The musical by late lyricist-librettist-composer Jonathan Larson is the eighth longest running show in Broadway history with 3,749 performances (as of April 29, 2005). The cast will celebrate at a private party after the show Friday night.

Inspired by the opera La Bohème, the rock musical Rent tells the story of artists and outsiders bonding, breaking up and bonding again over a year's time, in the grungy East Village of Manhattan.

Scenes for the feature film version of the stage hit were shot in New York City earlier this year, and shooting continues in San Francisco through June for a late 2005 release. The film will likely spark renewed interest in the stage show, which did healthy business even in the cold days of February this year. During two weeks of that month, capacity ranged between 80-90 percent.

The current Broadway cast of Rent is Karmine Alers, Mayumi Ando, Matt Caplan, Merle Dandridge, Frenchie Davis, D'Monroe, Marcus Paul James, Justin Johnston, Kelly Karbacz, Joshua Kobak, Destan Owens, Caren Lyn Manuel, Enrico Rodriguez, Nick Sanchez and Cary Shields.

Rent plays at the Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM, and Sunday at 3 PM & 7 PM. Tickets, priced $45-$95, can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at (212) 307-4100. A limited number of $20 tickets are available day of performance at the box office.

*

Rent has been seen in Equity and non-Equity tours and in London's West End.