Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp to Headline National Tour of Rent

Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who originated the roles of Roger Davis and Mark Cohen in Rent, have signed on to headline a national tour of the musical beginning in January 2009. The current Rent tour is playing through June 2008.

Pascal and Rapp, who opened the show in 1996 and starred in the 2005 movie version, returned to Rent on Broadway for a limited engagement in the summer of 2007. The Broadway production is scheduled to close on June 1.

"Adam and Anthony didn't just play Roger and Mark," producer Jeffrey Seller said in a statement. "To millions of Rent fans, they are Roger and Mark. Adam and Anthony are to Rent what Joel Grey was to Cabaret and Zero Mostel was to Fiddler on the Roof. It's a great time to offer fans all over America the unique chance to see them in their signature roles."

Pascal received Obie and Theatre World Awards and a Tony nomination for best actor for his performance as Roger and appeared on Broadway in Aida and Cabaret. Off-Broadway, he co-produced the hit play Fully Committed. His film credits include Rent, School of Rock, SLC Punk!, Temptation and Goyband. Pascal recently guest-starred on the hit television series Cold Case. His recordings include Model Prisoner 2000 and Civilian 2004.

Rapp has appeared on Broadway in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Precious Sons and Six Degrees of Separation. His films include Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Six Degrees of Separation, David Searching, Man of the Century, Road Trip, A Beautiful Mind, Open House, Winter Passing, Danny Roane: First Time Director and Scaring the Fish. Television credits include The X-Files, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Kidnapped. His book, Without You: a Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent, about his experiences on and offstage, was published in 2006 by Simon & Schuster. He also creates music with his band Albinokid having released a solo CD, Look Around, in 2000, and speaks regularly at colleges and universities.

Tours of Rent have crisscrossed the North American almost continuously since late 1996, grossing more than $330 million.