La bohème Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica West Bay Opera, May–June, 2002

ACT I, A shabby garret in Paris on Christmas Eve
	Rodolfo (Benoît Gendron) sacrifices his play to bring a little warmth to his friends Marcello (Scott Bearden) and Colline (Kirk Eichelberger).
	Rodolfo (Jonathan Boyd), Colline (Kirk Eichelberger), and Marcello (Joshua Benaim) listen as Schaunard (Roberto Gomez) tells how he earned money for food and firewood by serenading a dying parrot.
	When Benoît (Jesse Merlin) arrives to collect the rent, Rodolfo (Jonathan Boyd), Marcello (Joshua Benaim), Schaunard (Roberto Gomez), and Colline (Kirk Eichelberger) quickly hide all evidence of the feast.
	After their candles go out, Rodolfo (Benoît Gendron) explains to Mimì (Karen Frankenstein) that he is a poor but happy poet.
	Mimì (Shana Blake Hill) tells Rodolfo (Jonathan Boyd) of the joy of seeing the first ray of spring sun through her attic window.
ACT II, The Latin Quarter a few minutes later
	Musetta (Aimée Puentes) arrives at the Café Momus with Alcindoro (Eric Coyne) and immediately tries to attract the attention of Marcello (Scott Bearden), who is dining at a nearby table with Rodolfo (Benoît Gendron), Mimì (Karen Frankenstein), Schaunard (Roberto Gomez), and a newly shaven Colline (Kirk Eichelberger).
	Realizing that the Bohemians are broke again, Musetta (Aimée Puentes) asks the waiter to add their bill to hers.
ACT III, An Inn just inside the Gates to Paris in February
	At dawn, Mimì (Karen Frankenstein) arrives at The Barrière d’Enfer, a tollgate at the edge of Paris, and asks the Customs Officer (Richard Hazel) to direct her to the inn where Marcello is staying.
	Country women carrying goods to sell at the market enter the tollgate.
	Mimì (Shana Blake Hill) overhears Rodolfo (Jonathan Boyd) tell Marcello (Joshua Benaim) that he fears Mimì will die if she continues to live with him in poverty.
	Deciding that it is too sad to be alone in winter, Rodolfo (Benoît Gendron) and Mimì (Karen Frankenstein) decide to wait until spring to part.
	Musetta (Malinda Haslett) informs Marcello (Joshua Benaim) that it is no fun having a lover who behaves like a husband, as Mimì (Shana Blake Hill) and Rodolfo (Jonathan Boyd) renew their vows of love.
ACT IV, The garret a few months later
	Marcello (Scott Bearden) and Rodolfo (Benoît Gendron) try to concentrate on work while sharing stories of seeing Musetta and Mimì with other men.
	Rodolfo (Jonathan Boyd), Marcello (Joshua Benaim), and Colline (Kirk Eichelberger) listen as Schaunard (Roberto Gomez) proposes a dance to make their scanty supper more appetizing.
	Marcello (Joshua Benaim), Musetta (Malinda Haslett), Colline (Kirk Eichelberger), and Schaunard (Roberto Gomez) worry as Rodolfo (Jonathan Boyd) comforts Mimì (Shana Blake Hill).
	Colline (Kirk Eichelberger) decides to pawn his topcoat as Schaunard (Roberto Gomez) and Rodolfo (Jonathan Boyd) watch over Mimì (Shana Blake Hill).
	Marcello (Scott Bearden) and Musetta (Aimée Puentes) return with medicine and a muff to warm Mimì’s (Karen Frankenstein) cold hands as Rodolfo (Benoît Gendron) and Schaunard (Roberto Gomez) watch.

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Updated on October 30, 2005.