Pascal And Rapp Led RENT: The Broadway Tour To Extend Into 2010

Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp will continue to reprise the roles they originated on Broadway in RENT: The Broadway Tour when it extends its run into 2010.

The touring production of RENT was originally scheduled to wrap up this month, August 2009, where it is currently playing in Japan, but according to reports and star Rapp himself, it has been extended through January 2010.

Anthony Rapp discussed the tour and his role as "Mark" in Schenectady's Daily Gazette:

"I have to say it's been going very, very well," he said. "I think I settled back into the character in a nice way. I guess I had to work harder when I was younger because it didn't seem to be that much like work this time. It is hard work, but this character is in my bones. He came back to me very easily." To read the full article click here.

The extended tour schedule is as follows:

Sep 8, 2009
Sep 20, 2009 Seoul, South Korea KBS Performing Hall

Oct 6, 2009
Oct 18, 2009 San Francisco, CA Curran Theatre

Oct 20, 2009
Oct 25, 2009 Costa Mesa, CA Orange County Performing Arts Center

Oct 28, 2009
Nov 1, 2009 Cincinnati, OH Aronoff Center for the Arts

Nov 3, 2009
Nov 8, 2009 Appleton, WI Fox Cities Performing Arts Center

Nov 10, 2009
Nov 15, 2009 Des Moines, IA Civic Center of Greater Des Moines

Nov 17, 2009
Nov 22, 2009 Providence, RI Providence Performing Arts Center

Dec 1, 2009
Dec 6, 2009 Orlando, FL Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre

Dec 8, 2009
Dec 13, 2009 Miami, FL The Fillmore Miami Beach

Jan 19, 2010
Jan 24, 2010 Toronto, Canada The Canon Theatre

Jan 26, 2010
Jan 31, 2010 Madison, WI Overture Center

Joining Pascal and Rapp who reprised their award-winning roles, on this most recent tour were Gwen Stewart, 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 was rounded out by Karmine Alers, Toby Blackwell, Adam Halpin, Trisha Jeffrey, Joshua Kobak, Telly Leung, Jed Resnick, Andy Señor, Caren Tackett, Yuka Takara and John Watson. Casting for the fall has not been officially announced but several current cast members are expected to continue with the production.

Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp originated the roles of Roger Davis and Mark Cohen, respectively, at New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway. RENT played its last performance on Broadway on Sept. 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.

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 about RENT, please visit www.siteforrent.com.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi