Palos Heights Native Stars in 'Rent' at Paramount Theatre

Palos Heights native Andrea Prestinario stars in Paramount Theatre's production of 'Rent.'

The show is based on the experiences of creator Jonathan Larson—and loosely based on the opera La Boheme. RENT immerses viewers in the lives of 8 young artists and musicians living in the Lower East Side of the Bohemian Alphabet City.  From a poet and a musician to a lawyer and a drag queen, their lives are intertwined as they fight to survive in the Big Apple and, in some cases, fight for their mortality from HIV.  In the end, it’s friendship, love and the ability to maintain their individuality that keeps these souls together, according to the Paramount Theatre website. 

Prestinario, Mother McAuley High School alumna and daughter of former alderman Jeff Prestinario, plays the role of "Maureen," which was made famous by Idina Menzel.

"It feels like a responsibility to honor people's expectations that they have, when you do a show that is so well-known," Prestinario said. "So you hope that you honor those expectations, while bringing your own artistry to the role."

The show runs now through March 6, at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Boulevard in Aurora. Tickets are available online.