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All Music Guide:
Singer/actor Anthony Rapp is probably best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson's hit musical Rent (performing in the show from its off-Broadway debut to Chicago and London), for which Rapp shared an OBIE award with the rest of the cast for his stirring performance. In addition to appearances in several movies over the years (Adventures in Babysitting, Dazed and Confused, Road Trip, etc.), Rapp issued his solo debut recording, Look Around, in January of 2001 on the Orchard label. Picking from a melting pot of influences (such '80s acts as the Cure and New Order, '90s alt-rockers Superchunk and Nirvana, as well as the Beatles, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin), Rapp's debut proved to be quite varied musically, as he supported the debut's release with appearances at colleges and small clubs.
Wikipedia:
Anthony Deane Rapp (born October 26, 1971) is an American stage and film actor and singer best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent in 1996 and later for reprising the role in the film version and the Broadway Tour of Rent in 2009. He also performed the role of Charlie Brown in the 1999 Broadway revival of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Early life
Rapp was born in Joliet, Illinois, the son of Mary Lee (née Baird) and Douglas Rapp. After his parents' divorce, he was raised by his mother, a trained nurse.
Rapp attended high school at Joliet West High School in Joliet, Illinois and theatre camp at Interlochen Arts Camp. In junior high school, Rapp won numerous awards for his singing. His brother is playwright, novelist and filmmaker Adam Rapp.
Career
Rapp first performed on Broadway in 1981 in the flop The Little Prince and the Aviator, a musical based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novel The Little Prince. The show closed during previews. He also appeared in the 1987 movie Adventures in Babysitting, which was directed by Chris Columbus. Columbus would later direct Rapp in the film version of Rent. He has appeared in several movies and Broadway shows, most notably as intellectuals. His notable work includes such films as Dazed and Confused, A Beautiful Mind, School Ties, Road Trip, Six Degrees of Separation (stage and film versions), An American Family, Danny Roane: First Time Director and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Rapp is probably best known for playing Mark Cohen in the off-Broadway and original Broadway casts of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent. For his audition for the musical, Rapp sang R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion", and received his callback in September 1994. He reprised that role in the film adaptation, which was released on November 23, 2005.
In 2000, Rapp released a solo CD, entitled Look Around. He returned to Rent on July 30, 2007, for a six week run, along with original cast member Adam Pascal. Rapp and Adam Pascal continued in their return to Broadway's Rent through October 7 at the Nederlander Theatre.
Rapp and Pascal, along with fellow original cast member Gwen Stewart, reprised their roles of Mark and Roger in a national tour of Rent beginning January 6, 2009.
