Ten Things You Should Know about the Broadway Hit Musical "RENT"

Ten Things You Should Know about the Broadway Hit Musical "RENT"

HONG KONG, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- As part of its 10th Anniversary World Tour, the Broadway hit musical RENT will be coming to the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, for a strictly limited season from December 13-25, 2005.

In response to heightened interest in the show's performances in Hong Kong, the organizers have released a list of top ten facts regarding RENT that are not widely known. Here's the countdown from one to ten:

Fact One:

RENT received its world premiere off Broadway in February 13, 1996. The musical transferred to Broadway on April 29, 1996 and has since become the 10th longest running show in Broadway history.

Fact Two:

Jesse L. Martin, known for his role as Detective Ed Green in TV's Law and Order was one of the original cast members for RENT. In the musical's early days, Jesse L. Martin played the role of Tom Collins, an HIV computer genius returning to New York.

Fact Three:

The RENT costumes have, over the years, become a fashion statement characterized by the thousands of fans who continually turn up for performances dressed in RENT couture. At one point, the following proved so popular that Bloomingdales in New York opened a dedicated RENT outlet. The outlet retailed custom-designed, ready-to-wear labels of RENT-wear for men, women and teenagers.

Fact Four:

There have been 25 productions of RENT, performed in 15 different languages. In support of philanthropic initiatives, the first two rows of seating on Broadway are traditionally dedicated to beneficiaries from local community groups or charities and fans who do not have the money but wish to see their idols close-up.

Fact Five:

One of the themes RENT deals with is sexuality. Increasingly, parents and children are visiting the production together. The show bridges the parent- children generation gap by addressing taboo social issues that are not always openly addressed in the home. In doing so, the musical is helping to bring families closer together.

Fact Six:
A member of the Spice Girls, Mel B, played the role of Mimi.

Fact Seven:

RENT today has a cult following of "RENT-heads." People in the show say they recognize the same audience members coming back five, ten, fifteen times!

Fact Eight:

RENT has received the praises of a host of movie and television stars the world over that include Mel Gibson, Janet Jackson, Ricky Lake, Kevin Bacon, George Clooney, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster. The show has also appeared on the cover of Newsweek and is only the fifth production to ever have won both the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for best musical.

Fact Nine:
RENT has the biggest rate of repeat ticket sales on Broadway.

Fact Ten:

RENT's creator Jonathan Larson died of an aortic aneurysm on the morning of January 25, 1996. Sadly, his passing was just hours after RENT's final dress rehearsal off-Broadway, and ten days before his 36th birthday.

RENT the musical
13 December 2005 - 25 December 2005
Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Ticketing Hotline: Tel: 31 288 288
Corporate Hospitality Packages: Tel: 2865 5858
Evening performances: HK$695, HK$495 and HK$395
Matinee performances: HK$595, HK$395 and HK$295
Tickets can also be purchased at all Tom Lee Music Stores
Website: www.rentstarringkarenmok.com

Media Contact:

Ms Janet Middlemiss,
JEM Worldwide Limited,
2102-4 Lyndhurst Tower,
1 Lyndhurst Terrace,
Central, Hong Kong.
Tel: +852-2857-3832
Mobile: +852-9195-7829
Fax: +852-2840-1284
Email: janet@jemworldwide.com

Source: RENT

CONTACT: Janet Middlemiss, +852-2857-3832, or +852-9195-7829, or fax,
+852-2840-1284, or janet@jemworldwide.com

Web site: http://www.rentstarringkarenmok.com/

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