<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Ephraim Sykes Archives - Cultural Attaché</title> <atom:link href="https://culturalattache.co/tag/ephraim-sykes/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://culturalattache.co/tag/ephraim-sykes/</link> <description>The Guide to Arts and Culture events in and around Los Angeles</description> <lastBuildDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2021 22:22:07 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1</generator> <item> <title>Rent and Its 25 Seasons of Love</title> <link>https://culturalattache.co/2021/03/02/rent-and-its-25-seasons-of-love/</link> <comments>https://culturalattache.co/2021/03/02/rent-and-its-25-seasons-of-love/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Craig Byrd]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 02 Mar 2021 08:01:25 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Musicals: 5-6-7-8]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Streaming]]></category> <category><![CDATA[25 Years of Rent: Measured in Love]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Adam Chanler-Berat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Adam Pascal]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Aiko Nakasone]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ali Stroker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Anaïs Mitchell]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Angela Wendt]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Annaleigh Ashford]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Anthony Rapp]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ben Platt]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Benj Pasek]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bernie Telsey]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Billy Porter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brandon Victor Dixon]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Byron Utley]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Carlina Rivera]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Christopher Jackson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dael Orlandersmith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daphne Rubin-Vega]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ephraim Sykes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Eva Noblezada]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fredi Walker-Browne]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gilles Chaisson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Idina Menzel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ivo van Hove]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jai Rodriguez]]></category> <category><![CDATA[James C. Nicola]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Janet Harckham]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jeffrey Seller]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jennifer Ashley Tepper]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jeremy O. Harris]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jesse L. Martin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Joe Iconis]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jonathan Larson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Julie Larson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Justin Paul]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kamilah Marshall]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kevin McCollum]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristen Lee Kelly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Leigh Silverman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lin-Manuel Miranda]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Linda Chapman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mariko Kojima]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marlies Yearby]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Martha Banta]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Michael Greif]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Neil Patrick Harris]]></category> <category><![CDATA[New York Theatre Workshop]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Nicholas Christopher]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Once Upon a Mattress]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Paul Clay]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pulitzer Prize]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rent]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rodney Hicks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rona Siddiqui]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sarah Jessica Parker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sebastian Arcelus]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shakina Nayfack]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Stephen Graham]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tamika Lawrence]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Taye Diggs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telly Leung]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Lazours]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tim Weil]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Timothy Britten Parker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tom Viola]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tony Awards]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tracie Thoms]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Victoria Leacock Hoffman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wendy Ettinger]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wilson Cruz]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wilson Jermaine Heredia]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://culturalattache.co/?p=13294</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>New York Theatre Workshop<br /> <br /> March 2nd - March 6th</p> <p>The post <a href="https://culturalattache.co/2021/03/02/rent-and-its-25-seasons-of-love/">Rent and Its 25 Seasons of Love</a> appeared first on <a href="https://culturalattache.co">Cultural Attaché</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>January 26, 1996 was a day filled with so much emotion at New York Theatre Workshop on East 4th Street in New York. It was opening night for a musical that would go on to capture awards galore and the hearts and minds of millions of fans all over the world. It was also, sadly, the day after the show’s composer, lyricist and book writer, Jonathan Larson, passed away. The musical was <em>Rent</em>.</p> <p>For those of us who remember when we first heard of the show or first saw it, it seems inconceivable that it has been a quarter century since the show become a phenomenon and would go on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. </p> <p>It also made stars out of Taye Diggs, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel (in her Broadway debut), Adam Pascal (in his Broadway debut), Anthony Rapp and Daphne Rubin-Vega (in her Broadway debut). <em>Rent</em> ran for over 12 years on Broadway with a total of 5,123 performances.</p> <p>To celebrate this silver anniversary, New York Theatre Workshop is holding a fundraiser called <em><a href="https://www.nytw.org/show/25-years-of-rent-measured-in-love/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">25 Years of Rent: Measured In Love</a></em>. The event will feature a reunion of numerous cast veterans from the many productions of the musical that have taken place. </p> <p>Those scheduled to perform include: Gilles Chiasson (<em>Steve</em> and others on Broadway), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (originated the role of <em>Angel</em>/Tony Award), Rodney Hicks (<em>Benny</em> on Broadway), Christopher Jackson (<em>Hamilton</em>), Kristen Lee Kelly (<em>Maureeen</em> – Broadway), Tamika Lawrence (<em>Mrs. Jefferson</em> and others in the 2011 off-Broadway revival), Jesse L. Martin (originated the role of <em>Tom Collins</em>), Idina Menzel (originated the role of <em>Maureen</em>), Aiko Nakasone (<em>Alexi Darling</em> on Broadway), Eva Noblezada (<em>Hadestown</em>), Adam Pascal (originated the role of Roger), Ben Platt (<em>Dear Evan Hansen</em>), <a href="https://culturalattache.co/2018/05/31/soul-billy-porter-meets-soul-richard-rodgers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billy Porter</a> (<em>Kinky Boots</em>), Anthony Rapp (originated the role of <em>Mark</em>), Daphne Rubin-Vega (originated the role of <em>Mimi</em>), Ali Stroker (<em>Oklahoma!</em>), Tracie Thoms (<em>Joanne</em> on Broadway), Byron Utley (multiple roles on Broadway for the entire run), and Fredi Walker-Browne (<em>Joanne</em> on Broadway).</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe title="25 Years of RENT: Measured in Love" width="696" height="392" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oiN_fN3ltJQ?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div></figure> <p>New songs from Joe Iconis (<em>Be More Chill</em>), The Lazours, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (<em>Dear Evan Hansen</em>) and Rona Siddiqui will also be performed.</p> <p>Additional participants will include: Sebastian Arcelus (<em>Roger</em> on Broadway), Annaleigh Ashford (<em>Maureen</em> in an off-Broadway revival in 2011), Assistant Director Martha Banta, Adam Chanler-Berat (<em>Mark</em> in the 2011 off-Broadway revival), Linda Chapman, Nicholas Christopher (<em>Collins</em> in the 2011 off-Broadway revival), Set Designer Paul Clay, <a href="https://culturalattache.co/2019/05/01/wilson-cruz-cant-get-out-of-the-merry-go-round/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wilson Cruz</a> (<em>Angel</em> on Broadway), Brandon Victor Dixon (<em>Hamilton</em>), casting director Wendy Ettinger, producer Stephen Graham, director Michael Greif, Janet Harckham, playwright Jeremy O. Harris (<em>Slave Play</em>), Neil Patrick Harris (<em>Mark</em> on tour), Victoria Leacock Hoffman (producer of <em>tick, tick…Boom!</em>, Mariko Kojima, Julie Larson (the composer’s sister), <a href="https://culturalattache.co/2019/03/14/telly-leung-can-sing-happy-and-healthy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Telly Leung</a> (<em>Angel</em> at the Hollywood Bowl), Kamilah Marshall, producer Kevin McCollum, Lin-Manuel Miranda (<em>Hamilton</em>), Anaïs Mitchell (<em>Hadestown)</em>, Shakina Nayfack (<em>Difficult People</em>), NYTW Artistic Director James C. Nicola, playwright Dael Orlandersmith (<em>Until the Flood</em>), Councilmember Carlina Rivera, Jai Rodriguez (<em>Angel </em>on Broadway), producer Jeffrey Seller, director Leigh Silverman (<em>Grand Horizons</em>), Ephraim Sykes (<em>Benny</em> in the 2011 off-Broadway revival), casting director Bernie Telsey, producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper, director Ivo van Hove (<em>West Side Story</em> revival), Tom Viola (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS), <em>Rent</em> Music Supervisor Tim Weil, <em>Rent </em>Costume Designer Angela Wendt, <em>Rent </em>Choreographer Marlies Yearby and more.</p> <p>My personal <em>Rent</em> memory surrounds my first time seeing the musical in New York on December 19, 1996. I was in New York with my friend, Matthew Barry. Like everyone I knew, I, too, was fascinated about seeing this musical that was the must-see show on everyone’s list. I didn’t know much about it beyond it depicted the lives of a group of people who lived in the East Village of New York. I also knew that it was inspired by Puccini’s opera, <em>La Bohème</em>. That was it.</p> <p>Almost the entire original cast was performing that night. The only person out for that performance was Timothy Britten Parker (who played <em>Gordon</em>, <em>the man</em>, <em>Mr. Grey</em> and others). He was attending his sister’s opening night in <em>Once Upon</em> <em>a Mattress</em> (his sister is Sarah Jessica Parker).</p> <p>By the end of the first act I was, along with majority of theatergoers, convinced that this was a special musical. Then the second act began with the company singing <em>Seasons of Love</em>. </p> <figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe title=""Seasons of Love" - Rent, Rosie O'Donnell Show" width="696" height="522" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OP5f1hxvQDE?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div></figure> <p>They got to the bridge with the lyrics:</p> <p class="has-text-align-center">In truths that she learned<br>Or in times that she cried<br>In bridges he burned<br>Or the way that she died</p> <p>My mother had passed away three months earlier. As you can imagine, I was a mess. All I could think about was mom. I’m sure there were people around me at the Nederlander Theatre who couldn’t understand what was going on with me. I was too caught up in my emotions to care. I somehow managed to pull myself together and enjoy the second act. </p> <p>After the performance was over, Matt and I left the theatre and it was lightly snowing. It felt like a sign that everything was going to be just fine. <em>Rent</em>, with its own story of love and loss (both on stage and off) had offered one of many forms of catharsis I would rely on to get me through that first year after my mother’s death. To this very day whenever I hear any of Larson’s songs, I always think of my mother.</p> <p>What are your personal memories and experiences of seeing <em>Rent</em>? Leave a comment on this post. </p> <p>Tickets for <em>25 Years of Rent: Measure in Love</em> are $25. The show will be available for streaming through March 6th at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST.</p> <p>Photo: The cast of <em>Rent</em> at New York Theatre Workshop (Photo by Joan Marcus)</p> <p>The post <a href="https://culturalattache.co/2021/03/02/rent-and-its-25-seasons-of-love/">Rent and Its 25 Seasons of Love</a> appeared first on <a href="https://culturalattache.co">Cultural Attaché</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://culturalattache.co/2021/03/02/rent-and-its-25-seasons-of-love/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>