Broadway Hit Dazzles Alameda Audiences (March 2009)

Broadway Hit Dazzles Alameda Audiences
Encinal High's 'RENT' is Spectacular
Written by Miguel Gamalinda

ALAMEDA, CA—From the first opening of the “curtain” (Which was just a sliding metal gate.) to the final Curtain Call, the cast of Encinal High School's production of RENT kept audiences on the edge of their seats the entire two and a half hours. The show, which is directed by Encinal High Drama teacher Robert Moorhead, tells the story of young Bohemians living in the heyday of New York City's gritty East Village who are trying to go on with everyday life while living with the fact that they are infected with HIV.

The Encinal High performance is a special “School Edition” of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical, which has edited out some of the more explicit and difficult scenes and foul language to be more appropriate for a high school audience. Encinal High is one of the first high schools in the United States being allowed to perform this show.

The fantastic, thirty-plus cast of RENT includes Matthew Strasser as struggling filmmaker Mark Cohen, Daniel Skinner as depressed musician Roger Davis, Allie Villa as exotic dancer Mimi Márquez, Keenan Bunch as former MIT Professor Tom Collins, Jonathan Gataitman as drag queen Angel, Kelsey Canalin as Maureen, and Roxanne Angeles as Joanne. RENT also included a twenty-four member ensemble, all of whom sound wonderful when accompanying the main cast singing Seasons of Love at the opening of the Second Act.

Mark, who is the only character in RENT that is not infected with the HIV virus, struggles to live with the fact that many of his friends would be dying before he goes himself. Strasser portrays Mark in a very emotionally powerful performance.

Skinner delivers much of his charater's depression during the song One Song, Glory towards the beginning of the show.

Villa's portrayal as the energetic Mimi is shown very well in her performance of the song Out Tonight, in which she expresses her desire to have Roger take her out on a date. Afraid of infecting her with the HIV virus, Roger chews her out as a response in the powerful numberAnother Day. Mimi then tells Roger the catchphrase of RENT, that there is 'No Day But Today.'

Bunch shows his character's sadness very well in the song I'll Cover You (Reprise), singing to his lost love Angel, a drag queen who shows her energy in the fast-paced number Today 4 U.

Cannalin and Angeles show their character's much strife in Take Me or Leave Me, where they both want each other to either accept each other for who they are or to end their relationship.

When it all comes together, the cast delivers a spectacular performance that definitely moves some audience members to tears. The Encinal High Drama Department has really outdone itself with this moving musical.

The music, lyrics, and book for RENT was written by Jonathan Larson.