The audience at Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre and tens of thousands of at-home livestream viewers shared in the magic of Rent, the 30th Anniversary Concert on Monday, October 26, 2026. The groundbreaking musical’s original stars and generations of alumni united in celebration of Jonathan Larson’s enduring legacy while making a lifesaving difference for people in need.

The sold-out anniversary performance and its livestream raised $4,571,464 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The evening’s presenting sponsor was ViiV Healthcare, with livestream matching sponsor the Gates Foundation. 

Thanks to this extraordinary generosity, people facing hunger and hardship across the country will receive essential support. As temperatures drop and families struggle to afford basic necessities, 1.8 million warm, nutritious meals will ensure that people facing food insecurity have food on the table this winter. Access to lifesaving medication and care will allow people living with critical illnesses to take control of their health with dignity.

Broadway’s original Mark, Anthony Rapp, opened the evening with his character’s iconic camcorder and striped scarf, receiving a standing ovation as he led additional original cast members onto the stage. Revisiting Mark’s opening monologue, Rapp added: “As always, we dedicate this performance to our friend, Jonathan Larson.”

Throughout the evening, three decades of Rent performers shared the stage in inventive combinations, bringing new life to the musical’s beloved characters and songs. Rapp and Broadway’s original Roger Adam Pascal led the company into the high-octane “Rent,” featuring pairings of Marks and Rogers from across the decades, including Adam Kantor and Aaron Tveit; Trey Ellett and Manley Pope; and Coleman Cummings and Cody Jenkins. Matt Caplan and Christopher J. Hanke later joined the troupe of Marks for a rendition of “Halloween” rich with new harmonies and the classic striped scarves.

“Today 4 U” was led by original Angel Wilson Jermaine Heredia and featured David Merino as the dance soloist, joined by Shaun Earl, Jose Llana, Jai Rodriguez and Andy Señor Jr. Original Mimi Daphne Rubin-Vega was joined by fellow Mimis Yassmin Alers, Maya Days, Aiyana Smash and Antonique Smith for an energetic “Out Tonight.”

Nicholas Christopher joined Wilson Cruz for a soul-stirring “Santa Fe,” leading into “I’ll Cover You” featuring Heredia, Darius de Haas, Marcus Paul James and Señor Jr. Four pairs of Maureens and Joannes faced off in “Take Me or Leave Me,” including Idina Menzel and Fredi Walker-Browne; Merle Dandridge and Ava Gaudet; Eden Espinosa and Tracie Thoms; and Nicolette Hart and Lencia Kebede.

The evening also reunited original Broadway cast members for some of the musical’s most iconic moments. Rubin-Vega and Pascal returned to “Another Day,” while Menzel, clad in Maureen’s signature leather bodysuit, joined Espinosa and Hart for a three-woman rendition of “Over the Moon.” Original cast member Gilles Chiasson opened the stirring “Will I,” and the original Broadway company led “Seasons of Love” before being joined by the full cast.

Special pairings brought additional star power to the celebration, including Aaron Tveit and Rachel Zegler performing “Without You” and Tveit joining Neil Patrick Harris for “What You Own.” Jordan Fisher and Natalie Venetia Belcon danced the “Tango: Maureen” alongside Matt Caplan, Merle Dandridge, Tori DePrimo, Trey Ellett, Rayla Gerske, Cody Jenkins, Adam Kantor, Lencia Kebede, David Merino, James Schoppe, Deri’Andra Tucker and Schele Williams. Will Chase and Tamyra Gray took to the stage with their moving rendition of “I Should Tell You,” while Norbert Leo Butz performed “Your Eyes” before the cast reunited for “Finale B.”

Following the curtain call, the full company of Rent alumni reprised “Seasons of Love,” bringing the entire house to their feet and measuring their lives in love.

The celebration extended beyond Broadway through a special livestream, which welcomed more than 65,000 viewers from around the world. The Gates Foundation, the livestream’s matching sponsor, matched livestream ticket purchases and donations made during the concert up to $525,600, a nod to the iconic lyric from “Seasons of Love.”

Troy Iwata and Jay Armstrong Johnson, stars of Off-Broadway’s Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody, hosted the livestream’s pre-show and intermission, offering backstage access and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. Celebrated actress and talk show host Ricki Lake served as the livestream’s red carpet correspondent, interviewing cast members about their Rent experiences and connections.

“Thirty years ago, Jonathan Larson and Rent changed Broadway,” Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Executive Director Danny Whitman shared from the stage after the performance. ”Rent brought stories to the stage, ones we needed to hear, and gave voice to a generation confronting unimaginable loss, uncertainty and fear. But what makes Rent so extraordinary is not just the story it tells, it’s the community at the heart of that story. In the face of devastation, this community created something that would change countless lives – and you all did that again tonight. Today, that same spirit of compassion fuels Broadway Cares, providing lifesaving support to people across the country facing HIV/AIDS and now so many other critical health challenges.”

“When Rent premiered 30 years ago, it broke barriers, challenged stigma and brought the realities of living with HIV to the forefront of public consciousness,” ViiV Healthcare Head of Enterprise Communications Bithiah Lafontant said. “Three decades later, its legacy reminds us how far we’ve come in HIV treatment and research, and how much work remains. We’re proud to partner with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS for this extraordinary concert as presenting sponsor, bringing together our shared commitment to supporting people affected by HIV and creating a future where everyone has access to the care they need.”

The all-star lineup included original cast members Yassmin Alers, Gilles Chiasson, Darius de Haas, Shelley Dickinson, Taye Diggs, David Driver, Rodney Hicks, Tony winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Tony winner Idina Menzel, Timothy Britten Parker, Tony nominee Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega, Byron Utley and Fredi Walker-Browne; plus Tony winner Natalie Venetia Belcon, Sharon Catherine Brown, Bryson Bruce, Haven Burton, Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz, Matt Caplan, Tony nominee Will Chase, Tony nominee Nicholas Christopher, Wilson Cruz, Coleman Cummings, Merle Dandridge, Maya Days, Tori DePrimo, Shaun Earl, Trey Ellett, Tony nominee Eden Espinosa, Jordan Fisher, Rayla Garske, Ava Gaudet,  Renée Elise Goldsberry, Andrea Goss, Tamyra Gray, Christopher J. Hanke, Tony winner Neil Patrick Harris, Nicolette Hart, Marcus Paul James, Cody Jenkins, Justin Johnston, Owen Johnston II, Adam Kantor, Lencia Kebede, Tamika Lawrence, Telly Leung, Jose Llana, Tracy McDowell, Tony nominee Michael McElroy, David Merino, Alan Mingo Jr., Manley Pope, Jai Rodriguez, James Schoppe, Andy Señor Jr., Aiyana Smash, Antonique Smith, Jacques C. Smith, Tony nominee Ephraim Sykes, Tracie Thoms, Deri’Andra Tucker, Tony winner Aaron Tveit, Lorraine Velez, Jay Wilkison, Schele Williams and Rachel Zegler.

Original Rent director Michael Greif returned to helm the concert, staged on the set of Hamilton at the Richard Rogers Theatre. The setting brought together two landmark musicals, with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda having cited Rent among his theatrical inspirations.

The concert featured original choreographer Marlies Yearby and music supervisor Tim Weil, with Weil leading original Rent band members Kenny Brescia, Jeff Potter and Daniel A. Weiss, joined by Steve Gelfand.

The one-night-only presentation of Larson’s seminal work was produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Andy Jones, founder of Baseline Theatrical. The license for this production of Rent is generously provided by Music Theatre International.

Rent features a book, music and lyrics by Larson, with music arrangements by Steve Skinner. The original concept and additional lyrics were provided by Billy Aaronson, with music supervision and additional arrangements by Weil. The dramaturg was Lynn Thompson.

For the 30th anniversary concert, Ben Stanton served as lighting designer, Brian Ronan as sound designer, Angela Wendt as costume designer and Lisa Zinni as costume coordinator. Justin Scribner served as production stage manager.

Larson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical reimagines La Bohème in the AIDS-era East Village of New York City, following a tight-knit group of artists navigating love, loss and survival at the turn of a generation. With its electrifying score and deeply human stories, Rent captures the urgency of living fully in the face of uncertainty, a cultural touchstone that continues to inspire audiences to measure life in love. 

Rent was originally produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum and Allan S. Gordon. It debuted at the New York Theatre Workshop before transferring to Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre in 1996. It played 5,123 performances, closing September 7, 2008.

The livestream of Rent, the 30th Anniversary Concert was produced in collaboration with The League of Live Stream Theater. The livestream was helmed by showrunner Andrew Shaw.

In addition to presenting sponsor ViiV Healthcare, Rent, the 30th Anniversary Concert was made possible by generous support from lead sponsors The Allan S. Gordon Foundation, Baseline Theatrical, Dwight Curry, Mary Fisher, John Gore Organization, Kevin McCollum & Lynnette Perry, Miranda Family Fund, Music Theatre International, The Nederlander Organization, Jamie Stone O’Brien, Secret Villas of Key West & The Heslin Family Trust, Jeffrey Seller, The Shubert Organization, Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch and United Airlines.

Photos by Michael Hull and Rebecca J. Michelson
Video by The League of Live Stream Theater; edited by Josh Drake

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