Richard Kornberg & Associates: Rent

RENT, THE BROADWAY TOUR
FEATURING ADAM PASCAL AND ANTHONY RAPP

FULL TOUR ROUTE AND CAST ANNOUNCED
FOR 2009 NATIONAL TOUR

INCLUDES ORIGINAL “SEASONS OF LOVE SOLOIST”
GWEN STEWART

TOUR BEGINS JANUARY 6 IN CLEVELAND, OHIO

Jeffrey Seller Kevin McCollum Allan S. Gordon have announced that Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, and Gwen Stewart will reprise the roles they originated on Broadway in Rent,The Broadway Tour, which begins touring nationally on January 6, 2009, in Cleveland, Ohio. The cast and tour schedule have also been confirmed.

Joining Pascal and Rapp who reprise their award-winning roles, and Stewart, are Nicolette Hart (Maureen Johnson), Justin Johnston (Angel Schunard), Lexi Lawson (Mimi Marquez), Michael McElroy (Tom Collins), Jacques C. Smith (Benjamin Coffin III), and Haneefah Wood (Joanne Jefferson). The ensemble is rounded out by Karmine Alers, Toby Blackwell, Adam Halpin, Trisha Jeffrey, Telly Leung, Caren Lyn Manuel, Jed Resnick, Andy Senor, Yuka Takara, and John Watson.

Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, and Gwen Stewart originated the roles of Roger Davis, Mark Cohen, and “Seasons of Love” soloist, respectively, at New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway. Justin Johnston (Angel), Michael McElroy (Collins), and Stewart were all members of the final company of Rent, which played its last performance on Broadway September 7, 2008.

Rent,The Broadway Tour, is directed by Michael Greif, who received 1996 Tony and Drama Desk nominations as well as the Obie Award for Rent, and choreographed by Marlies Yearby who received a Tony Award nomination for her work on the musical. Tim Weil, the show’s original music supervisor and conductor, serves as music supervisor.

Adam Pascal received Obie and Theatre World awards and Tony and Drama Desk nominations for best actor for Rent. On Broadway he also originated the role of Radames in the hit musical Aida and starred as the Emcee in the long-running revival of Cabaret. His film credits include Rent, School of Rock, SLC Punk!, Temptation, and Goyband.

An actor since the age of six, Anthony Rapp has appeared on Broadway in Precious Sons (Outer Critics Circle Award), Six Degrees of Separation, and the revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. His films include Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Six Degrees of Separation, David Searching, Man of the Century, Road Trip, A Beautiful Mind, Open House, Winter Passing, Danny Roane: First Time Director, and Scaring the Fish. His book, Without You: a Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent, about his experiences on and offstage, was published in 2006 by Simon & Schuster and became a national bestseller.

Gwen Stewart created several roles in Rent, including introducing the solo vocals for the show’s central theme, “Seasons of Love.” Ms. Stewart’s other theatre credits include the recent Tony-nominated revival of Big River, Starmites, Suds, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Wiz, Avenue X, Abyssinia. Her film and television work includes “Notes From the Underbelly,” “Related,” “Law & Order,” “Charmed,” “All My Children,” “Moesha,” “24,” “Strong Medicine,” “The Guardian,” Down To Earth, and Personals.

Nicolette Hart’s Broadway credits include Rent, Legally Blonde, and The Wedding Singer. TV/Film credits include “Law and Order,” “Lipstick Jungle,” “Veronika Decides To Die,” “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits” and “Cherry Crush.”

Justin Johnston played Angel Schunard in the final Broadway company of Rent and can be seen with the closing cast in “Rent Filmed Live on Broadway.”

Michael McElroy played Tom Collins in the final Broadway company of Rent. Broadway credits include Wild Party, Big River (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), The Who’s Tommy, Miss Saigon, Patti LuPone on Broadway, and High Rollers. TV credits include “Love Monkey,” “All My Children,” and “Spin City.”

Jacques C. Smith made his Broadway debut as Benny in Rent. TV credits include “CSI: Miami,” “ER,” HBO’s “OZ,” PBS’s Emmy-winning “American Masters” series “Ralph Ellison: An American Journey,” “The Division,” and “Law and Order.”

Haneefah Wood’s Broadway credits include Rent, Avenue Q, and Brooklyn. She originated roles in the workshops of Shrek and Good Vibrations. Film and television credits include “Freedomland,” “Law and Order Criminal Intent,” “Strong Medicine,” and “Days of Our Lives.”

Rent, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre, on April 29, 1996 following a history making, sold out, extended limited engagement at off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop.The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Rent played its final performance at the Nederlander Theatre on September 7, 2008 after playing 5,124 performances and 16 previews. Rent is the seventh longest running show in Broadway history and grossed over $280 million during its Broadway run.

Tours of Rent have crisscrossed the country almost continuously since late 1996 and the U.S. national tours have grossed over $330 million. The musical has been translated into every major language and been performed on six continents, including in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Rent, The Broadway Tour, is playing the following cities: Cleveland, OH (January 6-11); Buffalo, NY (January 13-18); Durham, NC (January 20-25); Charlotte, NC (January 27-February 1); Philadelphia, PA (February 3-8); Newark, NJ (February 10-15); Detroit, MI (February 17-22); Los Angeles, CA (March 3-8); San Diego, CA (March 10-15); Tempe, AZ (March 17-22); Minneapolis, MN (March 24-29); Chicago, IL (March 31-April 12); Pittsburgh, PA (April 14-19); Rochester, NY (April 21-26); Houston, TX (April 28-May 3); Dallas, TX (May 5-10); Austin, TX (May 12-17); Washington, DC (May 26-31); St. Louis, MO (June 2-7); Denver, CO (June 9-14); Seattle, WA (June 16-21); Portland, OR (June 23-28); Tampa, FL (July 7-12); Boston, MA (July 14-26); Schenectady, NY (July 28-Aug 2). For complete tour schedule and information visit www.siteforrent.com

# # # # #