It is that time of year again where the madness of stress, deadlines and exhaustion begin. September is child’s play readjusting to being back at school while we have very little homework and responsibilities. However, once October begins, everything changes. You might think I am referring to midterms, exams and homework, but actually this is something that is even bigger than all of those things. Countless shows are beginning production this fall with high hopes of not only being successful, but seen and enjoyed by classmates and teachers. SUNY Purchase is acclaimed for its arts program and its students work tirelessly to maintain that reputation. Whether it is a senior project, an independent student production or a show produced by a club, theatre at this college is alive and well due to the student’s passion.
One of the many shows that is currently in rehearsal is the Musical Theatre Club’s production of “RENT." Set in New York City in the 1980s, “RENT” paints the tragic picture of the HIV/AIDS crisis that was alive and well at the time. Each character has respectively been impacted by the fatal disease and the rock musical clearly displays the amount of loss and helplessness that existed not too long ago. Last semester, the Musical Theatre Club produced the musical “Little Shop of Horrors” in the Stood. It received much acclaim from students and teachers alike, but with a show like that it makes the choice to do “RENT” quite shocking.
However, this group of students is more than up for the challenge. Completely student run and operated, the “RENT” cast and production team have a great deal of hype and enthusiasm to live up to. They will be the first student production to be performed in the new Humanities theater. The stakes are incredibly high for this small group of aspiring artists and performers, but even so through their perseverance, talent and hard work they are accomplishing incredible feats.
The cast is made up of primarily freshmen, specifically eight out of fourteen, and have only had six weeks of rehearsals before show time. Only two seniors are directly involved in this production, out of the entire twenty-six, but regardless of the general young age of the cast and crew these students act like complete professionals. Even the varying majors of each individual does not prevent an extreme amount of art and talent to overflow from whatever rehearsal space they occupy. This production is definitely a performance worth attending due to its diligent and youthful cast and production team as well as its incredible story about a group of people who, like these students, had all of the odds stacked against them.
From November 5th through 7th at 7:30pm, “RENT” will be running in the Humanities theater at Purchase College. This capable body of students will sing, dance and act their hearts out to one of the most iconic pieces of theatre in the past thirty year. They handle the difficult subject matter with great care and respect. All who attend will walk out in the end thoroughly impressed and pleased with these students great skills.
