Today I found out that they’re putting on a 20th Anniversary Concert tour of the musical ‘RENT’ (my absolute favourite) to celebrate this classic being 20 years old.

It’s a little bit of a cop-out (to be honest) as the show didn’t hit Broadway audiences properly until 1996, and the West End until 1997, however the first staged reading at the New York Theatre Workshop was in March 1993, hence the anniversary, and so it’s close enough for me (- any excuse!!)

Although her role hasn’t yet been confirmed (though I’d bet it’s Maureen), Kerry Ellis is going to be starring in the concert, as is Rory Taylor from ITV’s ‘Superstar’ show.

So far, the only date confirmed and on sale at this moment in time is the Manchester Opera House on Thursday 25th April 2013 – however, with this being on at an ATG Regional Theatre, I’d say there’s a pretty decent chance of this turning up at your local theatre.

Max is SOOOOOO cute and lovely  – I happened to ‘mention’ it to him via email, (“AAAAAARGH!!! They are doing a 20th Anniversary concert tour of RENT!!”) and, bless his cotton socks, he simply replied with a booking confirmation that he’d just made!!! He’s SO awesome!

For anyone on the planet who hasn’t heard Kerry (does such a person exist?!) – here’s a bit of Kerry smashing ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked – t’is the version with Brian May:

… and here’s a bit of ‘Out Tonight’ from the final Broadway performance of RENT, sung by Renée Elise Goldsberry appearing as Mimi Marquez (totally ‘my’ RENT character, ha – LOVE her!).

Sat right at the front and in the centre for Manchester – now… just to wait two-hundred, ninety-five-thousand, five-hundred-and-forty-three minutes! 😛