The Mass Arts Center announces auditions for RENT
Book, Music, and Lyrics: Jonathan Larson
Director/Choreographer: Vincent Ratsavong
Music Director: Derrick Lacasse
Stage Manager: Nicole LaBresh
Synopsis:
Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice, and living for today. 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. Ticket Page
PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS
Sunday, November 30th, 2025
First Slot:
1:00pm-3:00pm *Preliminary Vocal Audition
3:00pm-4:00pm Dance Audition (All auditioning required to attend.)
Second Slot:
5:00pm-7:00pm*Preliminary Vocal Audition
7:00pm-8:00pm Dance Audition (All auditioning required to attend.)
CALLBACKS
Monday, December 1st, 2025
7:30pm-11:00pm Callbacks
WHERE: 888 South Main Street Mansfield, MA 02048- Upstairs Studio
AUDITION CONTACT: Make an appointment to attend one of the preliminary vocal auditions slots on November 30th, you can do this by e-mailing Director/Choreographer- Vincent Ratsavong at: vsratsavong@gmail.com Once your interest is received, you will be provided with a scheduled vocal audition time. Everyone is required to attend the dance audition, this will follow your scheduled preliminary vocal audition at 3:00pm and 7:00pm. Callbacks will be held Monday, December 1st, 2025.
If you cannot attend either preliminary audition slot, but are interested in auditioning, we are accepting video submissions. Please, prepare a one-minute cut from a rock musical in the style of RENT. Select a cut that shows off a wide vocal range and strong storytelling ability. Please send all materials to Director/Choreographer Vincent Ratsavong at: vsratsavong@gmail.com by Sunday November 30th at 1:00pm. If you are unable to attend callbacks, please, inform Vincent and we’ll make alternative arrangements to see you.
Vocal Audition: Prepare a one-minute cut from a rock musical in the style of RENT. Please, select a cut that shows off a wide vocal range and strong storytelling ability. Please, provide your own sheet music that is clearly marked for the accompanist. No Acapella auditions will be heard.
Dance Audition: Bring comfortable attire to change into for this portion of the audition. Character heels, jazz shoes and comfortable sneakers are permitted. Baggy and loose-fitting clothing is not recommended. Dance auditions will be held at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm on November 30th.
Callbacks: Those invited to callbacks will be asked to sing selections from the RENT Score. Be prepared to cold read acting sides from the libretto.
Rehearsal Schedule: Directors at Mass Arts Center build their rehearsal schedules in consideration of their own and cast availability. We anticipate starting rehearsals the week of January 11th, 2026, and project holding scheduled rehearsals Sunday evenings, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings. With more rehearsal days being added closer to the opening of the show, not all actors will be called for every rehearsal. Those actors cast in RENT must be available for all tech week rehearsals March 14th– 20th and all three weekends of performances:
Thursdays: March 26; April 2 at 7:30 PM
Fridays & Saturdays: March 20, 21; March 27, 28; April 3, 4 at 7:30 PM
Sundays: March 22, 29; April 5 at 2:00 PM
Character Breakdown
The Mass Arts Center is committed to diversity and encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, as well as performers with varying abilities, to attend. Due to the adult nature of RENT, all actors but be 18 years of age or older.
Roger Davis
A struggling musician and former drug addict. He is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain. Roommates with Mark in the loft and battles with being HIV positive.
Gender: Male Presenting
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: F2
Mark Cohen
Filmmaker and video artist. Knee deep in his own soul-searching, Mark is the typical young artist. He and Roger are roommates in the loft. A bit of a nerd.
Gender: Male Presenting
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Tom Collins
A computer genius and liberal professor. He is a nurturer with a smooth and relaxed disposition. Used to be a roommate in the loft and is HIV positive.
Gender: Male Presenting
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: F#2
Benjamin Coffin III
The landlord of Mark and Roger’s apartment building. A former roommate in the loft, Benny traded in his personal morals for power and wealth.
Gender: Male Presenting
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Joanne Jefferson
A public interest lawyer and headstrong lesbian. She is smart and purposeful in all her decisions. Carries on a tumultuous relationship with Maureen.
Gender: Female Presenting
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Angel Dumott Schunard
The eccentric HIV positive street drummer. A drag queen with an incredible gift of dance and a magnetic personality. He becomes Tom’s lover.
Gender: Male Presenting
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Mimi Marquez
An HIV positive exotic dancer with drug addictions. Slender and sickly, she conceals it all at her job in the local club. She lives in the same building as the loft.
Gender: Female Presenting
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: Eb3
Maureen Johnson
An unpredictably zany performance artist. Maureen oozes sexuality and used to live in the loft. She has recently dumped Mark for Joanne.
Gender: Female Presenting
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Ensemble:
Alexi Darling (Producer of Buzz Line); The Man (A drug dealer); Waiter; Squeegee Man; Unhomed Woman; Carolers; Parents (Mrs. Cohen, Mr. & Mrs. Jefferson, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Marquez, Mr. Grey); Life Support Group (Steve, Gordon, Ali, Pam, Sue); Preacher; Seasons of Love Soloist; Cops; Bohemians; Vendors; Unhomed people