South Stage announced on Monday that, because of complications with the rights for Rent, the school will not be allowed to put on the production this year.
Jeff Knoedler, Newton South’s theater director, announced during a South Stage meeting that Rent – Jonathan Larson’s edgy rock-musical depicting the dark, angst-filled lives of struggling artists that had been scheduled as South Stage’s winter musical since last spring – had to be pulled due to issues with obtaining the rights.
The situation is difficult for many prospective cast members to process because South Stage did possess the rights to the production.
The trouble was caused when another theater company purchased exclusive rights to the show, which placed a restriction that “may block out local performances prior to and after the run of… a national tour or a large professional production [that] is taking place in their community or region” (mtishows.com).
“This does happen. It has never happened to me before, but it does happen,” Knoedler said.
The news was met with shock from students. Many did not expect it to happen, either.
“I was so disappointed and aghast that Rent was cruelly ripped from my hands… the second I heard we were doing it I started planning my audition,” Junior Sarah Anderson-Krim said.
Many seniors were especially distressed when they heard the news.
“[I feel] disappointed more than anything else. We were promised a musical which, in my opinion, is one of the greatest, most challenging, most stimulating musicals ever written, and instead… we now have to settle for something else,” Jonah Cochin, a senior and South Stage veteran, said.
The possible substitutes for Rent were also announced: Aida, Shrek, and Chicago, with the last two seemingly the most likely.
Many students are trying to look for the silver lining.
“Whatever we do is going to be great… everyone should be allowed to be upset for now, we shouldn’t hold a grudge against Mr. Knoedler or the show we end up doing” said senior and show’s stage manager Hannah King.
“I’m glad they had a whole meeting to announce it to everyone, and I am even more glad that a ton of people showed up… I’m sorry [for the people who had their hearts set on Rent], but I can’t fight for them. There’s no way we can do it if we don’t have the rights,” senior Sam Fidler said.
“Chicago is… a no-brainer. We have the dancers, and there are always not enough males and too many females for roles [which is solved in Chicago]; also, it’s raunchy without being too scandalous, serious without being depressing and altogether amazing,” senior Acia Gankin said.
This sentiment of evenly balancing the protagonists between male and female actors is shared by Victoria Perkinson, South Stage’s newest addition, who feels that women are underrepresented in “the cannon of shows” that are usually done not only at South, but in theater in general.
The ratio of female to male students who take part in these shows is almost 2:1, yet many shows that South has done over the past few years, and plans to do in coming seasons, center around male characters (Lucky Stiff, Spring Awakening, Macbeth).
In the brief hours since the news was released, many students, such as Gankin, have shown their support for Chicago, while several others have suggested other ideas. As of Tuesday, the list of shows is Chicago, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cabaret, and Aida. Chicago’s rights were requested a week ago and are still being processed, while Rocky Horror and Cabaret requests were sent in Tuesday.
Regardless of what is chosen, students have strong feelings about the mood of the show. “What makes South Stage special is [that] they aren’t afraid to go edgy and put it all out there,” Anderson-Krim said.
Whatever the students’ preference is, the decision is ultimately “up to whatever we [can] get the rights to,” King said.
More information will be posted as necessary, but Brianna McIsaac, senior and Stage Manager of Arabian Nights, has a message for anyone who finds themselves heartbroken and shell-shocked because of this turn of events:
“It’s perfectly okay to feel the immense disappointment and anger that this caused for as long as you need; however, please don’t refuse to audition/participate because it’s not Rent. It’s bound to be a wonderful experience no matter what the show is,” McIsaac said.
