Photo Flash: Who Wants Cake? Presents RENT 8/21-9/28

Viva La Vie Boheme in a dynamic production of RENT at The Ringwald Theatre! Who Wants Cake? is thrilled to open their 2009/2010 season with the smash hit musical, RENT created by Jonathan Larson. Beginning Friday, August 21st and playing for a six week engagement ending on Monday, September 28th, RENT will play Friday, Saturday, and Monday nights at 8PM with Sunday matinees at 3PM. Tickets for this production are $10-25 and can be reserved by phone at 248-545-5545 or online at www.WhoWantsCakeTheatre.com!

RENT, a rock opera with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is based on Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and thrive in New York's Lower East Side during the glory days of Bohemian Alphabet City. Their bonhomie is tempered, however, by the specter of AIDS. RENT is ultimately the story of learning to survive, falling in love, finding one's voice, and living for today.

The musical was first seen in a sold-out, limited three-week workshop run at the New York Theatre Workshop in 1994. This same New York City off-Broadway theatre was also the musical's initial home following its official January 25, 1996, opening. Tragically, the show's creator, Jonathan Larson died suddenly the night before the off-Broadway opening.

RENT opened at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. RENT played its final performance at the Nederlander Theatre on September 7, 2008 after playing 5,124 performances and 16 previews. RENT is the seventh longest running show in Broadway history and grossed over $280 million during its Broadway run. Over the course of its groundbreaking 12-year New York run, RENT transformed the definition of musical theater - and changed Broadway forever.

Who Wants Cake? opened the doors to their resident home, The Ringwald, in May 2007 with Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy. Quickly, The Ringwald became a mainstay of Detroit's theatre community. Since opening their doors, Who Wants Cake? has been offering up slice after slice of successful shows including Southern Baptist Sissies, Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical, Bug, The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode, Killer Joe, and The Bad Seed. Who Wants Cake? was named the 2008 Best Theatre Group in Channel 4's Vote 4 The Best contest and the 2009 Best Theatrical Troupe by Real Detroit.

RENT begins on Friday, August 21st and plays through Monday, September 28th. Performances times are 8PM Friday, Saturday, and Monday nights with the Sunday matinees beginning at 3PM. Tickets for RENT are $25.00 for Fridays and Saturday performances, $20.00 for Sunday matinees and Mondays are still only $10 a ticket! Reservations may be made by phone at 248-545-5545 or online at www.WhoWantsCakeTheatre.com. The box office opens 30 minutes before performances.

Cast:
Mark - Patrick Kilbourn
Roger - PJ Vasquez
Mimi - Christine Chemello
Angel - Vince Kelley
Maureen - Annie Reinholz
Joanne - Shondra Tipler
Collins - Dez Walker
Benny - Jason Cooper
Ensemble - Ashlee Armstrong
Ensemble - Nathaniel Cedroni
Ensemble - Peggy Lee
Ensemble - Yewonde Odetoyinbo
Ensemble - Richard Payton
Ensemble - Crystal Rhoney

Creative:
Director - Jamie Richards
Assistant Director - Joe Plambeck
Choreography - Jerry Haines
Music Direction - Michael Smith
Stage Manager - Sandy Rollin
Sound Design - Rollo Rollin
Lighting Design - Rollo Rollin
Set Design - Michelle Becker
Costumes - Michelle Becker and Melissa Beckwith