Anthony Rapp's WITHOUT YOU Begins Tonight, August 29, at Menier Chocolate Factory

Following its European Premiere at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Without You, written and performed by Rent star Anthony Rapp, now transfers to the Menier Chocolate Factory, London from tonight, 29th August – 15th September 2012. Press Night Wednesday 5th September.

Without You begins in 1994 with Anthony Rapp working at a Starbucks and about to audition for Rent, the new musical by a young Jonathan Larson. An inspiring story about friends and artists struggling in New York's Lower East Side, it was based loosely on Puccini's La Bohème. Anthony got the part, but Jonathan died suddenly the night before Rent's off-Broadway premiere.

Rapp shares his experience of being a part of Rent – his audition, the casting process, rehearsals and his view from the stage during the tribute performance on the night after Jonathan's tragic death. Without You also details Anthony's achingly beautiful relationship with his mother during this turbulent time. Based on his New York Times best-selling memoir, Anthony Rapp, backed by a five-piece rock band uses a mix of original music and songs by Larson and R.E.M. in a stunning one-man show about grief, hope and triumph.

Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking musical went on to be a Tony and Pulitzer Prize Award winner after it opened in New York in 1996. The Broadway production closed in 2008 after a 12-year run, making it the ninth-longest-running Broadway show at the time.

"an electrifying, emotive performance…these renditions of the likes of 'La Vie Boheme' and 'Seasons of Love' are as moving and muscular musical theatre performances as you'll see on any stage this year." Andrzej Lukowski, Time Out

Anthony Rapp has been acting and singing professionally since he was nine years old. He is best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen Rent, for which he shared an OBIE Award with the rest of the cast. He reprised his role in Chris Columbus' film version opposite other members of the original cast.

His Broadway credits include the revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation. His Broadway debut was in Precious Sons with Judith Ivey and Ed Harris, for which he received an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Drama Desk nomination. Film credits include Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Six Degrees of Separation, Man of the Century, David Searching, Road Trip and A Beautiful Mind (SAG Award nomination for ensemble). He has also appeared in Winter Passing, a film written and directed by his brother, Adam Rapp. On television, Rapp has appeared in "The Lazarus Man," "The X-Files," "The Beach Boys: An American Family," "Kidnapped" and "Law & Order: SVU." In 2000, he released his debut album, Look Around.

Direction is by Steve Maler; set design by David Korins; lighting design by Justin Townsend; sound design by Gareth Owen. Musical Direction is by Dan Weiss with additional arrangements by Tom Kitt.