Rock musical Rent is taking up tenancy at city's Arena theatre
One of the most successful rock musicals of the past 20 years will play out at Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre tonight and tomorrow.
Nine Productions will present Rent, which is set in the East Village of New York City.
Arena Theatre spokeswoman Helen Knott said: "Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today.
"Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this musical has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences."
The play is based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme and follows a group of bohemian impoverished artists struggling to survive in an oppressive society.
Overshadowed by the harsh reality of living with AIDS, they battle against the coming wave of gentrification in the name of 'La Vie Bohème'.
Ms Knott said: "Rent features an inventive score by Jonathan Larson that combines a rock sound with intricate choral work and poignant lyrics that entangle the audience in their captivating lives.
"Nine Production's RENT will lead you, the audience, through its gripping plot, with an amazing cast and heart felt score – this is not a show to be missed."
Rent was first seen in a limited three-week workshop production at New York Theatre Workshop in 1994.
The show's creator Jonathan Larson died suddenly the night before its off-Broadway premiere.
Rent won a Pulitzer Prize and the production was a hit. It moved to Broadway's larger Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996. The play gained critical acclaim and won a Tony Award for Best Musical among other awards.
It featured on Broadway for 12 years, making 5,123 performances and becoming the ninth longest-running Broadway show at the time. It grossed more than 280 million US dollars.
The production has appeared around the world and in 2005 it was adapted into a film featuring most of the original cast members.The film was directed by Chris Columbus with a screenplay by Stephen Chbosky.
It was an instant hit and remained the box office top ten for three weeks.
Several plot elements were changed slightly and some of the songs were changed to spoken dialogue in the film.
The original London production won three nominations in 1999 for Laurence Olivier Awards, for Best New Musical, Best Actress in A Musical for Krysten Cummings and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical from Wilson Jermaine Heredia.
By Andy Richardson
