In this musical, set at the dawn of the 1990s, a group of New Yorkers struggle with their careers, love lives and the effects of the AIDS epidemic on their community. Mark (Anthony Rapp), an aspiring filmmaker, and Roger (Adam Pascal), an HIV-positive musician, scramble for money to pay rent to their landlord and former roommate, Benny (Taye Diggs). Meanwhile, their friend Tom (Jesse L. Martin), a professor, has fallen for Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), who is slowly dying of AIDS.
Rent/Film synopsis

What killed Jonathan Larson?

January 25, 1996
Jonathan Larson/Date of death

Who produced Rent?

Chris Columbus
Robert De NiroMark RadcliffeMichael BarnathanJane Rosenthal
Rent/Producers

How long did Rent run on Broadway?

12-year
The musical moved to Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996. On Broadway, Rent gained critical acclaim and won a Tony Award for Best Musical among other awards. The Broadway production closed on September 7, 2008 after a 12-year run of 5,123 performances, the ninth longest-running Broadway show at the time.

How does rent end?

Angel dies, and Roger leaves for Santa Fe. While there, he “finds himself” and realizes that he is in love with Mimi and moves back to New York to be with her. When he gets there, however, he finds that Mimi has gone missing.

Is Jonathan Larson still alive?

Deceased (1960–1996)
Jonathan Larson/Living or Deceased

Who died in Rent?

At the climax of the number, the two former couples break up, and Angel suddenly dies. At the funeral, the friends briefly come together to share their memories, with Collins being the last to reminisce (“I’ll Cover You [Reprise]”).

Who died in rent?

Does Roger die in rent?

Mark and Roger refuse to pay the rent . Roger, knowing that he will die soon, plans on writing a successful song before he dies . Suddenly, there is a knock at the door, and Mimi, a dancer living downstairs, asks Roger to light her candle ; she too has lost her electricity and heat.