CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONSERVATORY THEATRE

NEWS RELEASE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       CONTACT: Shaun Evans  (619) 944-7574

 

California Youth Conservatory Theatre

Presents a Special Holiday Engagement of RENT at The Lyceum Theatre

 

Local Theatre Group Was the First of Its Kind to Do the Unedited Version of the Tony Award Winning Musical

 

December 26th, 2015 through January 10th, 2016 SAN DIEGO (NOVEMBER 10, 2015) – The Award-winning California Youth Conservatory Theatre (CYC), well known for staging some of San Diego’s most ambitious and successful youth theatre productions ever, will open a special holiday engagement of the brilliant and controversial hit musical RENT. Inspired by Puccini’s La Bohemme, the modern-day rock opera tells the story of a collection of struggling artists and musicians trying to survive and practice their craft in the avant-garde neighborhood of New York’s Lower East Side. This incredible production is being directed by CYC Artistic Director and long-time professional actor, Shaun T. Evans. Evans will also star in the show as “Collins.”

 

Set against the backdrop of the 1990’s AIDS crisis and laden with strong language, the provocative story confronts mature situations such as homelessness, drug addiction, illness and homosexuality. In recent years, some high schools and youth theatre groups have staged the edited “School Edition” of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical, but seldom the full-score, unedited version of the show. A number of high schools throughout America have even banned the production altogether. In 2009, Shaun T. Evans directed the world’s first-ever youth theatre production of this show with this same company. This year’s production will feature several professional performers, including recording artist Bonni Dance, Jason Marks (TV’s “Let’s Make A Deal”) and Shaun T. Evans himself. Joshua Pinkowski, the award-winning young actor who played the lead character “Mark” in the 2009 production, is back from London to reprise his role in this current production.

 

“Art imitates life,” said Shaun Evans, founder and Artistic Director of CYC’s innovative programming. “Young people are just as affected by poverty, issues of sexual/gender identity and HIV as adults. In fact, the number of new cases of HIV among teens is worse than ever. So RENT and its issues are relevant and appropriate for young people in the real world.”

 

The Story:

The critically acclaimed, Tony Award winning musical was written by Jonathan Larson and became a huge hit in the 1990s and one of Broadway’s longest running shows. The musical enjoyed immediate popularity with the MTV generation, fueled in part by its hard driving rock score, catchy melodies, complex harmonies and treatment of real life in the shadow of AIDS. The story traces the journey of a group of friends who are drawn together one Christmas Eve in a special way. Over the next year, the story follows them as their relationships grow and change and as they struggle with paying the rent, battling eviction, death and drugs while living in the moment. In all, it is a hopeful, uplifting tale of love transcending tragedy and the raw spirit of creativity and art. Standouts from the award-winning score include: “Seasons of Love,” “I Should Tell You”, “I’ll Cover You”, “Take Me or Leave Me” and “Santa Fe”. The melodies lift and move audiences and echo meaningful messages about how precious life and love are for everyone.

 

The Cast:

CYC’s impressive RENT cast includes:

•  Eric Von Metzge, as “Roger”, the HIV-positive musician who is recovering from drug addiction.

• Shaun T. Evans, the award-winning actor/director and San Diego stand-out as “Collins.”

• Josh Pinkowski, the award-winning actor recently graduated from the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts as “Mark”, the film-maker and the play's narrator.

•  Recording artist Bonni Dance, who San Diego audiences will remember from Shrek, Big River and Ragtime.

•  Tony Jongco as “Angel”

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Mark: Josh Pinkowski

Roger: Eric Von Metzge

Angel: Anthony Jongco

Collins: Shaun T. Evans*

Mimi: Ciarra Stroud

Maureen: Ruby Ross/Madison Hannsmeyer

Joanne: Meghan McKenzie/Tiffany Polite/ (Dacia Bond U/S)

Benny: Collin Seaman/Federico Mostert

Mr. Jefferson: Nate Ferguson

Alexi Darling: Dacia Bond/Nikki Castillo

Paul: Yonatan Vaizman

Waiter/Squeegee Bum: Nick Lux

Seasons Soloist/Bag Lady: Bonni Dance*

*Appears courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

 

The Crew:

Producer/Director: Shaun T. Evans

Production Stage Manager: Sherrill Wilmer

Choral Director: Miss Leigh Scarritt

Choreographers: Jason Marks and Marla Navarette

Music Director: Maestro Tamara Paige

Lighting Designer: Michael Hoffman

Costume Designer: Mandy LaRowe

Scenic Designer: Shaun T. Evans

 

Full Performance Schedule:

12/26 @ 7pm (Opening Night w/Complimentary Champagne/Dessert Reception)

12/27 @ 2pm 12/31 @ 9pm (Special New Year’s Eve Performance w/Post-Show Countdown Party)

01/02 @ 7pm

01/03 @ 2pm

01/08 @ 7pm

01/09 @ 2pm and 7pm

01/10 @ 1pm (Final Performance)

For Tickets: www.cyctheatre.com or 619-944-7574 for group sales or info. 619-544-1000 (Lyceum Theatre box office)

See fact sheet for more information about the production or go to www.cyctheatre.com http://www.cyctheatre.com