Theater Review: "RENT" at Black Rock Theater

Black Rock Theater presents a very professional production of the late Jonathan Larson’s “RENT.” The group of performers are directed by Audra Bryant, with music direction by Benjamin Doyle.

The directors made some notable choices in their production. I loved the harmony in “Santa Fe.” The staging of Maureen’s performance art “Over the Moon” can sometimes be just silly, but in this intimate space, the audience is able to feel like a part of the people that have come to see her performance. The look of “Without You” in the second act is especially striking and I appreciated the “cleaner” look of “Contact.” The iconic “I’ll Cover You (Reprise) was simply beautiful.

Gideon McManus plays the rocker Roger Davis and plays electric guitar at two important points. He had me from “One Song Glory” and it continued to the painful “Your Eyes.” McManus recently was a featured ensemble member for Black Rock’s “Cinderella” at Westport Country Playhouse and was in “Jersey Boys” at the Ivoryton Playhouse.

Mason Olshavsky does well in the role of filmmaker Mark Cohen, recording a year in the life of his Bohemian friends. He is currently working towards his BFA in Musical Theater at Pace University.

Sean Polk II has the wonderfully bass voice and heart-felt acting required for the role of Tom Collins. They are currently pursuing a BFA from University of Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music.

What a treat to see Ryan P. Kennedy onstage again, this time as Benjamin Coffin II (“Benny.”) He shines in “You’ll See,” and also maintains the demeanor of his character (often with a can of Diet Coke) even when he is not in the center of the action. Kennedy is a rising senior (although I can scarcely believe it!) Acting Major at Syracuse University. He previously appeared in the ensemble of the BRT “Sweeney Todd.”

Biana Calisi is great as Joanne Jefferson in her BRT debut. She is a BFA Musical Theatre grad from Marymount Manhattan College.

Najm Muhammad, originally from New Jersey, takes on the role of Angel Schunard. Muhammad studies musical theater at Pace University.

Akshara Gunda, a drama student at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, is both sexy and vulnerable as Mimi Marquez in her BRT debut.

Viviana Ham returns to BRT to play “The Tango Maureen” Johnson. Ham is working towards a BFA at Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. Ham played Whatsername in BRT’s “American Idiot.”

Toni Huegel knocks it out of the park as the “Seasons of Love” soloist and several other ensemble solos. They are a recent graduate of Manhattan School of Music.

The talented ensemble includes CCM student Morgan Lindell, Syracuse University rising senior Caroline Marchetti, Dean College grad Gia Chessa (Dance Captain,) Dean College student Aiden Day, Pace MT ‘27 student Kyle Geriak, and Wagner College grad Nicholas Nunez. They play the characters leaving the numbered “Voicemail” musical numbers.

The lighting design by Blake Kile is up to the usual standards of the Black Rock Theater, adding so much to two acts. Kile must light every corner of the black box space and succeeds beautifully. Sound design by Jon Damast worked efficiently, although I thought that some of the singer’s mics were overly loud at times.

Scenic design by Ryan M. Howell consists of elevated platforms that move around, two largish rolling metal carts and carefully placed strips of lights that change color as needed. There are no long, static tables for “La Vie Boheme,” allowing for some creative and effective blocking for the first act closer. Oh, and there is a firehouse pole to slide down. Costumes designed by Natalie Biebel are convincingly Bohemian, giving the lead characters their traditional looks. There is some energetic choreography in the title song.

The production team includes a group of six Jamie Hulley Theater Arts Interns, a program designed to give young creatives the opportunity to assist in various elements of the theater in a rigorous and, most importantly, professional setting. The generous Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation has been the proud partner of Black Rock Theater since 2015.

A Campaign for the Future is still underway and BRT has exciting news: all gifts will be MATCHED up to $40,000 thanks to a generous donor. With your support, they can continue to do what they do here at Black Rock Theater: provide professional shows and musical theater training to our community, all while connecting the stars of today with the stars of tomorrow.

Your gift supports BRT’s operating costs and enables them to expand theater-arts and educational opportunities, cultivate artistic talent, and foster community engagement while enhancing accessibility to musical theater.

This donation matching is for a limited time only. Consider donating today at blackrocktheater.org

“RENT” continues through June 23. Tickets online at blackrocktheater.org or at the door.
@connordeanesnaps

We had a special guest at the show today: Antonio Cipriano! Last seen with BRT in Cinderella at Westport Country Playhouse, Antonio stopped in to support Cinderella cast mate Gideon McManus (Roger) and the rest of our cast!