“Rent” has been called many things since its Broadway debut in 1996, including sensational, exhilarating, powerful and controversial. One thing it has never been called, however, is boring.

Tallia Brinson, who plays the character Mimi, says there are so many messages in “Rent” that it is hard to sum it up into one statement.

“I guess the main message is that you can only live life by what it is right now,” Brinson says.

“Rent” is about a group of artists who live in New York’s East Village.

The story centers on the characters’ struggle with poverty, AIDS and relationships.

The multiple award-winning play is taking another tour through Ames, playing in Stephens Auditorium for two nights.

“Rent,” which upon its debut won several Tony, Drama Desk and Obie awards, has seen more than just on-stage tragedy.

A week before the show was scheduled to run, the play’s writer, Jonathan Larson, unexpectedly died of a aortic aneurysm.

“Rent” was the first successful story that Larson wrote before his death.

Brinson, a Massachusetts native who now resides in Georgia, has been performing since she was a freshman in high school. She says while people might not be able to directly relate to the situations the characters of “Rent” are in, the feelings expressed are ones that anyone can identify with.

“It all depends on how open the audience members are,” Brinson says.

Brinson says she thinks that even though the story of “Rent” deals with controversial topics, it is still a show that anyone can enjoy.

“I think that people now are a little more open to the story than they were [when the show first opened],” Brinson says.

Danielle Ausen, senior in graphic design, says she has never seen “Rent” before, but it is not for lack of trying.

“I have had tickets to ‘Rent’ more than once, but every time I get sick or something horrible happens to me and I can’t go,” Ausen says.

Ausen says she has wanted to see “Rent” ever since she first heard about it.

“Everyone I know who has seen it has really enjoyed it,” Ausen says.

Ausen says she thinks the show has a good message because “it does a good job of showing diverse lifestyles.

“This is really one of the first Broadway shows that has shown such diversity in how people live,” Ausen says.

“It has helped make diversity more acceptable.”

Who: “Rent”

Where: Stephens Auditorium

When: 7:30 p.m. October 21 and 22

Cost: $44.50-$34.50 adults/ $31.50-$40.50 students