Willa Henske
Co-Production Dramaturg
Lisette Gowland
Co-Production Dramaturg
NO DAY BUT TODAY.
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NO DAY BUT TODAY. *
Resources
The musical Rent directly discusses and depicts difficult topics. If you or anyone you know is struggling, help is available. Below are links including aid available.
About the Playwright
Johnathan Larson
(1960 -1996)
Larson was a groundbreaking American playwright, composer, and lyricist, most known for his works Rent and Tick, Tick…Boom! He was born in New York and proved to be a musical prodigy from a young age, later studying acting with a focus on writing. In young adulthood, he was mentored by Stephen Sondheim, who encouraged him to keep making art when faced with a lack of success. Taking inspiration from Puccini’s La bohème and his life in New York, he wrote Rent. On the day of Rent’s first preview, Larson died of an aortic dissection at 35 years old. Rent went on to win several Tony awards and became a Broadway sensation and classic. His legacy lives on in his beloved works, as he innovatively tackled topical issues such as substance abuse, LGBTQ+ struggles, and the lives of young artists.
The AIDs Memorial Quilt
This production will be making their own version of the AIDS Quilt in the lobby of the Newhart Theatre.
“The AIDS Memorial Quilt helps us remember the unique lives and stories of those we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS.
There are 50,000+ AIDS Memorial Quilt panels, with that number growing each year. Make a panel or host the Quilt today!” - National AIDs Memorial
Parallels to La bohème
Musetta’s Theme in La Bohème —> Roger’s Guitar Riff Theme
“Vecchia zimarra” discusses Colline selling his coat to buy firewood or get Mimi medicine —> Collins’ missing sleeve
“Sì. Mi chiamamo Mimì…” —> Literally translates to “Yes. They call me Mimi,” the ending line to “Light My Candle.”
The character Schaunard —> Angel Dumott Schunard
Act 2 of La Bohème —> Approximately the ending scene of Rent
Focus on Tuberculosis virus —> Focus on AIDs epidemic
Glossary
General Terms
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Stands for Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. When HIV targets the body’s white blood cells and weakens the immune system.
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A type of Japanese dog breed
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Someone who is obsessively orderly.
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“With regard to” derived from French.
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Experimental ideas particularly in the arts.
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Item description
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Siddhartha Gautama, or The Buddha, is a religious guide who lived 2,600 years ago.
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A medical professional who uses hands-on spinal adjustment to focus on preventing nervous system and musculoskeletal system disorders and reducing pain.
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British slang for good friends.
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Latin term for a motto or creed.
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A dated derogatory term for someone who dresses that is associated in opposition to their sex assigned at birth. Cross-dressing re-emerged in popular culture in the 80s/90s, and was often deemed stylish.
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An aggressive dog.
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A sex toy resembling an erect penis.
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A derogatory term and slur for a lesbian. In the 80s/90s this term was commonly used, opposed to now.
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Often abbreviated to EST, it is the time zone used in New York.
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A derogatory slur used for gay men, originally the term was used to refer to cigarettes. In the 90’s, the word was not seen as a slur, as we see it today, and was used often.
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A chimney like pipe that acts as a duct for waste produced by fire.
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A derogatory term used to refer to a homosexual man.
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The scientific term for modern humans.
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A Mexican breakfast that consists of eggs, a tortilla, and salsa.
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A device designed to cause a fire.
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A derogatory term for lesbians that was often used in the 80s/90s.
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A fictional group session for those suffering from a chronic illness to offer support through a community setting. It is based on real groups like Seattle AIDS Support Group or the Friends for Life Society.
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An herbal mixture of typically dried herbs, fruits, flowers, spices, an essential oils to act as a natural air freshener.
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To steal.
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The sexual enjoyment of receiving mental and physical pain or humiliation.
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Item description
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A powerful person, specifically in media.
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A made-up law case. Larson is referencing Henri Murger, a novelist known for writing the collection of short stories, Scènes de la vie de Bohème.
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Term originated in 19th-century NYC from Dutch. Purposefully not attending obligations.
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Short for rehabilitation. The process of renewing one’s health through therapy, in-house care, and training. Often used for substance abuse.
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Short for Sadomasochism. The sexual enjoyment of exchange of domination, pain, and/or humiliation.
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Anal or oral sex.
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Unhoused individuals who occupy abandoned buildings.
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The cells that destroy cancer cells, aiding the immune system. AIDS destroys T cells.
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Something considered socially forbidden.
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The state of boredom.
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A term made to exaggerate and mock bisexuality.
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Made from pine oil, very flammable oil commonly used in paint.
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The symptoms experienced when one stops the intake of addictive substances (drugs, nicotine, alcohol, etc.).
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A derogatory term that emerged in the 1980s. Used to typically describe young white collar professionals who move into upincoming lower income neighborhoods.
20th Century Pop Culture Terms
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A type of vodka.
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An activist group formed in New York City to fight the AIDS epidemic through direct action .
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A device that automatically answers calls and records messages.
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A fictional character in The Wizard of Oz. The aunt of Dorothy.
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Azidothymidine, developed in the 1960’s, was originally prescribed to prevent cancer, but was later one of the first medications that blocked the HIV activity.
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Someone who is considered socially unconventional and free. This is usually used in the context of creative artists.
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A que of people waiting for food from charities or the government. These were commonly seen in New York during the Great Depression.
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A rank in a Girl Scout troop, typically around age 7 or 8.
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British luxury designer brand.
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A coffee brand founded in East Harlem, New York.
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A substance capable of causing cancer.
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A piece of art created with the help of computer software. Internet based art pieces.
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A fictional high-tech studio space that Benny wishes to build.
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Brand of boots popular in the 1990s.
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The main character in the story, Wizard of Oz.
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Item description
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The cow in “Cyberland.” She cannot produce milk, representing the struggle to survive in a world of corporate control.
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Political icon Eva Pèron, the wife of president Juan Peròn and the protagonist of 1978 musical, Evita, by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber following her life.
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Guitars manufactured from the company, Fender, which specializes in electric guitars and basses.
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Item description
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The predecessor to the stovetop, invented in the late 19th century. Flat heated surface used to cook or heat food.
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Titular character in the the James Bond franchise. He is a British secret agent with a love for vodka martinis, “Shaken, not stirred.”
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1946 film, based on the short story A Christmas Carol, where George Bailey contemplates suicide and wishes he was never born. He is then taken to a world where that wish came true.
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Cigarette brand. Smoking became more popular throughout the 20th century.
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Description text goes here
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Topical antispetic used for minor wounds.
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Fictional mouse created by Walt Disney and Urb Iwerks in 1928. In the 80s/90s, Mickey resurfaces and gained popularity in the TV program, All New Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
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Secretary to James Bond’s boss, M.
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Annual New Year’s Eve program hosted by Dick Clark.
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Iconic 80s fictional character known for his childlike personality.
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Also known as fluoxetine, this drug is an antidepressant prescribed for treating various mental illnesses like depression and OCD by increasing serotonin to improve mood.
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Fictional villain in James Bond franchise, the 1959 novel and 1964 film Goldfinger.
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British punk band formed in 1975 London.
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A fictional character who is bitten by a spider and gains spider-like powers.
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American glass manufacturer.
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Short for Stolichnaya, a Russian brand of vodka produced in Moscow. A vodka invented during the Soviet Union.
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A 1991 crime comedy following two women, Thelma and Louise, on a fishing trip. A turn of events led to Louise killing a man, and the two fled to Mexico.
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Fictional dog and pet to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
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1959-1964 TV fantasy sci-fi program created by Rod Serling.
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An alternate news publication in NYC that is a platform for art and creatives. It included art critiques and sex advice columns.
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Voice-encoder, making a voice sound electronic. This instrument was heavily used in 80s/90s music.
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Major antagonist in The Wizard of Oz. She hates Dorothy for killing her sister and stealing her sister’s slippers.
Locations Referenced
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A neighborhood in the East Village of Manhattan. Derived from the avenues with single-letter names (A, B, C, and D).
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Avenue located in Manhattan between Houston Street and 14th Street.
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Avenue located in East Village, Manhattan, running from East Houston Street up to East 14th Street.
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A city in Jerusalem, Israel, known for being Jesus of Nazareth’s birthplace.
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A kingdom, part of the Holy Roman Empire, that resided in what is modern Czechia. Some people are attributed with a “bohemian lifestyle,” meaning they live artistically, freely, and unconventionally.
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Now known as Kolkata, is the capital city of India’s West Bengal state.
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Popular music club, a hotspot for punk rock and new wave.
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A New York cruise company and tourist destination.
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A reoccurring Friday night party in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.
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A wealthy and historic town in Long Island, New York.
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A neighborhood in the East Side of Lower Manhattan.
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An apartment tower in New York.
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Hamlet located in Long Island, NY, named after Valentine Hicks, notably where Billy Joel was born.
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Now closed spot in the East Village known to be a significant spot where Jonathan Larson would spend time.
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A chain of nightclubs that closed in 2010. It was known for its nightlife, drag, Club Kid scene. It was a remodeled church.
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Private all-girls college prepatory schools.
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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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New York University
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Former Greek temple of Athena. It became a symbol of the birthplace of democracy and the cultural capital of Athens. It is marveled for its art and architecture.
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Luxury Hotel in New York near Central Park.
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Town in New York
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1980’s/90’s nightclub in East Village, directly connected to the queer, indie, drag, and punk scene.
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Capital of New Mexico
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Town in New York
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Popular coastal town in Connecticut.
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Performance Art Club in New York City’s East Village, known for its avant-garde, experimental performances.
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A major street in Manhattan separating Lower Manhattan from Midtown, passing through neighborhoods like the Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village, and Union Square.
Important People Referenced
Angelou was a civil rights activist, poet, essayist, and memoirist from St. Louis, MO. Most famous for her piece, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” (1969), which was banned in some schools for its depiction of trauma. She read her poem “On the Pulse of the Morning” at Bill Clinton’s 1993 presidential inauguration.
Maya Angelou
Bertolucci was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He is known for Last Tango in Paris (1972), which was seen as controversial because of its sexual nature of the film. This controversy caused him to lose his civil rights for 5 years.
(Bernardo) Bertolucci
An American dancer, choreographer, and innovator in modern dance. He studied under Martha Graham and worked with John Cage.
(Merce) Cunningham
German and American actress who originated the role of Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf? She was described as a “profoundly truthful actress.” She studied the techniques of Konstantin Stanislavski and Yevgeny Vakhtangov.
Uta (Hagen)
A leader of the Harlem Renaissance and the jazz poetry movement. He is known for his poetry, like “Harlem,” which inspired A Raisin in the Sun. His primary focus of his writing is the experience of Black Americans.
Langston Hughes
Spike Lee
An American actor and filmmaker, known for exploring the themes of societal issues like race relationships, struggles within the black community, crime, and poverty in his films.
He was an Italian filmmaker, screenwriter, and editor, most known for the film Blow-Up (1966). His documentary Chung Kuo caused controversy and was deemed “anti-China.”
(Michaelangelo) Antonioni
Bruce was a comedian known for his satire and social critique, which was considered controversial for pushing boundaries. Because of this, he was banned from many venues and fell into addiction and overdosing at 40.
Lenny Bruce
Baldwin is an American actor, producer, and political activist. He is best known for Beetlejuice, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Departed, and The Royal Tenenbaums.
Alec Baldwin
An American musician known as a visionary in folk music. His lyrics combine political, social, and philosophical commentary.
(Bob) Dylan
Cage was a pioneer, innnovator, and icon in the contemporary music movement. He was known for many pieces, like “4’3’’, ” which pushed limits with its avant-garde and unorthodox perspectives. He was life partners with Merce Cunningham until his death in 1992.
(John) Cage
Former president of the Czech Republic from 1993-2003 as well as a writer, known for his plays, essays, and memoirs.
Václav Havel
American poet and writer behind “Howl.” He famously opposed sexual repression, capitalism, and economic materialism.
(Allen) Ginsberg
Ted Koppel
A broadcast journal known for hosting the 1980s late-night television program Nightline.
Pablo Neruda
A former senator of the Republic of Chile and Chilean poet. He won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. He wrote various genres of poetry since the age of 13.
(Martin) Heidegger
German philosopher, thought to be be one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century.
(Akira) Kurosawa
An influential Japanese filmmaker with a career spanning over six decades. He heavily influenced Western film.
Gertrude Stein
An American novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector. She resided in Paris, where she met and collaborated with modernism art and literature icons.
Musical References
Musetta’s Theme from La bohème is a theme heard frequently in Rent in Roger’s guitar riff.
O Holy Night
“Chestnuts roasting—” are the opening words to “The Christmas Song” by Wells and Tormé.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Joy to the World
“I’m dreaming of a white, right Christmas”
“Carmina Burana”
“Santa Claus Is Coming”
Translations
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(say lah vee) A common French phrase used in French and English meaning, “That’s life.”
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(DEE-es EE-ray, DEE-es ILL-ah) A Latin hymn sung in a mass for the dead, meaning “Day of wrath. Day of Mourning.”
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(KEER-ee-ay eh-LAY-ee-sohn or KEER-ee-ay ay-LAY-ee-sohn) Greek for “Lord, have Mercy” used in most Christian liturgies.
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(lah vee boh-em) A French phrase directly translating to “the Bohemian life.” This phrase was popularized by Henri Murger's novel Scènes de la vie de Bohème, Puccini’s opera La bohème, and Rent, but surfaced in 19th century France, to describe the lifestyle of the Romani people, who were incorrectly thought to originate from Bohemia.
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(Maa-zahl Taav) A phrase in Hebrew used to wish someone good luck.
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"Mimi, girl, where are you? Your mom is calling, where are you Mimi -- Call.”
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(Yit-gah-DAHL vuh-yit-kah-DAHSH) The Mourner’s Kaddish, meaning “May [His great Name] be magnified and sanctified” in Aramaic.
Important References for Rehearsal Process
The musical Rent was directly inspired by the opera, La bohème.
The character Tom Collins’ singing style/genre is largely associated with gospel because he is often seen as the “preacher” and emotional anchor character of the group. Sam Cooke, as a former gospel musician, became a pop icon and frequently made hits inspired by gospel hymns.
Joanne and Mark dance the tango in “Tango: Maureen.” Here is an example of the tango, originating in Argentina.
Mimi Màrquez works as an exotic dancer at The Cat Scratch Club. Here is a reference video for how an exotic dancer might move or dance.
Maureen is a performance artist. One of the most famous performance artists of the 80s/90s was Marina Abramović.
Throughout the 1990s, the drag scene and Club kid movement prospered. The character Angel is a NYC drag queen. Some of the most famous NYC drag queens at the time were Rupaul, Lady Bunny, and Lahoma.
Roger, an aspiring rock star, is loosely based on Kurt Cobain and Lenny Kravitz.
“La vie bohème” directly references the Last Supper and Christianity. Angel is often seen as the “Christ-like” character.
Works Cited
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
https://www.aidsmemorial.org/quilt
https://www.youtube.com/