When the MSU Department of Theatre decided to include “Rent” in its 2009-10 season, it wanted to find a way to make the story personal for MSU students as well.

Calling as a friend of a friend, department staff contacted Scott Burkell, a director living in New York City and longtime friend of Larson’s. He agreed to come to East Lansing as a guest director for the show, which opens at 8 p.m. Friday at Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre and runs through April 25.

“I do have a close personal connection to the show and I always wanted to direct a production of it,” Burkell said. “It’s more personal in terms of (that) I knew Jon so well so that what I see in the pieces is so him — personal things I know about him that I think he was trying to say.”

Cast members said that Burkell’s directing has helped them understand the humanity and fear behind the spectacle of song and dance.

“He knows this show better than anyone,” said Nick Strong, a music composition sophomore who plays Mark, a filmmaker, in the show. “I just think it’s really honest and heartbreaking really. It’s about the scariest time in New York, when the AIDS epidemic was growing and no one knew anything about it. Everyone was terrified to touch another person. It was really scary, especially for our characters who are living in this poor section of New York City.”

In the story, many of the characters have AIDS — some from drug use, some from homosexual relations. Kate Kilpatrick, a theater junior, said that these sensitive issues can be difficult to portray, but are important to examine. Her character, Joanne, is a lesbian.

“The playing of a gay person has become comfortable,” Kilpatrick said. “It’s something I’m honored to do. It’s an important thing that we address. In these times we’re so desperately trying to fight for equal rights, it’s interesting to play a gay character. It’s almost liberating to be able to put yourself into a gay character who (was) still struggling for the same things but (wasn’t) near as close as we are now.”

In addition to the emotional difficulties, the music offers an immense hurdle, Strong said.

“The music is more challenging than most other shows because it’s in the form of an opera,” Strong said. “We sing all throughout the show and there’s very little dialogue. Some songs are very melodic but others are more challenging because it’s more about telling the story than singing a pretty song.”

Despite the numerous difficulties of the show, Joni Starr, an associate professor of theater and the choreographer for the show, said that Burkell and the students are working well together to put on an honest performance.

“(Burkell) brings a really great insight to the play, so that’s been really insightful and informative,” Starr said. “The students work really hard and they’re putting their souls out there. Their work ethic is amazing — their dedication to the process of making art.”

Although the opera is in many ways a tragedy, Strong said the story’s raw human appeal is important.

“We just approach it honestly,” he said. “These characters are human. There are characters that are homosexual and there are characters that are straight. There are characters that have AIDS and characters that are drug addicts. But it’s all about finding the love these people are sharing with each other.”

In the end, for Kilpatrick, the opera’s message is clear.

“The biggest line (in the show) that’s the most important to us is ‘No day but today,’” Kilpatrick said. “You can’t let life pass you by. You have to focus on the passion of life. Every minute could be wasted.”

“Rent” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre. Next week, it will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. April 23, 2 and 8 p.m. April 24 and 2 p.m. April 25. Tickets are $15 for students, $18 for seniors, MSU faculty and staff and $20 for general admission.

For more information, visit Wharton Center Box Office at whartoncenter.com or (516) 432-2000.