Dana Hall School, along with students from Belmont Hill School, will present the musical Rent at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22 in Bardwell Auditorium. The performance is open to the community and admission is $10.

“The version of Rent that Dana Hall and Belmont Hill students are performing is the adapted version for high schools,” said Director and Performing Arts Department Head Kevin Groppe. “The musical still deals with mature content and involves the original characters with the same issues, but it is more suitable for high school students.”

Rent, the 1996 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, tells the story of a group of struggling artists and musicians trying to survive in New York City while coping with issues including homelessness and AIDS. More students tried out for Rent than for any other past musical performed at Dana Hall.

"In support of Rent, the 8th grade had guest speakers from Horizons for the Homeless, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless and a shelter in Waltham," said Director of Middle School Caroline MacNichol. "In addition, Middle School students are going to Cradles to Crayons, the Food Project, and are making bagged lunches to bring to a homeless shelter."

“The students are extremely excited,” said Groppe. “I knew they would be in spite of the complex characters because the main theme of the musical is how we measure the quality of life through love. The characters make mistakes, they are flawed, but in the end the musical is about understanding the meaning of life, valuing diversity, and caring about each other. I think many students feel it speaks to their generation.”

Bardwell Auditorium is located on the Dana Hall campus at 37 Cameron Street in Wellesley. For more information please call (781) 235-3010, ext. 2731 or visit www.danahall.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DanaHallSchool.