If the acclaimed Broadway musical “Rent” were a person, it
would now be as old as the characters in the show. Currently on its 20th
anniversary tour, the show is as strong as ever and proving now is the time for
a season of love.
Conceived by the late Jonathan Larson, the show premiered on
Broadway in 1996. Inspired by Puccini's opera “La Bohème,”
the show follows a group of 20-somethings in New York as they deal with
their passions, love, HIV and drug addiction. Though the story is firmly set
in the 1990s, the themes are as timeless today as they were then: hope in times
of fear, finding your friends amidst chaos and following your dreams without
selling out.
I spoke with Coleman Cummings -- who plays the iconic role of
Roger, the rock dreamer trying to put his addiction behind him while finding
love and facing an uncertain future -- on why “Rent” is still relevant over two
decades later.
“’Rent’ at its core is
about the human experience,” he told me. “These themes will always be
relatable. It’s about love, it’s about loss, it’s about family. It’s about
struggling artists, betrayal, drug addiction, disease. These are all things people
are still dealing with today.” Even though the show was set two decades ago, “Emotions
and the relationships those people had are still very much relatable now,” he
added.
As universal as these themes are, it’s hard not to chuckle a
bit when they sing about opening “Cyberarts,” a “a
state-of-the-art digital and virtual interactive studio,” which more than likely would have operated with outdated technology five years after it opened. Coleman encourages audiences to view the show as a period
piece, complete with corded phone lines, answering machines and Spike
Lee’s film production schedule tying up the streets of New York (well, that last
part could still be true).
“Technology has advanced so quickly. It’s important
for the show to stay true to its time period.” Especially with the LGTBQ+
themes that were so taboo in the '90s (like the way AIDS and HIV were handled as a
death sentence then, now is a good time to reflect on how far we’ve come). “I think it's great for
people who were alive then…to remember and relive those moments and important
for people now to really see how it was,” Coleman said. Plus, having gay couples
represented in a major musical is still “so important,” he added.
I wanted to know how Coleman prepared to play a role Adam Pascal originally made famous (Aaron Tveit, now starring in “Moulin Rouge” on Broadway, and “Nashville” star Will Chase have also put their own spins on the part).
“I was so
nervous. There was so much pressure for the role and preconceived ideas of
how Roger is supposed to be,” Coleman said. The creative team let Coleman have his
own ideas for the role, which included a backstory and little twists on the character.
He also drew from documentaries on addiction and stories from "Rent" director Evan Ensign about what it was like to live through the AIDS crisis, all of which helped him
to construct a fully formed character that pops on the stage.
There’s always a reason to see "Rent," but in this instance,
even if you’ve seen it a million times (or if it’s your first time), there’s no
day but today to grab tickets for the tour. Coleman says this particular cast has incredible
chemistry and a real feeling of community and love. “It really comes across in
the performance of the show,” he said.
I asked Coleman where he supposes tortured
love birds Roger and Mimi are today. Are they about to celebrate their 25th
anniversary? Is Roger a rock star? Did Mimi find the stability they both need? He
doesn’t know how much longer they would have survived together, or if at all (I mean, they’re close to death at various points in the show and constantly fighting), but
maybe those two angsty kids grew up and made it after all. We can dream as big
as they did, right?