The Broadway producers of Rent, Jeffery Seller, Kevin McCollum and Allan S. Gordon have teamed up with Toronto's Mirvish Productions to produce the first international performances of Rent.

Currently on Broadway, and soon to be opening in Boston, the Toronto show will open in November '97 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre for a 20-week run, and then move on to Vancouver B.C.

The Toronto production will be directed by Broadway director Michael Greif.

"Toronto is a hig, cosmopolitan city," co-producer Gordon said. "This city also has a large talent poolfrom which we hope to assemble a Canadian cast. We will begin the casting search immediately, and will be holding open audition calls in January '97, during which we hope to discover new talent as well."

Gordon said the producers plan for a 100 percent Canadian cast for the Canadian production. Following the pattern on Broadway, $20 tickets will be available for same-day performances of Rent.. Mirvish Productions has set aside the first two rows in the orchestra section for each performance for the early birds, as on Broadway.

-- Ray Ellicock
Theatre News Canada