By Andrew Gans
24 Sep 2008

Rent star Eden Espinosa
photo by Casey Stouffer

Screenings of the final Broadway cast of Jonathan Larson's Rent, the Tony Award-winning musical that ended its acclaimed 12-year-run at the Nederlander Theatre Sept. 7, begin Sept. 24 at cinemas around the country.

The Aug. 20 and Sept. 7 performances of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical were filmed live at the Nederlander. A composite of those two evenings — including the Sept. 7 finale that featured many of the show's original stars — will be "cinecast" in movie theatres nationwide.

Audiences around the country now have the chance to view the final Broadway cast of Rent Sept. 24 and 25 (evening screenings) and Sept. 27 and 28 (afternoon screenings).

Hundreds of theatres across the country are offering the screenings. In Manhattan, fans of the rock-scored musical can view the cinecast at the AMC Loews 84th Street, Clearview Chelsea Cinemas on West 23rd Street, Regal E-Walk Stadium 13 on West 42nd Street, and the Regal Union Square Stadium 14 at 850 Broadway.

The cinecast, which utilizes high-definition video and digital audio technology, was directed by Michael Warren. Cinematographer Declan Quinn and Grammy-winning music producer Giles Martin were also brought on board to heighten the visual and audio elements of the film.

About the filming of Rent, Renée Elise Goldsberry — the final actress to play the role of Mimi — recently told Playbill.com, "[There is a] difference between a staged performance and a cinematic performance… and [we had to trust] that the people that we didn't know that were producing and directing [the cinecast] would capture it in a way that did it justice and the characters justice and us justice. You worry about things like, 'Will they catch this particular moment? Will my face be huge on a screen while I'm sweating? The one moment that it's recording this, will it be as true as it normally is?' So you think about all of those things, but I felt, on that particular day … it was kind of like getting married. There's all this anxiety before and stress and preparation, and everyone's freaking out on some level. And then the day arrives and, all of a sudden, it's the perfect day. Everything falls into place even if you didn't think it was what it was going to be. It just felt like a blessed day. . . . I know that a camera telling a story is a very specific tool: It basically tells your eye where to go. It's very different from watching a show in the theatre, so it's extremely important that the director who is directing the camera is telling the right story, and I think that [cinecast director Michael Warren] did a brilliant job."

	Michael McElroy and Justin Johnston in Rent
	photo by Casey Stouffer

The filming is part of a new business venture launched by Sony Pictures Releasing, which is entitled The Hot Ticket. The Hot Ticket, according to a press release, will "distribute event programming, including popular music concerts, the performing arts, and sporting events in high definition digital projection to select movie theaters nationwide."

The final cast of Rent included Tracie Thoms (who was the movie's Joanne) as Joanne, Will Chase as Roger, Renèe Elise Goldsberry as Mimi, Eden Espinosa as Maureen, Michael McElroy as Collins, Adam Kantor as Mark, Justin Johnston as Angel and (original ensemble member) Rodney Hicks as Benny with Shaun Earl, Andrea Goss, Marcus Paul James, Telly Leung, Tracy McDowell, Jay Wilkison, (original ensemble member) Gwen Stewart and Destan Owens.

Rent, which has book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history.

Rent, directed by Michael Greif, opened on Broadway April 29, 1996, following a 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, New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award.

Rent is one of only seven musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

The Rent cinecast should not be confused with the "Rent" film, which was directed by Chris Columbus and featured much of the original Broadway cast.

For theatre and ticket information visit www.rent.thehotticket.net.

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As previously announced, a new tour of Rent — starring original cast members Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal — will kick off in January 2009. For more information about the tour click here.

Rent's Will Chase and Renée Elise Goldsberry on stage and in focus.
photo by Casey Stouffer