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Books, music and lyrics by
Jonathan Larson -
Directed by
Lara Macgregor -
Musical direction by
Richard Marrett
April COVID-19 Update: as we all do our bit to keep safe from COVID-19, we have made the heartbreaking decision to cancel our upcoming season of RENT. It would have been fantastic to re-open with this high energy musical, but great things take time, and for us to bring forth this production to the stage in June, our teams would need to be in the early stages of production now. All ticketholders are being contacted with information around credits, refunds or donations. You can read more about this decision and our other COVID-19 changes here.
Brave in the face of danger; loving when confronted by hate and hopeful against all odds, Rent is one of the most uplifting and beloved musicals ever.
This ground-breaking production follows a group of artists struggling and striving to follow their dreams in New York City against a backdrop of poverty, looming gentrification and the AIDS crisis of the 1990s.
A pop-culture phenomenon, this Pulitzer Prize winner is packed with high-energy musical numbers, including revered hits Seasons of Love, Take Me or Leave Me and La Vie Bohème.
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS PLAY
“Jonathan Larson’s pioneering Rent is a work of diversity and friendship that is ripe to revive. It is a vehicle that will allow The Court to do what it does best: the creation of superb musical theatre.”
Artistic Adviser/Lead Director, Ross Gumbley
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Key dates
- 19 November 2022: Opening night
- 21 November 2022: Forum - a special performance where audiences get to ask cast and crew questions after the show
- 29 November 2022: Pay What You Can
- 17 December 2022: Matinee performance at 2pm, Audio Described Performance. Please contact Box Office (03 963 0870) directly to book the Audio Described elements of this performance
- 31 December 2022: Matinee performance at 4pm
- 21 January 2023: Matinee performance at 2pm
- 21 January 2023: Closing night
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Cast
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Creatives
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Band
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Tickets
- Adult $77 - $86
- Senior (65+) $70 - $77
- Group (6+) $73
- Friends of The Court Theatre $69 - $75
- Child (under 18) $40 - $43
- Community Services or Hāpai Access cardholders $39
- 30 Below* (aged 30 & under) $30
30 Below*
A limited number of $30 tickets are available to those who are between 18 and 30 years old. To book, simply select '30 Below' from the ticket options. Tickets are limited to two per person and the person making the booking will need to collect tickets from the Box Office, showing photo ID with proof of age. The second ticket holder does not need to be under 30 years old. By purchasing 30 Below tickets, you agree to receive 30 Below emails from The Court.
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Rush Tickets
After it opened in 1996, RENT introduced the concept of ‘Rush’ tickets – cheaper buy-at-the-last-moment tickets that enabled many RENT-heads to see their beloved musical again and again without breaking the bank. Rush tickets are now a well-known feature of Broadway and the West End.
To honour the spirit of RENT, The Court Theatre will offer a very limited number of Rush tickets for $20 – priced as they were in 1996 – for Box Office only sale in advance of select performances. Watch The Court Theatre Facebook and Instagram on Sunday morning at 9am to see which performances in the following week will offer Rush tickets.
Please note:
- Rush seats are assigned by Box Office and may be located anywhere within the auditorium
- Only two tickets per purchaser; seats are not guaranteed to be together
- Rush tickets can only be purchased at Box Office
- Rush tickets are available for purchase from two hours before show time
- No refunds, credits or rebooking
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Press Reviews
"This reviewing business is an interesting thing. Part of the job requires critique, and that is made extremely difficult when one can’t find a single fault in a performance. This was the case for The Court’s performance of Rent.
I’ve seen the Chris Columbus movie more times than I can count and the stage show several times. What I have never seen, though, is a rendition of Rent performed so expertly that I’ve been floored.""If you’re a fan of musicals like, say, Les Miserables or Wicked, you’ll absolutely love Rent; it’s undeniably one of the best of its genre, and it’s hard to imagine Court Theatre’s production and cast being bettered. "
"The lead cast are generally wonderful, with Ben Freeth better than he’s ever been on The Court Theatre stage as Mark. Portraying two of the three central couples, Bailey Dunnage, Cameron Clayton, Jane Leonard & Anna Francesca Armenia all hold their own. But the heartbeats of this particular production are Monique Clementson and James Bell as Mimi and Roger. The characters function as foils to each other, something that the performers highlight, playing off each other with serious presence and focus."
"The cast is absolutely stacked with some of the best trans-Tasman talent available, and all approach their roles with energy, empathy, and an eye for detail...
...Together, the company create a fully fleshed out social world where all the relationships, from background characters to comic cameos, feel authentic.""It’s a banging show to end the year at The Court.
Rent takes you on a satisfying musical journey, with a big cast, soaring highs and lows, banging tunes and an enduring message about living in the moment." -
Media Release
Read the Media release here.
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KAI AT THE COURT