Summer Place Theatre opens Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "Rent" at the Naperville Central High School Auditorium on Friday, July 17, with nine performances running through Sunday, August 2. Tickets start at $22.
The all-volunteer nonprofit has been staging musicals in Naperville since 1966, when Donald "Doc" Shanower, then Dean of Theatre at North Central College, founded the company. The Naperville Park District provides rehearsal space, and School District 203 provides the auditorium at 440 Aurora Ave.
Summer Place's quality isn't just self-promotion. District 203 student Hannah Leong reviewed the company's June production of "Guys and Dolls" for Positively Naperville and called the experience transformative.
"I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was genuinely, completely blown away," Leong wrote on Saturday, July 12. "About five minutes before the lights dimmed, the live orchestra started tuning up — a buzzing, humming harmony of powerful instruments."
That production earned a "Lou Recommended Show" designation from The Lou Awards, Inc., which recognizes excellence in community theatre across northern Illinois.
What to know about "Rent"
Director and choreographer Bianca Pietro leads a cast that includes Nicholas Morea as Roger Davis, Austin Hendricks as Mark Cohen, Sofia Herrera as Mimi Marquez, and Hannah Gleason as Maureen Johnson. Producer Taylor Weisz, who also serves as board secretary, previously produced "Newsies" for the company.
The show follows a year in the lives of young artists in New York's Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Content advisory: The production includes strong language, themes of HIV/AIDS and addiction, sexual content, and brief references to self-harm. Summer Place recommends it for teens and adults; families should use discretion.
Cost and access
- Adults: $25
- Seniors (65+): $22
- Students (18 and under): $22
- A $1.50 ticketing fee applies to online orders. Tickets are also available by phone at 630-355-7969 or at the door for the same price.
- Groups of 15+ receive 20% off, applied automatically.
- Parking: Free. Enter the lot from Hillside; use Door 24, visible from the corner of Aurora Ave and West St. GPS may direct you to the front of the school, which is not the theatre entrance.
- Accessibility: Walker and wheelchair accessible. No sensory-friendly performance options are listed on the Summer Place website for this production.
Summer Place Theatre's website does not list a scholarship or fee-assistance program for tickets. Families needing assistance should contact the organization directly.
Performance schedule
Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. The theatre opens 30 minutes before showtime; lobby doors open one hour before.
- Weekend 1: Friday, July 17 | Saturday, July 18 | Sunday, July 19
- Weekend 2: Friday, July 24 | Saturday, July 25 | Sunday, July 26
- Weekend 3: Friday, July 31 | Saturday, August 1 | Sunday, August 2
Tickets are available online at tix.com, by phone at 630-355-7969, or at the door.
