TV Tip: New York Theatre Guide recommends Rent on Fox

Rent airs live on Fox on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 8/7c.

Perhaps the biggest musical event of 2019 (so far) is just around the corner and we'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that the next live televised musical spectacular airs this weekend on Fox! Gather your theatrical chums and tune in to Fox at 8/7c to witness the hotly anticipated live TV version of RENT - the musical phenomen which snowballed from humble beginnings at a 1993 workshop production at off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop to a fully-fledged off-Broadway premiere at the same venue in 1996 to a direct Broadway transfer and the Tony Award for "Best Musical." This promises to be nothing short of epic!

Fox has, as previously announced, assembled a star-studded cast to stand before the cameras on Sunday for the live broadcast, including Emmy and 2-time Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (as Tom Collins), who wowed TV audiences as Judas Iscariot in last year widely celebrated "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" on NBC, "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens (as Maureen Johnson), who previously made her Broadway debut in the title role of Gigi in 2015,  "Dancing with the Stars" winner and Hamilton alum Jordan Fisher (as Mark Cohen), "RuPaul's Drag Race" favorite Valentina (as Angel Dumont Schunard), R&B and "Empire" star Mario (as Benjamin Coffin III), recording artist Tinashe (as Mimi Marquez) and Kiersey Clemons (as Joanne Jefferson), and Brennin Hunt (as Roger Davis).

And, oh, did we mention, Tony Award nominee Keala Settle, breakout star of "The Greatest Showman," is shedding the beard and will serve as the soloist for the tuner's most iconic number "Seasons of Love" as the cherry on the cake!

Jonathan Larson's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical has been adapted for television by Obie Award winner Kristoffer Diaz and the production is directed this weekend by Michael Greif, who helmed the original Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Rent and earned a Tony Award nomination for his efforts. Alex Rudzinski serves as the live television director, boasting a résumé that already includes last year's "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" and Fox's first live televised musical sensation, "Grease Live!" in 2016.

Synopsis: "The groundbreaking, Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is a re-imagining of Puccini's La Bohème, and set in New York City's gritty East Village. Rent tells the unforgettable story of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams during a time of great social and political turmoil. Winner of four Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize, writer/composer Jonathan Larson's tour de force continues to offer an inspiring message of hope and friendship."

The creative team also features costume design by Angela Wendt, who also worked on the Broadway production, music direction and production by Tony & Grammy Award winner Stephen Oremus, choreography by two-time Emmy Award nominee Sonya Tayeh, scenic design by Jason Sherwood, and lighting design by Emmy Award winner Al Gurdon.

Broadcast from the historic Fox Studios in Los Angeles and produced by 20^th Century Fox Television, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Julie Larson, Allan Larson, and Revolution Studios, Rent on Fox may well take the crown this Sunday and sit at the pinnacle of the live televised musicals mountain. Tune in, relish "La Vie Bohème," and check back with us next week for our special report on this musical mega event!

^{(Photo courtesy of Fox)}