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by Michael Portantiere


    This Year's Rent

    Some shows absolutely require mega-watts of youthful energy, and Rent is definitely one of them. If you'd like to see Jonathan Larson's beloved rock opera performed by a super-talented cast whose average age is somewhere around 20, get yourself to New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, where the NJPAC/New Jersey Youth Theatre production of the show is on view from July 16 through 25. Featured here in my photos of the dress rehearsal are Joe Tolentino as Roger (he's actually the understudy/alternate for Shayne Kennon), Chelsea Cortes as Mimi, Mike Zimmerman as Mark, Lauren Campbell as Maureen, Te La Curtis-Lee as Joanne, J. Aaron Boykin as Tom Collins, M.J. Rodriguez as Angel, Derrick Hicks as Benny, and the rest of the company. For more information on the show, visit www.njpac.org.

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    Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 11:55 PM | Item Link


    Michael Portantiere comes to BroadwayStars with more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for such media outlets as TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has also contributed articles and reviews to AfterElton.com, Playbill, and Stagebill, and has written notes for several major cast albums. Additionally, Michael is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several notable websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.)
    He can be reached at [email protected]


    The last five columns written by Michael Portantiere:

    07/15/2010: This Year's Rent

    07/13/2010: Presidential Material

    07/04/2010: Hardy Boy

    06/29/2010: High School Stars

    06/21/2010: Falling in Love Again

    For a listing of all features written by Michael, click here.

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