Mark with his camera. Roger with his guitar. Two characters from the Broadway musical ‘Rent’ that theater fans instantly recognize by their artistic connections.

The men that brought these characters to life on stage and film have been touring the country together for a year now, sharing their musical stylings.

This Thursday, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp of ‘Rent’ will visit Syracuse University at 8 p.m. Their performance in Goldstein Auditorium consists of a variety of acts: some songs composed by the performers, some from ‘Rent’ and others performed with a 10-piece band accompanying them onstage.

The performance is a part of the Pulse Performing Arts Series. Students with an SU ID can buy tickets for $5, and tickets for the general public are $20.

Fans of the show, like Kristin McAvoy, are glad the duo continues to collaborate.

‘I got to see ‘Rent’ last year and have been excited about the play ever since,’ said McAvoy, a sophomore in the School of Information Studies. ‘I’m excited that I’ll get to see two of the original actors from it.’

This isn’t the first time performers from ‘Rent’ visited campus. Idina Menzel, an actress in the original Broadway production and in the movie, sang at SU in 2009 with a similar performance, highlighting her solo acts. Her husband, Taye Diggs, a 1993 SU alumnus and an actor in the original Broadway production as well as the movie, visited campus in November for a book signing.

Pascal, from the Bronx, N.Y., stepped into the Broadway world when ‘Rent’ debuted in 1996. From there, he has performed in musicals such as ‘Aida’and ‘Cabaret.’ He has worked with Rapp ever since the original run of ‘Rent,’ and the two appeared together in the film and other tours of the musical. Rapp, from Joliet, Ill., stepped into the spotlight for his role in 1993’s ‘Dazed and Confused’ before his role in ‘Rent.’He also produced a solo album in 2000 called ‘Look Around.’

Pascal and Rapp have been on tour since last year. The two began performing together again after touring for ‘Rent’ in 2009.

Not everyone interested in seeing the performance has to be a huge Broadway fan, said Sarah Ross Cappella, associate director in the Office of Student Activities.

‘I think that this performance will reach out to those who are the die-hard fans, but also to others as well,’ Cappella said. ‘It’ll reach out to a lot of different groups.’

Reagan Morehouse considers herself a fan of the movie adaptation. She was thrilled to see the two actors were coming to Syracuse regardless, but is disappointed that she can’t attend.

‘I bought my ticket first thing in the morning, and I was so upset when I found out that I had something going on at the same time,’ said Morehouse, a freshman biomedical engineering major.

The performers agreed to be a part of a short meet and greet after the show, Cappella said. It will offer theater fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with their Broadway heroes.

‘It’s a very intimate setting that people usually don’t get to have with performers like this,’ Cappella said. ‘I think that this would be exciting for anyone to see.’

cmdunder@syr.edu

Published on April 18, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Claire: cmdunder@syr.edu | @ClaireDunderman