THEATRE + COMEDY

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) will host the National Tour of Rent at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, April 29-May 3, 2009, for just five days. Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon, the producers of the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical RENT, have announced that original Broadway cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp will reprise the roles they made famous on stage and in the film adaptation.

Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp originated the roles of Roger Davis and Mark Cohen at the New York Theatre Workshop, on Broadway, and in London, and recreated their roles in the 2005 movie version of the musical. Pascal and Rapp returned to RENT on Broadway for a limited engagement in the summer of 2007.

“Adam and Anthony didn’t just play Roger and Mark. To millions of RENT fans they are Roger and Mark. Adam and Anthony are to RENT what Joel Grey was to Cabaret and Zero Mostel was to Fiddler on the Roof. It’s a great time to offer fans all over America the unique chance to see them in their signature roles,” said Jeffrey Seller.

Adam Pascal received Obie and Theatre World awards and a Tony nomination for best actor for his performance as Roger in the original cast of 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. Off-Broadway he co-produced the hit play Fully Committed. His film credits include RENT, School of Rock, SLC Punk!, Temptation, and Goyband. Mr. Pascal recently guest-starred on the hit television series “Cold Case.” His recordings include Model Prisoner (2000) and Civilian (2004).

An actor since the age of six, Anthony Rapp has appeared on Broadway in RENT, 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, Scaring the Fish and RENT. Television credits include “The X-Files,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and “Kidnapped.” 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. Besides acting and writing, he also creates music with his band Albinokid, (having released a solo CD, Look Around, in 2000), and speaks regularly at colleges and universities.

Tours of RENT have crisscrossed North America almost continuously since late 1996 grossing 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.

Written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, RENT, 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 is the seventh longest running show in Broadway history. Theatre Under The Stars is proud to have been an early financial investor in RENT and looks forward to bringing the show back to Houston audiences! 

Attention Parents & Educators: RENT is recommended for children ages 12 and up.

SPECIAL TICKET OFFER:  32 seats in the front two rows of the orchestra will be made available for purchase by lottery for $20.00 at every performance of Rent, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony® Award-winning musical, with Theatre Under The Stars at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Opportunity to purchase the $20 tickets will be assigned by lottery and announced 90 minutes prior to curtain. To participate, patrons must register for the lottery at the box office, and be present at the time of the drawing. Each lottery winner will be allowed to purchase a maximum of two $20 tickets and will be required to pay in cash only, at the time of the announcement. Registration for each show will begin the morning of the performance when the box office opens, Wednesday through Friday at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday performances.

"In keeping with the spirit of the show and the vision of Jonathan Larson (the show's creator) we are happy to be able to offer prime seats to people who otherwise would not be able to purchase them," explained original Rent producer Kevin McCollum. "Jonathan was himself a struggling artist and his dream was to create a universal piece of musical theatre that's available to everyone."

The tradition of the $20 tickets was started in New York when the show moved to Broadway after a sold-out run in a small downtown theatre. Since that time people have lined up as early as the night before to guarantee their purchase of the $20 tickets. In Houston, the lines will be avoided with the implementation of the lottery system; only the lottery winners will have the option to purchase the $20 tickets. The producers of the show are committed to continuing the tradition of offering orchestra seats for $20 in each city the show will play.

Rent makes its Houston return with Theatre Under The Stars at the The Hobby Center for Performing Arts on April 29 - May 3, 2009, for five days only. The $20 tickets are available at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts box office, 800 Bagby, Houston, TX 77002, only. For general ticket information call 713-558-8887.