JONATHAN LARSON
(Book, Music, Lyrics)
received the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Rent. Rent received four 1996 Tony Awards (including Best Musical and two to Mr. Larson— Best Book of a Musical and Best Score of a Musical); six Drama Desk Awards (including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Music and Best Lyrics); Best Musical Awards from the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Outer Critics Circle (Off- Broadway); and three Obie Awards (including Outstanding Book, Music and Lyrics). Previously, he received the Richard Rodgers Award, the Richard Rodgers Development Grant, the Stephen Sondheim Award and The Gilman & Gonzales-Falla Theatre Foundation’s Commendation Award.
Earlier work includes Superbia; tick, tick...BOOM!; the score of J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation; and selections of Sitting on the Edge of the Future. He also wrote music for “Sesame Street,” and the children’s book-cassettes An American Tail and Land Before Time, as well as for Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner. He conceived, directed and wrote four original songs for Away We Go!, a children’s video.
Rent had its world premiere on February 13, 1996, at New York Theatre Workshop and opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996. Mr. Larson died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm, believed to be caused by Marfan Syndrome, on January 25, 1996. It was 10 days before his 36th birthday. His semi-autobiographical musical tick, tick… BOOM! (which he wrote previous to Rent) had a successful run off-Broadway at the Jane Street Theatre.
MICHAEL GREIF
(Original Broadway Director)
most recently directed Dear Evan Hansen at the Music Box and War Paint at the Nederlander. Additional Broadway credits: Rent, Grey Gardens, Next to Normal (Tony noms.); Never Gonna Dance; If/Then. Recent work includes A Parallelogram (Second Stage); Our Lady of Kibeho and Angels in America (NY’s Signature Theatre); The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide… (Public); and The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet at The Public’s Delacorte Theater.
Off-Broadway, he’s received Obie Awards for Machinal, Dogeaters (Public) and Rent (NYTW), and has directed new plays and musicals at Playwrights Horizons, Roundabout, MTC, MCC, New York Theatre Workshop and at Second Stage, where he directed Next to Normal and Dear Evan Hansen. Regional work includes premieres and revivals at Williamstown Theatre Festival (10 seasons), La Jolla Playhouse (AD, five seasons), Arena Stage, Center Stage, Mark Taper Forum, Dallas Theater Center, Trinity Repertory Company. Mr. Greif holds a B.S. from Northwestern University and an M.F.A. from the University of California, San Diego.
EVAN ENSIGN
(Director)
Work as Director includes Going Ape! (London), Wrong Songs for Christmas (National Theatre, London), Avenue Q (U.K. tours and Bogota Columbia), Just a Housewife (U.K. tour). Wrong Songs for Summer (London), You Won’t Succeed on Broadway… (London), Rent (Montreal and Far East tour), Jonathan Larson at the Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.). Other New York theater includes Womyn in Three, Out of the Reach of Children and Simone at Town Hall. Work as Associate Director includes 9 to 5 The Musical (London), Avenue Q (Broadway, Las Vegas, London and U.S. tours), Rent (Broadway and U.S. tours), Les Misérables (U.S. tour); Elf The Musical (London and U.K. tour) and Shrek The Musical (Broadway and U.S. tour). Theater as Resident Director includes The Phantom of the Opera (London and U.K. and U.S. tours), White Christmas (London) and Strangers on a Train (London).
Other work on Broadway includes Chicago, Exit the King, Annie Get Your Gun, Barbara Cook-Mostly Sondheim, and the workshops of The Book of Mormon as well as Julie Andrew’s Gift of Music at the O2. Film and television includes “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers” (Fox Television) and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, among others.
MARLIES YEARBY
(Choreography)
is the Tony-nominated and Drama League Award-winning choreographer of Rent. Her work was licensed for the film adaptation. She is a recipient of the New York Dance Performance Bessie Award and nominations for the Helen Hayes Award and Joe A. Callaway Award. Theater commissions include the American Music Theatre Festival and Penumbra Theatre. Ms. Yearby is the founder/artistic director of the Movin’ Spirits Dance Theater and has toured with her company both nationally and internationally. Company commissions include Lincoln Center, American Dance Festival, Harlem Stages, Kansas Lied Center for the Performing Arts, Jacob’s Pillow and American Festival of Theatre and Dance in France.
TIM WEIL
(Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements)
As musical director: Broadway: Jonathan Larson’s Rent, Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers, Jeanine Tesori’s Shrek The Musical; Off-Broadway: Patti Griffin’s Ten Million Miles, Stephen Schwartz’s The Baker’s Wife; Regional: South Pacific (Guthrie Theater, dir. Joe Haj). As composer: Broadway: Sally Marr and Her Escorts staring Joan Rivers; Off-Broadway: Susan Lori Parks’ F***ing A. As arranger/orchestrator: Broadway: Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill starring Audra MacDonald (also for HBO), Rent, Shrek The Musical. Film: Todd Graff’s Camp, Chris Columbus’ Rent, The Mark Pease Experience starring Ben Stiller and Anna Kendrick. Also, Tim has served on the board of the Jonathan Larson Foundation, which provides grants for upcoming composers and lyricists.
PAUL CLAY
(Set Design)
is an award-winning artist and designer. Projects include scenic design for Rent (Broadway, NYTW, tour). Recent projects include In Water I’m Weightless (National Theatre Wales, the Southbank Centre, London), Commedia (Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam), Forgetful Snow (The Kitchen, NYC). Clay has also worked with Mabou Mines, La MaMa, David Dorfman (at BAM) and many more in the N.Y. theater and dance community. He has received the MAN Theatre Awards “Best Design,” Municipal Arts Society Times Square Spectacular Award, Drama-Logue Award, NEA/TCG Fellowship and the Bessie Award, among others.
MATTHEW MARAFFI
(Touring Set Adaptation)
is proud to return to Rent for the 20th anniversary. As a member of IATSE Local 829 and Local 74, he has worked on projects large and small around the world. Some projects include Ring of Fire, La Bohème, Buried Child, How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying, Side Man. In the film industry he is noted for his production design for π (Pi), (1998 Sundance Directors Award). He has been the director of operations at Global Scenic Services since in fall 2007, while continuing his passion for live entertainment as the production manager for the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra. Outside work, he enjoys fishing with his three sons, Luke, Will and Mark, and serves on the board of both his town youth soccer program and the SWD Connecticut Junior Soccer Association.
ANGELA WENDT
(Costume Design)
received the American Theatre Wing Design Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Costume Design for Rent. Her theater credits include the Off-Broadway and studio productions of Rent (NYTW); All My Sons by Arthur Miller (50th anniversary production at the Roundabout Theatre); the American premiere of Play with Repeats by Martin Grimp; Lysistrata by Barry Edelstein; Twelfth Night (Tennessee Rep.); The Great Pretenders (Juilliard); Marisol by Jose Rivera (Public Theatre). Feature film: Childhood’s End directed by Jeff Lipsky. Dance: Tilliiboyo and Regions by Molissa Fenley; Savanna by Peggy Baker. She has also designed numerous music videos in the United States and Europe.
JONATHAN SPENCER
(Lighting Design)
designed the lighting for the first national tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Off-Broadway productions include Middle of the Night by the Keen Theater Company, The Ohmies at DRT and Playwrights Horizons, Who Is Floyd Stearn? and Squeeze Box. John Moran’s Book of the Dead Second Avenue at NYSF Public Theater. Re-Lights for Legally Blonde at the Star Theater in Sydney, Wicked at Universal Studios Japan and Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses at St. Louis Rep, Missouri Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse and Hartford Stage. Associate/Assistant Broadway credits include Cabaret, Pippin, A streetcar Named Desire, Sister Act, Finian’s Rainbow, Wicked, Legally Blonde, White Christmas and Metamorphoses.
Jonathan teaches a summer Master’s program in lighting design at Southern Oregon University, lives in New York City and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Visit JSpencerDesign.com.
KEITH CAGGIANO
(Sound Design)
has worked across the country and internationally, from musicals on Broadway, London’s West End and Australia to spectacles in Las Vegas. Recent credits include New York: Holiday Inn (in production), Himself and Nora, The Radio City Spring Spectacular, Cabaret, Disenchanted. Tours: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes. Regional: American Idiot, Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
STEVE SKINNER
(Arrangements)
worked with Jonathan Larson as arranger and recording producer for 12 years. He received the 1996 Drama Desk Award for Best Arrangements for Rent. Broadway: Doonesbury (keyboards and assistant conductor). Recording/arranging for Bette Midler, Taylor Dayne, Billy Mann, Chaka Khan, Bebe & Cece Winans and Michael Crawford.
BILLY ARONSON
(Original Concept and Additional Lyrics)
His plays have been honored with publication in Best American Short Plays ’92–93 and are frequently performed at Ensemble Studio Theatre. His lyric writing includes the libretto for an opera being developed by American Opera Projects, and first draft lyrics for “Santa Fe” and “I Should Tell You.” His new play, The Art Room, will premiere at Washington, D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre this spring. His true love is Lisa Vogel.
LYNN M. THOMSON
(Dramaturg)
is a dramaturg, director and teacher. She brought nearly 20 years of new play dramaturgical experience to her months of work with Jonathan Larson on the script of Rent. She was associate artistic director for the Philadelphia Theatre Company where she created and administered a new play festival. She was dramaturg at Circle Repertory Company. She has directed more than 100 productions of both new plays and revivals at regional and New York theatres, and many more workshops and readings of new plays. She is currently head of the M.F.A. program in dramaturgy at Brooklyn College.
GABRIELLE NORRIS
(Production Stage Manager)
calls Seattle her home away from tour. Favorite credits: Burn the Floor, Million Dollar Quartet, Priscilla, Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams (NCL), and the aerial/ice-skating shows at the Canadian National Exhibition. “Thanks to those who’ve filled my life with love, books and starlight.” Follow her adventure on Instagram with @gabbysaysgo.
BAILEY SAXE
(Assistant Stage Manager)
is thrilled to join the Rent tour. Bailey served as a Production Assistant for King Kong and the revival of Kiss Me, Kate! The Muny: Singin’ in the Rain, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, The Little Mermaid and Newsies. Much love to her family and ACF.
KERRICK DOUGHERTY
(Company Manager)
is excited to be sharing the story of Rent. National tours: Rent (Assistant Company Manager), Motown: The Musical (Assistant Company Manager/Assistant Stage Manager). He received his B.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma. Kerrick would like to thank everyone for their wisdom and support.
MAGGIE SWAHL
(Assistant Company Manager)
ACM credits include Maine State Music Theatre and NY Stage and Film. Recent Off-Broadway experience includes The Other Josh Cohen, The Dead 1904 and Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish. Thanks always to Mom. “It’s not a matter of if, but when.”
MARK BINNS
(Conductor/Keyboard 1)
Recent credits include the national tour of Motown: The Musical (Associate Musical Director) and Jersey Boys (Musical Director) with NCL. Regional credits include Lincoln Center, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre and more. Endless gratitude to Work Light Productions and Tim Weil. For Mom, always. Instagram: @mark_binns.
ALLIED TOURING
(Tour Marketing & Press)
is a full-service engagement management agency representing Broadway tours and other live touring events across North America. Current: Bandstand; The Book of Mormon; Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (San Francisco); Hello, Dolly!; Mean Girls, Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live; The Play That Goes Wrong; Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Upcoming: Ain’t Too Proud; The Cher Show; Hadestown; The Hip Hop Nutcracker; Pretty Woman; To Kill a Mockingbird; Tootsie; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
WOJCIK | SEAY CASTING
(Casting Director)
Tours: Jesus Christ Superstar, Rock of Ages, Something Rotten!, Kinky Boots, Motown: The Musical, Flashdance, Dreamgirls, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Jekyll & Hyde, Joseph… Dreamcoat and more. Off-Broadway: Othello: The Remix, Church & State, The Portal, Tennessee Williams’ The Two Character Play, Handle with Care, Triassic Parq and more! Regional: Multiple seasons/shows for Riverside Theatre, Fla.; The Engeman Theatre, N.Y.; Theatre Raleigh, N.C.; Stages St Louis, Mo.; Theatre Aspen, Colo.; Gretna Theatre, Pa.; The Arvada Center, Colo.; and Tuacahn PAC, Utah. wscasting.com.
THE BOOKING GROUP
(Tour Direction)
Since its inception in 1996, The Booking Group has represented 25 Tony Award-winning Best Musicals and Plays. Current touring productions include Hamilton; Anastasia; Come From Away; Dear Evan Hansen; Hello, Dolly! starring Betty Buckley; The Book of Mormon; School of Rock; Waitress; On Your Feet!; Rent: The 20th Anniversary Tour; Fiddler on the Roof; The Color Purple; and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Future productions include The Cher Show, Mean Girls, My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman and To Kill a Mockingbird.
WORK LIGHT PRODUCTIONS
(Producer)
Dedicated to creating and producing live entertainment. Current touring productions: Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent 20th Anniversary Tour, Bandstand and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud, Jagged Little Pill. Developing Clue, a new stage play based on the Paramount movie. Produced Julie Andrews, The Gift of Music at The Hollywood Bowl and London’s O2 Arena. Other recent touring productions include the Tony Award-winners American Idiot and In the Heights, and Avenue Q, Motown, R&H Cinderella, Something Rotten! and Mamma Mia! WLP is led by founding partner and President Stephen Gabriel and Vice President Nancy Gabriel. worklightproductions.com.
PORT CITY TECHNICAL
(Production Management)
is a production management company based in Charleston, S.C. Also referred to as “Work Light South,” PCT was initially started in 1993 as Technical Theater Solutions by Rhys Williams. TTS worked with WLP on many shows, including American Idiot, Nice Work If You Can Get It, In the Heights and Avenue Q. Since the conception of PCT, tours with WLP have included Mamma Mia!, Vocalosity, Motown: The Musical, Cinderella, Something Rotten! and the pre-broadway Ain’t Too Proud: The Temptations Musical. Current and upcoming tours include Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, Bandstand and White Christmas.