PhotosLooking Back at Rent on BroadwayJonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical, directed by Michael Greif, opened at the Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996.
By
Matthew Blank
April 29, 2019
Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent opened on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre April 29, 1996. The production, directed by Michael Greif, played over 5,000 performances, running for 12 years before closing on September 7, 2008. The production would go on to be nominated for 10 Tony Awards, earning five wins including Best Musical.
The production featured choreography by Marlies Yearby, scenic design by Paul Clay, costume design by Angela Wendt, lighting design by Blake Burba, and sound design by Kurt Fischer.
The musical was later turned into a film in 2005, reuniting many of the original cast members including Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Idina Menzel, and more.
The musical returned to the screen again in 2019 with Fox's Rent live. The telecast, directed by Greif, starred Jordan Fisher as Mark, Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen, Brennin Hunt as Roger, Tinashe as Mimi, Valentina as Angel, Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins, Kiersey Clemons as Joanne, and Mario as Benny.
Everything was Rent 20 years ago, when the show opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre April 29, 1996. The cast takes us back to what life was like then.
This year’s Marfan Foundation Gala honored Jonathan Larson and featured performances by cast members of the many productions of Rent from over the years.
From accounts of auditions thought to have gone wrong to a surprise FaceTime with an original cast member, these 90 minutes were everything we could ask for and more.
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