Nick Johnson of Lakeview East Stars in Porchlight Music Theatre’s RENT

Nick Johnson of Lakeview East performs as a swing in Porchlight Music Theatre’s RENT. Now extended through Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. Over the last 25 years, RENT, a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, has become a cultural phenomenon with millions of fans around the world. Porchlight’s production celebrates this legacy and adds a new page to the story of a year in the life of a diverse group of artists struggling to survive and create in Lower Manhattan’s East Village under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. In the thriving days of bohemian Alphabet City at the end of the millennium, these friends are determined to follow their dreams without selling out.

RENT, music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson is directed by Adrian Abel Azevedo, music directed by Michael McBride and choreographed by Laura Savage. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3:30 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with weekday matinees] Thursday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25 at 3:30 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 1 at 1:30 p.m. There is a Post-Show Discussion scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m. and Open Caption performances Saturday, Nov. 19 and Saturday, Nov. 26 at 3:30 p.m.

Nick Johnson is over the moon to be joining the Porchlight family for the first time. After getting his BFA in Musical Theater at Ball State University, Nick worked at Walt Disney World in Florida and then set sail on Norwegian Cruise Lines in March of 2020. He moved to Chicago in August of 2021, and fell in the theatre scene very quickly. Chicago roles include “Older Billy” in Ragtime and “Chef Louis” in The Little Mermaid at Music Theater Works. He was also an “Electric Skate” in The SpongeBob Musical with Surging Films and Theatrics and played the title role in a newly adapted version of Winnie-the-Pooh with Littlebrain Theatre.

Subscriptions to Porchlight’s 28th season are now on sale and may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 773.777.9884 or by visiting PorchlightMusicTheatre.org. Single tickets for RENT start at $25 and are now on sale.