Anthony Rapp News

It's been said that an artist's primary goal is to create something unique and specific that is at the same time universally identifiable. As a performer, Anthony Rapp has been doing just that since the age of 9, most notably as Mark Cohen in the hit musical "Rent". Now, Rapp has added author to his list of artistic credits and the results are simultaneously unique and universal.

The board of directors of the Louisa Arts Center (LAC) announced the appointment of Michael Bollinger as their new Executive Director.

The board of directors of the Louisa Arts Center (LAC) announced the appointment of Michael Bollinger as their new Executive Director.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Suffolk University present the world premiere of Suffolk University's Distinguished Scholar in Residence Robert Brustein's The Last Will, the final installment of Brustein's trilogy about the life of William Shakespeare. Performance dates are February 13-24, 2013.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has today unveiled plans to hold an event in New York City for artists and performing companies who might be interested in bringing their work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland's capital city.

Pasadena's Stage Door Inc. is greeting 2013 with the 1996 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Jonathan Larson's renown musical RENT. RENT, inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème, tells the story of a handful of New York City's East Village artists and their struggles with life, love, AIDS, and addiction.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has today unveiled plans to hold an event in New York City for artists and performing companies who might be interested in bringing their work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland's capital city.

In this week's edition of 'Around BWW: Regional Highlights of the Week', we take you around the country - and beyond - with the most-read theater stories for the week of December 17! Scroll below to see what made news in your area!

Anthony Rapp brings his one man show 'Without You' to Toronto this holiday season as the second offering in the inaugural off-Mirvish season. A heart-wrenching examination of life and loss, the show proudly proclaims RENT's central message of 'No Day But Today' and helps teach its audience how to live through grief and embrace love.

Anthony Rapp originated the role of Mark Cohen in the hit musical RENT, and has embraced the message behind the show and turned it into a best-selling memoir entitled Without You: A Tale of Love, Loss and the Musical RENT. He now brings the material from that book to the stage in a poignant production that examines the death of his mother as well as good friend Jonathan Larson and uses music to explain how he dealt with those losses. Fresh off a critically acclaimed run in London, Rapp brings his show to Toronto for the holiday season. He spoke with BWW about how the losses he's experienced have shaped his life, the memories he has of Toronto and why he think 'Original Cast Member of RENT' will likely always be the lead line in his obituary.

In 1994 Anthony Rapp was working at a Starbucks and about to audition for Rent a new musical by a young guy named Jonathan Larson. An inspiring story about friends and artists struggling in New York's Lower East Side, it was based loosely on Puccini's La Bohème. Anthony got the part, but Jonathan died suddenly the night before the musical's off-Broadway premiere.

Today we are talking to one of Broadway's most remarkable breakout stars to have crossed over into Hollywood with an impressive film career following his superlative work in the Mike Nichols-directed HBO production of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning ANGELS IN AMERICA in 2002, the affable and incredibly talented Patrick Wilson. While looking ahead to Monday's BROADWAY BLOWS BACK benefit concert in aid of Hurricane Sandy relief, Wilson and I take a look back at his career onstage and onscreen thus far, with an emphasis on the diverse range and commendable dedication to character he has displayed since his memorable first starring roles on Broadway - from BRIGHT LIGHTS< BIG CITY to OKLAHOMA! to THE FULL MONTY, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK and ALL MY SONS onstage to his aforementioned Joe Pitt in ANGELS to roles in HARD CANDY with Ellen Page, LITTLE CHILDREN with Kate Winslet, WATCHMEN with fellow recent InDepth InterView participant Carla Gugino to last year's YOUNG ADULT and this year's PROMETHEUS, Wilson can clearly do it all. Additionally, Wilson reflects on his work with Andrew Lloyd Webber on THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA as well as shares thoughts on other roles he would enjoy playing someday (Joe Gillis in SUNSET BOULEVARD perhaps?) and shares stories from the set of GLEE and AMERICAN HORROR STORY creator Ryan Murphy's first feature film, RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. Plus, thoughts on how Broadway has changed thus far in the new century, immediate plans for the future and much, much more!

In 1994 Anthony Rapp was working at a Starbucks and about to audition for Rent a new musical by a young guy named Jonathan Larson. An inspiring story about friends and artists struggling in New York's Lower East Side, it was based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme. Anthony got the part, but Jonathan died suddenly the night before the musical's off-Broadway premiere.

Casting is complete for the world premiere of Amandine, the new musical from writer Winter Miller, 13P founding member who penned In Darfur (The Public Theater), among other acclaimed plays; Emmy Award-winning composer Lance Horne, who is known for his own work and collaborations with Alan Cumming, Amanda Palmer, Meow Meow, Sandra Bernhard and Justin Vivian Bond; and Drama Desk Award-winning director Josh Hecht (Christine Jorgensen Reveals). The production will run January 9-26, 2013 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) main stage. Critics are welcome as of January 13 for an official opening on January 16.

Tonight, December 3rd, 2012 at 7pm, Anthony Rapp (RENT) and Austin Peck (One Life to Live) will lead a staged reading of 'Deleted Scenes' at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 W 42nd Street. The reading marks the launch of Believe Limited's theatrical division. Believe Limited's founder, Ryan Gielen will direct the theatrical adaptation of his award winning film. The evening is presented in partnership with James Kautz (The Amoralists, Artistic Director) and 57th & Irving Productions.

On December 3rd, 2012 at 7pm, Anthony Rapp (RENT) and Austin Peck (One Life to Live) will lead a staged reading of 'Deleted Scenes' at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 W 42nd Street. The reading marks the launch of Believe Limited's theatrical division. Believe Limited's founder, Ryan Gielen will direct the theatrical adaptation of his award winning film. The evening is presented in partnership with James Kautz (The Amoralists, Artistic Director) and 57th & Irving Productions.

Tonight, November 19, 2012, join The Trevor Project's Trevor NextGen in celebrating the third annual Fall Fete supporting the organization's life-saving work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Hundreds of young professionals are expected to attend this exciting event at the Angel Orensanz Center (172 Norfolk St.) in New York City. The event will be emceed by Avenue Q's John Tartaglia and include a special performance by RENT's Anthony Rapp.

On Monday, November 19, 2012, join The Trevor Project's Trevor NextGen in celebrating the third annual Fall Fete supporting the organization's life-saving work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Hundreds of young professionals are expected to attend this exciting event at the Angel Orensanz Center (172 Norfolk St.) in New York City. The event will be emceed by Avenue Q's John Tartaglia and include a special performance by RENT's Anthony Rapp.

Jack Gindi's new play, Best Friends, will have a staged reading at 2:00pm on Friday, November 16th at Theatre 54 inside Shetler Studios. David Glenn Armstrong directs this four-person contemporary comedy/drama which stars Josh Adam Davis, Sarah Nedwek, Graham Powell, and Leah Wagner.

Last night, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) Ninth Season Gala honored Kelli O'Hara for her contributions to musical theatre at the Hudson Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and we bring you full coverage below!