Rent Musical Presented by Weston Theater and Youth Group Highlights 1990s Themes

Weston Theater Company staged a revival of Jonathan Larson’s 1996 musical Rent on the company’s 30th anniversary in Manhattan, presenting the story of poverty, drug addiction and HIV/AIDS in 1990s New York with a balance of dark and light staging.

Separately, the Roberta Jones Junior Theatre completed its summer series with a school‑edition production of Rent, featuring 33 students aged 13‑20. Director Jen Kohler emphasized the historical context of the AIDS epidemic and LGBTQ community, using the show as an educational tool while the teens tackled the same serious subjects as the original work.