Catch Rent Before its Gone

Tickets are still available for Hackensack High School’s spring musical, Rent: School Edition, Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award-winning hit Broadway production. Performances are scheduled for March 21, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m., with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on March 23.

The rock-opera is set against the backdrop of New York City’s East Village during the height of the AIDS crisis. The drama looks at a community of artists, many of whom are living with disease, while still celebrating their differences, love and life.

Initial response to Rent: School Edition has been overwhelming. For the first time in nearly a decade, seating is reserved for the production, with the closest seats going first. Tickets have been selling steadily since they went on sale in early January.

“We have a pretty aggressive advertising campaign within the school, on public access, and on our Facebook page,” Director Caseen Gaines said. “The students and faculty have been looking forward to seeing more of the show, and our previews have gone a long way to keep interest high. If people wait to buy tickets at the door, they may not be there.”

Rent: School Edition stars seniors Alexis Carrillo, Jellyn Anne Echon, Timothy Fisher, Peter Panayotof  and Caitlin Wickner, as well as juniors Ryan Cloughley, Kayla Flintall and James Katsaroans. Twenty other students round out the ensemble cast.

“Last year we staged Grease, which was a significantly easier show to pull off,” Gaines said. “Rent: School Edition has been a lot of work, but the kids have been rising to the challenge. They sound fantastic and have really gotten in to character. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised at the quality of this production.”

Tickets to Rent are $12 for all seats. To order tickets, call Jeanette Mortorano at Hackensack High School, 201-646-7902.  For more information about the show, visit www.facebook.com/rentathhs.