Edward Kearns

One of the most successful plays in the history of Broadway will be performed in Sioux Falls.

RENT will show one night only at the Washington Pavilion on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

Director Jonathan Larson had only one dream: to change theater forever. For seven years, he wrote songs and created characters until he felt his masterpiece was perfect.

On January 25th, 1996, RENT opened on Broadway and became an instant success.

To date, it is still one of the most successful productions ever on Broadway. In 1996, RENT won 18 awards including four Tonys and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

For all of its success, RENT ‘s time on Broadway has been bittersweet. Larson never had the chance to see his dream come true. After the final dress rehearsal, Larson returned to his home where he made a cup of tea and died. His life was cut short at 35 by an aortic aneurysm. He passed just hours before the curtains went up on his masterpiece.

RENT puts a modern spin on the classic La Boheme, and touches on the most controversial subjects of our generation: homosexuality, drug abuse and AIDS, in such a way that it must be seen to be understood.

As the years have passed, the phenomenon that is RENT has not slowed down. Original cast members like Taye Diggs and Jesse L. Martin have moved on but have not forgotten where it all started for them.

In early 2005, the original cast will reunite to make a film version of RENT, with Tracie Thomas and Rosario Dawson as new additions.