Local Production Of Rent Takes Center Stage At Pioneer Place Theatre [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD -- A local production of the Broadway musical Rent is underway at the Pioneer Place on Fifth Theatre.

The play is based on the 19th Century opera, "La Boheme" by Giacomo Puccini. In this modern take the musical is set in New York in the early 1990s.

Main characters Mimi, Roger, Mark and Angel face many struggles and challenges regarding love, homelessness, homosexuality, AIDS and drug addiction.

Brandon Nordhues plays Angel. He says,  "this show is about love overall i think, in that it's how we overcome some of those obstacles."

The characters perform many well-known songs including, "Seasons of Love," and "La Vie Boheme."

Michael Wesley who plays Mark says the production sends a powerful message, "the very last thing we say is no day but today and I think that's the most important thing in the show, to live every day to its fullest."

The familiar characters all come to life on stage, but Eric Loehr who plays Roger says you can expect a few twists, "if someone is expecting to come to the show and kind of see stock characters they'll see glimpses of that, but they'll also be like rejuvenated by the person that we are as we bring us to the character."

You can catch the musical on stage now through the end of July. For ticket and other information call the Pioneer Place Theatre Box Office.

See a video sneak peak with the main characters below.