The musical "Rent," by Jonathan Larson (top photo, at right) is now in its final months on Broadway. It's hard to imagine Broadway without Larson's idealistic, eternally-fresh-feeling music. And the stage production has a greater impact than the film version. Our favorite moment of the 2008 Tony awards was the reunion onstage of the original 1996 cast of "Rent."
We keep hoping that, as closing night approaches, the producers of the Broadway production may be able to say, "Extended due to popular demand." And continue running the show at the Nederlander Theater through year's end or longer. "Rent" is good for the soul.
Fans of the musical will be happy to know that, even though the Broadway production is scheduled to close in the Fall, a major national tour is planned, with a cast headed by the original Broadway co-stars of :"Rent"--Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (lower photo, at right). That tour will take them all across the U.S., and then to Japan.
Watch this space for further details as we learn them.
--R. A.
|
 |
| Jonathan Larson, the creator of "Rent." He died just before the opening of the first New York production. |
|
|
 |
| Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, in "Rent" |
|
|
|