Tuesday, March 16, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.
There are similarities between actor Constantine Maroulis and Roger, the lead character he portrays in the touring company of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "Rent."
"We are both young artists, living in New York City, struggling with our work," Maroulis said during a recent telephone interview from New York. "And, we are passionate."
The main difference is that the actor is healthy while his counterpart onstage is HIV-positive, as are a number of other characters in the production.
"Rent," loosely based on the 19th-century Puccini opera "La Boheme," tells the story of a community of artists struggling to survive in an East Village tenement. The musical will be performed Friday through Sunday at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Another difference between the actor and the character is that the actor is a native of New York.
"Roger is a West Coast kind of guy who moved to New York in the late '80s to get away from the grunge and Nirvana," Maroulis said.
A major similarity is that Roger is a musician and songwriter, and Maroulis is the lead vocalist for Pray for the Soul of Betty, his rock 'n' roll band.
Maroulis says the band was formed a few weeks before "Rent" started its tour in October, and they have now performed in a dozen cities.
The band often performs at venues in or near cities where "Rent" is being performed. It almost had a gig at Johnny Depp's Hollywood, Calif., nightclub, The Viper Room, to coincide with the production's Vegas engagement.
"We had an L.A. show booked the first night we were in Vegas, but Carmen Electra bumped us," Maroulis said.
Juggling a band and a leading role in one of the nation's most highly acclaimed musicals is nothing new to Maroulis.
"I've always juggled a lot of things at once," he said. "I don't put all of my eggs in one basket. I spread myself out. I like to do a lot of different things I love acting, and I love rocking. I like the whole thing."
Maroulis says he thrives on the work, and on "barely being able to stand at the end of the night."
"('Rent') is a heavy story and it takes a lot out of you. The subject matter can be pretty intense," he said. "The story is right in your face. It doesn't hold back."
The premiere of "Rent," written by Jonathan Larson, was off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on Feb. 13, 1996. The show transferred to Broadway on April 29, 1996, where it still plays to standing-room-only audiences.
It has become one of the longest-running Broadway shows in history.
Larson didn't live to see the success of his show, which, in addition to a Pulitzer for drama, won a Tony Award for best musical of 1996. He died at the age of 35 of an aortic aneurysm on the morning of Jan. 25, 1996, a few hours after "Rent's" final dress rehearsal for its off-Broadway debut.
The play deals with adult themes and is not recommended for those under age 13.
Roger has not left his apartment in the six months since his girlfriend killed herself after they both found out they were HIV-positive. Roger is motivated to write one great song before he dies.
Other characters include Angel, a transvestite drummer who is also HIV-positive; Tom Collins, an HIV-positive, computer-age philosophy teacher who falls in love with Angel; Joanne, a lesbian lawyer; and Mark, Roger's filmmaker roommate.
"The characters are so well written it gives you a lot to work with," Maroulis said. "Basically, Roger is sad and sick and very scared and lonely.
"He's a good guy, sick with AIDS, and he has a kind of a writer's block."
As the show begins, Roger is looking for a song to write that will leave his mark on the world.
"Rent's" original director, Michael Greif, worked with the cast.
"It was so awesome to work with Michael," Maroulis said. "We are all so young, unknown actors. He's like this great man, a great director, and he gave us a lot of room to work with."
In addition to the Pulitzer and Tony Awards, "Rent" won the 1996 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical; Outer Critics Circle Award for best off-Broadway musical; Drama League Award for best musical; and a variety of honors from the Drama Desk Awards, Theatre World Awards and Obie Awards.
One of the relatively unsung heroes of almost any stage production is the costume designer.
Lisa Zinni is the Associate Costume Designer for "Rent." She has worked for costume designer Angela Wendt on all six "Rent" productions (Broadway, three national touring companies, the Canadian company and London).
Costumes are vital to any production for many reasons, among them enhancing the mood of a scene and helping to define a character.
"Roger's costume (in the touring company) is the same look as the original Broadway Roger, but I try and adapt somewhat to the personality of the individual playing the role," Zinni said. "Although each wear plaid pants and a black shirt and a green sweat shirt, the fit differs. The length of the neckline differs.
"The result is Constantine becoming Roger, and not some generic version. I personalize the look."
She says she takes the same approach with the entire cast.
"I try to use their personality to become inspired by what they bring to the role," Zinni said.
Zinni doesn't travel with the production, but she often joins the company on location.
"I do that to make sure things look good," she said. "Sometimes I have to fit new people, if the cast members change."
By dropping in on a tour she sees subtle changes in costumes that those who are with the production on a daily basis might not notice.
"Sometimes, costumes start to wear down," Zinni said. "They're washed every single day, but those in the show don't see the clothes fading because it gradually happens.
"I can look at it with a fresh eye and say, 'This looks tired,' or, 'Fix that,' to make sure each audience is getting the best version of the costume."
Zinni says she is true to the show with her costume selections, "but certain things we update -- jeans and shoes and things like that. But overall, the look is still intact.
She says she was fortunate when she joined "Rent" seven years ago.
"I wasn't sure how long it would last," Zinni said.
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