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Rent due

Vocal teacher Denise Krawczuk used to produce musical theatre programs, "snippets of Broadway shows." It was a lifelong dream to produce a licensed show in Thunder Bay, a dream that comes true when the curtain rises on Rent next Tuesday.
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(Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch.com)
Vocal teacher Denise Krawczuk used to produce musical theatre programs, "snippets of Broadway shows."

It was a lifelong dream to produce a licensed show in Thunder Bay, a dream that comes true when the curtain rises on Rent next Tuesday.

One of the most popular shows to hit Broadway, Rent premiered in the mid 1990s and Krawczuk’s company Applauze Productions is bringing the show to the Paramount Theatre Aug. 17-20.

The musical story of Rent takes the audience through a year – or 525,600 minutes – in the lives of a group of friends living in New York’s East Village as they struggle with life’s inevitable ups and downs.

"It’s a journey through a year of becoming friends and how friendships are challenged through that process and how they pull it together – the strength of friendship throughout," said Krawczuk, who takes the producing reigns of the Thunder Bay production. "It’s a very heartwarming storyline where people are accepted for who they are and their diversity."

The production is entirely local, from the director Spencer Hari to the cast and five-member band. Krawczuk was overwhelmed with the number of people who came out to audition and was blown away by the talent that came through her doors.

"It’s amazing how the chemistry develops in front of you and you instinctually know who the characters are going to be," she said. "It was an amazing process"

In Thunder Bay there is programming for children and youth under 18 when it comes to musical theatre and acting classes, but Krawczuk said there is often a void for younger adults in the performing arts scene in the city. She hopes Rent can fill a bit of that hole.

"There are a lot of talented people who don’t have the opportunities to go out and express themselves like this," Krawczuk said. "It’s something I’d like to venture out and do in the future."

The cast and crew have been running through the show for the last week and what Krawczuk has seen has been brilliant she said.

"I’m very proud of this project," she said. "Everyone is so completely dedicated and it’s very much a love fest. They are the most amazing group of people I’ve ever worked with, so professional and so on task all the time."

Tickets are $15 each and on sale at the Paramount Theatre.






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