The plotline may sound familiar - a group of Bohemians try to make ends meet, dealing with illness and frustration, while singing the entire time. If you guessed the musical "Rent" you're only half right.
The University of Memphis is putting on the opera "La Bohème," which was written in the 1890s by the composer Giacoma Puccini. A century later the opera became the inspiration for "Rent."
According to Michael Johnson, director of opera at The University of Memphis, "La Bohème" wasn't a difficult choice.
"This is one of the most popular operas ever written," he said.
Despite its popularity, Johnson said the opera hasn't been performed at The University in so long that not a single current faculty member could remember when the last performance was.
"We don't know exactly when, but we know it's been over 25 years," he said.
Johnson credits the new group of talented performers available at the school this year as one of the reasons this opera is returning to The U of M stage.
"We have one of the largest and most talented group of singers we've ever had this year," he said.
Another component in the decision to put on "La Bohème" is that it's a personal favorite of Mr. and Mrs. Rudi E. Scheidt, who the musical school is named after.
"This is something we've had in mind for a long time, and now we finally have the forces to mount it," Johnson said.
He said that the fact that the musical "Rent" has taken shape in movie form this Christmas season did not play a factor in the decision-making. In fact, Johnson said that he was unaware of the new movie at that time.
"We just have great foresight," he said.
Sean Cooper, assistant director, said that even though "Rent" and U of M's version of the opera put the action in a different time period than the 1840s, the story doesn't have to change.
"It's a modernization of 'La Bohème,' but it's really a story that could take place at any time," he said.
Tia Russell, second assistant stage manager and chorus member, who is also a sophomore vocal performance major at The U of M, said that even though she hasn't seen "Rent," from what she has read about it "there are a few differences, but not a whole lot."
"It starts out in a very lonely, dank apartment where four men live in 1920s France," Russell said.
The men are Bohemians and each is an artist of some type. Like many starving artists they have trouble making ends meet.
"They're very poor, they sell what they can to make whatever money they can make," she said.
But don't think being broke is enough to get them down.
"They have a very positive outlook on life because they believe in the beauty of art and love," Russell said.
Next, three of the men leave the apartment, and the Rodolfo character is the only one left. There's a knock on the door. A young woman named Mimi is standing on the other side, and she asks Rodolfo for a light for her candle.
"They immediately fall in love," Russell said. "It's love at first sight."
Rodolfo invites Mimi to a Christmas Eve dinner, which leads into the second act, which features a chorus, children's choir and a band.
Then follows the rest of the opera, but there are no ending spoilers here.
The show will run tomorrow night and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Harris auditorium. Students are admitted free with their University ID and guest tickets are $10 each. Reservations can be made by e-mailing the box office at tickets@music.memphis.edu.
"I'm very excited about this opera," Russell said. "If you have never seen an opera, this is the opera to come see."
