14
CURTAIN CALL
MAY 11–18, 2022
LIVE THEATER AND MUSICAL
PRODUCTIONS AROUND EASTERN OREGON
EOU theater presents ‘Rent’
Shows set
for May 19-22
Go! staff
L
A GRANDE — The theater
department at Eastern
Oregon University will present
“Rent,” Jonathan Larson’s Pulit-
zer Prize-winning musical, in four
performances this month.
Shows are set for 7 p.m. May
19, 20 and 21 in Loso Hall’s
LO S T I N E , O R E G O N
11 W am
to 7 pm Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday
EDNESDAY - SUNDAY 8 AM TO 8 PM
L 11
A T am
E O to
N 8
F R pm
IDA
Y AND
S A Saturday
TURDAY
Friday
and
541-569-2285
S C R AT C H M A D E
BEER
PIZZA
DENIM
AND MORE
G L A C I E R C O L D • FA W N F R E S H
McKenzie Theatre. The final
performance on Sunday, May 22,
starts at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15 general ad-
mission, $10 for seniors, vet-
erans and currently military, or
free for EOU students. Purchase
tickets online at tix.com/ticket-
sales/eouniversity/6521, at the
Loso Hall box office, or by calling
541-962-3757.
Director Mike Heather said
the musical covers a variety of
topics, including “relationships
and their challenges, addictions,
homelessness, rents, technol-
ogy destroying society and
culture, friendships, abusive
police, unchristian Christians,
intolerance, and ultimately it is
all about love and its power to
solve all if we just use it as our
approach to life.” He said the
musical contains adult situations
and language.
“I have been most fortunate
to have a very talented cast and
production team for this show,”
he said. “This production has
been an example of why I have
helped to create theater for over
40 years.”
He said “Rent” is the first fully
produced musical at EOU for
more than two years.
“It’s been great to work with
Daily & tes
Ra
Weekly
Budget 8 Motel
711 W Main St, John Day, OR 97845 • (541) 575-2155
students, faculty and staff to
create again,” he said. “Getting
back into the groove of produc-
ing has been a challenge. We
have been rediscovering the
process almost to the point that
it has been quite invigorating
and new at times.”
In addition to Heather, the
show is choreographed by
Heather Watson, Jessica Durfee
is the music director, Heather
Tomlinson is handling costume
design, and Ming Cho Lee and
Robert Edmond Jones are in
charge of set and lighting.
As for the student actors, they
are happy to be back on stage.
“Being able to both act on-
stage with my fellow actors and
directly address the audience
is amazing,” Nicholas Vece said.
“I get to exist onstage as both
character and narrator, taking
part in the story while guiding
the audience’s view. It’s really
amazing to take part in the show
in such a unique way.”
Alaina Watson, who plays
Joanne, said “Rent” is different
than her past performances.
“I love the challenge of em-
bodying a character that is so
serious, yet keeps her heart full
of love no matter how much hurt
she’s been through,” she said.
“Although this show has been
challenging, my fellow castmates
always are so supportive of
each other, which makes being
onstage so much more fun. It’s
been amazing to see this show
progress so smoothly, and I can’t
wait to see and be a part of the
finished product.”
Durfee, music director and
part of the ensemble, has also
been challenged by her partici-
pation in “Rent.”
“I love being in this show
because it has pushed me in so
many ways — being the music
director and lead member of the
ensemble has been challenging,”
she said. “Working with the cast
members, making music and
telling this story together has
been so rewarding. I’m so proud
of the hard work and the dedica-
tion to their roles. This show is
one you won’t want to miss.”
“Rent” concludes the EOU
Eastern Oregon University/Alyson
Yates
Eastern Oregon University presents
“Rent” May 19-22.
Theatre Program’s production
season. On the slate for 2022-
23 are “A Gentleman’s Guide
to Love and Murder,” “Next to
Normal” and “The Tempest.”