Pascal, Rapp, Stewart Return To RENT: The Broadway Tour 10/6-18 At The Curran

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Producers Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum and Allan S. Gordon have announced that stars Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Gwen Stewart will reprise the roles they originated on Broadway in "RENT: The Broadway Tour". The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical written by Jonathan Larson returns to San Francisco beginning Tuesday, October 6 through Sunday, October 18 at the Curran Theatre. "RENT: The Broadway Tour" is presented as a special attraction of the 2008-2009 Citibank Best of Broadway series season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 29.

Joining Pascal, Rapp 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, Joshua Kobak, Telly Leung, Jed Resnick, Andy Señor, Caren Tackett, Yuka Takara and John Watson.

Pascal, Rapp and Stewart originated the roles of Roger Davis, Mark Cohen and "Seasons of Love" soloist, respectively, at the New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway. Justin Johnston, Michael McElroy and Gwen Stewart were all members of the final company of RENT, which played its last performance on Broadway on Sept. 7, 2008.

"RENT: The Broadway Tour" is directed by Michael Greif, who received 1996 Tony and Drama Desk nominations as well as the Obie Award for RENT. Marlies Yearby, who received a Tony Award nomination for her work on the musical, choreographs the show and Tim Weil, the show's original music supervisor and conductor, serves as music supervisor.

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, 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.

Stewart created several roles in RENT, including introducing the solo vocals for the show's central theme, "Seasons of Love." Her other theatre credits include the recent Tony-nominated revival of Big River, Starmites, Suds, Ain't Misbehavin', The Wiz, Avenue X and Abyssinia. Stewart's film and television work includes "Notes From the Underbelly," "Related," "Law & Order," "Charmed," "All My Children," "Moesha," "24," "Strong Medicine," "The Guardian," Down To Earth, and Personals.

Nicolette Hart's Broadway credits include RENT, Legally Blonde, and The Wedding Singer. Her TV and film credits include "Law and Order," "Lipstick Jungle," "Veronika Decides To Die," "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits" and "Cherry Crush."

Justin Johnston played Angel Schunard in the final Broadway company of RENT and can be seen with the closing cast in "Rent Filmed Live on Broadway."

Michael McElroy played Tom Collins in the final Broadway company of RENT. His Broadway credits include Wild Party, Big River (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), The Who's Tommy, Miss Saigon, Patti LuPone on Broadway, and High Rollers. McElroy's TV credits include "Love Monkey," "All My Children," and "Spin City."

Jacques C. Smith made his Broadway debut as Benny in RENT. His TV credits include "CSI: Miami," "ER," HBO's "OZ," PBS's Emmy-winning "American Masters" series "Ralph Ellison: An American Journey," "The Division," and "Law and Order."

Haneefah Wood's Broadway credits include RENT, Avenue Q, and Brooklyn. She originated roles in the workshops of Shrek and Good Vibrations. Her film and television credits include "Freedomland," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," "Strong Medicine," and "Days of Our Lives."

Inspired by Puccini's La Boheme, RENT is a joyous, breathtaking and often bittersweet musical that celebrates a community of artists as they struggle with the soaring hopes and tough realities of today's world.

RENT, considered by many the most exuberant and original American musical to come along in a decade, has single-handedly reinvigorated Broadway and is taking the country by storm. RENT captures the heart and spirit of multitude generations.

San Francisco' deeply felt relationship with RENT began in March 1999 when the American rock musical opened and played an extended-6 month engagement at the Golden Gate Theatre through September 1999. In his review at the time, theater critic Steven Winn extolled the virtues of this ground-breaking musical and its significance to popular culture when he wrote: "Time has worked its wonders on "RENT," clarifying its strengths, softening its weaknesses and lightening its burden as a socio-cultural landmark. Now with an excellent touring production, settled in for a long run in San Francisco, there's something new that makes RENT a deeper and more satisfying experience." The show returned to San Francisco for three special engagements in 2001, 2002 and 2006 playing to devoted Bay Area RENT fans. And then it was a special coup for San Francisco in 2005, when the motion picture adaptation of RENT was filmed in San Francisco with filming in soundstages at Treasure Island and in the SOMA district neighborhood.

RENT, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, opened at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre, on April 29, 1996, following a history making, sold-out, extended-limited engagement at off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. RENT played its final performance at the Nederlander Theatre on Sept. 7, 2008 after playing 5,124 performances and 16 previews. RENT is the eighth-longest-running show in Broadway history and grossed more than $280 million during its Broadway run.

Tours of RENT have crisscrossed the country almost continuously since late 1996 and the U.S. national tours have grossed more than $330 million. The musical has been translated into every major language and been performed on six continents, including in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

To experience what goes on backstage at SHN shows, go to http://shnsf.com/podcast/index.asp and listen to Backstage, the SHN podcast series, to hear interviews with members of the creative teams or actors for all SHN productions.

Tickets for "RENT: The Broadway Tour" range in price from $30 to $99 and can be purchased online at shnsf.com, through Ticketmaster by calling (415) 512-7770, at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers and at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (1192 Market at 8th St., Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm). SHN series subscribers have first access and will receive ticket information on how to purchase their tickets. Groups of 15 or more may order now by calling Group Sales at (415) 551-2020. To learn more about "RENT: The Broadway Tour" and other SHN shows, please visit www.shnsf.com

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