Youth Theatre to Stage Rent

The Westfield based New Jersey Youth Theatre will be staging a summer production of Rent in July.

Raising money for the production, the non-profit arts group is currently embarking on a fundraising program including a car wash staged this past Saturday. The fundraising program is a requirement for children participating in the program.

"We do not charge the kids to participate but we ask them to help raise money," said Cythhia Meryl, NJYT artistic director. "The car wash is one fundraiser and the kids are having a great time."

The theatre, which consists of teens from around New Jersey, including the immediate region, will stage Rent starting on July 16 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The show will move to the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan starting on July 31.

NJYT officials said the youth have become fans of the epic Broadway musical about the early days of the AIDS crisis in Manhattan's East Village.