Christmas at UEH Theatre: 'RENT' and an Emotionally Resonant Journey

25 Dec, 2025

As the first English-language musical staged at the UEH Theatre, RENT not only created an emotionally rich artistic space, authentically portraying a story of love, loss, and the will to live among young people in New York, but also affirmed UEH's commitment to building a creative community, inspiring art, and championing sustainable values through holistic education.

'Rent' – the first English-language musical at the UEH Theatre, captivated nearly 2,000 attendees from across Ho Chi Minh City over two nights

Inspired by Puccini's opera La Bohème, the musical RENT tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive amidst the pressures of urban life. The story opens on Christmas Eve and concludes during another Christmas season, creating a microcosm of youth where joy, sorrow, and hope coexist.

A distinctive feature of RENT is its humane and responsible approach to sensitive topics such as HIV/AIDS and addiction with a humanitarian and responsible spirit. The characters living with HIV/AIDS are not defined by despair but are portrayed with a profound desire for love, creativity, and the wish to live life to the fullest.

The musical is a story of love, loss, and the will to live, told with authenticity, humanity, and with profound depth

The characters Roger, Collins, and Angel are all living with the disease of their time, yet they never stop loving, creating, and seeking meaning in life. Among them, the character Angel, with her warm heart and positive energy, becomes the group's spiritual light. Her death from AIDS is the greatest loss, leaving an irreplaceable void. In the wake of her passing, the friends are forced to confront the impermanence of life. Suppressed conflicts erupt, relationships fracture, and each embarks on a personal journey of loss and loneliness. Yet, in that moment of seeming despair, they find their way back to one another—back to love, friendship, and hope. The group comes together to sing "No Day But Today," reinforcing the message: the only certainty we have is the present, and living fully today is the only way to move forward.

The musical's message: "No Day But Today"

The presence of nearly 2,000 audience members is a testament to the impact of the UEH Theatre in bringing performing arts closer to the community

According to the production team, the goal of RENT was not merely to recreate a Broadway classic work but to create a space where young people could engage with social issues through art—to learn to feel and to ask questions rather than accept ready-made answers. For the many students who participated in and watched the performance, it was an experience that was both emotionally challenging and intellectually broadening, expanding their perspectives on humanity and contemporary society.

The result of months of rigorous rehearsals, the two-night run of RENT was a testament not only to the professional efforts of the production team but also to the dedication of young people to the arts. The collaboration between the UEH Theatre and Honey Musical Academy created a stage where learners were not just spectators but were able to connect with profound social values and reflect on human issues through the power of art.

More than a recreation of a Broadway classic, Rent was a space for young people to engage with social issues through art

The curtain has closed on RENT, but the reflections and inspiration it sparked will continue to resonate within the learning community, a testament to the role of theatrical arts in the journey of holistic human education at UEH.

Pillars: Operations, Community

Project: UEH Connecting

News, photos: Department of Student Affairs, Department of Communications and Partnerships