There’s something to understand about the musical Rent: it’s not just about AIDS and drag queens. For their spring production, the Drama department collaborated with Gaither on the play centered around love and what it really means to fully live one’s life. Directed by Lindsay Painter (Steinbrenner) and Dan Franke (Gaither), Rent opened April 16th and featured an even number of students from each school.
“Getting to know these really talented kids over at Gaither and creating this ensemble between the two schools; I think it’s been a really nice way to create some good teamwork between the two schools,” said Painter, who is this year’s Florida Thespian director. Quite occupied with planning the state festival, Painter didn’t have as much time to dedicate to a spring musical, and found the collaboration extremely convenient. “It’s been really helpful to have rehearsals over at Gaither and my kids to still be able to be in a show,” she said.
The musical follows the story of several individuals who are each struggling to hold onto what they love, and along the way each story branches out and each character becomes more complex.
We meet Mimi, a drug-addicted dancer; Mark, whose girlfriend left him for a woman named Joanne; Collins, who struggles to hold onto the love of his life (Angel, a drag queen suffering from AIDS), and a great deal more. The story progresses all through song and dance, showcases several students’ talents, and holds onto that resounding theme of treasuring every day like it’s your last.
Though the students had to get used to working with people they’d never met before, it wasn’t long before the entire cast felt like a family. “I met a bunch of really cool, down-to-earth people who made doing this [much] easier,” said John Olthoff, a Gaither senior who played Roger. Olthoff, though slightly out of his element considering he normally does folk music, didn’t find it too difficult to put himself in the role of the grungy, guitar-sporting rocker.
“The voices out of these kids are incredible; they’re amazing,” said Painter. Kevin Banks (Collins), Riley McDonald (Maureen), and McCoy Johnston (Mark) were among those who stood out during the play, revealing each of their character’s unique characteristics and experiences.
Though tough to embody someone living through the scenarios that Rent presented, sophomore Matthew Balkum and others worked to bring out each individual’s story. “I think that it allows me to have a deeper appreciation for, not just the AIDS epidemic, but the entire time period in which Rent takes place in,” said Balkum, who played Angel.
“Dying every night of AIDS is pretty drastic, so you have to get an understanding of what living in that time period was like in order to give yourself up completely to the role.” Balkum studied the broadway play to take on this role and also had to learn to walk in heels.
“I think [it’s] just [about treasuring] all the moments you have in life and the people in your life,” said Gaither sophomore Riley McDonald (Maureen).
Next year Drama will take on Threepenny Opera and another spring musical, and as we know well enough what Painter and the Drama department are capable of, it’s safe to say they’ll be phenomenal Steinbrenner productions.
