SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Over a month after deadly tornadoes canceled a planned run of "Rent," the Arkansas Public Theatre's production will finally hit the stage, and the crew says they’re ready to go.
While it's been a little less than 525,600 minutes since the show was supposed to go on, some cast and crew members say that performing this production is overdue, and they're ecstatic to finally take the stage.
"The anticipation, I can feel it in the community. I can feel it within the cast and the crew and the creative team," said Reece Edwards, who stars as Mark in the show.
"We're all definitely ready. It's a very emotional show,” added Alix Barrett, who will play Mimi.
On May 26, after multiple tornadoes tore through parts of Northwest Arkansas, the show looked like it may not go on at all as the theater in Rogers set to host the production was heavily damaged.
"We found out that there might be damage to the tornado. And I was like, 'oh, it'll be fine. We'll still open and be at rehearsal tonight. So then when it really hit, it was really devastating,'" Edwards said.
But after they learned the full extent of the damage, the production was left in uncertainty.
"As stupid as it was, I started the grieving process, it felt like COVID to me. So I was very much just like, 'alright, we're not doing the show.' I kind of moved on," Edwards explained.
Assistant Director Andria Lickfelt says what they went through is what "Rent" is actually all about.
"Kind of the main theme with 'Rent' is community and chosen family and living each day in the moment, because tomorrow isn't promised. And so, we found out that what we thought was going to happen the next day wasn't going to happen," Lickfelt said.
There have been some positives from this nearly two-month delay.
"As rough as these extra two months have been, I honestly think we've gotten a lot closer. We've had more time to get to know each other and have fun outside of this." Barrett said.
And for Edwards, he says he's glad he'll have the chance to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams.
"This has been a dream role since I, like, made the list of dream roles when I was 10, I was like, I'm gonna play Mark in 'Rent.' And it has been an incredible experience, and it means so much to me. This is my mom's favorite show of all time, so I think it would be super emotional for me to get to do this show for her, and I've dedicated my performance in the show to her. So getting to do this show really for her is what means the most to me," Edwards said.
They are only performing the show four times instead of the original 10, but Edwards believes that may be a good thing.
"It fits the show really, really well. I think this show is about cherishing the time that you have left on the earth and being present in the moment. And I really do believe that having a short run is actually really beneficial for the story and the people that get to see it,” Edwards said.
"Rent" will play for one weekend at The Medium: A Place to Create at 214 S Main St. in Springdale.
Showtimes:
- Thursday, August 8 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, August 10 at 2 p.m.
- Saturday, August 10 at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, August 11 at 2 p.m.
Tickets will range from $55 to $65. Student tickets will be $25. Tickets will be available on APT's website.
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