Atlanta Opera Announces an Adventurous Pairing of Rent and La bohème

Atlanta, GA – In a trailblazing move, The Atlanta Opera has announced that it will bring a unique pairing of two deeply connected yet starkly different shows on its stage this coming September. The company plans to simultaneously stage Jonathan Larson’s game-changing Tony Award-winning musical, Rent, and Giacomo Puccini’s timeless opera, La bohème.

The Bohème Project

While these shows, both of which depict the trials and tribulations of young bohemian artists, are crafted from the same inspirational mold, never before have they been paired in performance. Interestingly, Larson famously drew inspiration from Puccini’s 1896 opera when he penned his iconic musical in 1996. The two productions will be presented under the exciting umbrella title, The Bohème Project.

Performance and Ticket Information

La bohème is scheduled to run from Sept. 18 through Oct. 5, and Rent will be performed from Sept. 19 through Oct. 6, with tickets currently on sale for both productions. At the helm of this groundbreaking venture are co-directors Tomer Zvulun and Vita Tzykun.

Coming to the Stage

“We are incredibly excited to bring these bold and risky new productions to the stage,” said Tomer Zvulun and Carl W. Knobloch, Jr., general and artistic director of The Atlanta Opera. “This is the first time an opera company has performed Rent. Audiences will be immersed in the music and action as the performances happen all around them. We cannot wait to share these powerful stories with the Atlanta community.”

The Cast

For Rent, the cast includes Christin Byrdsong, Leanne Antonio, Bligh Voth, and Gerald Lee Caesar. On the other hand, the La bohème cast will feature Kameron Lopreore, Amanda Batista, Luke Sutliff, and Cadie J. Bryan. The reins of the conductor will be held by James Lowe for both performances.

Fresh Interpretations

Along with the novelty of the pairing, the interpretation of the classic La bohème has also been revamped. The opera is updated with a setting in 21st-century Brooklyn amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, emulating how love blossoms even amidst global health crises and the struggles of aspiring artists.

The multi-platform set utilised for both plays will enable the performances to engulf the audience, further intensifying the theatrical experience. Visual artists from Atlanta’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the Savannah College of Art and Design have also been invited to exhibit their creativity and set up their easels and creative stations throughout the theatre space.

For those interested in this audacious and spellbinding presentation of artistry, tickets for both productions are now available at atlantaopera.org.