Spotlight on RENT

Join us on Sunday, October 19 for Spotlight on RENT, a benefit to support the School of Theatre + Dance. This special matinee event offers a pre-show reception including a Conversation with the Creative Team, drinks and libations, and a photo area; preferential seating for RENT in the newly reopened Constans Theatre; and a post-show reception with the faculty, cast, and crew. 

Click here for information on ticketing, support levels, and payment options.

Spotlight Agenda

12:00 Brunch reception, G-6, Nadine McGuire Pavilion
Check-in, photo opportunities, food, and libations

12:45 Conversation with the Creative Team
Tiza Garland, Director of the School of Theatre + Dance, will faciliate a conversation with members of the RENT creative team, including an interactive Q&A period with attendees. At the end of the Q&A, the MFA Scenic, Costume, and Lighting Design students who have worked on RENT will briefly share how their designs amplify the themes of the show, and note some “hidden gems” to keep an eye out for during the performance.

Once the conversation is over, attendees will have additional time to mingle, talk personally with the Creative Team, and enjoy the reception before the show begins.

2:00 RENT, Constans Theatre, Nadine McGuire Pavilion
The runtime of the show is about 2.5 hours including a 15-minute intermission.

4:30 Post-show reception, G-6
Drinks & desserts with the faculty, cast, and crew involved in RENT!

Suggested attire: dressy casual

Parking Information

The event will take place in the Constans Theatre located in the Nadine McGuire Pavilion, attached to the west side of the Reitz Union. General parking restrictions are lifted on weekends. Recommended parking locations include the Frazier Rogers Surface Lot, McCarty Surface Lot, and Parking Garage 4.

A free tram service will transport guests from these lots to the Nadine McGuire Pavilion for the pre-show reception. The tram will continuously travel in a counterclockwise circle, so please stand on the sidewalk outside of the lots. Please note that the tram will not pick up from the Reitz Union parking garage. Drivers may also drop off passengers directly in front of the Nadine McGuire Pavilion on McCarty Drive before proceeding to park. The tram will pick guests up at the base of the ramp outside of the Nadine McGuire Pavilion after the show through the end of the post-show reception, dropping off via the same route. See event images for map of tram route and suggested parking.

Make Your Gift to Spotlight

Set the stage for the School of Theatre + Dance’s lasting success: become a sponsor of Spotlight! Your support directly benefits students in the form of scholarships, travel funding, masterclasses, and professional development.

Click here for information on support levels and payment options.

Program ads are also available for purchase. All program ads will run in the 2025-2026 season program at the School of Theatre + Dance, and will be viewed by patrons, donors, performers, faculty, and staff. Please note that program ad purchases do not come with tickets to Spotlight. The print-ready file must be received by September 21 for inclusion in the Spotlight program, but may be submitted after that date for annual inclusion.

Click here for more information on program ads, including specs, rates, and submission.

Click here to purchase sponsorships, tickets, or program ads online.

About RENT

RENT is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson. Loosely based on the 1896 opera La bohème, it tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in Lower Manhattan's East Village, in the thriving days of the bohemian culture of Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. RENT has received awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Musical. 

UF School of Theatre + Dance’s production of RENT is directed by Tony Mata and choreographed by Andrew Cao.

Room #

G-6 Studio

Address

1800 McCarty Dr Gainesville
FL 32611

Phone

(352) 273-0500

Website

Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion Website