"Rent" Returns To Boston
To Play The Citi Wang January 18 - 23

Features "American Idol" Stars

Written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Rent" returns to Boston’s Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre for a one-week engagement, January 8 - 13.  This engagement marks the show's 7th visit to Boston. 

The 2007-2008 national touring production will feature Heinz Winckler as Roger Davis and Anwar Robinson as Tom Collins.

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. Robinson was the 7th place finalist on the 4th season of "American Idol."  On stage, he has 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 nominees for “Best Pop Album”) and "Moment of Truth."  His song, “Once in a Lifetime,” was a SAMA nominee for “Best Single.” He also performed the song “Chasing Shadows” for the Walt Disney movie, "Treasure Planet," and participated in the Westlife Greatest Hits Tour in South Africa. 

Robinson will make his stage debut in this touring production of "Rent." American audiences will recall Robinson as the Music Teacher who shot to 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."
 
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.  Critics called the show “the best thing that has happened to the Broadway musical in a long time,” saying that "Rent" “justifies every bit of attention that has been lavished on this phenomenal musical.”  The New York Times added, “It shimmers with hope for the future of the American musical.” 
 
The show made its world premiere off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop on February 13, 1996, to ecstatic reviews.  It quickly became a sold-out hit.  The show transferred to Broadway on April 29, 1996, where it continues to play at The Nederlander Theatre. 
 
The success of  of the show has always been tempered by the death of its creator, Jonathan Larson, who 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.
 
For tickets and information, call 800-447-7400 pr visit www.citicenter.org.

-- OnStage Boston

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