Anthony Rapp

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Anthony Rapp
Anthony Rapp at BCEFA.jpg
At an annual charity event by BCEF (September 2006)
Born Anthony Deane Rapp
(1971-10-26) October 26, 1971 (age 53)
Joliet, Illinois, United States
Occupation Actor, Singer
Years active 1981–present

Anthony Deane Rapp[1] (born October 26, 1971) is an American stage and film actor and singer best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent in 1996 and later for reprising the role in the film version and the Broadway Tour of Rent in 2009. He also performed the role of Charlie Brown in the 1999 Broadway revival of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Early life

Rapp was born in Joliet, Illinois, the son of Mary Lee (née Baird) and Douglas Rapp, a computer specialist.[2][3] After his parents' divorce, he was raised by his mother, a trained nurse.[4]

Rapp attended high school at Joliet West High School in Joliet, Illinois and theatre camp at Interlochen Arts Camp. In junior high school, Rapp won numerous awards for his singing.[5] His brother is playwright, novelist, and filmmaker Adam Rapp.

Career

At the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Mo. after performing in Rent, June 7, 2009

Rapp first performed on Broadway in 1981 in the musical The Little Prince and the Aviator, a musical based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novel The Little Prince. The show closed during previews. He also appeared in the 1987 movie Adventures in Babysitting, which was directed by Chris Columbus. Columbus would later direct Rapp in the film version of Rent. He has appeared in several movies and Broadway shows, most notably as intellectuals. His notable work includes such films as Dazed and Confused, A Beautiful Mind, School Ties, Road Trip, Six Degrees of Separation (stage and film versions), An American Family, Danny Roane: First Time Director and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.[6]

Rapp is probably best known for playing Mark Cohen in the off-Broadway and original Broadway casts of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent. For his audition for the musical, Rapp sang R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion", and received his callback in September 1994.[5] After being offered the role, Jonathan Larson even wrote new songs with Rapp's voice in mind.[7] He reprised that role in the film adaptation, which was released on November 23, 2005.

In 2000, Rapp released a solo CD, entitled Look Around. He returned to Rent on July 30, 2007, for a six-week run, along with original cast member Adam Pascal.[8] Rapp and Adam Pascal continued in their return to Broadway's Rent through October 7 at the Nederlander Theatre.[9]

Rapp and Pascal, along with fellow original cast member Gwen Stewart, reprised their roles of Mark and Roger in a national tour of Rent beginning January 6, 2009.[10][11]

Rapp played the role of Lucas in If/Then, which starred fellow Rent alum Idina Menzel. If/Then played the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., and began previews on Broadway on March 5, 2014, and opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theater on March 30, 2014. It closed on March 22, 2015. Rapp reprises the role in select performances of the 2015-2016 National Tour, along with Menzel and the rest of the main Broadway cast.

Rapp also appeared in the television special Psych: The Musical, which premiered on USA Network on December 15, 2013.

Personal life

Although Metro Weekly labeled him "one of the first openly gay men on Broadway," [12][13] Rapp has rejected the label of "gay" and instead identifies as "queer," as explained in a 1997 interview with Oasis Magazine:

I don't want to get into labels, but I've never labeled myself except to say I'm queer. The things that's been most important to me to be out about is that I have been in loving relationships with men. That is what I think is most important with any kind of visibility at this point is for people to see that ... yes, certainly it's about sex, people have sex, but ... what's most important who you love and are in love with[.] So, how I've come out is by thanking the man I love in the bio. I haven't said 'I am gay.' Because the truth is that I've also been in love with women, although the truth is I do think I'm primarily homosexual. But the whole debate about bisexuality gets tiresome to me and I don't want to enter into it. People have such misconceptions about it. I'm really happy that right now there's a great conversation going on about fluidity, because I think that for a lot of people, that's the case.[14]

Work

Television

Theatre

Year Production Role Notes
Unknown Youth is Broken Unknown off-Broadway
1981 Evita Unknown Regional
1982 The Little Prince and the Aviator The Little Prince Broadway; never opened
1986 Precious Sons Freddy Broadway; Mar. 20 - May 10, 1986
1990 Six Degrees of Separation Ben/Woody (u/s)/Doug (u/s) Broadway; Nov. 8, 1990 - Jan. 5, 1992
1992 The Destiny of Me Alexander Weeks off-Broadway
1993 Sophistry Jack Kahn off-Broadway
1994 Trafficking in Broken Hearts Bobby off-Broadway
1995 Raised in Captivity Dylan Taylor Sinclair/Roger off-Broadway
Rent Mark Cohen off-Broadway; 1995
1996 Broadway; 1996-97
1997 National Tour
1998 West End
Bright Lights, Big City Unknown off-Broadway
1999 You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Charlie Brown Broadway; Feb. 4 - Jun. 13, 1999
2001 Nocturne Unknown Berkely Repertory Theatre
2002 Henry V Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
2003 Hedwig and the Angry Inch Hedwig Brighton Fringe
Private Jokes Public Places William off-Broadway
2004 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Krelbourn National tour
2005 The 24 Hour Plays Trisan Broadway; special benefit production
2006 Rent Mark Cohen Broadway; 10th anniversary reunion concert
2007 Broadway; Jul. 30 - Oct. 7, 2007
Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell Performer off-Broadway
2008 Without You Anthony Rapp International tour; 2008 - 2011
Some Americans Abroad Henry McNeil off-Broadway
2009 Rent Mark Cohen National tour
2012 Pop! Unknown City Theatre
Without You Anthony Rapp West End
2014 If/Then Lucas Broadway; Mar. 30, 2014 - Mar. 22, 2015
2015 National tour; Oct. 13, 2015 - present

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Adventures in Babysitting Daryl Coopersmith
1989 Grave Secrets Jamie
Far From Home Pinky Sears
1992 School Ties Richard "McGoo" Collins
1993 Dazed and Confused Tony Olson
Six Degrees of Separation Ben
1996 Twister Tony
The Mantis Murder Unknown
1997 David Searching David
1999 Man of the Century Timothy Burns
2000 Road Trip Jacob Schultz
2001 Cruise Control Mirror Man Short
A Beautiful Mind Bender
2002 Paradisco L'ami américain Short
2004 Open House Barry Farnsworth
2005 Rent Mark Cohen
Happy Endings Dean
2006 Danny Roane: First Time Director Self
2007 Let Them Chirp Awhile Self
Blackbird Unknown
2008 Scaring the Fish Gene
2009 The Other Woman Simon
2012 Junction Connor
2014 Grind Vincent Short
2015 Not Again Dr. Thom Short
2016 Opening Night Logan Joyce post-production
Modern Love Daniel post-production
Dreamland Brad completed

Discography

Year Title Notes
1996 Rent (original Broadway cast recording) Solos on twenty-two tracks
1999 You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (new Broadway cast recording) Solos on nine tracks
2000 Look Around Solo album
2012 Without You (original cast recording) Solo album
2014 If/Then (original Broadway cast recording) Solos on six tracks

Concerts

Start Date End Date Title # of shows Notes
Jan 10, 2011 New York Town Hall 1 With Adam Pascal
Apr 12, 2012 Highline Ballroom 1 With Adam Pascal
Nov. 23, 2012 Nov. 24, 2012 54 Below 2
Oct. 20, 2014 Emelin Theatre 1
Mar. 30, 2015 B.B. King Blues Club and Grill 1 With Adam Pascal, Mandy Gonzalez, Lindsay Mendez, Marcus Paul James, and Telly Leung

Autobiography

Release Title Notes
2006 Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent Published by Simon & Schuster

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1986 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Precious Sons Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
1996 Obie Award Special Citatons Rent Won
2001 ACC Award Best Ensemble Cast A Beautiful Mind Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2005 Stinkers Bad Movie Award Worst Song Performance Rent Nominated
2006 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Song Performance Nominated
Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
OFTA Film Award Best Adapted Music Nominated
2014 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical If/Then Won

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://www.advocate.com/politics/commentary/1997/10/14/life-rapp-family
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Anthony Rapp's official website
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Rent tour schedule
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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