RENT

The UW-Milwaukee Voice Area and Opera Theatre is proud to present RENT by Jonathan Larson preceded by a special performance of scenes from La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini. Experience Larson’s groundbreaking musical that reshaped the landscape of American music theater. Set in New York’s East Village during the 1990s arts and activist movement, RENT follows a community of young artists navigating love, loss, creativity, and the realities of illness and economic hardship. Its blend of rock, pop, and lyrical storytelling continues to connect deeply with audiences.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Musical Arrangements by Steve Skinner
Original Concept/Additional Lyrics by Billy Aronson
Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements by Tim Weil
Dramaturg Lynn Thompson

RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop. RENT is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

About UWM Voice Area Opera Theatre’s production of RENT and La Bohème Scenes

Larson built the show on the framework of Puccini’s La Bohème, reimagining the opera’s themes of love, friendship, and survival for a new generation. Puccini’s work premiered in 1896, and Larson’s RENT made its debut exactly one hundred years later in 1996, a centennial link that highlights how enduring these stories truly are. While La Bohème centers on bohemian artists in 1890s Paris, its emotional core remains strikingly similar, and Larson honored that lineage while giving it a contemporary pulse.

To explore that connection, we will present selected scenes from La Bohème prior to the full production of RENT, offering audiences a clear window into the operatic DNA that inspired Larson’s vision. Together, these performances reveal the timeless themes shared across a century.

Join us for an evening that brings two iconic works into conversation while celebrating artistry, community, and the diverse talents of UW-Milwaukee’s Voice Area.

Seating

This production will be staged in UWM’s stunning Jan Serr Studio, an ideal venue located within Milwaukee’s vibrant cityscape. With four performances only, seating will be very limited. Be sure to secure your tickets early.

In-person Tickets