The Rent cast and crew are picking up speed for the opening of the show at the Waldo Theatre on August 16. The stark set and earthy costumes will stay true to the Broadway original while bringing the many individual actors' personalities to light. The cast is comprised of 26 actors hailing from points as far south as Brunswick and as far north as Belfast.

Every show creates a family, of sorts, and this production of Rent holds true to form. In addition to the actors who are no strangers to the Waldo stage, we welcome many who have never done a show with us before. Highlighted this week are Kyle Aarons who is playing the effervescent 'heart' of the show, Angel Dumott Schunard, and his on stage partner, Roger Marcotte who will be giving life to Tom Collins, the anarchist computer genius and NYU professor.

Kyle Aarons moved to the Brunswick area the week we began rehearsals. He hails from Erie, Pennsylvania and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Fredonia. In addition to his incredible acting, singing, and dancing skills, Kyle is a director, writer, musician, and conductor. He just recently began working for Studio 48 in Brunswick/Topsham teaching dance and voice as well as directing Cinderella for the Studio 48 youth camp, and he (we are excited to say) is currently working on an original Christmas play for the Waldo. We welcome him with open arms to the Waldo family and the greater mid-coast theatre community.

Roger Marcotte is well known in the area as he is a Rockland native, but we performance under Ed Riechert at the University of Southern Maine, where he also directed a production of Christopher Durang's “Titanic” that was nominated by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival to perform at their festival. His gorgeous voice lends beautifully to the reprise of “I'll Cover You” which has a Gospel feel and is certainly the song that will pull most on the heartstrings of audience members.

The book, music, and lyrics of Rent were written by Jonathan Larson. Music direction of Waldo production by Sean Fleming and stage direction by Melissa Hearth.

Performance dates are August 16, 17 and September 13, 14, 20, and 21 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors (all kids under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult due to sexual content, adult themes, and language) and $15 for adults. When blocks of 10 or more tickets are purchased, tickets are $13 for adults/$8 for students. This can be arranged by contacting Melissa via email: melissa@thewaldo.org. Tickets are also available at the pharmacy in Waldoboro and, beginning on July 26, at Maine Coast Book Store.