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align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Plenty of space for
“Rent” in Cleveland<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman, Theatre Critic<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3>News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times/The Solon Times/The Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=managedhtml
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6.75pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Chagrin Valley
Times </I>1/15/09<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=managedhtml
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6.75pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Local
theater-goers have several opportunities to buy into “Rent”—the Tony Award and
Pulitzer Prize winning musical that took Broadway by storm in the
late-1990s.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=managedhtml
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6.75pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Jonathan
Larson's pop-rock opera follows a year in the lives of seven friends pursuing
the Bohemian lifestyle in New York City’s East Village, where starving artists
reside in condemned buildings alongside the homeless. HIV/AIDS and its physical
and emotional consequences pervade the lives of these individuals, yet “Rent” is
a celebration of life.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All this
makes for dramatic, bittersweet and very engaging theater.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=managedhtml
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6.75pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Adam
Pascal and Anthony Rapp, from the original Broadway production and film
adaptation of “Rent,” reprise their leading roles as Roger and Mark in a brand
new national tour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The tour began
right here in Cleveland last week for a limited engagement at Playhouse Square
and will return regionally to Buffalo from January 13 to 18, Philadelphia from
February 3 to 8, Detroit from February 17 to 22, Chicago from March 31 to April
12, and Pittsburgh from April 14 to19. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">T</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">he
key to </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">“Rent’s”
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">success
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">on Broadway was
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">the
remarkable intensity and enthusiasm with which the young cast of unknowns
perform</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">ed</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
Mr. Larson's hard-driving and often elegant songs</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> and told his </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">poignant
story.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This unconventional music-infused play
resonated with </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">a
new generation of theater-goers and set the stage for the current wave of
innovative shows like “Spring Awakening” and “In the Heights” that continue to
push the artistic envelope of musical theater.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Seeing a touring production of the show that started this trend, with
members from its original cast, is a rare treat that does not disappoint.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is a first-rate production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Neither Mr. Pascal nor Mr. Rapp has lost
a step or an octave, nor have they outgrown their respective roles.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact, their voices have matured while
their performances maintain the raw passion they delivered as newcomers in New
York.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>The tour’s ensemble is stacked with exceptional talent.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Justin Johnston, who nearly steals the
show as the cross-dressing Angel, and Michael McElroy, who is flat-out
phenomenal as Angel’s lover Tom Collins, were in the final company of “Rent”
when it closed on Broadway last September.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Others, including Nicolette Hart, as Mark’s hilarious ex, Maureen, and
Gwen Stewart, a featured ensemble player, also appeared in the Broadway
company.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lexi Lawson, who plays Mimi,
the drug-addicted love interest of Roger, is the least experienced member of the
cast and it shows.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Although she is
a wonderful singer and dancer, she is the only actor on stage that is detached
emotionally and, thus, unconvincing in her role.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Fortunately, this is not enough to
downgrade the overall quality of the cast or the impact of this production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The on-stage five-piece band rocks and
the direction by Michael Greif and choreography by Marlies Yearby are fluid and
true to the original work.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>So powerful is this production that an avid “’Rent’-head” sitting next to
me, who has been to numerous productions of this show in the past, wept
uncontrollably from opening to close.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Plain Dealer</I> theater critic
Tony Brown, sitting in the same row, gave a standing ovation. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tony typically stands only to
leave.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Those unable to attend this unique event can take in a new generation of
actors performing “Rent” on the Mayfield Village Performing Arts Center
stage.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Youth-Teen Theater
program of the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory (FPAC) will be offering
the school edition of “Rent” from February 20 to March 1. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Featured in the cast are several local
performers, including Jesse Markowitz from Orange, Codie Higer from Solon, Katy
Lucas from Bainbridge, Shelby Berger and Leah Kubaitis from Chagrin Falls, Nikki
Leavitt from Pepper Pike, and Miles Sternfeld from Moreland
Hills.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>According to director Sean Szaller, the school edition has been edited
for profanity and a few verses to songs have been cut to make the show
shorter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Remaining is the intensity
of its subject matter and characters which, while serving as much of the allure
of “Rent,” can be quite a challenge for high school performers to
capture.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">“Yes
it's challenging material,” noted Mr. Szaller. “</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The musical makes you take a hard look
at your own views on life, love, passion, and friendship, </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">but
I know these young actors will be able to connect to the heart of the
piece. And the music is much more accessible to them.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>“Rent” in any incarnation is a show worth seeing, if not in Detroit or
Pittsburgh then in nearby Mayfield Village. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>