Arts & Entertainment
New Jersey Youth Theater Stages 'Rent'
Nineteen young people from across the state will perform at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
The New Jersey Youth Theatre will debut its performance of the musical "Rent" this weekend at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
The play, which is a modern take on the Puccini opera "La Bohème," is known for its powerful singing, challenging musical score and emotional story line. It chronicles a year in the lives of a group of impoverished young artists living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York City's East Village during the late 1980s.
The youth theater company is based in Westfield. Its show will include three Union County residents: Lauren Campbell of Cranford, Jeanel LeBlanc of Hillside and Melanie Porras of Summit.
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Porras, rising senior at Summit High School, is the youngest cast member. She will play a support-group member, a homeless person and one of the character's mothers. She is also the understudy for one of the main characters.
Porras said she has enjoyed learning from and watching the play's leading actors, some of whom are in their early 20s. "There's just a really professional work ethic from all of them," she said.
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Richard Eisenberg, a member of the youth theater's board of directors, said that "Rent" is the type of play with which young performers can easily engage, because it deals with issues familiar to them: homelessness, relationship issues and substance abuse.
"I think the kids have really enjoyed to be part of a show that really connects with them where 'My Fair Lady' may not," Eisenberg said.
The New Jersey Youth Theatre will perform "Rent" at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark from July 16-25. For tickets call 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722) or visit www.njpac.org. NJPAC is offering four pairs of front row center seats for only $15 per ticket. The seats will be made available via lottery prior to each performance. For details click here.
The youth theatre will also perform "Rent" at the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan from July 30-August 8. For tickets call 1-732-528-9211 or visit www.algonquinarts.org.
