Tony Flashback: Rent Fans See a Starry Reunion on the 2008 Tony Telecast

In June 2008, the Tony Award-winning musical Rent was in the home stretch of its 12-year run on Broadway. The ground-breaking musical, which opened in 1996 and won the Tony for Best Musical that year, was set to close in September. To celebrate this beloved show, the Tony telecast showcased a rare reunion of the original and current Broadway casts. First, the 2008 cast performed a rousing rendition of “La Vie Boheme” in full costume before making way for a lineup of the original stars, with Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Daphne Rubin-Vega and more reflecting on the life-changing journey of the show and its creator, Jonathan Larson. And what would a Rent appearance be without a performance of “Seasons of Love”? The two casts joined together to sing the show’s anthem, featuring Gwen Stewart in the solo she made famous. The 2008 Tony Awards reminded us that even as Rent darkened on Broadway, its story and message would continue to resonate for years to come.