Shelley Regner is singing her heart out.
The theater senior is competing in an online contest for an opportunity to audition for an off-Broadway revival of the critically acclaimed musical “Rent.”
The company bringing the beloved musical back to the stage is New World Stages, whose website states its motto as “New Venue. New Artists. New Audiences. The new face of Off-Broadway, continuing the tradition of excellence.”
A successful audition in New York could mean huge career opportunities for Regner, whose audition video currently sits in first place — provided she can win over the hearts of Internet devotees.
“It’s really exciting to think about the possibility that this might actually happen for me, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up,” Regner said. “There’s still four more days of voting, and you never know what could happen.”
Regner has been involved in musical theatre since middle school and said she fell in love with “Rent” after performing in the show at the Baton Rouge Little Theater.
“Musical theater is definitely my passion,” Regner said. “When I was younger my parents used to take me to the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans to see the touring shows. So I’ve definitely grown up in that style of theater.”
“Rent” first hit Broadway in 1996 to wild success, winning a Tony award for Best Musical, among others. When the show closed in 2008 it had become the ninth-longest-running Broadway musical and was adapted into a major motion picture in 2005.
The casting contest ends March 27, and the “Rent” revival is scheduled to premiere this summer.
Win or lose, Regner said the experience thus far has been a positive one.
“The process that’s been going on has been amazing,” Regner said. “I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the support from the community. People that I don’t even know have sent me messages letting me know they’re supporting me. It’s been a humbling and gratifying experience.”
 
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Contact Andrew Price at [email protected]