Aurora Arts Theatre’s 2023 'Rent' Playbill

5635 EVERHART RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

Ed Chapa was a fiercely passionate man with big aspirations and a love for the arts. What started as a simple thought shared with his wife, Mary, grew into a vision that was realized with the inception of the Aurora. The dream to open a quaint community theater on the Southside of Corpus Christi became a driving force in Ed’s life, and his dedication to the cause served as an inspiration to all he met.

The success of the Aurora lives on as a testament to the strength of his vision and of his faith in the many volunteers and community supporters who gave of their time and hearts as much as he gave of his.

For Women of All Ages

Community Projects

Couples Dinners

Book Clubs

Programs

Games

Luncheons/Coffees

Ladies Night Out

Social Events

Wine Clubs

A Note From the Executive Director

To walk in someone else’s shoes is an expression that is commonly used but seems to trivialize the full meaning of what that suggests. Walking in someone’s shoes is tantamount to following their journey through life in hopes that experiencing their challenges, their joy, and their pain will somehow shine a light of compassion within us. Learning & respecting the culture of others, leads to acceptance that allows us to relish the beauty in our differences resulting in a more harmonious society.

The characters represented in our production give us the opportunity to embrace our commitment to respect the life journey of others and in turn enrich our own. Though riddled with choices, twists, and turns, our personal journeys set us on a path of discovery that is ours to nurture and mold.

My personal journey has been enriched by many who have chosen to walk along my side. Whether there for a moment or a lifetime, you have made a grand difference.

MARY CHAPA

Owner & Executive Director

Office Staff

Mary Chapa, Owner & Executive Director

Corey Ranson, Consultant

Dylan C. Rios, Marketing Director

Christin Espinoza, Box Office Manager

Bryan Meza, Camp Director/Box Office Associate

Jacqueline N. Perez, Box Office Associate

Aurora Arts Theatre

5635 Everhart Road

Corpus Christi, TX 361-851-9700

info@auroraartstheatre.com

Box Office Hours

Wednesday-Saturday: 11am-3pm

Show Days: Fri & Sat: 5pm-9pm Sunday: 11am-4pm

Playbill Advertising 361-851-9700

drios@auroraartstheatre.com

Presents

RENT

Book, Music and Lyrics by JONATHAN LARSON

Musical Arrangements

Steve Skinner

Original Concept/Additional Lyrics

Billy Aronson

Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements

Steve Skinner

Dramaturg

Lynn Thomson

RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and the New York Theatre Workshop

Rent is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Producer

Joseph Ruiz

Director

Michael Jay Salinas

Stage Manager

Desiree Cantu, Brandon Besse

Asst. Vocal Director

Natalie Rumfield Katie Loftin

Assistant Director

Amanda Ruiz

Musical Director

Tanya Stegall

Choreographer Kayla Alvarado

Scenic Artist

Joseph Ruiz, David Scruton

Lighting Design

Colin McKeen

Sound Design

Joseph Ruiz

Spot Operator

Kristin Kaufman

Vocal Director

Peter Lopez

Dance Captain 1 Adrian Pena

Dance Captain 2

Scenic Design Joseph Ruiz

Set Construction David Scruton, Josh Huckabee, Mike Flores

Lighting Op

Hollina Carlier, Jacob Zamorron

Photography

Alex Chapa, Jason Page

Costumers

Sound Op Amber Basaldu

Prop Master

Joseph Ruiz, Amanda Ruiz

Joseph Ruiz, Amanda Ruiz, Cast

Piano Keyboard

Tanya Stegall

Guitar 1

Luke Alvarado

Natalie Rumfield

Guitar 2

Jacob Chadis

Bass

Derek Galvan

Percussion

Victor Lara

ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

After a 6 year hiatus from theatre, my wife Amanda and I contacted AAT’s owner Mary Chapa to discuss the possibility of producing a show. Mary’s first response was - “What did you have in mind?” This began our collaboration to bring the Coastal Bend our production of RENT the musical – Jonathan Larson’s America Rock Opera to life. Our retelling of Puccini’s La Bohème, in the era of AIDS, follows a group of bohemian artists struggling over the course of a year. The group chooses love over fear and to live without regret in New York’s East Village. Mary:

I’m eternally grateful for our friendship, the support that you provide to me, and to countless others in our community!

None of this would be possible without our small but mighty team. It takes a small army to create a show of this magnitude. Scott Electric Company, thank you for partnering up with AAT to present this remarkable production! My heartfelt thanks to our entire production team; MJ Salinas (Director), Amanda Ruiz (Assistant Director), Katie Loftin (Choreographer), Peter Lopez & Natalie Rumfield (Vocal Directors), Desiree Cantu & Brandon Besse (Stage Managers), and Colin McKeen (Light Designer)! I’m grateful to all of your individual efforts to bring this magnificent show to life by leading our exquisite and talented cast. I’m blown away by our stellar band, lead by the brilliant Tanya Stegall. To our breathtaking actresses and actors thank you for sharing your talent with the community. I am hopeful that all of your dreams for this show have been realized, I know that mine have! I have grown with this experience in ways I didn’t dream possible!

Community theatre “for me” is a place where one can temporarily retreat from daily life into a world that is distinctly “other”. Here we create and for a time live in “an alternate reality”. How fortunate we are to present that reality as entertainment to you, our audiences. The hardworking volunteers that make up our cast of “RENT the Musical” are champions of this escape. They worked remarkably hard to sustain a place where actors, musicians, designers, and technicians can come together to build something unique – and present the results to you “New York’s East Village “circa” 1996”. Our common goal is that for a few hours of your time, you too can transcend to that “other” place where life is filled with the roller coaster of up and downs, the pains of love and loss, addiction, struggling artists and homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and more importantly— the family born out of friendships made through hardship.

Special thanks to my loving family who always remind me that I am loved, for their endless patience with me, and their faith & confidence! To my loving wife, I’m beyond proud of you as you’ve blossomed during this production, I’ll continue to be your #1 cheerleader and fan. “So with a thousand sweet kisses I’ll cover you.”

Someone said, “If you can dream it, you can achieve it.” Theater is truly the collaboration of the dreams of many. Aurora Arts Theatre is an organization of dreamers and achievers!!

Thank you for coming, enjoy our presentation of RENT!!!

JOSEPH M. RUIZ Producer

A Note From the Assistant Director

525,600 minutes. Five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes, “How do you measure a year in a life?”

Rent is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson, and loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s 1896 opera La Bohème. Set in the 90’s, it tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in Lower Manhattan’s East Village in the thriving days of bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

When I think about RENT the iconic rock n’ roll music comes to mind. The unexpected impact it made on Broadway transformed theatre and gave the younger generation a voice they never had. Today it is a show that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. It explores themes of sexual identity, morality, racism, homelessness, disease, poverty and the resilience that keeps them intact. It stays with you. Its message reminds us to live our lives as well as we can because no one really knows how much time we all have. The legacy of the show serves as an entertaining reminder to live humbly with passion and integrity; and it encourages us to love fully.

I’d like to thank Mary Chapa first and foremost for allowing me to AD this show. I value this opportunity you’ve given me to gain experience and grow in theater. I appreciate the faith you placed in my husband and I to bring RENT- and our vision for it- to the Aurora stage for the first time. I want to recognize and thank the production team, who without their great effort, this show would not be possible: Director MJ Salinas, Vocal Directors Peter Lopez, & Natalie Rumfield, Choreographer Katie Loftin, and Stage Managers Brandon Besse, and Desiree Cantu. Thank you to Dylan Rios, our Marketing Director, who ensures that AAT gets the exposure it needs and deserves. I’d like to acknowledge our heroes in the Box Office: Christin Espinoza and Bryan Meza, Jackie Perez and Ernest Pruneda.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful RENT cast, I am in awe of all the passion, enthusiasm, and hard work they’ve put into this show and I am elated our patrons get to witness their talent on this stage. Viva La vie Boheme! Lastly, I want to thank my beautiful family, but especially my loving husband Joseph Ruiz! I appreciate his love, support, and stage advice. There’s no one I’d rather collaborate with to elevate the quality of our local community theater, than you.

I hope our show makes you ponder how you are using your 525,600 minutes. I hope the music inspires and moves you the way it moves me. Thank you for your continued patronage and support for the arts, we couldn’t do this without you. Now, without further adieu, please enjoy AAT’s production of RENT. No day but today.

AMANDA RUIZ Assistant Director

Mason Bowling

Kyler Brooklyn

Jenna Ward

Kayla Alvarado

Adrian Pena

Imani Alvarado

Michael Westerdale

Daniel Bartholomay

Christopher Salinas

Andrea Guzman

Nico Montalvo

Sabrina Delgado

Melody Johnson

Whitney Taylor

Brayden Dalrymple

Bowie Boland Jonathon Alvarez

Ramiro Gonzalez

Who’s Who

Mason Bowling (Mark Cohen) is so excited to be making his AAT debut! Show Credits include Sampson (Romeo and Juliet) and Farrah Fawcett-In (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert). He would like to thank his friends, family, and most importantly his girlfriend, Grace, for their constant love and support.

Michael Westerdale (Roger Davis) currently works at Central Kitchen Bakery, and hopes to finish his Acting/Directing degree within the next year. His hobbies include computers, model kits, and theatre. He would like to thank his girlfriend Kyler, his friends, and family for their continued support.

Daniel Bartholomay (Thomas B. “Tom” Collins) is excited to make his debut at Aurora (and it’s been 15 years since his last production!). He deeply admires Rent and its powerful message and is thrilled to bring that message to life on stage with this amazing cast. Enjoy the show, and “La Vie Bohème!”.

Christopher Salinas (Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III) has been digging deep into the history of Rent. He is proud to be a part of such a legendary name in the musical world and can’t wait for you to see these characters come to life. He would like to dedicate this show to his family for years of support in his voyage in performance and to the Chapa family for making evenings like this possible for all of us..

Andrea Guzman (Joanne Jefferson) would like to thank the production team for their support & believing in her. She would like to thank Peter & Lila for their continued support and love throughout this process. Show credits include: Mother (A Christmas Story) & Maggie (A Chorus Line) at AAT; Belle (Beauty & The Beast) at HP.

Nico Montalvo (Angel Dumott-Schunard) is ecstatic for Rent to be their first AAT production. A recent graduate of TAMUCC (Theatre), they will be attending the University of the Arts this Fall to pursue their M.F.A. in Devised Performance. They’d like to thank their cohort & family for everything. (They/Them).

Imani Alvarado (Mimi Marquez) is completely ecstatic to be back on stage for the opportunity of playing her dream role (since the age of 7!). She gives thanks to her husband for the endless love and support. Show credits include Lucy Van Pelt (Snoopy!!!) and Heather Chandler in Heathers..

Kyler Brooklyn (Maureen) is ecstatic to perform as one of her dream roles! She is pursuing a B.A. in acting/directing at TAMUCC. Recent roles include: Holly in Wedding Singer and Heather Chandler in Heathers. She wants to thank her family, friends, boyfriend, and dogs for all their constant support!.

Jenna Ward (Mrs. Cohen/Sue) is excited to be in her first show at Aurora! Previous roles in the Coastal Bend include Ladybug (James and the Giant Peach, Ghost of Christmas Past (A Christmas Carol ), Miss Scarlet (Clue the Musical ), and Marcy Park (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)..

Adrian Pena (Waiter/Preacher) is excited to be in his very first musical performance. “As a young boy, RENT was always my favorite musical, and to be a part of this amazing and talented cast has been a dream come true. Follow your heart and chase your dreams! Enjoy our performance, and Happy Pride Month!!”

Whitney Taylor (Seasons of Love Soloist/ Mrs. Jefferson/Junkie) is beyond excited to be back on the Aurora stage. She has performed numerous shows, but not yet one with a cast of this vocal magnitude and the level of talent. She is grateful for the opportunity given by the Aurora family and would like to thank her family and fiancé, Luis, for their endless support.

Who’s Who

Kayla Alvarado (B Dancer Girl/Mrs. Marquez/ Ali/Ensemble/Dance Captain) is thrilled to be a part of this production alongside such an incredibly talented cast. She has been seen as Kristine (A Chorus Line) and Heather McNamara (Heathers). She would like to thank her family, friends and the production team for making performing enjoyable and possible for her!.

Brayden Dalrymple (Paul/Mr. Gray) is happy to be here for his debut at Aurora! Currently, he is studying theatre at TAMUCC and has performed in many areas around Texas. He would like to thank his friends, his mom (“Hi mom!”) and everyone else who supports him. “La Vie Bohème!” @ that_theatre_boi.

Melody Johnson (Woman with Bags/Coat Vendor) is ecstatic to be back on stage after obtaining her B.S. in Psychology and a 10-year-long hiatus from community theater. This is her first production at AAT! She sends her love and thanks to her family, friends and partner for their immense support..

Ramiro Gonzalez (Season Male Soloist/Mr. Jefferson) was last seen on the Aurora stage as Greg in A Chorus Line. A recent graduate from New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Ramiro is so glad live theater is back and thriving. Favorite past roles include Chino (West Side Story) and William Barfee (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.) They’d like to dedicate this show to Charlie.

Sabrina Delgado (Alexi Darling/Roger’s Mom/Pam) is so excited to be back on the Aurora stage! You have recently seen her in shows such as A Chorus Line, A Christmas Story and Cabaret. Sabrina would love to give a huge thank you to the production team for giving her this amazing opportunity and she can’t wait to do more upcoming shows at Aurora. “La Vie Bohème!”.

Bowie Boland (Gordon/Squeegee Man/ Angel U/S) is a recent graduate of NYCDA in NYC. Some notable past roles include Emcee (Cabaret), Mark (A Chorus Line), and Ms. Fleming (Heathers). This will be their final show in Corpus as they are moving back to NY. They want to dedicate this show to their family and friends for all the constant love and support they have given them. “I couldn’t have done it without y’all”. (They/Them).

Jonathon Alvarez (Steve/The Man/Roger U/S) is back for his second show at AAT. Previous roles include Lyle (Footloose), Earthworm (James & The Giant Peach), Princeton (Avenue Q), Lurch (Addams Family), JV Jock (Heathers). “Enjoy the show!”

About the Author

Jonathan Larson received the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for RENT. He also won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical and the 1994 Richard Rodgers Award for RENT and twice received The Gilman & Gonzales-Falla Theatre Foundation’s Comendation Award. In 1989 he was granted the Stephen Sondheim Award from American Music Theatre Festival, where he contributed to the musical “Sitting on the Edge of the Future”. In 1988 he won the Richard Rodgers

Development Grant for his rock musical Superbia, which was staged at Playwrights Horizon. He composed the score for the musical J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation, which was presented by En Garde Arts in 1995. Mr. Larson performed his rock monologue tick, tick... BOOM! at Second Stage Theatre, The Village Gate and New York Theatre Workshop. In addition to scoring and song writing for “Sesame Street”, he created music for a number fo children’s book-cassettes, including Steven Spielberg’s “An American Tail” and “Land Before Time”. Other film scores include work for Rolling Stones magazine publisher Jann Wenner. He conceived, directed and wrote four original songs for “Away We Go!”, a musical video for children. RENT, his rock opera based on “La Boheme”, had its world premiere on February 13, 1996 at New York Theatre Workshop. Mr. Larson died unexpectedly of an aortic aneurysm on January 25, 1996, ten days before his 36th birthday. His music (including songs cut from his shows) is archived in the Library of Congress.