Mark Cohen News

Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Gwen Stewart reprise the roles they originated on Broadway in Rent, The Broadway Tour. Joining Pascal and Rapp who reprise their award-winning roles, and Stewart, are Nicolette Hart (Maureen Johnson), Justin Johnston (Angel Schunard), Lexi Lawson (Mimi Marquez), Michael McElroy (Tom Collins), Jacques C. Smith (Benjamin Coffin III), and Haneefah Wood (Joanne Jefferson). The ensemble is rounded out by Karmine Alers, Toby Blackwell, Adam Halpin, Trisha Jeffrey, Telly Leung, Caren Lyn Manuel, Cary Shields, Jed Resnick, Andy Senor, Yuka Takara, and John Watson.

Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Gwen Stewart reprise the roles they originated on Broadway in Rent, The Broadway Tour, coming to Detroit for a limited one-week engagement with performances at the Detroit Opera House February 17-22, 2009. Tickets are available for purchase at the Fisher Theatre box office, the Detroit Opera House box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at1-800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.broadwayindetroit.com. Joining Pascal and Rapp who reprise their award-winning roles, and Stewart, are Nicolette Hart (Maureen Johnson), Justin Johnston (Angel Schunard), Lexi Lawson (Mimi Marquez), Michael McElroy (Tom Collins), Jacques C. Smith (Benjamin Coffin III), and Haneefah Wood (Joanne Jefferson). The ensemble is rounded out by Karmine Alers, Toby Blackwell, Adam Halpin, Trisha Jeffrey, Telly Leung, Caren Lyn Manuel, Cary Shields, Jed Resnick, Andy Senor, Yuka Takara, and John Watson. Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, and Gwen Stewart originated the roles of Roger Davis, Mark Cohen, and 'Seasons of Love' soloist, respectively, at New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway. Justin Johnston (Angel), Michael McElroy (Collins), and Stewart were all members of the final company of Rent,which played its last performance on Broadway September 7, 2008.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the new national tour of Rent, starring original Broadway cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, will play a limited engagement at Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) March 31 ? April 12, 2009. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical Rent is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, and Allan S. Gordon.

Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp will sit down live with PIX Morning News anchor Emily Frances tomorrow morning Tuesday, February 10 in the 8:30AM half hour. 'PIX Morning News' airs daily from 7AM to 9AM on WPIX Television, Channel 11 in the New York Metropolitan area and New Jersey.

Adam Pascal gave a brief interview to NorthJersey.com as the RENT Tour prepares to begin a 6 day run at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, with performances starting tomorrow, Tuesday and playing through Sunday. To read the feature click here.

SiteForRent.com, the official website for the national tour of Rent, has launched PROJECT: ANGEL, an interactive microsite that encourages fans to participate in a number of online promotions via the popular social network Facebook. Fans are given the opportunity to win special prizes, including autographed memorabilia signed by original Broadway cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who are reprising their roles as Roger Davis and Mark Cohen, respectively, in Rent, The Broadway Tour.

Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum and Allan S. Gordon have announced that Rent, The Broadway Tour, engagement at New Jersey Performing Arts Center will have a day-of-performance lottery for $20.00 front-row seats, similar to that used during the Broadway run. Those wishing to enter the lottery should arrive at the NJPAC box office two hours prior to curtain to have their names placed in a box. 40 minutes before the show, names will be drawn for the 34 front-row seats. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person, cash only.

The University of Alberta is now home to the Canadian Centre for Theatre Creation, a new national drama institute that is the first of its kind in Canada. One of the centre's goals is to develop work that creates a more accurate reflection of the nation's cultural diversity by bringing together independent artists, theatre companies and researchers to examine and experiment with new approaches to theatre-making. In addition to the commissioning and developing of scripts, the Canadian Centre for Theatre Creation's mandate extends to engaging artists who do not necessarily work within the traditional playwriting model. In doing so, the centre will provide artists with the resources needed to work in non-conventional ways. 'Until now, there hasn't really been a place in Canada where such a range of artists can be served,' said Kim McCaw, centre director and U of A drama professor. 'We are also committed to presenting new work, either on our own or in partnership with other companies and organizations, which is something else that sets us apart from most other play development centres.' Nurturing the play from idea to performance is something McCaw says is one of the centre's key goals. 'It's very ambitious,' said McCaw. 'But whenever we talk about it, there's a sense that this is something new, and there's an excitement about what it could mean both locally and nationally.' The Canadian Centre for Theatre Creation has commissioned a new play to be penned by Elyne Quan, a University of Alberta alumna and rising Canadian playwright.

Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Gwen Stewart will reprise the roles they originated on Broadway in RENT, The Broadway Tour, which comes to Tempe's ASU Gammage, March 17-22, 2009. Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Gwen Stewart originated the roles of Roger Davis, Mark Cohen and 'Seasons of Love' soloist, respectively, at New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway. Justin Johnston (Angel), Michael McElroy (Collins) - who are also in the touring show -and Stewart were all members of the final company of RENT which played its last performance on Broadway September 7, 2008. Adam Pascal received Obie and Theatre World awards and Tony and Drama Desk nominations for best actor for RENT. On Broadway he also originated the role of Radames in the hit musical Aida and starred as the Emcee in the long-running revival of Cabaret. His film credits include Rent, School of Rock, SLC Punk!, Temptation and Goyband. An actor since the age of six, Anthony Rapp has appeared on Broadway in Precious Sons (Outer Critics Circle Award), Six Degrees of Separation, and the revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. His films include Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Six Degrees of Separation, David Searching, Man of the Century, Road Trip, A Beautiful Mind, Open House, Winter Passing, Danny Roane: First Time Director and Scaring the Fish. His book, Without You: a Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent, about his experiences on and offstage, was published in 2006 by Simon & Schuster and became a national bestseller.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport officially opens its production of the comedy THE FOREIGNER tonight, January 24th. The show runs through February 22, 2009. This inspired comic romp was the winner of two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. THE FOREIGNER will play the following performance schedule: Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. !N ADDITION, there will be matinees on the following days: Saturday January 31 and Saturday February 14 at 3:00 pm. ALSO, there will be performances on Sunday February 22. Tickets are NOW ON SALE and are $50. Tickets may be purchased by calling (631) 261-2900, by visiting www.engemantheater.com, or at the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Gwen Stewart reprise the roles they originated on Broadway in Rent, The Broadway Tour, coming to Detroit for a limited one-week engagement with performances at the Detroit Opera House February 17-22, 2009. Tickets are available for purchase at the Fisher Theatre box office, the Detroit Opera House box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at1-800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.broadwayindetroit.com. Joining Pascal and Rapp who reprise their award-winning roles, and Stewart, are Nicolette Hart (Maureen Johnson), Justin Johnston (Angel Schunard), Lexi Lawson (Mimi Marquez), Michael McElroy (Tom Collins), Jacques C. Smith (Benjamin Coffin III), and Haneefah Wood (Joanne Jefferson). The ensemble is rounded out by Karmine Alers, Toby Blackwell, Adam Halpin, Trisha Jeffrey, Telly Leung, Caren Lyn Manuel, Cary Shields, Jed Resnick, Andy Senor, Yuka Takara, and John Watson. Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, and Gwen Stewart originated the roles of Roger Davis, Mark Cohen, and 'Seasons of Love' soloist, respectively, at New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway. Justin Johnston (Angel), Michael McElroy (Collins), and Stewart were all members of the final company of Rent,which played its last performance on Broadway September 7, 2008.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport is happy to announce the hilarious comedy THE FOREIGNER running January 22 - February 22, 2009. THE FOREIGNER is set in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia; 'Froggy' LeSeuer, a British demolition expert, has brought along his pathologically shy friend, Charlie. Before departing, 'Froggy' tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone, the fun really begins as Charlie overhears more than he should. Charlie's little white lie fuels the nonstop hilarity of this play and sets up the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry for the 'bad guys.' This inspired comic romp was the winner of two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. THE FOREIGNER will play the following performance schedule: Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. IN ADDITION, there will be matinees on the following days: Saturday January 31 and Saturday February 14 at 3:00 pm. ALSO, there will be performances on Sunday February 22. Tickets are NOW ON SALE and are $50. Tickets may be purchased by calling (631) 261-2900, by visiting www.engemantheater.com, or at the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport is happy to announce the hilarious comedy THE FOREIGNER running January 22 - February 22, 2009. THE FOREIGNER is set in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia; 'Froggy' LeSeuer, a British demolition expert, has brought along his pathologically shy friend, Charlie. Before departing, 'Froggy' tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone, the fun really begins as Charlie overhears more than he should. Charlie's little white lie fuels the nonstop hilarity of this play and sets up the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry for the 'bad guys.' This inspired comic romp was the winner of two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. THE FOREIGNER will play the following performance schedule: Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. IN ADDITION, there will be matinees on the following days: Saturday January 31 and Saturday February 14 at 3:00 pm. ALSO, there will be performances on Sunday February 22. Tickets are NOW ON SALE and are $50. Tickets may be purchased by calling (631) 261-2900, by visiting www.engemantheater.com, or at the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport is happy to announce the hilarious comedy THE FOREIGNER running January 22 - February 22, 2009. THE FOREIGNER is set in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia; 'Froggy' LeSeuer, a British demolition expert, has brought along his pathologically shy friend, Charlie. Before departing, 'Froggy' tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone, the fun really begins as Charlie overhears more than he should. Charlie's little white lie fuels the nonstop hilarity of this play and sets up the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry for the 'bad guys.' This inspired comic romp was the winner of two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. THE FOREIGNER will play the following performance schedule: Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. IN ADDITION, there will be matinees on the following days: Saturday August 3 and Saturday September 6 at 3:00 pm. ALSO, there will be performances on Sunday August 31 and September 14 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are NOW ON SALE and are $50. Tickets may be purchased by calling (631) 261-2900, by visiting www.engemantheater.com, or at the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

First Light Theater Group, in association with The Pyramid Media Company and 9Squared Entertainment, present the World Premiere of THIRST: a spell for Christabel, a new play by Monika Bustamante, based on the unfinished gothic poem 'Christabel' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). Directed by Elena Araoz and produced by David Davoli on an Off-Broadway contract, previews begin March 10th at HERE Arts Center. Opening is slated for Tuesday, March 17th. THIRST: a spell for Christabel retells Coleridge's gothic story in an abandoned forest suffering from an apocalyptic drought. Christabel and her father, stubborn hold-outs in the dying woods, are visited by a mysterious and opportunistic woman who quickly transforms their quiet world. Soon they must choose between her frightening, seductive promises and the quickly diminishing safety of the life they've always known. THIRST: a spell for Christabel will feature Matthew Cowles (Veronika Decides to Die, Life on Mars, Oz), Lori Funk, and Elizabeth Gross as Christabel, with set by Susan Zeeman Rogers, costumes by Chloe Chapin, lighting by Justin Townsend, and sound design by Arielle Edwards. Stage management will be by Rosie Goldman.

First Light Theater Group, in association with The Pyramid Media Company and 9Squared Entertainment, present the World Premiere of THIRST: a spell for Christabel, a new play by Monika Bustamante, based on the unfinished gothic poem 'Christabel' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). Directed by Elena Araoz and produced by David Davoli on an Off-Broadway contract, previews begin March 10th at HERE Arts Center. Opening is slated for Tuesday, March 17th. THIRST: a spell for Christabel retells Coleridge's gothic story in an abandoned forest suffering from an apocalyptic drought. Christabel and her father, stubborn hold-outs in the dying woods, are visited by a mysterious and opportunistic woman who quickly transforms their quiet world. Soon they must choose between her frightening, seductive promises and the quickly diminishing safety of the life they've always known.

Justin grabbed the BroadwayWorld microphone for a series of behind the scenes interviews with the talented touring cast of RENT, he'll be checking in with BWW during the tour and will be full of surprises!

Neil Patrick Harris hosted Saturday Night Live last night, January 10th. One of the show's many hilarious sketches was entitled 'Save Broadway' in which Broadway characters, past and present, ranging from Annie to The Phantom of the Opera debated ways to 'save' the industry.

Neil Patrick Harris will host Saturday Night Live on January 10th. SNL airs at 11:30/10:30c. Taylor Swift will be the musical guest.

The new national tour of RENT kicked off on January 6, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio and runs through August 30, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. RENT stars Anthony Rapp as Mark Cohen, Adam Pascal as Roger Davies, Justin Johnston as Angel Schunard, Nicolette Hart as Maureen Johnson, Lexi Lawson as Mimi Marquez, Michael McElroy as Tom Collins, Jacques C. Smith as Benjamin Coffin III and Haneefah Wood as Joanne Jefferson, with Karmine Alers, Toby Blackwell, Adam Halpin, Trisha Jeffrey, Telly Leung, Caren Lyn Manuel, Jed Resnick, Andy Senor, Yuka Takara and John Watson.