The multi-Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for Drama winning Musical “RENT” by Jonathan Larson comes to life from the Highland Park Players playing at McGrath Performing Arts Center in Wilmette from July 18-27. The beloved musical is based on Puccini’s opera La Boheme but is set in the more modern day 1996-1998as it presents the challenges facing a group of struggling artists who live in Manhattan’s East Village…Alphabet City.’ The musical covers a year in their life and the challenges presented to some who live with HIV/AIDS at a time when it was a death sentence, how they deal with addiction, hardship a host of romantic relationships.

The story resonates with audiences of all ages and across generations. And this is the musical that brings you magnificent songs like Seasons of Love and La Vie Boheme among many others.

Joining the conversation are director Travis Monroe Neese, and performers Steven Labine (who plays Mark Cohen, the narrator), Roberto Mata (playing Roger Davis a struggling musician wanting to leave a legacy before he passes from AIDS) and Catherine Rodriguez O’Conner (playing Mimi Marquez, also HIV positive and an erotic dancer that lives downstairs from Mark and Roger).

The themes of friendship, love, loss, HIV poverty and the ongoing struggles of the life of an artist are as powerful today as they were when the play premiered in 1996.

Tickets for the brief run may be purchased at: www.HighlandParkPlayers.org