The Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theater will present Jonathan LarsonThe iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT performs at the historic Variety Playhouse in Atlanta on May 27. RENT shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our love lives. Set in New York’s East Village, RENT is about falling in love, finding your voice, and living today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, RENT has become a pop cultural phenomenon.
Freely inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, Jonathan LarsonRENT follows a year in the life of a group of poor young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create on New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The way these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, their loves and their conflicts provide the narrative thread of this revolutionary musical.
RENT will star Grant McGowen as Roger, Mikaela Holmes as Mimi, Ian Cole as Tom Collins, Branden Hembree as Mark, Alfonso Lora as Angel, Kenedi Deal as Maureen, Vallea E. Woodbury as Joanne, LeRell Ross as Benny and a set including Aldo Cardenas, Simon Needle, Musashi Albert, Anthony McLeod, Don Jones, and Imani Quiñones. The production team includes, book, music and lyrics by Jonathan LarsonMusical arrangements by Steve SkinnerOriginal concept/Additional lyrics by Billy AronsonMusical Supervision and Additional Arrangements by Tim Weillplaywright by Lynn Thomsonmik, director Grant McGowen, musical director Chris Brent Davis, Asst. Musical director Imani Quiñones, stage manager Kenneth Jackson, choreographer Mikaela Holmes, costume designer Alfonso Lora, voice coach Emily Redden, production art director Grant McGowen, and opening performance by cinematic pop artist PRISCA .
The Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theater continues to bring exciting new works to Atlanta, having resided in the metro area for the past 12 years. Named after a phrase coined by the legendary drama teacher Sanford–Meisner, “pinch and ouch” offers an enthusiasm for provocative storytelling grounded in gripping realism. Since the company’s arrival in Atlanta in 2010, PNO has already carved out a niche for bold fare and set a high standard by delivering passionate, cutting-edge productions from some of the most important writers working today. PNO also offers a variety of acting classes and participates in the development of new plays.
The Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theater recently performed Larson’s other musical, Tick, Tick… Boom!, to sold-out crowds at their Kirkwood black box. Tick, tick… Boom! tells the story of Larson on his journey to writing the next Broadway blockbuster as he neared the age of 30. Pinch ‘N’ Ouch plans to announce an expansion for Tick, Tick… Boom! in the next weeks. The cast, consisting of Mikaela Holmes, Grant McGowen and Ian Cole, will reprise their roles in extended performances to be announced. Holmes, McGowen and Cole will also star in PNO’s RENT. A review by Manning Harris of Atlanta InTown Paper wrote, “All three actors are excellent; the biggest surprise, however, is Mr. McGowen. I’ve been seeing shows at Pinch for some time, and knew he had a good voice – but not as good: it has range, power, flexibility and can be quite exciting to listen to. A star is born… You must not miss them.”
Since 1940, Variety Playhouse in Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood has been one of the city’s premier entertainment venues. Although it has worn many hats over the years, from movie theater to performance space to community gathering place, since the 1980s it has maintained a strong focus on music events in direct. Variety Playhouse has earned a reputation as one of the best places in town to catch a show, meet friends and see your favorite band. A complete renovation of the hall in 2016 improved the hall experience for guests and groups, while maintaining the charm and acoustic integrity that concertgoers have enjoyed for decades.
There are currently no COVID-19 mandates applicable to the show. Given the changing nature of the virus and local mandates, our COVID-19 protocols are subject to change. Please visit the Variety Playhouse website for more information. www.variety-playhouse.com and information about the Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theater: www.pnotheatre.org.
