Off-Broadway performance in January of 1996. The show was so successful, selling out every performance of the 150-seat house, that it moved to Broadway just three months later…and ran for 12 years.
Loosely based on the 1896 opera La bohème, RENT is the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive in the East Village of Lower Manhattan. Several of their number have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, and their bohemian lifestyle is at risk as “gentrification” changes their Lower Manhattan neighborhood.
Mark, a filmmaker played by Trenton Mosty, is our narrator. Mosty has the unique ability to disappear into the background when Mark is intently observing (and filming) the action around him; he’s always there but never stealing focus. When the attention does need to be on him, however, Mark has no problem taking the stage, allowing his powerful vocals, excellent facial expressions, and strong acting skills to shine.
Mark’s roommate Roger is a musician with HIV who refuses to leave their apartment. His girlfriend committed suicide upon discovering she had the virus, and he just wants to write one great song before he, too, dies. Christián Thrailkill brings appropriate levels of anger and angst to his performance, and his solo “Your Eyes” is beautiful and touching.
Andara Shahdae is brilliantly cast as Mimi Marquez, and her transformation from hot exotic dancer to strung-out junkie is stunning. She’s a triple threat with excellent stage presence, and has good chemistry with Thrailkill; their “Light My Candle” is playful and fun.
Julian Evan Rodriguez plays their former roommate Tom Collins with powerhouse vocals and emotions. His relationship with Joshua Rodriguez’s Angel Dumott Schunard feels extremely real – which makes sense since the two are an actual couple. Julian’s pain at Angel’s death is heartbreaking, and the “I’ll Cover You – Reprise” had everyone around me sniffling.
Joshua is adorable as Angel, and I would have liked to see him dance more, as he obviously had some incredible moves. At the performance I attended, though, it was occasionally hard to hear and understand him. This wasn’t a problem with just his character, though, as the levels of the mics weren’t set evenly and we often got feedback.
Christian R. Black plays Benny (aka Benjamin Coffin III), the one who sold out, with smug superiority. Black also knows how to become one of the guys again, which is fun to see after Angel’s funeral. Benny is usually played as a complete villain, so it’s nice to see Black give him some different layers.
Katelyn Sarbach plays Maureen Johnson like she’s on fire! Her performance is beyond feisty, yet she doesn’t let the intensity overtake her portrayal, allowing some softness to shine through occasionally. This is most apparent during those rare moments when she and Joanne Jefferson are actually getting along. As Joanne, Chelimo Reber brings a groundedness to their relationship, and to Joanne herself. I’d have liked to see more of a friendship with Mark once they get through their initial awkwardness in “The Tango Maureen” (a personal favorite of mine), but she’s otherwise solid.
RENT wouldn’t be possible without a killer ensemble, and this one definitely delivers. The best numbers were those in which the harmonies were front and center – “Rent,” “La Vie Boheme,” “Seasons of Love,” and “Finale” – but all the ensemble numbers were phenomenal. Kudos to music director Kyle Feather.
A few of the ensemble members who stood out include JQ Martin, who played a number of characters and made them all unique (my favorite was the Homeless Man/Christmas Caroler); Hailey Good, whose powerful vocal solo in “Seasons of Love” gave me goosebumps; and Hunter Heart, whose Gordon and waiter roles added a lot to the scenes they were in. It did bother me that he was the only actor with a significant number of lines who wasn’t wearing a mic. While he had a strong voice, when everyone else is wearing one and you’re competing with a loud live band, it sticks out.
The other members of the ensemble include Molly Jo Hartjen, Shane Duckett, Chris Medina, Ariana Reed, Pranav Kasturi, and Eryka Kit, all of whom had fine moments.
It’s always a treat to attend a local musical that includes a live band, and Russ Ruggia (Conductor, Keys), Claudia Easterwood (Bass), George Macias (Guitar), and Adam Yarborough (Drums/Percussion) sound like a much bigger group than four, bringing excitement and energy to the proceedings.
Keith J. Warren directs and choreographs RENT with a great deal of love and respect for the subject matter. I do have to question his including a video of newsreel clips about HIV and AIDS at the beginning of the show (and stressing the AIDS crisis in his lengthy director’s notes), because that’s not entirely what the show is about. It’s about friendship and love and loss. Yes, AIDS and drugs are a part of it, but the relationships among the characters and their remarkable journey during a single desperate year are so much more important. There’s a reason “Seasons of Love” became a phenomenon.
Warren is also the scenic and costume designer, and his simple set especially works well for the small stage at Lewisville Playhouse. Hats off to intimacy director Mandy Rausch for keeping it all real and safe.
While some folks I know claim they now relate more to Benny than to the “bohemians,” I think they’re missing the point. Nobody wants to spend their lives slaving away at a mindless job, paying rent or a mortgage. What we all really want is to create, do some good, and have meaningful relationships...or we used to want that when we were young.
Why have we lost that urge—or have we, really? This, I believe, is why RENT still endures 30 years later. Even with the show’s focus on the HIV/AIDS epidemic that so terribly marked the era, Lewisville Playhouse’s production of RENT reminds us that no matter what the troubles and disasters of our own moment on earth, life and love are really the most important things. Whether you’ve seen it before or not, this RENT is a production well worth your time.
WHEN: June 11-28, 2026
WHERE: Lewisville Playhouse, 160 W. Main St., Lewisville TX (theater behind the stores fronting Main St.)
WEB: lewisvilleplayhouse.org
