PITTSBURGH — Brady Patsy, a veteran at age 21 of many musical theater shows in Butler, will fill a leading role in the Pittsburgh Musical Theater production of "Rent."

The show opens at 7:30 p.m. today and will continue through Feb. 7 at the Byham Theater, 101 Sixth St.

PMT is presenting the first locally produced showing of this Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical.

Patsy performed in the Robert Morris University production of "Rent" as a guest artist in the fall. Ken Gargaro, founding director of PMT, is a professor at Robert Morris.

Then the show was selected for a theater festival at Indiana (Pa.) University earlier this month.

"I was very honored to get a chance to guest star at Robert Morris and ... slowly moved up to role of Collins," Patsy said.

He has played leading roles locally in "Fiddler on the Roof," "Jesus Christ, Superstar" and "Peter Pan."

This part in "Rent" is Patsy's first as an Actors' Equity Association role, for which he gets a paycheck.

"It could pay the bills, however, it probably would be good to have another job but I don't because it just doesn't work out," Patsy said. "I find myself in Pittsburgh to rehearse from early afternoon to late night."

Add to that the three-hour round trip commute to his home in East Brady.

"I would love someday to make it to Broadway or maybe do some television or something like that," he said. "This is an amazing start for me, to be able to say I am a working actor."

As a prelude to describing his "Rent" character named Tom Collins as "interesting," Patsy said, "The show is definitely a show when people come to see it they have to have an open mind."

Tom Collins is a homosexual who lives a Bohemian lifestyle, Patsy said of his role.

"He's an intelligent man, just trying to make it in the world," Patsy said.

The story of "Rent" is about a group of poor young artists and musicians who struggle with life in New York City. The rock musical is based on Puccini's opera "La bohème."

Due to the mature themes and innuendo, it's definitely for adult audiences, he noted.

Peter Matthew Smith, veteran of both the Broadway and national tours, is starring as the character Mark Cohen in PMT's "Rent." He is also directing this show.

"He brings a personal level that (show creator) Jonathan Larson had brought to the Pittsburgh show," Patsy said.

Smith is a former student of PMT, Patsy noted.

Patsy, a 2007 Karns City High School graduate, said he has always been a performer.

"My family will tell you that from the time I was about 3-years-old I wanted to make sure I was the center of attention, but it didn't really hit me until seventh grade when I was in 'The Wizard of Oz,'" he recalled. "It was kind of an electrifying feeling ... this is my passion."

When Patsy is not working, he is still involved in all manner of theater.

"I love helping out with any show I can anywhere," he said.

He has assisted with musicals at Karns City High School since he graduated and will be co-directing with Ken Schreffler the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler's spring production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

"I try to make sure that my life is surrounded 24/7 by theatrical experiences," Patsy said.

The curtain goes up on PMT's "Rent" at 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and Feb. 5 and 6 with matinees at 2 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 7. Tickets range from $12 to $55 for adults and from $10 to $27 for students.

Call 412-456-6666 or visit the Web site, www.pittsburghmusicals.com.