Showbiz Nation LIVE! Interview with ANTHONY RAPP

Showbiz Nation LIVE! Interview with ANTHONY RAPP from SHOWBIZ NATION LIVE! on Vimeo.

Broadway superstar ANTHONY RAPP discusses reprising is role as Lucas in the national tour of IF/THEN; the success of NEXT TO NORMAL; playing the iconic Andy Warhol in POP! and his sensational new film GRIND.

Broadway: If/Then; Rent; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Six Degrees of Separation; Precious Sons (Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk nomination). Off-Broadway: Raised in Captivity, Sophistry, The Destiny of Me, Some Americans Abroad, among others. Film: Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Six Degrees of Separation, Rent, Man of the Century, Road Trip, Winter Passing, A Beautiful Mind. TV: “The X-Files,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “Psych.” Author of Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent, which was adapted into theone-man show Without You and performed nationally and internationally. @albinokid on Twitter.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce Original Broadway Cast member Jackie Burns (If/Then, Wicked, Hair), Tamyra Gray (American Idol Season One Finalist, Rent), and Matthew Hydzik (Side Show, West Side Story, Grease), will join Chicago native and Original Broadway Cast member Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and the rest of the previously announced cast in the National Tour of IF/THEN, playing Broadway In Chicago’s Oriental Theatre for a limited two-week engagement February 23, 2016 – March 6, 2016.

IF/THEN is an original Broadway musical which reunites composer Tom Kitt, book writer/lyricist Brian Yorkey, and director Michael Greif, the creative team behind the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical, Next to Normal. 

IF/THEN is a contemporary new musical that follows two distinct storylines in the life of Elizabeth, a city planner who moves back to New York to restart her life in the city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully designed plans collide with the whims of fate, Elizabeth’s life splits into two parallel paths. IF/THEN follows both stories simultaneously as this modern woman faces the intersection of choice and chance.

Jackie Burns will play Elizabeth, a woman on the verge of turning 40 whose smallest decisions or most random occurrences will impact her world in ways she never dreamt possible. Jackie recently played the role of Elizabeth in IF/THEN on Broadway, and has also played the iconic role of Elphaba in Wicked, both on Broadway and in the First National Tour. She starred in the 2009 Tony Award-winning revival of Hair, and also appeared in the original Off-Broadway cast of Rock of Ages. 

Anthony Rapp will play Lucas, an old college friend of Elizabeth, who reconnects with her when she moves back to New York City. Anthony is best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson’s Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Rent. His other Broadway credits include his Broadway debut in Precious Sons with Judith Ivey and Ed Harris, for which he received an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Drama Desk nomination; the original company of John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation; and the revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Tamyra Gray, who will play Kate, an elementary school teacher and Elizabeth’s spirited new neighbor, is best known as one of the Top 4 finalists of the first season of “American Idol.” Tamyra is no stranger to Broadway having made her Broadway debut in Bombay Dreams in 2004, followed by playing Mimi Marquez in Rent. She penned the songs “I Believe” for Fantasia Barrino and “You Thought Wrong” for Kelly Clarkson. 

Matthew Hydzik will play Josh, a handsome doctor and army reservist who meets Elizabeth on her first day back in New York City. Mr. Hydzik’s Broadway credits include Side Show, West Side Story and Grease, to name a few. His National Tour credits include Rent, Fame, Grease and Flashdance.

The production also features Janine DiVita, who will play Anne, Daren A. Herbert, who will play Stephen, and Marc de la Cruz, who will play David. The ensemble includes English Bernhardt, Charissa Bertels, Xavier Cano, Trey Ellett, Kyra Faith, Corey Greenan, Cliffton Hall, Deedee Magno Hall, Tyler McGee, Joseph Morales, Emily Rogers, andAlicia Taylor Tomasko.

IF/THEN features choreography by Larry Keigwin, set design by Tony Award-Nominee Mark Wendland, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Tony Award-WinnerKenneth Posner and sound design by Tony Award-Winner Brian Ronan. Casting is byTelsey + Company/Craig Burns, CSA. Mark Myars is the Associate Choreographer. 

The original Broadway Cast Recording of IF/THEN was released by Sony Masterworks and is available on iTunes.

For more information about IF/THEN, please visit IfThenTheMusical.com. 

Facebook: Facebook.com/ifthenmusical

Twitter: @ifthenmusical

YouTube: youtube.com/ifthenmusical

Instagram: instagram.com/ifthenmusical

ABOUT THE CAST

JACKIE BURNS (Elizabeth) is thrilled to be starring in If/Then, returning to many of the same cities she visited playing Elphaba in Wicked, a role for which she received an IRNE Award nomination. She subsequently played Elphaba on Broadway, to great acclaim. Other Broadway: Hair (Revival, Original Cast), If/Then (Original Cast). Off-Broadway: Rock of Ages(Original Cast), Unlock’d, Ripper. Regional: Aldonza in Man of La Mancha (PCLO), Wedding Singer, A Grand Night for Singing (Connecticut Critics Circle Award), The Full Monty, Singin’ in the Rain, Joseph…, Sweeney Todd, Drood, Candide, Smokey Joe’s Café (Paper Mill). TV: “All My Children.” Concept Albums: Lucifer (Michael Mott), Swept Away (Disney), Tears from Heaven, and Excalibur (Frank Wildhorn).

ANTHONY RAPP (Lucas). Broadway: Rent; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Six Degrees of Separation; Precious Sons (Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk nomination). Off-Broadway: Raised in Captivity, Sophistry, The Destiny of Me, Some Americans Abroad, among others. Film: Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Six Degrees of Separation, Rent, Man of the Century, Roadtrip, Winter Passing, A Beautiful Mind. TV: “The X-Files,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “Psych.” Author of Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent, which was adapted into the one-man show Without You and performed nationally and internationally. @albinokid on Twitter

TAMYRA GRAY (Kate). After the acclaim that followed her appearances in the inaugural season of “American Idol,” Tamyra parlayed the attention into a successful theater, televison, and film career. Broadway credits include: Bombay Dreams, Rent. Film: Sony’s The Gospel, Jonathan Demme’s Rachel Getting Married. Tamyra won the Hollywood NAACP award for “Best Lead Female” for her role in Debbie Allen’s Twist. Tamyra is a devoted wife and mother who leans on spirituality to maintain balance between work, home, and health.

MATTHEW HYDZIK (Josh). Broadway: Side Show (Buddy), West Side Story (Tony), Grease (Kenickie), It Shoulda Been You. Off-Broadway: Tomorrow Morning. Some regional favorites: The Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Jolla Playhouse, Kennedy Center, Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, Fulton Opera House. National tours: Rent, Fame, Grease, and Flashdance. Proud grad of Penn State University. Insta/Twitter: @matthew_hydzik