RENT: School Edition opens on March 7

When the curtain rises on RENT: School Edition this March, audiences will see more than one of Broadway’s most iconic musicals. They will see months of research, rehearsal, and reflection, and more than 150 OPRF students working together to tell a story that still resonates today.

Opening March 7, RENT: School Edition is expected to be one of the most highly attended performing arts productions of the year at Oak Park and River Forest High School. With four public performances, a special middle school matinee, and a dedicated team of student performers, musicians, and crew members, this year’s musical reflects both artistic excellence and deep educational purpose.

For Director Michelle Bayer, the choice to produce RENT was intentional.

“As an educational theater program, education comes first,” Bayer said. “We want students to understand different genres, different histories, and different perspectives. This story reflects a specific moment in time, but many of the themes still resonate with our students today.”

Set in New York City during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, RENT explores love, friendship, and resilience in the face of uncertainty. To fully understand the world of the show, students have studied the history of the epidemic, the social climate of the late 1980s and 1990s, and the experiences of the LGBTQ community during that time.

The cast welcomed a Columbia College faculty member who teaches an HIV and AIDS course to lead a workshop with students. One student completed an in-depth dramaturgy project examining the medical, political, and cultural context of the era.

“We’re teaching while we’re doing a show,” Bayer said.

Students are also challenged to think deeply about character. Every cast member, not just those in lead roles, researches who they are within the community portrayed on stage. Are they a nurse? A filmmaker? A neighbor? A friend?

In RENT, Bayer often asks a simple but powerful question: “Who’s your chosen family?”

Because at its core, the story is about belonging.

That approach reflects OPRF’s mission to cultivate knowledge, skills, and character, ensuring students do more than perform. They analyze, question, and connect art to the world around them.

An Opera Level Commitment 

Auditions for RENT began in December with a multi-round process that included singing, dancing, and acting. Because the show is structured almost entirely through music, students were required to act while singing, a demanding skill that elevates the production to what Director Michelle Bayer describes as “essentially an opera.” After casting, students received their scripts just before winter break with a clear challenge: return ready to build.

“This group was tremendous,” Bayer said. “They did a lot of work over break. They came back having learned much of the music, which gave us a real leg up.”

Since January, rehearsals have run five days a week as students prepare for opening night. The commitment extends well beyond the cast. The pit band, a rock ensemble for this production, includes students selected as All-State musicians. Behind the scenes, crew members have constructed some of the largest set pieces the program has built in years. In total, approximately 150 students are involved across cast, crew, and pit, a strong example of collaboration and student-driven excellence.

Connecting Art and Community

Honoring the history behind RENT extends beyond the stage.

OPRF has partnered with the AIDS Memorial Quilt Foundation to display a panel of the historic AIDS Quilt in the theater. The panel on display was created in River Forest, offering a meaningful local connection to the story onstage. A second quilt panel will also be available for closer viewing, along with educational information about the memorial’s history and impact.

The program is also partnering with Photos for Food to support Beyond Hunger. Company members who donate will receive access to professional photos from the production. Additional outreach efforts include exploring partnerships with local housing organizations, reflecting themes of housing insecurity present in the show.

“You can’t do RENT without being conscious of the social impacts it brings up,” Bayer said.

Through these partnerships, students see how art can spark dialogue, raise awareness, and strengthen community connections, reinforcing OPRF’s commitment to preparing students not only for college and careers but for thoughtful civic engagement.

Join Us

Performances of RENT: School Edition begin March 7; tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/oprfpatix or at the door.