RENT Makes Academy of Music Premiere January 4-6
November 20, 2007
Photo: Joan Marcus
Featuring South African Idol Winner Heinz Winckler and American Idol Finalist Anwar Robinson in the National Tour of RENT
Tickets On Sale December 2 for Holiday Gift-Giving
The 2007-2008 national touring production of RENT features Heinz Winckler as Roger Davis and Anwar Robinson as Tom Collins. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway musical RENT, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, is coming to Philadelphia’s Academy of Music for a limited engagement from January 4–6, 2008. RENT is part of the 2007-08 Cadillac Broadway Series.
Tickets ranging in price from $25 to $70 are on sale beginning Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 10am. A limited number of box seats are available for $100. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10am to 6pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (during performances only). Groups of 20 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883. Tickets can also be purchased as part of a Choose 3 subscription package by calling 215-893-1955.
Performances include: Friday and Saturday evening (Jan. 4 & 5) at 8pm; Sunday evening (Jan. 6) at 6:30pm; and matinee performances Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 1pm.
Heinz Winckler was the winner of the first South African Idol in 2002 and the 4th place finalist in the 2003 inaugural World Idol competition, in which he competed against American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. Anwar Robinson was the 7th place finalist on the 4th season of American Idol.
On stage, Winckler played Tony in the Toronto production of West Side Story. Winckler has recorded three hit albums with Sony BMG, including: One Step Closer, Come Alive (both South African Music Award "SAMA" nominees for "best pop album") and Moment of Truth. His song, "Once in a Lifetime," was a SAMA nominee for "best single." He performed the song "Chasing Shadows" for the Walt Disney movie, Treasure Planet, and participated in the Westlife Greatest Hits Tour in South Africa. Winckler has received the People Magazine Award for "Hottest Hunk," "South Africa’s Hottest Artist" and "Best Male Personality." He was also featured in Cosmopolitan’s "Sexy Man Calendar."
Robinson will make his stage debut in this touring production of RENT. American audiences will recall Robinson as the Music Teacher who was rocketed to television stardom on season four of the pop-culture phenomenon American Idol. His vocal range quickly landed him a coveted spot in Idol’s Top 10, where Judge Paula Abdul touted him as "technically the best singer of the competition." Robinson has toured the country as part of the Idols Live show. The New Jersey native has worked and appeared with a number of music icons, including Clive Davis, Patti Labelle, Kelly Price, Byron Cage and Pastor Donnie McClurkin. Robinson recently released his debut album,The Truth About Love.
Critics have called RENT "the best thing that has happened to the Broadway musical in a long time," and have said that RENT "justifies every bit of attention that has been lavished on this phenomenal musical." "It shimmers with hope for the future of the American musical"-The New York Times.
RENT is the theatrical experience that transformed how a generation feels about musicals, changed Broadway forever, and inspired a major motion picture. Set in the East Village of New York City, RENT is about being young and learning to survive, falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. RENT has made a lasting mark on Broadway with songs that rock and a story that really resonates.
The show received its world premiere off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop on February 13, 1996 to ecstatic reviews. It rapidly became a sold-out hit. The show transferred to Broadway on April 29, 1996 where it continues to play at The Nederlander Theatre. RENT is now the 7th longest running show in Broadway history.
The success of RENT is always tempered by the death of its creator, Jonathan Larson. Larson died unexpectedly of an aortic aneurysm on the morning of January 25, 1996, just hours after RENT’s final dress rehearsal off-Broadway, and ten days before his 36th birthday.
RENT features musical direction by Tim Weil, choreography by Marlies Yearby, set design by Paul Clay, costume design by Angela Wendt and lighting design by Blake Burba.
Additional show information can be found at www.siteforrent.com.
For Winckler’s official website, visit www.heinzw.co.za. To follow Robinson’s journey on tour, go to www.myspace.com/anwarrobinsonastomcollins.
The new Cadillac Broadway Series marks the first full season of cooperation between Kimmel Center, Inc. and Shubert Organization, Inc., where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre. In addition to RENT, the new 2007-08 season will include: RAIN, The Beatles Experience (Jan.15 - 20); Avenue Q (Jan.29-Feb.10 at the Forrest Theatre); African Footprint (Feb. 29-March 2); My Fair Lady (March 11-16); Annie (March 21-23); Hairspray (May 2-4); Gypsy (May 9-11); David Copperfield: An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion (May 16-17); Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple (June 17-July 13); Mamma Mia! (July 15-27); and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (Aug.14-31).
All performances of Cadillac Broadway Series are supported by Cadillac, CITI, Target, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Cadillac Broadway Series.
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