Wings Performing Arts first Summer Alumni Production

Wings Performing Arts of the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center wanted to switch up their production so they decided to incorporate alumni and current students for their first summer alumni production.

Wings Performing Arts Summer Alumni fundraiser production of Rent is a musical about falling in love, finding your voice, and living for today. Rent is a world-renowned play that has won a Tony Award for best musical and a Pulitzer Prize for drama, Rent features songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. Actor Jeb Vonderbrugge said, “A through line with Rent, making the most of what you have and the people in your life and looking at your life through the lens of loving others and others loving you and the love that you share and the love that you put into the world and making the most of every single day and every single moment.”

Indya Tanner plays Mimi in the production and says she was able to relate to her character on an emotional level. “In the beginning of the show, she is very alone in a dark place which I can relate to with the pandemic and everything. Everyone, I think, was feeling alone, but she manages to pull light from somewhere and stay positive and this show did that for me. It was kind of my light and that’s how I relate to Mimi.”

The pandemic hit many of the performers hard including Vonderbrugge, who plays Roger, the neighbor and love interest to Mimi. “This is the first time I have been on stage in two years now.”

While Jeb had extra time on his hands, he decided to audition for a pretty popular TV show. “I was doing college theatre and then I took some time off to do American Idol. I was on season three. I made it to the top 40 round. It was an incredible experience. One of the craziest things I have ever been part of in my life.”

The performers say they are just eager to get back to showcasing their talents. “I have been in theatre since I was about six years old. So, I think just progressing to musicals and big adult plays is kind of natural for me. I love to perform and it’s something that I have always loved to do.”

“Theatre feels like home to me. It has been a part of my life since I was five-years-old. So, it feels really, really good to be in a show again.”

The show will kick off Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Gulfport.