Hannover’s “Rent: School Edition”

The cast of ISHR’s Rent: School Edition, singing their hearts out (photo: ISHR/M. Jensen).

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The International School Hannover Region (ISHR), Germany recently performed the musical Rent: School Edition. The musical has earned the Pulitzer Prize, as well as many Tony Awards, for the difficult yet poignant themes presented. The musical, a modern rock-opera based on Puccini’s La Bohème, follows the lives of struggling young artists in New York’s East Village over the course of a year. The characters struggle with AIDS, love, loss, and acceptance.

The talented ISHR cast, directed by me with musical direction by Andrea Johnson, performed their hearts out, to a rousing standing ovation every night. And the production really has made an impact at ISHR! After the show, I had students coming to me saying how much they have been touched. I also received letters from students who said how they have grown in confidence as a result of performing in the show, and how proud their family is of them for being part of such a production.

As it happened, one of our Rent: School Edition rehearsals was held on Nelson Mandela’s World AIDS Day. The students came to me at the beginning of rehearsal, and proposed that we donate any proceeds from the show to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. This was entirely their own initiative!

Perhaps most importantly, the production illustrated for ISHR the core values that are present in the International Baccalaureate program. It is not easy to demonstrate to your peers how to be open-minded, caring, principled, or a (reasonable) risk-taker. Regarding risks, I had told the cast at the beginning of the show that they might conceivably be the target of bullying or the subject of ridicule from their peers because of their participation in this production.

I also told them that every time a show like this is performed, there is just a little more tolerance in the world, a little more understanding of the uniqueness of human beings, some of whom struggle with homosexuality, AIDS, or drug use. They bravely jumped headfirst into their roles, and the result was more than expected.

ISHR raised over 700 euros for the Nelson Mandela Children AIDS Fund in just three performances. We are proud of the sum raised, but also of the fact that the performances marked the German premiere of the musical! l

Mr. Jensen is Learning Enrichment Specialist at the International School Hannover Region.

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