Theatre Sheridan Extends RENT Through 6/3

Theatre Sheridan today announced the extension of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical RENT for one week even before it opens! RENT was presented last December to sold out houses at Sheridan College's Oakville campus, and is being transferring to Toronto's Panasonic Theatre where it opens May 16 (preview May 15). With the extension, it will now run through to June 3 (instead of May 27). Tickets are on sale through mirvish.com or TicketKing at 416.872.1212.

Audiences will have a chance to be among the first to see the next generation of talented young theatre artists that will go on to take the theatre world by storm as Theatre Sheridan makes its Toronto debut with 32 performers from the graduating class of Sheridan's prestigious Music Theatre Performance Program.

The talented cast include: David Alves, David Ball, Mathieu Bellemare, Karina Bershteyn, Michelle Bouey, Andreane Bouladier, Kirsten Comerford, Nadya Corscadden, Mike Cox, Trevor Curran, Alex Dvorak, Camille Eanga-Selenge, Jake Foy, Joel Gomez, Amir Haidar, Aaron Hastelow, Erik Kopacsi, Jacob MacInnis, Julia McLellan, LeAnne Miller, Matthew Monopoli, Kyle Murray, Alycia Novak, Melissa Peters, Samantha Piper, Tringa Rexhepi, Brett Schaller, Jaclyn Serre, Andres Sierra, Chad Trembley, Jessica Vandenberg and Luke Witt.

They worked diligently with top theatre professionals to create this original production. The original artistic team for Theatre Sheridan's RENTincluded some of Canada's leading theatrical practitioners: Director Lezlie Wade, Musical Director Bob Foster, Choreographer Marc Kimelman, Costume and Set Designer Brandon Kleiman, Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser and Sound Designer Todd Charlton.

Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking RENT reinvented musicals when it opened in 1996. Set in New York City's East Village, RENT is a modern take on the classic Puccini opera, La Boheme and tells the unforgettable tale of a group of young friends and artists learning to survive, falling in love, finding their voices and living for today. An inspiring story, RENT tackles addiction, poverty, AIDS and most of all, love. Not only did it win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Musical, it also won Tonys for Best Book and Best Score and New York Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Book.

Theatre impresario David Mirvish of Mirvish Productions, who own and operate the Panasonic Theatre, noted: "RENT is this generation's best musical about the struggle young people face in finding their way in the world. It's also about creativity, love and joy. Having a new generation of talent from Sheridan College's acclaimed musical theatre program perform RENT is perfect casting. I am delighted they have chosen the Panasonic Theatre in which to present their production. I look forward to seeing it."

"I am extremely encouraged by the public support for this new generation of theatre artists," said Associate Dean for Performing Arts and Theatre Sheridan Producer Michael Rubinoff. "This extension by popular demand will allow more theatre-goers to share in the excitement of launching the careers of some of our most promising theatrical talents."