‘Rent’ Star Brings Stage Version of Memoir to City Theatre

By Alice T Carter

For Anthony Rapp, the events surrounding “Rent” were the best of times, the worst of times and, most of all, an intense time.

Rapp originated the role of Mark Cohen when what was to become a surprise blockbuster musical made its debut off-Broadway in February 1996. It’s a role he stayed with when it swiftly moved to Broadway in April 1996 and later to film in 2005.

Even as they were rehearsing it, the cast had optimistic, but modest, hopes for the show, Rapp says. They thought it might get a long run off-Broadway.

What they weren’t prepared for, Rapp says, was the overwhelming reception it received — glowing, enthusiastic reviews from mainstream critics, the speedy transfer to a Broadway theater, several armfuls of Obie and Tony Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for best play and an appearance on the cover of Newsweek magazine.

But alongside the exhilaration of success, Rapp was dealing with personal pain.

On the night of its dress rehearsal, “Rent” creator Jonathan Larson had died unexpectedly of an aneurysm, 10 days before his 36th birthday.

Rapp’s beloved mother was coping with a recurrence of the cancer they thought she had beaten, and died while he was performing on Broadway.

Encouraged by Rob Weisbach, who had published the coffee-table book “Rent,” Rapp poured the tale of his emotional journey with death, loss and grief into a book about his experiences: “Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss and the Musical ‘Rent’,” which was published in 2006.

Tonight, his story moves to its next level when Rapp and a four- piece rock band begin the world-premiere performances of “Without You” on the mainstage at City Theatre.

The performance interweaves musical excerpts from the “Rent” score with some of Rapp’s original songs as he relives a pivotal and tumultuous year of his life.

Rapp’s musical memoir shares the joys and sorrows of his emotional ride from his audition for “Rent” through rehearsals and the tribute performance the cast dedicated to Larson the night after he died.

He also reveals his more private struggle as his mother’s cancer emerges and evolves.

Rapp expects his musical will attract “Rent” fans and those who have read “Without You.” He also hopes it will be attended by young people who are dealing with the death of friends or family in their own lives.

For Rapp, it’s a return to a theater space that he now considers a home. It has proved a supportive environment for him to polish and perfect his musical.

He first appeared on the City Theatre mainstage in 2003 in another rock-infused musical — “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” A year later, he returned as an actor in “Gompers,” which was written by his brother, Adam Rapp.

Anthony Rapp had long been friends with City Theatre artistic director Tracy Brigden, and while he was appearing in “Hedwig,” she had told him that if he ever wrote something, she would like to take a look at it.

Rapp says the September performance slot was a convenient time before he begins preparations for his appearance in the national farewell tour of “Rent,” which begins in Cleveland in January. Area theatergoers can see Rapp reprise his role as Mark Cohen when it plays the Benedum Center April 14-19, 2009.

Broadway run ending

After more than a dozen years on Broadway, “Rent” plays its final performance Sept. 7 at the Nederlander Theatre, where it has been playing since April 16, 1996.

It’s likely to be an emotional evening.

Those unable to be in attendance might still be able to see what it was like.

According to information on the official “Rent” Web site, a total of nine cameras will record the show’s final performance.

A composite of the best performances from that evening and the Aug. 20 Broadway performance will be packaged for broadcast in movie theaters around the country in late September.

Sony Pictures Releasing plans to offer evening screenings on Sept. 24 and 25 and afternoon screenings on Sept. 27 and 28.

Called The Hot Ticket, this new business venture of Sony Pictures Releasing plans to distribute event programming such as music concerts and performing arts and sporting events in high-definition digital projection to select movie theaters nationwide.

Specific times and locations were not yet available. But potential ticket buyers can sign up for notifications and updates online.

(c) 2008 Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.