Anthony Rapp, Rent Cast to Appear at NYCO’s "Afternoon Arias"

Original Rent star Anthony Rapp and cast members from the current Broadway production of the musical will participate in New York City Opera’s free “Afternoon Arias” series of concerts, to be held August 15-18 in Bryant Park.

On Wednesday, August 16 at 12:30pm, the Rent cast will perform selections from the show and will be joined by young artists from City Opera singing selections from La Bohème, the Puccini opera that provided the inspiration for the musical. After the concert, Rapp, who created the role of Mark Cohen, will discuss his book Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent with City Opera dramaturg Cori Ellison.

The other afternoon concerts, which will be hosted by WQXR radio personalities Jeff Spurgeon and Midge Woolsey, will feature selections from The Pearl Fishers, Carmen, Madama Butterfly, Hansel and Gretel, The Most Happy Fella, Martha, The Barber of Seville, The Pirates of Penzance, La Traviata, Rigoletto, Faust, La Rondine, and Lakmé. Gerald Steichen will be the pianist for all performances.

For more information, visit www.nycopera.com.