RIALTO CHATTER: Justin Timberlake in Talks to Play 'Roger' in RENT at Hollywood Bowl?

BroadwayWorld.com's West Coast Scoopers are telling us this morning that the buzz from the auditions for RENT at the Hollywood Bowl are saying that none other than pop-star and actor Justin Timberlake is director Neil Patrick Harris' top choice to play 'Roger' in the 3 night production.

The rumors aren't totally out of the realm of possiblity as Timberlake is said to have enjoyed all three nights of girlfriend Jessica Biel's performance in GUYS & DOLLS at the Hollywood Bowl last summer.

Justin Timberlake is a Pop-R&B singer/songwriter/producer, actor and entrepreneur. He has become an accomplished artist who is now widely-considered one of pop culture's most influential entertainers. Timberlake came to fame as a member of the pop group, *NSYNC, and, through a successful solo career, has gone on to win six Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and dozens of accolades from around the world.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, a production of Jonathan Larson's Tony-winning RENT is set to run three performances at the Hollywood Bowl from August 6 through August 8, 2010.

Directing the production will be none other than RENT alumnus and star of stage and screen, Neil Patrick Harris. Harris himself starred in RENT, playing Mark Cohen for the Los Angeles production / 2nd National Tour of the musical. His performance in RENT earned him a Drama League Award in 1997.

This will mark Patrick Harris' directorial debut of a musical. Tim Weil, the original Musical Supervisor and Conductor for Rent on Broadway, and Musical Supervisor for the 2009 US Tour of Rent, is confirmed as Musical Director of the Hollywood Bowl's fully staged production. Weil also served as Musical Director for Shrek The Musical on Broadway, which received 8 Tony Award nominations.

A television staple since his Golden Globe-nominated role in "Doogie Howser, M.D.," Neil Patrick Harris has since established himself in all mediums. He currently stars on the hit CBS comedy, "How I Met Your Mother". Named one of the "2008 Entertainers of the Year" by Entertainment Weekly, Harris served as host of the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards and the 63rd Annual Tony Awards.

In the theater, he most recently starred in Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" at the Geffen Playhouse. Other recent theater credits include star-turns in the London musical production of Jonathan Larson's "Tick, Tick...Boom," the Tony Award-winning musical "Assassins," "Cabaret" and "Proof."

Additional television credits include the series "Stark Raving Mad," "Will & Grace," "NUMB3RS," the mini-series "Joan of Arc," both on CBS, and the CBS television movie "The Christmas Blessing."

The Hollywood Bowl has been the scene of some of the most memorable musical moments in Lost Angeles history for over 70 years.  The Bowl plays host to all genres of music including symphonies, opera, jazz, ballet, rock concerts, musicals, and has even been the venue of choice for Presidential addresses.  In 2008 LIS MISERABLES IN CONCERT debuted and sold out at the Hollywood Bowl in a unique production featuring an all-star cast, and this past August GUYS AND DOLLS IN CONCERT was featured at the Bowl. Visit www.hollywoodbowl.com or call 323-850-2000 for ticket information and to purchase. Subscriptions are currently available.  Single tickets go on sale May 2, 2010 through ticketmaster.

RENT is the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history, running 12 years. Set in NYC's East Village, RENT is a modern take on the classic Puccini opera, La Boheme. It tells the unforgettable story of a group of young artists learning to survive, falling in love, finding their voices and living for today. In 2005, RENT was adapted into a motion picture that features most of the original cast members from the Broadway production. Two original cast members, Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, returned to RENT to close the show on Broadway in 2008 and went on tour with RENT in 39 cities. The tour is scheduled to close February 7 playing it's final performance in Sacramento.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.