Following his successful direction of I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, TJ Taylor is set to direct the latest batch of “The Showstoppers”, the top students of Sing’theatre Academy, to perform one of the most popular musicals of the 21st century…RENT.

RENT debuted off-Broadway in 1996, one day after its composer and playwright Jonathan Larson died of an aortic aneurysm at the age of 35. It would go on to play on Broadway for 5,132 performances, win several awards including a Tony Award for Best New Musical.

RENT is a musical theatre favourite, with most millennial Broadway geeks growing up with its classic songs such as “Out Tonight”, “Take me Or Leave Me” and of course the anthem “Seasons of Love.” Set in the ’90s, RENT covers some hardihitting issues facing New York in the height of the aid’s crisis, but at its heart is a story of overcoming odds and the enduring power of love.

Sing’theatre continues its mission of performing for a better society by developing the next generation of performers at Sing’theatre Academy with the Showstoppers Musical Theatre Ensemble.

Now in its sixth year, the cast of RENT includes the likes of Lasalle graduates Rachel Bradberry, Katie Walker and Shahadan Yusof, who was last seen performing in SRT’s The LKY Musical. Many of the other cast members have been long time Showstopper performers who also perform at other local fringe shows, improv performances and cabarets while being busy professionals such as lawyers, architects and even zookeepers during the day.

From an original audition that saw 80 adults vying for a place in the show, it was eventually whittled down to a final cast of 20 who will perform in the show, which plays for one weekend only from 30th June to 2nd July at the SOTA Studio Theatre. RENT will be choreographed by Pat Jon Gregory, who recently choreographed The Paiseh Pieces for The Second Breakfast Company.

RENT plays from 30th June to 2nd July at the SOTA Studio Theatre. Tickets available from Peatix