Entertainment

'Rent' Is Becoming A Live TV Musical

by Taylor Ferber

Friday has officially become TV live musical production news day. Word is out that Rent will be the next live musical production from Fox. This glorious announcement comes the same day audiences learned there will also be a Fox live musical show of A Christmas Story this winter. The network is reportedly honoring the musical Rent for its 20th anniversary (since debuting in April 2016). What a time to be alive.

For over two decades, Rent has given hope and spread love among the masses, scoring Tony and Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. It's become an iconic story which follows a group of starving artists in NYC's East Village amidst political uncertainty and the heartbreaking presence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 2005, the show made its way to the big screen, starring A+ cast Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Taye Diggs, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, Rosario Dawson, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, and Tracie Thoms.

With a few exciting details announced about the upcoming TV event thus far, there's also a little bit of uncertainty. For starters, it's unclear whether Rent will air before or after A Christmas Story in December. Casting news is also TBD. But, fans should also know that the production is in the right hands.

Marc Platt — who executive produced Grease Live!, La La Land, Wicked, and is set to produce the upcoming TV musical of A Christmas Story — is also behind Rent. Platt will work with the estate of deceased composer Jonathan Larson, who wrote the music of the original Broadway show.

Rent is a story everyone could use right now, and I don't think this timing could've been any better.