O&AN and TPAC want to send you and a guest to see the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway musical RENT at TPAC's Jackson Hall! All you have to do to enter is send an email to contest@outandaboutnewspaper.com with "RENT"in the subject line. Be sure to include a day-time phone number in your entry. For more information on RENT visit www.tpac.org/rent and check out the article below. Good luck!
Special ticket discount offer for O&AN readers
You can save $10 off price levels II and III tickets for every performance except Saturday evening. For more information and to purchase your tickets online, visit tpac.org/rent/insider.htm.
More about RENT...
RENT, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, is coming to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center for five performances from March 28-30. The 2007-2008 national touring production of RENT features Heinz Winckler as Roger Davis and Anwar Robinson as Tom Collins.
"Ten years ago, RENT revolutionized the Broadway musical and was widely praised for bringing a new generation to the theatre,” said Lori Ward, TPAC's vice president of communications and community relations. “Closing in New York this June after its long, remarkable run, the show is selling extremely well on national tour. It still feels fresh, unique and relevant to our times and lives. This particular cast is especially energetic and talented.”
Winckler was the winner of the first South African Idol in 2002 and the fourth place finalist in the 2003 inaugural World Idol competition, in which he competed against American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. Robinson was the seventh place finalist on the fourth 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 American Idol. His vocal range quickly landed him a 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.
"Over the years, RENT has both developed a following and continued to draw new audiences, giving Nashville a rare opportunity. Long-time fans get to see their favorite show at TPAC. At the same time, another generation of young adults will experience RENT for the first time. It's exciting and energizing for audiences and artists alike," Ward said.
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.
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 seventh 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.
Performance Dates:
March 28-30, Andrew Jackson Hall
Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC)
505 Deaderick Street, Nashville
Performance Times:
8:00 pm Friday
2:00 pm and 8:00 pm Saturday
1:00 pm and 6:30 pm Sunday
Tickets:
Tickets range from $20-66 for single tickets, depending on performance day and seat locations. Tickets are available at www.tpac.org/rent the TPAC Box Office (Downtown or at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in The Mall at Green Hills), at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling Ticketmaster at 615-255-ARTS (2787).
Special ticket discount offer for O&AN readers:
You can save $10 off price levels II and III tickets for every performance except Saturday evening. For more information and to purchase your tickets online, visit tpac.org/rent/insider.htm.