“Rent” has finally made its way from the stages of Broadway to audiences in Tacoma. Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, based loosely on Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Bohème,” runs until Feb. 14 at Tacoma Musical Playhouse (TMP).

The play follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village. The AIDS virus and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger Davis (Aaron Freed), Mimi Marquez (Katin Jacobs-Lake), Tom Collins (Kevin Douglas) and Angel Dumott Schunard (Thaddeus Wilson). Maureen Johnson (Alison Monda) deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art, while her partner Joanne Jefferson (Antonia Darlene) wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benjamin Coffin III (Jesse Smith) has sold out his old Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Meanwhile, Mark Cohen (Matt Posner), an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part. The cast of “Rent” has an uncanny ability to jolt these characters to life in a very believable way.

María Valenzuela, marketing and office manager for TMP, said the playhouse has wanted to produce “Rent” for a while. So, when the rights finally became available, producers jumped at the opportunity to bring it to their stage.

For those theater-lovers who have seen “Rent” before on larger stages, TMP’s production offers a more relaxed, intimate atmosphere.

“Audiences will have a better opportunity to become more engaged with the characters,” Valenzuela said.

This intimate description holds true, when at one point during the show, character Maureen asked audience members to ‘moo’ during a specific scene - to which they all playfully obeyed. Valenzuela noted that sometimes the theater experience could get lost among fancy music and stage art at larger venues. TMP’s stage is small, but designed and lit well enough to help audience members believe these characters are really in a gritty Big Apple slum.

“I think intimacy was the writer’s original intent and it really comes through with this cast in this space.”

For those interested in catching this show, Valenzuela recommends reserving tickets far enough in advance. Because of the show’s popularity, most performances have generated fairly large audiences.

“All of the performers in this play are really top notch,” Valenzuela said. “The eight starring role characters were cast very appropriately. Audiences will be pretty assured why these people were placed in these roles.”

Also starring in “Rent” in ensemble roles are: Steve Barnett, Kae Blum, Ashley Coates, Matt DelaCruz, Matt Flores, Haleakala, Candi Hall, Jon Huntsman, Colin Madison, Lauren Nance, Katie Skovolt, Charles Simmons and April Villanueva.

Tickets for TMP’s production of “Rent” cost $25 for adults, $23 for seniors (aged 60 and older) or military and $18 for children 12 and younger. This performance is not recommended for children under age 15.

Tacoma Musical Playhouse is located at 7116 6th Ave. in Tacoma. Box office hours are Tues.-Sat. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and two hours prior to curtain call for each performance. For more information, call (253) 565-6867.