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Rent 1996

Opened: April 29, 1996
Closing: September 07, 2008

Rent - 1996 Broadway History , Info & More

Rent is a powerful and poignant musical that follows the lives of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to make ends meet in New York City's Alphabet City in the late 1980s. The shadow of HIV/AIDS hangs heavy over their lives, adding a layer of urgency and heartbreak to their struggles.



The story centers around Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, who documents the lives of his friends Roger, a talented but self-destructive musician grappling with AIDS, Mimi, a fragile and drug-addicted dancer who falls in love with Roger, Collins, a philosophical philosophy professor, and Angel, a drag queen with a heart of gold.



The musical explores themes of love, loss, friendship, addiction, and the search for meaning in a world facing a devastating health crisis. Rent's powerful music, a blend of rock and pop, and its honest portrayal of these characters' struggles resonated deeply with audiences, making it a cultural phenomenon. It became a touchstone for a generation grappling with issues of identity, sexuality, and loss.


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Cole Escola's OH, MARY! to be Presented at the Lucille Lortel Theatre This January
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 7, 2023


A limited Off-Broadway engagement will be presented of Oh, Mary!, a new and ridiculous comedy written by and starring Cole Escola (in their Off Broadway debut), the award-winning, viral writer and comedian known for “Search Party,” “The Other Two,” and more.

Video: Anthony Rapp on Stage and Screen
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 25, 2023


Broadway favorite Anthony Rapp is officially back on the NYC stage! Without You, written and performed by Rapp, directed by Steven Maler with musical direction by Daniel A. Weiss opens tonight, January 25, 2023 at New World Stages. Need a refresher on Anthony Rapp's epic career on and offstage? Check out video highlights of his career so far!

How Many Musicals Have Won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama? See the List Here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 30, 2022


Michael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop, the most recent musical to take home the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, has just opened on Broadway! Only 10 musicals in history have been honored with the coveted award and we've got the full list.

Theater Stories: RENT, PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY and More About The Nederlander Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 27, 2020


This week's Theater Stories features the Nederlander Theatre! Learn about the theatre's longest-running show - Rent; recent shows to have been performed at the theatre, including War Paint, and Pretty Woman, plus much more!

BWW Flashback: Do You Know the the 10 Pulitzer-Winning Musicals?
by Nicole Rosky - May 9, 2020


Earlier this week, Michael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop made history as one of only ten musicals to earn the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in the 104 year history of the prizes.

The 101 Greatest Musical Theatre Characters (1940-2020)
by Peter Nason - Apr 30, 2020


BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best musical theatre characters from 1940-2020; see if your favorites are on our list of the best characters from Broadway musicals.

PAWS/LA Will Present a One Night Only Benefit Event BARRETT FOA HAS FRIENDS!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 21, 2020


PAWS/LA, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit agency serving people and pets in need, will present a one night only benefit event - Barrett Foa Has Friends! - on Monday, February 24, at 8pm. This very special evening of cabaret at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood will feature performances by Foa and some of his most talented friends, including Broadway favorites Alex Ellis, Carly Hughes, Chris Mann, and Adam Pascal. Also, music group The Levenbirds have been set to make a special appearance. Musical director is Doug Peck, Andrew Carlberg is producer, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the presenting sponsor.

BARRETT FOA HAS FRIENDS! Comes To Catalina Jazz Club In Hollywood
by Stephi Wild - Feb 8, 2020


PAWS/LA, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit agency serving people and pets in need, has announced a one night only benefit event a?" Barrett Foa Has Friends! a?" on Monday, February 24, at 8pm. This very special evening of cabaret at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood will feature performances by Foa and some of his most talented friends, including Broadway favorites Laura Bell Bundy, Alex Ellis, Carly Hughes, Chris Mann, and Adam Pascal, with more to be announced. Musical director is Doug Peck, Andrew Carlberg is producer, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the presenting sponsor.

Adam Pascal Brings SO FAR to Hollywood, Palm Springs, and San Diego
by Stephi Wild - Jul 16, 2019


Tony Award nominee and original Rent star Adam Pascal is set to bring his new show "So Far…" to The Purple Room in Palm Springs (September 7), Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood (September 11), and Martinis Above Fourth in San Diego (September 12), it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents.

Photo Flash: Anthony Rapp & Adam Pascal Bring ACOUSTICALLY SPEAKING To Catalina Bar & Grill
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 19, 2019


Chris Isaacson Presents presented Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp: Acoustically Speaking at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood. Acoustically Speaking features two Broadway favorites and original stars of Rent coming together to celebrate music, memories, and their 20-year friendship.

Theatre And Dance At Wayne State University Honors Jeffrey Seller With 2019 Apple Award At HAMILTON
by Stephi Wild - Mar 25, 2019


The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, a program within the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University, is thrilled to honor Michigan native and Tony Award-winning producer of 'Hamilton,' Jeffrey Seller, with the 2019 Apple Award on Wednesday, March 27 at the Fisher Theatre. A private, pre-show reception with Mr. Seller will be held at the Fisher Theatre before guests attend 'Hamilton' that evening at 8 p.m.

Adam Pascal & Anthony Rapp Return To Catalina Bar & Grill
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 8, 2019


Chris Isaacson Presents has announced the return of Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp: Acoustically Speaking for two shows only on Monday, April 15, and Tuesday, April 16, at 8:30pm at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood. Acoustically Speaking features two Broadway favorites and original stars of Rent coming together to celebrate music, memories, and their 20-year friendship.

Photo Flashback: Inside the Legacy Robe Ceremony For RENT in 1996
by Walter McBride - Jan 26, 2019


Everything is Rent these days as the world gears up for Rent, live on Fox, tomorrow night. Today, we're taking you back into our archives with this photo from the original production of Rent in 1996

Carrying the Torch: How TORCH SONG Set Broadway on Fire and Ushered In A New Era of LGBTQ Representation on the Great White Way
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 2, 2018


This season, Harvey Fierstein's seminal Broadway classic, Torch Song has made its way back to Broadway 36 years after its original run, in a brand-new production.

BWW's Theatre Industry Podcast 'The OHenry Report' Examines the Mechanics of Closing (and Unclosing) a Broadway Show with Daniel Kuney, Kevin McCollum
by OHenry Report - Oct 16, 2018


On this Seas 2 premiere episode of BroadwayWorld's theatre business podcast, 'The OHenry Report,' Broadway producer and investor Oliver Henry Roth goes inside the mechanics of closing a Broadway show with veteran theatrical general manager, Daniel Kuney. The Oliver chats with four-time Tony-winning producer Kevin McCollum about how the decision to close a show works on his level, but also what goes into the decision to reverse course and push back an announced closing date, as he did with Broadway's 'The Play that Goes Wrong.'

TONY FEVER 2018! Parte 1: I protagonisti-non-protagonisti. “Miglior performance di un attore e di un'attrice non protagonista”
by Sara Altea Balestra - May 6, 2018


Manca poco al giorno piu atteso dalla comunita teatrale newyorkese (e non solo). Il 10 giugno al Radio City Music Hall di New York si svolgera la 72esima edizione dei Tony Awards, che quest'anno vedra sul palco in veste di presentatori Sara Bareilles e Josh Groban. Il primo maggio, in diretta streaming, Katharine McPhee e Leslie Odom Jr. hanno annunciato i nomi dei concorrenti in gara. Da subito e sembrato chiaro come questa edizione dell'importante premio del musical americano sia segnata da tre grandi titoli: 'Mean Girls', 'SpongeBob SquarePants' e 'The Band's Visit'.

Exclusive Podcast: LITTLE KNOWN FACTS with Ilana Levine- featuring Producer Kevin McCollum
by Little Known Facts w/ Ilana Levine - Apr 9, 2018


BroadwayWorld has teamed up with Broadway alum Ilana Levine, who makes her entrance onto the podcast stage with her new show Little Known Facts. Ilana's unique brand of celebrity interview, 'Podcast Verite,' is unfiltered, raw, honest and uniquely funny.

Today in 1996: Idina Menzel Shares Flashback Video to RENT Opening
by Julie Musbach - Apr 29, 2017


Idina Menzel took to Facebook to post a video flashback all the way to 1996. The video centers around opening night of Jonathan Larson's RENT, famous for kicking off the careers of nearly the full company. Backstage in her dressing room, Menzel talks about her career up to that point, and the wedding and club singing she did to get her name and voice out there. Check out the video!

Andrew Lippa, Jonah Broscow to Star in THE MAN IN THE CEILING at Bay Street Theater; Cast, Creatives Set!
by BWW News Desk - Mar 31, 2017


Bay Street Theater has announced the full creative team and members of the cast of THE MAN IN THE CEILING, with book by Jules Feiffer, music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, and directed by Jeffrey Seller, producer of Hamilton.

Broadway's THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG Starts Previews Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Mar 9, 2017


The Lyceum Theatre welcomes the Broadway debut of the Mischief Theatre production of The Play That Goes Wrong, the Olivier Award-winning West End hit comedy, starting tonight, March 9, for an official opening on April 2, 2017.

Broadway's THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG Working Out the Kinks in Rehearsals
by BWW News Desk - Mar 3, 2017


Broadway rehearsals are underway at The Lyceum Theatre for the Broadway debut of the Mischief Theatre production of The Play That Goes Wrong, the Olivier Award winning West End hit comedy.

Andrew Lippa's New Musical THE MAN IN THE CEILING, John Doyle-Helmed AS YOU LIKE IT and More Slated for Bay Street Theater's 2017 Season
by BWW News Desk - Nov 7, 2016


Bay Street Theater has announced the three productions planned for the 2017 Mainstage Summer Season.

Photo Coverage: West Coast Debut Of ADAM PASCAL AND ANTHONY RAPP: ACOUSTICALLY SPEAKING
by Lily Lim - Oct 26, 2016


Chris Isaacson Presents has announced the West Coast debut of Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp: Acoustically Speaking ? Celebrating 20 Years of Friendship for two shows only on Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday, October 26 at 8:30pm at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood. Acoustically Speaking is a new show featuring two Broadway favorites coming together to celebrate music, memories, and their 20-year friendship.

HAMILTON's Thomas Kail and Jeffrey Seller Set for Panel Today at EXPO CHICAGO
by BWW News Desk - Sep 24, 2016


EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, and Project& present 'An Open Conversation: Social Aesthetics Broadway, Culture and Social Impact' with creative team members of the Broadway musical Hamilton.

HAMILTON's Thomas Kail and Jeffrey Seller Set for Panel at EXPO CHICAGO
by BWW News Desk - Sep 13, 2016


EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, and Project& present "An Open Conversation: Social Aesthetics Broadway, Culture and Social Impact" with creative team members of the Broadway musical Hamilton.

Rent History

Other Productions of Rent

1996   Off-Broadway Original Off-Broadway Production
Off-Broadway
1996   Broadway Broadway Transfer
Broadway
1997   US Tour US National Tour (Benny Tour)
US Tour
1998   West End London Production
West End
2002   West End Return Engagement [West End]
West End
2005   US Tour NETWorks Tour
US Tour
2006   Broadway Reunion Concert
Broadway
2007   West End Revised London Production
West End
2009   US Tour The Broadway Tour [National Tour]
US Tour
2011   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Revival
Off-Broadway
2016   US Tour Non-Equity 20th Anniversary National Tour
US Tour
2016   West End West End Revival
West End
2019   Broadway FOX Live Televised Production
Broadway

Rent - 1996 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
1996 Theatre World Awards Performance Adam Pascal
1996 Theatre World Awards Performance Daphne Rubin-Vega

Videos