Media Release – January, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“No Day but Today” Pulitzer Prize Winning Rock Musical, RENT, on Stage at UHM Kennedy Theatre
February 28-March 1 & 7-9, 2025 – Kennedy Theatre Mainstage
The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Department of Theatre & Dance and Kennedy Theatre are proud to present, Jonathan Larson’s extraordinary rock musical RENT, live on stage from February 28 to March 9, 2025. Directed by Joshua “Baba” Tavares, this heartfelt musical, loosely inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, RENT reimagines the classic opera’s themes of love and sacrifice through the lens of struggling young artists in the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since its groundbreaking Broadway debut in 1996, RENT has touched the lives of millions around the globe, becoming a cultural phenomenon with its timeless themes of love, resilience, hope, community, and identity. It earned the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical. Its iconic songs, including “Seasons of Love,” continue to resonate with audiences worldwide, cementing the show’s legacy as a transformative work of musical theatre. Tickets range from $5-$25.
Director Tavares, a recent MFA graduate from UH Mānoa and the newest Assistant Professor of Acting in the Department of Theatre & Dance, brings a deep personal connection to the material, having played the role of Angel in the 20th Anniversary National Tour of RENT (2019-2020). Tavares describes the show as heartfelt and timeless, saying, “It’s about love, relationships, healing, passion, and figuring out who we are – things that never stop being relevant or important. It’s uplifting, heartbreaking, and hopeful. It’s also a great show for students to learn and grow from.”
Tavares underscores that the production reflects the struggles of its time while also highlighting the enduring issues still facing us today. “We’re coming out of a global pandemic, and just like in RENT, the themes of love, loss, resilience and survival are as powerful now as ever,” he says. While the production honors the original time and setting of the play, Tavares and his team incorporate elements that speak to current issues and local context of Hawai‘i. “We want the audience to feel fully immersed in the world of the play,” Tavares explains. “This is our take on Jonathan Larson’s work, with subtle details that connect it to the present day and to Hawai‘i.” The production will feature design and lighting elements that break the barrier between the audience and the world of the play, creating an immersive experience that vividly brings the gritty, bustling NYC streets to life.
At its core, RENT is about relationships and how we measure our lives. “Even though the show is set in a specific time, its challenges feel just as relevant today, especially here in Hawai‘i,” Tavares continues, “Homelessness, gentrification, substance abuse, mental health struggles, displacement, and finding a way forward after a devastating disease – are we talking about the 80’s and 90’s or are we talking about today?” He adds, “But RENT isn’t just about struggle – it’s about hope, tolerance, human rights, and above all, aloha. It’s about love.”
Tickets for RENT are available online 24/7, with prices ranging from $5 to $25. Pre-show chats will be held at 6:45 p.m. before the Saturday performances on March 1 and 8. These informal discussions provide an opportunity for the director and designers to share insights into the production and its themes. More information and the link to purchase tickets online can be found at:
manoa.hawaii.edu/liveonstage/rent. For additional ticketing questions, please contact ktbox@hawaii.edu or call 808-956-7655.