Life Experience Gained Through Performance—No Day But Today

A letter from Media Theatre's Artistic Director Jesse Cline

In 1996, RENT debuted on Broadway and soared for 12 years, becoming the ninth longest running show in the theatre Mecca’s history. Jonathan Larson’s work was praised for its’ honest representation of the AIDS scare of the 1980s, the dangers of drug addiction, and true love between homosexual men and women. Based on Puccini’s classic La Boheme, Larson’s work married the classic tale with modern situations and themes. These themes are highly adult in nature, and seem unsuited for a school production on the surface; yet, RENT School Edition exists, and will be produced this summer at the Media Theatre’s Teen Camp.

A major part of the mission of the Media Theatre is to educate and inspire young people to appreciate the American tradition of music theatre. The importance of exposing young people, specifically teenagers, to the issues and topics depicted in Larson’s RENT is to educate them about issues that would not be expressed.

Acting is defined through the Meisner technique as "living as truthfully as one can under imaginary circumstances." Reality is reflected through the truth presented on the stage, even if the truth has not been experienced by the performers. RENT School Edition presents an opportunity for students to engage in the process of understanding the reality of sex, drugs and homosexuality without engaging in the harmful effects of addiction, STD’s, or prejudice. The Media Theatre offers an opportunity for students to learn about these adult themes in a safe environment.

The New York Times issued an article this past May by Robin Pogrebin entitled "Broadway: Take ‘Em Early, Take ‘Em Often." The piece details a trip to Broadway with her two children, aged 12 and 14, where the children are exposed to a variety of musicals. From Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to American Idiot to The Addams Family, the shows attended exposed her children to drug use, drag queens and other adult situations, but all under the watchful eye of their mother. She was on hand to explain to her inquisitive daughter why the character in American Idiot was tying a rubber hose around his arm.

Maturity is reached through the careful guidance of a parent or teacher, and is invaluable when dealing with such topics as sex, drugs, and diversity, and this is clearly shown in Mrs. Pogrebin’s article.

, all between the ages of 12 and 17, with full parental permission and understanding that it is a learning experience in both stagecraft and life.

Just as Jonathan Larson integrated modern reality into a classical work, Media Theatre’s RENT School Edition combines the truth of life, love and diversity with the art of performance.

Having been involved in theatre since an early age, I can attest to the maturity and growth that can come out of the safe, educational environment the stage provides. The idea behind a teen production of RENT is to show young adults the importance of love, the dangers of drugs and promiscuity, and to live each day as if it were your last. For these students, it is an opportunity to grow and mature in a safe environment. As the final line of the show expresses this perfectly, there is, "No Day But Today."

Sincerely,

Jesse Cline, Media Theatre’s Artistic Director