BWW Interviews: Anthony Rapp Talks RENT, The Broadway Tour

RENT: The Broadway Tour stops in Toronto for two weeks beginning January 12th, starring original Broadway cast members Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal in the roles of Mark Cohen and Roger Davis. Rent had an extremely successful run on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical as well as the Pulitzer Prize. The show closed on September 7th, 2008 after a 12 year run, making it the eighth longest running show on Broadway.

Rent follows a group of young artists and musicians struggling to survive in New York City's Lower East Side while dealing with issues such as homosexuality, HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, love, loss and of course, how to pay the rent. The writer of the show, Jonathan Larson, died tragically of an aortic aneurysm right before opening night, but his beloved message lives on through the music of Rent, which has been embraced around the globe.

Due to its popularity, Rent spawned a hit 2005 movie (also starring Rapp and Pascal) and when it closed on Broadway, launched an extremely successful tour that has played the United States, Japan and now comes to Toronto.

Anthony Rapp took some time to sit down and talk with BWW about the show and what it means to him after all these years:

Congratulations on the success of the tour so far! We are thrilled to have you coming to Toronto. Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to during your visit?

Well I know that Rent has had a really good life there before and it is always good to go to cities where the show has been so warmly embraced. For example Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle - these are some of the main cities where Rent has had a real life and the audiences were incredible so I am anticipating and hoping that the audiences in TO will also be as enthusiastic, warm and loving as they have been in some of these other cities that we have been.

You have been in Toronto before back when you filmed Adventures in Babysitting; have you been back since?

That was in 1987, we were there for a couple of months, funny enough it was at the same time of year ... very, very cold.

And I have only been back to the city once, maybe twice, in the years since I did Adventures in Babysitting so I am looking forward to getting to explore it again. I remember some things but I am sure it has changed tremendously in 22 years as well.

You have played the role of Mark Cohen many times over the years; what is touring life like compared to doing the role on Broadway?

The main difference with touring life is the fact that your daily life is so focused on the show. You're either performing or exploring the city you're in. When you do the show on Broadway, you're at home in NYC so the rest of your life is still happening. You have to run errands, see your friends - there is much more of life tugging at you. When you're on tour it is much more simple. Adam (Pascal) and I have actually talked about that aspect of touring life a lot. We both kind of like it because doing eight shows a week is so rigorous, especially when you consider that we do five shows over the weekend. The rest of life being simplified is really helpful with the daily grind of the show schedule.

On this tour, you have a really diverse cast. You have various members from the Original Broadway Cast as well as complete newcomers. Do you find having such a diverse mix to be challenging?

It isn't challenging, it's fun and exciting! We are lucky that we have very good chemistry together. Every show needs chemistry, but especially Rent, because the story focuses so much on friendship and relationships between people. So if the actors involved in the production lack a certain kind of bond it is likely to seep through on stage in a really unfortunate way. Thankfully that isn't the case with us and we can deliver the kind of performance each night that comes from being a really close knit group.

After all these years, do you have a favourite part to perform each night?

Lately on tour I have been enjoying performing Act II the most, because that is where the most substance is. Especially on this tour I have also really loved doing La Vie Boheme, mostly because we have a really fun and spirited group of people and we all have a blast performing it each night.

Anything in particular you do to keep yourself fresh and bring that energy to the role every night?

Honestly, to me the thing that I concentrate on most is just maintaining myself physically and vocally. Making sure that I keep that well-being so that I know it's there and all I have to do is step out on stage and do my best and take care of myself. I take some more time to warm up, and I do yoga and get my body ready. That's the main thing I do to prepare. Everything else is almost like surfing in a sense - this show has its own incredible power and you just have to ride those waves. The rest takes care of itself.

When you and Adam (Pascal) returned to the Nederlander in 2007 there were a lot of stories about some of the craziness that ensued at the stage door. Have you experienced anything like that on tour thus far?

Most cities we have been to have had a large number of people waiting afterwards but the crowds have not been as manic as they were in New York. There have been a couple of cities where it has been more aggressive than others though. Philadelphia for example was pretty wild. In some cities everyone stands very reasonably in a line and it is very civilized and calm, but there are people no matter what. In some of the locations though, the stage door has such a weird location that only the die-hard fans seek it out; in others, we have had crowds of hundreds of people.

What has been your favourite city thus far?

Definitely Tokyo. We were there for four weeks and it was really magical and a wonderfully special place. The fans were really unbelievable. There was just so much respect and love for the show and for Jonathan (Larson) and for us, and culturally there just seemed to be such a strong relationship to the arts. It's like they're just raised with that relationship, there's such a profound response and it was so meaningful for us to be a part of that. And the kinds of gifts and letters we got from the Japanese fans were really amazing and beautiful.

Some people have been saying that the message behind the show is becoming less relevant in today's society. Is that something you agree with?

I don't see how that's true at all. If it were, I don't see how we would still be getting the audiences we have been getting all year long. In fact, friends of mine in LA who hadn't seen the show since they first saw it back in 1996 or 1997 have been saying that it's actually more powerful now. So much has changed in the world but there are still these enormous struggles that people in our country are going through, especially right now with the economic crisis in this country. People struggling to make ends meet and make their way in a world that is tough and unforgiving resonates very strongly right now, and people are connecting to that message in the show.

The show obviously means a great deal to you, is there anything in particular that keeps it close to your heart?

It would be very hard to say one thing that keeps it close, because it is so infused in my soul and is a part of me. It is a part of my life that I am so grateful for and proud of at the same time. Everything about it makes it close to my heart. Rent has utterly changed my life forever and I am sure it will continue to do so. It just keeps coming back to me in the most incredible and surprising ways.

If you could play another character for just one night, who would you want to play?

I would have to say Roger, although they would have to lower a couple of the notes for me *laughs* At one point I believe he sings a B and I can't really sing that, so some keys would have to be changed. However, I feel like I have the most personal connection to Roger and the most understanding of his story.

While you are in Toronto, do you think you will have the chance to check out any Canadian Theatre?

Our performing schedule is too intense, although maybe there is a weekday matinee that might be a possibility. It is definitely something I will have to check into.

Finally, do you have any message to give to your Canadian fans?

I have had such good experiences working in Canada, I did Adventures in Babysitting in Toronto and then TV projects in Vancouver and a little project in Alberta and it has always been very positive. I have always had such fantastic experiences working with Canadians and being in Canada so I am just really looking forward to visiting again!

The Toronto engagement marks the beginning of the end of RENT: The Broadway Tour's hit run. With just four weeks remaining after over a year on the road, this is one of your last chances to see the show before the tour comes to an end. Did you miss it in NYC? Come to Toronto, two whole weeks before the cast heads west! They have a brief stop in Wisconsin before finishing out the tour in Sacramento, California.

When and Where?
RENT: The Broadway Tour
Jan 12-24, 2010
The Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria St, Toronto

Performance Schedule:
Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri @ 8PM
Sat @ 2PM and 8PM
Sun @ 1PM and 6PM

Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by phone at 416-872-1212 (toll-free 1-800-461-3333) or online at www.mirvish.com

For more information visit www.siteforrent.com.

Rush and Lotto Details:

As has generally been the tradition of Rent, there will be a limited number of both lotto and rush seats available. 

For Lotto: Names can be entered into the lottery 2 hours before each performance, in person at the box office.  The draw will take place an hour and a half before each performance.  Names will be drawn for 18 front row seats at $20 each (cash-only).  Winners must be present and will need to show photo ID.  Limit TWO tickets per person.

For Rush: Rush tickets will be limited to students.  Available to purchase in person at the box office two hours before the performance with VALID student ID.  Limit ONE ticket per student, $25 per ticket.  Seating will be subject to availability.