THE MUSIC OF JONATHAN LARSON
Tim Weil, Music Director
RENT -- "the first original breakthrough rock musical since Hair."
Larson's phenomenally successful musical RENT (a rock opera inspired by Puccini's La Bohème), which blends pop, dance, salsa, rhythm and blues, gospel, and rock music, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards. Larson died prematurely before realizing fully his desire to "infuse musical theater with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality." In celebration of his creative spirit, the Library of Congress brings together Anthony Rapp, who starred in the original production of RENT with Broadway stars Natascia Diaz, Randy Graff, Jeremy Kushnier, Michael McElroy and Gwen Stewart. The concert will be under the musical direction of Tim Weil, the original musical director of Rent. In addition to selections from Rentand other Larson works, the evening includes songs written and performed by three of the songwriters who have received grants from the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation -- Cynthia Hopkins, Joe Iconis, and Steven Lutvak -- established by family and friends to honor his memory.
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