Producers Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum and Allan S. Gordon announced Sept. 3 that names for the $20 tickets will be taken beginning at 11 AM ET Sept. 7 at the Nederlander Theatre. Thirty-two names will be drawn at noon. There will be no standing room for the final performance.
Those chosen in the lottery must pay for the tickets in cash at the box office at noon.
As previously announced, Rent will play its final performance Sept. 7 after having played 5,124 performances and 16 previews on Broadway.
Rent plays the Nederlander Theatre on West 41st Street.
Those unable to attend the final performance of Rent will be able to view the Jonathan Larson musical on movie screens across the country via Sony Pictures Releasing's new special programming division, The Hot Ticket. A composite of the best performances from the Aug. 20 and Sept. 7 shows will be screened nationwide Sept. 24, 25, 27 and 28. For more information visit http://www.thehotticket.net/rent. *
The cast of Rent currently includes Tracie Thoms as Joanne, Will Chase as Roger, Renee Goldsberry as Mimi, Eden Espinosa as Maureen, Michael McElroy as Collins, Adam Kantor as Mark, Justin Johnston as Angel and Rodney Hicks as Benny with Shaun Earl, Andrea Goss, Marcus Paul James, Telly Leung, Tracy McDowell, Jay Wilkison, Gwen Stewart and Destan Owens. Hicks and Stewart were both in the original company of Rent and have rejoined the cast to close the show.
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.
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.
