Rent: School Edition
Show Dates: March 23-25
Please note that our production of RENT will contain adult themes, mature content, and language that may not be suitable for all audiences. Please carefully review the content before auditioning.
Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent School Edition is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, Rent School Edition follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
Casting Policy
Wonder Theatre Academy has a new policy that outlines the audition & casting process for our student productions. Please read the required casting policy (CLICK HERE). We thank you for your interest in being a part of Wonder Theatre Academy Auditions!
For other questions, please visit our FAQ page.
Audition Info
AUDITION DATE: November 15, 11 AM - 3:30 PM
Auditions are open to performers 13-18 years old.
You do not have to be a current student at the Wonder Theatre Academy to audition.
We will be forming ONE cast for this show.
Production Team:
Director: Phillip Lopez
Assistant Director/Choreographer: Karen Jimenez
Music Director: Gid DeLaRosa
AUDITION PROCESS:
Students will be asked to take part in a short dance call at the beginning of their audition block. They should dress in dance shoes if they have them and clothing that is comfortable to move in.
Students should be prepared to sing a one-minute song cut in the style of the show OR a song from the show. Please bring the music track for your audition. Some students auditioning may be invited to a callback on a date TBD.
Rehearsal/Show Dates
Rehearsals: December 5, 2026 - March 13, 2027
Tech/Dress Rehearsals: March 17, 18, 20, and 22
Shows: March 23-25
All students wishing to participate in a production must be able to commit to the majority of rehearsals, ALL tech/dress rehearsals, and ALL shows. Conflicts with tech rehearsals and shows are not permitted. Any student with excessive absences will have roles reassigned and may be dismissed from the production without a tuition refund.
Tuition
Tuition is $475 if paid in full; $500 if paid in installments.
Upon casting, payment is required if you accept your role and wish to participate. Please reach out to Nathan at nathan@wondertheatre.org if you have any questions or in need of any assistance. Tuition must be paid in full by the 4th rehearsal.
Should a family accept, and then choose not to participate after the first rehearsal, a partial refund of 75% is applicable but must be communicated to Academy Administrator BEFORE the 2nd rehearsal. No refunds are applicable after the second rehearsal.
Attendance is crucial. Excessive absences and or missing a tech rehearsal may result in reduced roles, having roles reassigned, or being excused from the production with no refund.
Character Breakdown
Mark Cohen: Filmmaker and video artist. Knee-deep in his own soul-searching, Mark is the typical young artist. He and Roger are roommates in the loft. A bit of a nerd.
Gender: male
Age: 20 to 30
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Roger Davis: A struggling musician and former drug addict. He is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain. Roommates with Mark in the loft and battles with being HIV-positive.
Gender: male
Age: 20 to 25
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: F#2
Tom Collins: A computer genius and liberal professor. He is a nurturer with a smooth and relaxed disposition. Used to be a roommate in the loft and is HIV-positive.
Gender: male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: F#2
Benjamin Coffin III: The landlord of Mark and Roger's apartment building. A former roommate in the loft, Benny traded in his personal morals for power and wealth.
Gender: male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: D3
Joanne Jefferson: A public interest lawyer and headstrong lesbian. She is smart and purposeful in all her decisions. Carries on a tumultuous relationship with Maureen.
Gender: female
Age: 25 to 40
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Angel Dumott Schunard: The eccentric HIV-positive street drummer. A drag queen with an incredible gift of dance and a magnetic personality. He becomes Tom's lover.
Gender: male
Age: 20 to 30
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: C3
Mimi Marquez: An HIV-positive stripper with drug addictions. Slender and sickly, she conceals it all at her job in the local strip club. She lives in the same building as the loft.
Gender: female
Age: 18 to 21
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Maureen Johnson: An unpredictably zany performance artist. Maureen oozes sexuality and used to live in the loft. She has recently dumped Mark for Joanne.
Gender: female
Age: 20 to 25
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: G3