Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice, and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon. With songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, Jonathan Larson's Rent follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom, and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
NO VIDEO OR PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PERFORMANCE.
RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum,
Allan S. Gordonand the New York Theatre WorkshopRENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordonand the New York Theatre Workshop
crew
Director - Kathy Holsworth
Assistant Director - Jason Crum
Music Director - Ginger Caro
Choreographer - Michael Dennis
Apprentice Director - Jonathan Cascio
Stage Manager - Carol Mankins
Assistant Stage Manager - Addie Quina
Lighting Design - Kayla Stephenson, Choh Man Teng
Set Design - Kayla Stephenson
Costumer - Tiffany Nichols
Costume Assistants - Jeannette Gibson, Elizabeth nichols. Lily rose nichols, and Simeon Saub
Wigs - Kelly Shepherd
Properties - Kayla Stephenson, Ashley McGlothren
Rail Operator - Olaf Ides
Light Board Operator - K.G. Uslan
Spotlight Operators - Deanna Smith and Holly Barber
Sound Engineers - Tom Baroco and Eric Vandervort
Deck Crew - Chris Vinson, Chuck Kimball, Ella Kimball, and Vicki Sylte
Set Construction - Carol Mankins, Bill Mankins, Jonathan Mankins, Barry Boyd, Todd Maynard, and Tyler Dunning
Documentary Footage - Ashley McGlothren, Kayla Stephenson
Production Coordinator - Kimberly Scott
PLT Marketing Director - Ashley McGlothren
Shop Supervisor and Master Carpenter - Bryan Chapman
PLT Technical Director - Kayla Stephenson
PLT Artistic Director - Kathy Holsworth
JASON CRUM - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
This is Jason’s first time in the director’s chair. He was last seen in Mamma Mia! at PLT in 2019. Past favorite productions include, The Odd Couple, My Fair Lady, The Wedding Singer, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
GINGER CARO - MUSIC DIRECTOR
Ginger has been a part of PLT since shows were put on in the old Quonset hut (seriously). Favorite roles include Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd and Marian Ames in Swingtime Canteen. But Ginger’s happiest times are spent as music director, teaching the cast members and conducting the bands!
MICHAEL DENNIS - CHOREOGRAPHER
Michael has been a teacher at Brown Barge Middle School for 29 years and is currently acting as a mentor and consulting teacher for Escambia County Public Schools. He has been choreographing for Pensacola Children’s Chorus since 2005 and for Pensacola State College since 1996. Since 1992, Michael has been a frequent performer, choreographer, and director at Pensacola Little Theatre, where he has had leading roles in Into the Woods, The Rocky Horror Show, The Producers, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Michael has choreographed Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, My Fair Lady, Quilters, and Schoolhouse Rock for PLT.
JONATHAN CASCIO - APPRENTICE DIRECTOR
Once upon a time, Jonathan played the trumpet and baritone horn. Now, he plays the radio. He previously directed in Bard or Bust with Arrant Knavery and for 24 Hour Theatre at PLT. Rent is his first full-length show (and musical) in the director’s seat, and he is entirely grateful to Kathy for taking him on as an apprentice. Jonathan will also be directing one of the upcoming Short Attention Span Theatre shows in the 24-25 PLT season.
Band
CONDUCTOR AND KEYBOARD - GINGER CARO
KEYBOARD AND GUITAR - RYAN ETHEREDGE
GUITAR - JIM GREEN
BASS GUITAR - DUSTIN HICKLEN
DRUMS AND PERCUSSION - STEVE MANISCOLA
KEYBOARD PROGRAMMING BY KEYBOARDTEK
Cast
ANTHONY BROUGHTON - TOM COLLINS
Anthony has participated in PLT musicals since 2012, when he performed in Hairspray. Since then, he’s been seen in The Addams Family (Uncle Fester), Clue: On Stage (Mr. Green), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Barfee). He is stoked to tell this raw story with everyone and be challenged with a role such as Collins—special Shout Out to P&P Casting for being his rock and support during the audition process.
DEANDRE CRAIG - BENJAMIN “BENNY” COFFIN III
Deandre, AKA Magnolia Dre Florida born, is a singer/songwriter and rapper. Deandre is a student at PSC and an anime enthusiast. When not onstage, you can find him at the gym or the beach, drawing or writing poetry.
BENJAMIN HAUPT - ANGEL
Benjamin is a Pensacola Native, having been a part of the PLT family for almost 20 years. He is ecstatic to return to the stage in this iconic role after last being seen in Cinderella as The Fox in 2022. This and every performance is dedicated to his best friend, his Momma.
VERONICA LINDHOLM - MAUREEN
Veronica is thrilled to be a part of this iconic show. She has performed in Pensacola for over 12 years (or 6,307,200 min, but who’s counting). In all that time, this is one of the most important stories she has had the pleasure of helping bring to life, and she couldn’t have done it without the support of her friends and family. MOO LOUDLY!!! ;) Favorite roles include Morticia (The Addams Family, PSC) and Yvette (Clue: Onstage, PLT). Next up, Veronica will serve as Assistant Director for Disney’s Descendants at PLT.
RAJAH POUND - JOANNE
This is Rajah’s first musical with Pensacola Little Theater, and she is very excited! She is a rising senior at the University of West Florida, majoring in Musical Theatre and Arts Administration. Her previous roles include Betty Jean (The Marvelous Wonderettes), Guilietta (Nine), and Charlotte (Cinderella). Rajah sends a special shout-out to her family for always supporting her passions!
NATHAN SIMMONS - ROGER
A graduate of UWF’s Theatre program, Nathan has previously been seen at PLT in Taking Stock (Bobby), Red (Ken), Unrequited (Mercutio), and 2023’s SingEasy. When not podcasting or recording with his band, The Fever // The Rage, he’s excitedly planning a wedding with the love of his life. Nathan is thrilled to return to musical theatre in such a beloved show.
ZANDER SMITH - MARK
Zander is a student at Pensacola State College pursuing a degree in Theatre. He was recently seen as Tully in Escape to Margaritaville. Other recent roles include SpongeBob in SpongeBob The Musical, Jack Kelly in Newsies, and Oliver Rivers in Puffs. This is Zander’s third show with Pensacola Little Theatre, and he can’t wait to do more in the future.
SIERRA HOBBS - MIMI
Sierra was born and raised in Pensacola and received her Biochemistry/Environmental Science degree from UWF in 2020. She has performed with various organizations in Pensacola for over 15 years: Pensacola Children’s Chorus, Pensacola Little Theatre, Improvable Cause, PenArts, inc., and more. Sierra is a Producer for a local video production company, Calliope Films, which also produces sketch comedy with Kitty Get a Job. Sierra has recently been seen on the PLT stage in Steel Magnolias, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, and Dog Sees God. If you care about the people and the topics discussed in this show, then we need you to show up at the polls this November.
AIYANA BILLIOT-WILLIAMS - ENSEMBLE
Aiyana loves music, crafting, painting, and live performance. She has been involved in theatre for the past five years, and this is her first PLT show. Aiyana is incredibly excited to be a part of this amazing piece and hopes it touches the hearts of every audience member the way it did hers.
AAVERY LAUREN - ENSEMBLE
Aavery is excited to be joining the cast of Rent in her first production with Pensacola Little Theatre. She has been dancing for several years at Northwest Florida State College and performing in and working with various dance and theater productions in Northwest Florida. Aavery is a special needs elementary school teacher and wants to thank her students for always keeping her on her toes. She would also like to thank her friends and family for their continuous love and support.
IAN GARNISH - ENSEMBLE
Ian is thrilled to be returning to PLT after more than ten years. He majored in Musical Theater at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Now, Ian works as an optician at Terrezza Optical in Pensacola and as a traveling actor with Improbable Cause Mystery Theater throughout the Gulf Coast.
ROBBIE GONZALEZ - ENSEMBLE
Robbie is thrilled to be a part of another show at the Little Theatre. This is his 10th time on the PLT stage. He was last seen performing in Xanadu at UWF as part of the local Foo-Foo Festival back in the fall. Theatre has become a fun hobby that keeps his creativity and inspiration going.
NATHANIEL HOLZKNECHT - ENSEMBLE
This is Nate’s first production with PLT. Previously, he has performed in choirs and bands as a keyboardist and in Pensacola State College’s summer musicals.
DESTINY HOWARD - ENSEMBLE
Destiny was active in theater at Tate High School, where she played Beth March in Little Women. She then attained a B.A. in Music Performance from the University of West Florida. Since graduating in 2014, she has taught voice and piano lessons at Gulf Coast School of Music. She also teaches a middle school musical theatre elective at Creative Learning Academy, where she recently directed Shrek Jr. (2023) and Into the Woods Jr. (2024).
MICHAEL JOYCE - ENSEMBLE
Michael has been doing theatre since middle school and is excited for his first show at Pensacola Little Theatre. Theatre and dance bring him so much joy, and he hopes to return that joy to others.
JENNIFER KNISBELL - ENSEMBLE
After earning her A.A. in Theatre from Pensacola State College, Jennifer pursued Communication at the University of Central Florida. Following college graduation, she moved to San Francisco, where she performed in the world premiere production of My Strange Nation, The Music of Susan Werner. She returned to Pensacola Opera for two years as the Director of Development and now serves as the Director of Development and Community Engagement at WSRE PBS. Favorite roles include Mary Warren (The Crucible), Lily St. Regis (Annie), Stepmother (Cinderella), and Mrs. Harcourt (Anything Goes).
DUSTIN LEWIS - ENSEMBLE
Dustin is from Gulfport, MS, and has a true passion for singing. He’s a former Mississippi Sound Show Choir and Perk Players Theater Group member. Dustin has performed in several shows, including Grease, The Imaginary Invalid, The Yellow Boat, Seussical the Musical, and Rent. He is currently a Training instructor for Navy Federal.
CRYSTAL LOVELOCK - ENSEMBLE
Crystal grew up doing musical theatre and performing throughout the Midwest as a vocalist and classical pianist. Throughout her 20s, she was involved in numerous cover band projects on the West Coast. In addition to her love for performance, Crystal and her husband own a family-centered wellness collective called Lovelock Healing Arts in Downtown Pensacola, which offers music and movement classes. She is passionate about bringing health and wellness to our community!
JANNON STARRATT - ENSEMBLE
Jannon is excited to be in his second show with PLT. He was last seen as Thomas Franklin in PLT’s production of Alabama Story.
MAKENZIE NERO - ENSEMBLE
This is Makenzie’s first show at PLT, and she couldn’t be more happy about being part of a life-changing story! Makenzie just finished her first year at Coastal Alabama Community College. She studies general studies at the moment, and once she transfers to a university, she plans on studying musical theatre and acting along with clinical and counseling psychology. She has been in a few notable shows, including Dearly Departed (Aunt Marguerite), The Fantastics (Elgallo), Little Shop of Horrors (Doo Wop Girl), and Footloose (Ensemble). She has achieved awards in Trumbauer, where she later competed in state.
LIBBY SCOTT - ENSEMBLE
Libby has adored the stage since her first production in 2003, The Little Mermaid! With many years of community theatre experience, she has enjoyed being in many PLT productions, such as The Wedding Singer, Footloose, Snoopy, and Hairspray. She has even had the opportunity to assistant choreograph Young Frankenstein and Mame at Pensacola State College. After years of being off the scene, Libby is excited to be back on stage!
TOPHER WARREN - ENSEMBLE
After graduating from Pensacola State College with an A.A. in Theatre and the University of West Florida with a BFA in Musical Theatre, Topher toured with the Missoula Children’s Theatre, performing for and teaching children across the United States and Canada. Topher returned to Pensacola after living as a freelance actor and director in Atlanta. Some of his favorite stage credits include Charlie Brown (Snoopy the Musical), The Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz), Toad (A Year with Frog and Toad), Nick Bottom (Something Rotten), and Mal Beineke (The Addams Family).
LENDSEY VON KRUEGER - ENSMEBLE
Lendsey is thrilled to return to the PLT stage this summer. Favorite past roles include Paulette (Legally Blonde - PLT), Sister Amnesia (Nunsense - Texas Rep), Brenda Lee Track (Beehive, the 60s Musical - Texas Rep), Sarah (Company - Texas Rep), Maureen (RENT - Slightly Off Center Players), Tammy (Escape to Margaritaville - PSC), Ginger (Ruthless - Standing Room Only Productions), Jolene (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - The Masquerade Theatre). Heartfelt thanks to Lauren and Mary for your support! Much love to Kurtis and Lydia <3.
NATHAN TOEPFER - ENSEMBLE
Nathan is happy to be back onstage again in this well-loved musical hit! A frequent performer in Pensacola, some favorite roles include Leaf Coneybear (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Lord Farquad (Shrek), and Dracula (Dracula, a Real Pain in the Neck!). When not on stage, you can find him catching Pokemon or ranting about his favorite vampire musicals!
SOPHIE WEINREB - ENSEMBLE
Sophie has been involved in theater since she was a child and has done many shows over the years. She is new to Pensacola and community theater and is so excited to be participating in one of her favorite shows of all time!
TRISTeN RODRIGUEZ- ENSEMBLE
Tristen works as a theatre technician in the Pensacola State College shop. He was most recently seen in The Addams Family (PLT) and Company (PSC). He loves what he does and has come to really enjoy being a part of this show!
Special Thanks
BALLET PENSACOLA
DOUG HOLSWORTH
GULF COAST CAMERA
NIKKI HEDRICK
PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE
From the Director
What a joyful ride this production has been. Several years ago, Ginger Caro and I were looking forward to producing Rock of Ages together. Unfortunately, Covid got in the way of getting that title in our schedule. What other rock opera could we put together for our season finale? On a long road trip, we brainstormed and listened to soundtracks and kept coming back to RENT. Could we? Is our community ready? Do we have the performers? The answer has been a resounding YES!! The story and music of RENT not only re-shaped Broadway in the ‘90’s but became the anchor songs of generations of theatre lovers and performers. RENT opened the theatre world to younger audiences, creating the first ticket lotteries and student rush tickets. The AIDS crisis seemed invisible to the wide world but was crashing around composer Jonathan Larson and his found family in NYC. The gentrification of cheap or forgotten properties was driving out the unpaid or underpaid folks struggling to feel any affect from “trickle down” political policies. And tragically, Larson died of an undiagnosed aortic dissection the night before Broadway Previews; this has added a layer of legacy to an already incredible piece of art. But somehow, the joy of life could be found in the darkest corners of the city, in the brightest hearts of friends, in all the seasons of love that can be shared.
The stories we tell on our stage are “of a time”, but also “of our time”. We journey together to share with you our joy of life, love for each other, and delight in creating art together. Whatever you take from this show, know that there is “No Day But Today”.
About the director
Director, Kathy Holsworth
Kathy has been an integral part of the Pensacola Little Theatre’s operations since 1996. She spent six years managing the box office among other tasks here at the Theatre. A lifelong performer, Kathy has been involved in acting, costumes, set design, and directing at PLT for nearly 30 years. She continues to perform in and direct PLT productions and serves as the head of the Artistic Committee. Kathy is a member of Theatre Communications Group, American Association of Community Theatre, and Impact 100. She has a BA in Education from the University of Alabama and earned her Master’s degree in Strategic Communications and Leadership from the University of West Florida. She has been Artistic Director since 2015.
