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It's the "Season of Love" at the California Musical Theatre as the Broadway Musical Rent: The Broadway Tour comes to Sacramento.

The musical follows a group of young artists who live in New York's East Village during the 1990s. Rent is a passionate story of friendship and love that challenges many tough subjects like AIDS, poverty, homophobia and drug addiction.

Rent is a modern take on the opera La bohème, which was written by Giacomo Puccini in 1896.

The show is the eighth-longest running on Broadway. Its success has been recognized multiple times, having received Tony Awards for Best Music, Best Score and Best Book, as well as Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996.

The musical is making its way to Sacramento in a new tour production that will include Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, two actors who were a part of the original Broadway production and the film adaption.

Pascal will play the role of Roger, and Rapp the role of Mark.

"They are amazing. Not only are they wonderful performers, but they gave the show a renewed focus," said Nicolette Hart, who plays Maureen in the show. "They brought everyone closer to the heart of the show."

Hart said that the tour has been a gift for her, and she has been able to figure out what the character meant to her and how she wanted it to look.

“I definitely infuse myself into the character, and I would be lying if I said that the character didn’t infuse itself on me,” Hart said.

Though Rent has become more widely known with the release of the film, Hart points out that there are advantages to seeing the real thing.

“There is nothing like seeing it live,” Hart said. “The stage version is the purest form of the show and I think it is the best way to get to the heart of the musical.”

Two hours before each performance, the Community Center Theater box office will also be selling tickets for seats in the front row for $23. They will only allow two tickets per person, and the tickets must be paid for in cash.

“There are limited seats and it's first-come, first-served,” said Christopher Bower, director of marketing and public relations for the California Musical Theatre. “Last time the show was here people were camping out… not that I encourage that kind of behavior.”

Since it may take some luck to purchase the discounted front-row seats, tickets may also be bought online or through the box office at (916) 557-1999 or (916) 808-5181.

Rent will be performed at the Community Center Theater at 1301 L St.

The show runs from Feb. 3-7 with two showings at starting at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Tickets range from $25 to $65 depending on show and seat.

Photos from the Original Production Photo Gallary for the Rent: Broadway Tour 2009
http://www.siteforrent.com/interactive/photo-gallery/originalproduction/rent-the-broadway-tour-2009