Official 'RENT' Website Launches Interactive 'Project Angel'

SiteForRent.com, the official website for the national tour of Rent, has launched PROJECT: ANGEL, an interactive microsite that encourages fans to participate in a number of online promotions via the popular social network Facebook. Fans are given the opportunity to win special prizes, including autographed memorabilia signed by original Broadway cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who are reprising their roles as Roger Davis and Mark Cohen, respectively, in Rent, The Broadway Tour.

Upon the launch of PROJECT: ANGEL on Thursday, January 29, 2009, the Facebook page for Rent saw an increase of more than 2,500 fans during the first few days.

PROJECT: ANGEL can be found by visiting www.siteforrent.com/projectangel.htm. The cast members are also joining in on this viral outreach, including actor Justin Johnston, who plays Angel in the current tour. Johnston says hello to fans on SiteForRent.com. Immediately following Johnston's video greeting, original Broadway cast member and Newark native Gwen Stewart gives a "shout-out" to NJPAC.

In addition to being named after one of Rent's beloved characters, PROJECT: ANGEL draws inspiration from composer Jonathan Larson's lyrics and song titles that avid RENT fans will instantly recognize. For example, The "Today 4 U" 24-Hour Facebook Status Contest will take place on February 3, 2009, one week prior to the first Rent performance at NJPAC. Within a 24-hour timeframe, fans will spread the word about PROJECT: ANGEL using their Facebook status.

Rent will play a strictly limited engagement at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ, February 10-15, 2009. PROJECT: ANGEL will culminate in an "honorarium" on February 10, 2009, the first performance of Rent at NJPAC. In an homage to Collins' honorarium in the finale of Rent, two lucky fans will be chosen to receive a special prize package as outlined on the PROJECT: ANGEL microsite.

Tickets to Rent at NJPAC are priced $23-$80 and can be purchased by visiting www.njpac.org or by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC.

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.

For more information, including the complete schedule for Rent, The Broadway Tour, visit www.siteforrent.com.

Photo by Joan Marcus