Ready for 'Rent'

Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer winner addresses issues faced by Everett High School teens, says director

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Lansing'sEverett High School has become the only school in Michigan’s lowerpeninsula to perform Jonathan Larson's controversial rock opera, “Rent,” which tackles such topics as sexualorientation, HIV/AIDS and drugs.But theaterteacher Jim Allen isn’t worried about a backlash: He hasschool board approval, permission from parents of thestudentsinvolved andrights to a school version of the production that is decidedly “toned down,” hesays, adding that these are issues that need to be addressed — even if it’s through song.

“AIDS,homelessness, poverty … that's what our kids are dealing with,” Allen explains.“We have homeless kids at Everett, we have a huge poverty problem, there certainlyis the issue of drugs.”

Allen fell inlove with “Rent” while working on a production of it several years ago. But headmits the original script and the film version of it are “pretty inappropriate forhigh school students.”

Set in New YorkCity’s Lower East Side, “Rent” deals with eight friends as they struggle withAIDS, love, loss and trying to find meaning in life. The original musical enjoyeda 12-year run on Broadway, won a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for BestMusical and was adapted into a film in 2005.

But outside of Broadway, performances of “Rent” have generated a fair amount of controversy — especiallywhen performed by students or in politically conservative areas. So when Allen heard of thedevelopment of an approved "school edition" in January 2009, he jumped at thechance to bring it to Everett.

The students,Allen says, were equally thrilled. “The response from the kids was huge,” hesaid. “We had great auditions. We had so many people turn out for it that weended up double-casting all the leads in the show.”

After clearing theirparticipation with the school board and parents, Allen is ready to move forwardwith the performances, scheduled for 7 p.m. March 18, 19, 26 and 27 in theschool auditorium.

But in addition to entertaining, Allen hopes to educate the community about the issuesaddressed in the musical. Representatives from the Lansing Area AIDSNetwork, City Rescue Mission and Greater Lansing Food Bank will provide information at each of the performances, as well as visitingclassrooms during the weeks “Rent” makes a stop at Everett.

Allen hopes that the combination of art andactivism will spark conversation.

“I'm hoping to have people be more aware ofthe issues that our young kids are dealing with,” he said.

"Rent"
7 p.m. Thursday, March 18, Friday, March 19, Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27
Everett High School, 3900 Stabler Street
$5 for adults, $3 for students.

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