On Saturday, September 21, actor, singer, writer, songwriter Anthony Rapp performed songs and told anecdotes about his life and career at New Hope’s Bucks County Playhouse.  Dan Weiss accompanied him on piano and guitar.

Anthony Rapp’s greatest career achievement so far has been his creating the role of Mark Cohen in the iconic musical Rent on Broadway in 1996, on the cast recording, in the 2005 film, and on its 2009 tour.  His film and TV credits include Spin City as himself in 1997, Bender in A Beautiful Mind 2001, the recurring role of Nathan Forrester in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit from 2004-2012, Daniel in Do You Take This Man in 2016, in the recurring role of Paul Stametz in Star Trek: Discovery, 2017-2019, and many more. Anthony Rapp has also appeared on stage, notably in the 1999 Broadway revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown as Charlie Brown. His co-stars included BD Wong, Roger Bart, and Kristin Chenoweth. Anthony Rapp has appeared with Idina Menzel here in Philadelphia in If/Then as part of Broadway Philadelphia. His book, Without You, is a memoir of his years during and after Rent, and the loss of his mother. 

In 2012, Anthony Rapp was called by one periodical as “one of the first openly gay men on Broadway.” In 1997, he told one reporter that he preferred the word “queer” to “gay.” Anthony Rapp has also said that he considers himself bisexual and “four-and-a-half” on the Kinsey Scale.

Tonight, Anthony Rapp regaled his audience with numbers from Rent, If/Then, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Hamilton, songs he wrote about the loss of his mother, and favorite songs by rock groups from New Zealand, Canada, and the group Radiohead.

The audience at the Bucks County Playhouse showed a different demographic from the usual, with many more young people in attendance who clearly knew and loved both Anthony Rapp and his work. He toyed with the audience asking them if they would like to see him perform here onstage soon, which caused an uproarious yes to be said. We sincerely hope that we will see Anthony Rapp again soon at the Bucks County Playhouse.

The Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, PA, will be presenting The Rocky Horror Show, Once, A Gala starring Tony Danza, and many more attractions. For information and tickets, visit www.bcptheater.org .