Arts News

Rent celebrates its 10th anniversary today

By Amy Somensky Apr 24, 2006, 0:57 GMT

New York: Rent won't technically turn 10 until April 29th, but a special concert featuring Broadway's original cast will be held tonight to mark the occasion.

Scheduled to take part in the event include Gilles Chiasson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Rodney Hicks, Kristen Lee Kelly, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Aiko Nakasone, Timothy Britten Parker, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gwen Stewart, Byron Utley and Fredi Walker-Browne.Proceeds will benefit Friends in Deed, the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation, and New York Theatre Workshop.Since opening in 1996, the musical has played over 4,100 performances, and has become the 7th longest running production on Broadway. It won every major best musical award including the Drama Desk and Tony awards as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Over the years it has developed a community of loyal fans dubbed "rent-heads" who have been touched by the musical's themes, music, and spirit.The musical is of course the work of Jonathan Larson, who penned the music, lyrics, and book. Jonathan tragically died of an aortic aneurysm on January 25, 1996, the night before the musical was to have its first performance at Off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The rest of the team behind the production includes direction by Michael Greif, choreography by Marlies Yearby, set design by Paul Clay, lighting design by Blake Burba, costume design by Angela Wendt, and producers Allan S. Gordon, Jeffrey Seller, and Kevin McCollum.Rent is a new spin on the classic opera La Boheme. Set in New York City's East Village, it's an emotionally stirring story of a community of young artists struggling to live and celebrate life. It follows eight friends over the course of a year as they experience love, life, and death by trying to live the motto "No Day But Today."For Rent tickets visit www.ticketsnow.com.