Arden Theatre Company Closes Out Their 2024-25 Season with RENT!

Philadelphia-based Arden Theatre Company (40 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA) is thrilled to close out its 2024-25 season with the electrifying Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT. Following its Broadway debut in 1996, where it earned four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and Best Featured Actor in a Musical, RENT redefined musical theatre by taking audiences on an unforgettable journey of love, loss, hope, and resilience. 

Iconic Story
The Arden brings Jonathan Larson’s iconic story to life on the F. Otto Haas Stage, in a powerful new production directed by Terrence J. Nolen and Steve Pacek. The production begins May 15, with opening night May 21. Due to popular demand, RENT has been extended through June 29. With its unforgettable score and songs like “Seasons of Love” and “I’ll Cover You,” the production tells the story of a close group of young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create a life in New York City’s East Village during the height of the AIDS crisis. The production follows iconic characters Mark Cohen (Matthew Kemp), Roger Davis (Matteo Scammell), Mimi Marquez (Leigha Kato), Tom Collins (Rajeer Alford), Angel Dumott Schunard (Gilbert D. Sanchez), Maureen Johnson (Katherine Fried), a performance artist; and Joanne Jefferson (Imani Moss), Benjamin Coffin III (Sevon Askew).

RENT is a powerful, life-affirming musical that celebrates resilience, hope, and the beauty of living life boldly and authentically. Even as the group faces illness, poverty, addiction, and discrimination, they fight to hold onto their dreams—and each other — discovering the true meaning of love, friendship, and community along the way. “Jonathan Larson's work has had a major impact on me as a musical theatre artist,” said director Steve Pacek. 

“Ever since sleeping on 41st St overnight in the winter to get a $20 student rush ticket to the original Broadway production of RENT (sorry, Mom!), I've been compelled to defy the 'norm,' push the boundaries of what's possible, and embrace a bit more of a rockstar mentality in my life as an artist. I'm hoping audiences get a number of things: when we raise our voices together and sing and hope and resist what's wrong out loud; we can be heard and make change happen; to love and to spread love is an act of rebellion in times when fear and hate are on the rise; the opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation.”

Performances
The dynamic cast features new and familiar faces to Arden audiences, including Rajeer Alford (Tom Collins), a Cherry Hill, New Jersey native making his Arden debut. Alford’s regional work includes productions at the Lincoln Center Theatre, New York, Delaware Theatre Company, 11th Hour Theatre Company, and the Gretna Theatre in Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania. 

RENT begins May 15, opens May 21, and runs extended through June 29. Single ticket prices vary by performance and start at $65. Tickets are available online at ardentheatre.org, by phone at 215.922.1122, or at the box office at Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street). 

Special Events and Performances for RENT Include:
  Pay-What-You-Choose Night with Galaei | Wednesday, May 14, at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for the final dress rehearsal performance with a pre-show reception including refreshments, food, and drag performances by Tiffany Uma Mascara and Vinchelle, hosted by Galaei. All proceeds benefit Galaei’s community programming. Click here to purchase tickets.

  Post-Show Talkbacks | Sunday, June 1, at 2 p.m. & Wednesday, June 4, at 7 p.m.
Join a member of Arden’s artist team for post-show talkbacks. 

  Young Friends Night! | Thursday, June 5, at 7 p.m.
Use code: YFARDEN for $30 tickets (Young Friends Night is designed for audience members 40 and under and includes a pre-show talkback and networking event). Click here to purchase tickets.

  Teen Weekend | Friday, May 30, at 7 p.m. & Saturday, May 31, at 7 p.m.
$15 tickets and a post-show talkback for Teens 13 – 18 years old. Click here to purchase tickets.

   Student Matinees | Friday, May 23, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
Want to bring a school group? Submit a group inquiry here.

  Smart Caption Glasses | Starting Tuesday, May 27
Wearable, customizable Closed Captioning Glasses are available to reserve for performances starting Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Click here to learn more.

  Audio Description is Available | Friday, June 6, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, at 2 p.m. 
Live verbal descriptions of actions and visual effects are available for blind and low-vision patrons. Click here to learn more about Audio Description services.

  Open Captioning is Available on Friday, June 6, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, at 2 p.m. 
Live, on-stage text display of all words and sounds for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. Click here to learn more about Open Captioning services.

###

About Arden Theatre Company
Arden Theatre Company, founded in 1988, is a professional theatre company in Old City, dedicated to bringing to life great stories by great storytellers on the stage, in the classroom, and in the community. To date, the Arden has produced 46 World Premieres. The Arden has developed four distinct educational programs: Arden for All, our in-school arts education program for elementary level students; Arden Drama School, our on-site, tuition-based theatre classes for pre-K through 12th-grade students; Teen Arden, our theatre enrichment program for high school students; and the Arden Professional Apprentice program, a rigorous training program for young theatre professionals.