History will be made later this week when the groundbreaking Broadway musical RENT makes its debut on the big screen. In special limited engagement performances on September 24, 25, 27 and 28, audiences nationwide will have an opportunity to see the end of the critically-acclaimed musical after its 12-year run on Broadway. According to Sony Pictures Releasing's new special programming division, THE HOT TICKET, audiences will experience RENT like never before; not only from the best seats in the Nederlander Theatre, but from the stage and wings, where cameras will capture the raw emotion of the cast's performance. The Tony Award-winning musical took its final bow on Broadway September 7 and the Academy Award-winning company @radical.media was there to capture the events of this farewell performance. Utilizing the latest in high-definition video and digital audio technology, the cinecast of RENT: Filmed Live on Broadway will take audiences on an enhanced journey through the music, lyrics, and images of this storied piece of live entertainment.

Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal originated the roles of Mark Cohen and Roger Davis on Broadway and London and then recreated the roles in the 2005 film adaptation of the musical. Both returned to New York this summer after ten years to reprise their stage roles. "It was surprisingly much more physically easy. You would think the opposite," explains Pascal on revisiting the role of Roger. "I think I've just gotten better at doing what I do in ten years. You have more experience and you know how to perform better and how to save yourself in eight shows a week." Pascal continues, "I literally approach it the exact same way I approached it in the beginning which was to really just let the music tell the story and if it's emotional in the music and lyrics, then your acting performance goes there." One difference Pascal and Rapp noticed upon their return was the huge increase in fans waiting for them after each show. "At the stage door (this summer) there were 200+ people; they had to have barricades," Rapp says. "Generally it was 15 people (outside the stage door) at the beginning (in 1996) and they were dedicated fans."

Pascal and Rapp are not featured in the cinecast but they are both excited about RENT being the first Broadway show to play on movie screens. "I have to say I had this idea a long time ago," Pascal laughs. "I always thought that if you could capture it [a Broadway show] well on film, just the same way it's possible to capture a live concert well on film, you should be able to capture a musical in a way that's engaging to a film audience." He believes that people across the country may have a different perception of what Broadway is all about based on what they see on the Tonys. However, he's hopeful that the cinecast will expose them to a different side. Rapp thinks it will be a positive experience for all the RENTheads (fans) that never got to see the show in New York. "It's great that the cinecast will get them as close as possible to that magical experience without actually being there."

When the RENT national tour launches in January 2009, Pascal and Rapp will both be along for the ride. Returning to the show this summer was such a positive experience for them that they knew the next step was to give touring a try. "When the opportunity to do the tour came along it just seemed like a good way to end that chapter performing the show with Anthony, and giving people around the country an opportunity to get a little bit of what it was like to see the original cast," Pascal explains. Rapp sees it a little differently. "It's like putting on a very comfortable old suit that's fresh, looks sharp and is tailored to me; it doesn't smell like mothballs," he says. "It's like going home."

For further information and to purchase tickets for RENT: FILMED LIVE ON BROADWAY visit www.thehotticket.net/rent.

By: Beth Cox