b'Welcome A message from Quinn Forrest Masterson, director of RENT.Welcome to Inver Grove Heights Community Theatre\'s first show since the Coronavirus pandemic. and what a journey it has been!When selecting this year\'s production, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the last two years and its impact on our communities, society, world, and overall perspective of life.The loss, the isolation, the hate, and the unknown.I knew that we didn\'t need to see anotherAnnie, Once Upon A Mattress, orJoseph.We all went through something traumaticand there was a responsibility to come together as a community of artists and tell a story with stakes. "Inside these dangerous times, where it seems the world is ripping apart at the seams, we can all learn how to survive from those who stare death squarely in the face every day and[we] should reach out to each other and bond as a community, other than hide from the terrors of life at the endof the millennium. Jonathan Larson wrote these words shortly before his death at the age of thirty-five in 1996 and werediscoveredon his computer by his family after he passed away from an aortic aneurysm. Jonathan Larson\'s transgressiveRENT means so many things to so many peopleand I am forever grateful for IGHCTs leadership team and theirwillingness to accept my request to take on the challenge of this show and give it a space to be put on (other than the occasional professional tour that comes to town at the Orpheum).This show would not have been possible without the musical genius that is Madeline Huss as well as the stunning movement and choreography vision from Jennifer Haider.This was a true collaboration and the entire production team of artists and designers poured their hearts into making this possible.I am especially proud of this incredible cast for saying "yes" and approaching this production from their own diverse experiences.They were challenged to stray from imitating what has been done, make new discoveries, and most importantly, bring their own truths to the story. "To being an us for once, insteadof a them." "Inside these dangerous times, where it seems the world is ripping apart at the seams, we can all learn how to survive from those who stare death squarely in the face every day and[we] should reach out to each other and bond as a community, other than hide from the terrors of life [in 2022]."'