Kennerly '04 misses chance to perform in Broadway's 'Rent'

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes of fame became 15 when Princeton's Broadway hopeful lost her bid for a spot on "Rent."

Though Aliza Kennerly '04 did not win the "Wanna Be in 'Rent' " casting search and the chance to appear in the Broadway show, she had the votes of her seven-year-old niece and six-year-old nephew. She said the two began performing her song after watching her audition tape of the song "Out Tonight" several times.

When she called them Thursday, her nephew sang it for her, including lyrics such as "I want to run away with a stranger."

Kennerly made her final contest-related appearance on "Good Morning America" Friday after America's votes were tallied and the winner announced. Mark Christine of the University of Michigan, who auditioned for the part of Roger, won the casting search.

Earlier that morning, stage technicians worked from a ladder to add light fixtures on the ceiling. The stage was set with the logo of the smash-hit Broadway musical, and the techs checked the microphones one last time as they made their final preparations for the performances by the three contest finalists.

Upstairs, the cast of "Rent" relaxed while enjoying an early breakfast. A sense of comaraderie and friendship emanated from the group as members gathered together, conversing and laughing.

And Kennerly fit right in. She appeared poised and calm as she stood munching her sandwich and talking to "Rent" Company Manager Nick Kaledin.

Though Kennerly's journey to Broadway began months earlier — when she sent in an audition tape to the casting search — this whirlwind week started Tuesday, when Kennerly checked into her room in the Flatotel with one of her best friends, Rinaldo Martinez '04, who came along to offer moral support.

Martinez and Kennerly have been close friends since freshman year. The two are currently neighbors in Spelman, but they may be roommates next year. They are currently thinking of looking for apartments in New York City together.

Tuesday night, the two watched the musical and took a backstage tour, during which they met the cast, stage managers and technicians.

"The show was great," Kennerly said. "I saw it in a different way now because I know I could be up there. It's amazing."

After a preliminary competition, Kennerly was one of three aspiring performers who won the opportunity to audition for the directors and producers of the show. She chose to audition for the role of Mimi, and sang two of her songs, including the rocking solo "Out Tonight," which she also sang on "Good Morning America" Thursday morning. The two other finalists also performed on the show.

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Kennerly said singing on live television for a national audience was not as intimidating as she expected it to be. "After stressing all week for my audition I was so relieved it went well. I was like, 'Good Morning America' — who cares? I just let it be really exciting and fun," she said.

After the show Thursday, viewers voted for their favorite finalist in an online poll.

Kennerly said that while she has always loved the stage and known she wanted to pursue acting professionally, she only made the decision to do so at the beginning of this year. She has appeared in numerous productions at the University, including the Princeton University Players' production of "The Fix" last spring.

Veterans from the "Rent" cast said all types of stage experience can benefit budding performers. Justin Johnston, who has been a cast member for two and a half years and currently plays Angel, said, "Consistency is the key. Persistence really pays off. I know this sounds cliché, but it is really true."

Johnston did some performing near his home in Indiana — "but nothing of this caliber" — before he was offered a place on the touring company of "Rent" and eventually on the Broadway cast.

Another two-year "Rent" member, Catrice Joseph, said the business was hard and "you can go to 30 auditions and be lucky to get one." Joseph got her start in theater in a show in Europe, where she said she was more nervous about the culture and language difference than the show itself.

She said "Rent" is "a lot more laid back and fun" than some of the other shows on which she has worked, and there is "a real youthful energy in the show."

She added that for many people trying to make it in the stage business, "talent has a lot to do with it, [but] it's not all about talent. Determination is the main thing that keeps you going because you're going to hear 'no' a lot more than you're going to hear 'yes.' "

Though Kennerly's experience has differed from that of most Princeton students this week, she has tried to keep up with her studies. In between auditions and television performances, she took afternoon naps and worked on her AST 203 problem set.

Friday morning, as the first cue time grew near, Kennerly put the finishing touches on her outfit. Martinez helped her pick out earrings, joking, "That's why I came."

After a manager called five minutes before the cast was to sing a short teaser, the chitchat in the room suddenly dropped off. The details of the performance were set: it was to be an a cappella rendition of a selection from "Seasons of Love."

Onstage, the cast sang and interacted with the same chemistry they had shown backstage. After the short musical interlude, they trekked back upstairs to the dressing room for another half-hour break before the results were announced.

Kennerly left to have her hair and makeup done, and when she came back a technician equipped her with a microphone. As she worked the wire around her back and through her shirt, she showed no sign of anxiety. However, Martinez was less composed.

"I'll be nervous for the announcement of the results, and then my adrenaline will go down and I'll probably pass out standing up," Martinez said.

Though Kennerly did not end up winning the spot, she said she will continue performing and auditioning. "I'm very happy with this whole week. Professionally, I've met so many people who have given me good feedback and tips and hopefully I'll work with [them] in the future," Kennerly said.

Kennerly and Martinez said they planned to enjoy Friday night in New York City before returning to their classes, work and theses.

Kennerly said her next step toward a career on the stage will be getting head shots taken and looking online for auditions. She also wants to keep in touch with some of the cast members to stay "mentally in New York, in that mindset."

She said she plans to devote herself to "Sensemayà Afrobeat Allstars," the band she helped create in the fall of this year.

They have performed twice at Terrace and performed at Colonial Thursday and Cottage Saturday.

The band is planning a Boston tour in mid-April, after theses are turned in, and hope to perform at Harvard and several other area colleges.

Though Kennerly did not win the contest, she gained invaluable exposure and experience.

As she and the two other finalists left the "Good Morning America" studio, a man approached them with a "Rent" program in hand to request the autographs of all three.

In the studio, crew members took the stage apart and wheeled cameras out. "And all this before 9 [a.m.]," one remarked.