A must-read for any RENThead! For Anthony's first book, he does an excellent job of pouring his heart and emotions out onto the page now rather than the stage. From the passing of RENT's creator Jonathan Larson to Anthony's Mother battle with cancer in Joliet, Illinois, Anthony explicitly details the turmoil he battled during those rough but exciting RENT years, commutung from Broadway to the Midwest.

Share/Like this Review?

As Rent hits the big screen, Rapp, who appeared in the film and the original cast of the Broadway hit, has written a sensitive, heartfelt memoir chronicling his life on and off stage. The actor who played video artist Mark Cohen pulls back the curtains to show the musical's genesis, which involved endless rehearsals and false starts. He lauds the genius of Jonathan Larson, its creator, and the supportive New York Theatre Workshop, which lent its facilities to the exuberant troupe and director. Rapp writes most movingly of his friends who lost their battle with AIDS [...] as well as the long, painful demise of his mother from cancer. While the book sometimes plunges too deeply into its twin themes of love and loss, Rapp recognizes the healing power of drama and theater, writing that acting is "an escape of sorts." Absorbing, warm and hopeful, the book celebrates a man, his work and a generation struggling with AIDS but determined to survive. Photos. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.

Share/Like this Review?

An unflinchingly honest memoir, I had trouble putting it down because I wanted to keep reading to find out more about Anthony Rapp's journey through this difficult time.

Share/Like this Review?

I wouldn't consider myself a "Renthead" (though I am a fan), but I absolutely love Anthony's memoir. While it did touch upon his time as part of the cast of RENT, it wasn't the entire focus of the book. Just as much time was devoted to him reflecting on his personal life, his relationship with his family, his mother's battle with cancer... It was the parts about his mother that I really reacted to - often times, I found myself with tears in my eyes.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of RENT, Anthony Rapp, or memoirs in general.

WARNING: Anthony is very open about his bisexuality, and discusses it at times explicitly in his book. If this offends you, you might want to steer clear of this book.

Share/Like this Review?

This book was great. It really gave you a look at his life and the journey of RENT. As a Renthead, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Anthony Rapp or wants more information behind the scenes of RENT.

Share/Like this Review?

An honest retelling of one man's experience of love and death as it relates to his time in the Broadway musical, RENT. Anthony Rapp was one of the original cast members of the show and tells of his experience auditioning for the workshop and being called back for the Broadway production while his mother was dying from cancer. He also includes insight on what it was like to receive the news that Jonathan Larson, the show's creator, had died the night before the first preview. A must read for anyone who has been a fan of Anthony's work or of the musical, RENT.

Share/Like this Review?

Anthony brought me to tears with this book. It was fantastic. It would be so hard to deal with everything he was going through all at the same time. If he ever decides to write another book (fiction, non-fiction, whatever) I will give it a try.

Share/Like this Review?

if you are a rent fan, this book is very interesting because it combines the staging of the play as well as personal issues that rapp was dealing with in his own life

Share/Like this Review?