Escondido, CA – (July, 2021) Patio Playhouse invites audiences to join them in celebrating another 525,600 minutes (and the launch of their 2022-2023 season) with their most recent production, RENT, opening under the open sky at Kit Carson Amphitheater on Friday, July 15.
This rock musical with book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson is loosely based on Puccini’s La Bohème. The story follows roommates and impoverished artists Mark and Roger and their friends Tom Collins, Angel Schunard, Mimi Marquez, Maureen Johnson, and Joanne Jefferson, as well as former friend and roommate Benjamin Coffin III, as they navigate the frictions between art, progress, and HIV/AIDS in New York’s East Village.
Coinciding with the musical’s 25th anniversary, RENT is the first production of Patio’s 2022-2023 season, featuring 17 cast members, a live 5-piece band, and all of the big city ambience and energy that can be housed in an outdoor park amphitheater. The cast includes Trevor Rogelstad (Mark), Mitch Krassin (Roger), Maggie Jones (Mimi), Christopher T. Miller (Collins), Shane Hennessey (Angel), Kaleigh Clark (Maureen), Jade Bajado (Joanne), Jerry Rodriguez (Benny), and Naomi Berg, Sofia Cassidy, Maddy Corvino, Cassiopeia Guthrie, Janet Hwu, James LaFreniere, Noah Orona, David Penic, and Matt Sayre (Ensemble).
When asked about the production, director David Guthrie said, “The overall message of Rent needs to be spread more today than it has ever: love life, live with love.” This production, with time-honored favorites like Seasons of Love, Will I, and Take Me or Leave Me, does that to a tee. It will have audiences enjoying a beautiful night of camaraderie beneath the stars, tapping their toes to the tunes, catching their breath at the story, and ultimately celebrating the ways in which our lives intersect and the small moments that create change and influence for good.
Patio Playhouse’s production of RENT proudly continues the tradition of partnering with a community organization, using the stage as a platform to share the work of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center. This local organization’s mission is to serve, empower, and advocate for North County’s diverse LGBTQI community. Like the center, Patio Playhouse also envisions a community where everyone lives in equality, feeling accepted, valued, safe and free from social stigma. More information about their services and programs, including HIV Prevention and Care, are available on their website at ncresourcecenter.org.
Tickets: Performances of RENT will begin on Friday, July 15 and continue through July 30th. Performances will run Thursdays through Sundays at 8pm with an additional understudy performance scheduled for Wednesday, July 20. All shows will be presented at Kit Carson Amphitheater, located at 100 Amphitheater Drive in Escondido. Tickets for this production are available for the cost of $25 for Adults, $22 for Seniors/Military/Students, and $18 for Youth 16 and under. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. For reservations, contact the Patio Playhouse box office at 760-746-6669, via email at info@patioplayhouse.com, or via the website at patioplayhouse.com. Directed by David Guthrie. Produced by Cassiopeia Guthrie. Music Direction by Dr. Charlie Jirkovsky. Choreography by Danielle Muckle. Produced by Arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
About the Company: Patio Playhouse is Escondido’s only community theater. Established in 1967, the playhouse is located in the heart of Escondido near the intersection of Kalmia and Grand. Patio Playhouse presents a full season of musicals, dramas, and comedies but is also known for its unique fee-free youth theater, which produces several shows a year while introducing live theatre to children through performance/crew opportunities and school performances. Patio presents an annual summer season called Patio Plays in the Park, where patrons can enjoy an evening of musical theater under the stars at Kit Carson Amphitheater. To find out more about Patio Playhouse, please visit patioplayhouse.com
