Umbrella Stage Company Delivers Energetic ‘RENT’

November 14, 2022November 14, 2022 michaelhoban2 Comments

Cast of RENT at The Umbrella Arts Center. Photos by Gillian Mariner Gordon.

“RENT” By Jonathan Larson; Directed by Julia Deter; Musical Direction by Jeff Kimball; Choreography by Hannah Shihdanian; Presented by The Umbrella Stage Company at The Umbrella Arts Center, 40 Stow St. Concord, MA. Performances through Dec. 4^th (no show, 11/24).

by Tom Boudrot

If, like me, you’re one of the few people in the world who’ve never seen the multiple award-winning show RENT, the Umbrella stage in Concord offers a wonderful opportunity to see it in an intimate setting. Or if you’ve seen it previously and it’s been a while, this local production is worth another look. Despite noticeable audio problems that did not get resolved by the end of the performance on press night, the talented players sang, danced and acted with the kind of energy theater professionals can reach down deep and pull out, night after night. Further upping the energy level, the theater was packed with a loud, eclectic mix of appreciative fans for this performance, which was doubly refreshing in this post-pandemic era.

‘Rent’ Still Sparkles at Boch Center

October 31, 2019October 31, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Robert Israel

Rent, 20^th Anniversary Tour – Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson. Directed by Evan Ensign. At the Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston, through November 10, 2019.

Twenty years ago I attended the musical Rent at the Shubert in Boston, the very same theater where it is being performed anew. I have some vivid memories of the show back then that were rekindled when I attended this current, electrifying touring version. Today’s version has more pizazz, more spunk, and it sparkles, as if the cast has each imbibed a hefty swig of Kool-Aid doused with adrenalin. The production is spirited and is well worth attending.

Two Decades Later, ‘Rent” Is Still Going Strong

October 31, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Shelley A. Sackett

‘Rent’ – Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson; Directed by Evan Ensign; Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements by Tim Weil; Choreography by Marlies Yearby; Scenic Design by Paul Clay; Costume Design by Angela Wendt; Lighting Design by Jonathan Spencer; Sound Design by Keith Caggiano. Produced by Work Light Productions at the Shubert Theatre – Boch Center through November 10, 2019.

Rent, the quintessential rock musical loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Boheme,” is celebrating its 20^th anniversary with a full-throated revival at the Shubert Theatre – Boch Center. One of the longest-running shows on Broadway (it ran for 12 years), Rent garnered a shelf full of awards in 1996, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, three Tony Awards and four Drama Desk Awards.