South African Idol Winner, American Idol Finalist Join RENT
NETworks Presentations announced Heinz Winckler will be playing Roger Davis and Anwar Robinson will be taking on the role of Tom Collins in the upcoming touring production of RENT. Winckler was the winner of the first South African Idol in 2002 and the 4th place finalist in the 2003 inaugural World Idol Competition, in which he competed against American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. Robinson was the 7th place finalist on the 4th season of American Idol.
RENT comes to Tulsa for two performances only, March 11-12, 2008, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s Chapman Music Hall.
On stage, Winckler played Tony in the Toronto production of West Side Story. Winckler has recorded three hit albums with Sony BMG, including: One Step Closer, Come Alive (both South African Music Award nominees for “best pop album”) and Moment of Truth. His song, “Once in a Lifetime,” was a SAMA nominee for best single. He performed the song “Chasing Shadows” for the Walt Disney movie “Treasure Planet” and participated in the Westlife Greatest Hits Tour in South Africa.
Robinson will make his stage debut in this touring production of RENT. American audiences will recall Robinson as the music teacher who was rocketed to television stardom on season four of the pop-culture phenomenon American Idol. His vocal range quickly landed him a coveted spot in Idol’s Top 10, where Judge Paula Abdul touted him as “technically the best singer of the competition.” Robinson has toured the country as part of the Idols Live show. The New Jersey native has worked and appeared with a number of music icons, including Clive Davis, Patti Labelle, Kelly Price, Byron Cage and Pastor Donnie McClurkin. Robinson recently released his debut album, “The Truth About Love.”
Now in its 12th season, RENT is the theatrical experience that transformed how a generation feels about musicals, changed Broadway forever and inspired a major motion picture. RENT is a musical that celebrates a community of young artists as they struggle with the soaring hopes and tough realities of today’s world.
RENT, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre, on April 29, 1996, following a history-making, sold-out, limited engagement at off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. RENT is the 7th longest running show in Broadway history.
Tickets to the Tulsa run of RENT are now on sale online at www.MyTicketOffice.com, at the PAC ticket windows at 3rd and Cincinnati and by calling (918) 596-7111. Out of town, call 800-364-7111. RENT is presented in Tulsa by NewSpace Entertainment.
Updated 11-07-2007
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