THEATRE PREVIEW – RENT Returns For 20th Anniversary Spectacular: Touring Production brings Jonathan Larson’s original vision to the Calgary Stage

"How do you document life when life is getting more like fiction each day?"

The lyric from Jonathan Larson’s RENT seems even more relevant today than it did in 1996 with the current political climate. It’s remarkable that so much of the themes and lyrics brought to the stage 20+ years ago when RENT exploded onto the theatre scene that so many apply to the world in 2019.

"Specifically the song What You Own I think is super poignant in an isolating age. How can that be more relevant now than it was then with the age of social media and people having this not real persona per se online and then it's not like they're always their most genuine or authentic self." said Coleman Cummings, one of the cast of the current touring production of the show. "This story is full of characters that are like real people going through real things and that is something that will always be relatable to anyone. Love and loss and disease and betrayal friendship. Being passionate about the arts and trying to be an artist and make it work in this world. Those things will always be relevant."

RENT’s 20^{th Anniversary Tour plays at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium September 10th – 15th. Coleman, who is gay, plays the brooding rocker Roger Davis, a straight character. The original...}