It's the evening of April 29, 1996, backstage at the Nederlander Theater in New York City.

24-year-old actor Anthony Rapp strives through the Warren of dressing rooms and production offices that's nestled beneath the theater.

Backstage crew clear a path for

Anthony down a narrow hallway wishing him luck as he goes or as they say in

Theaterland break a leg. A voice crackles through speakers on the wall.

It's the stage manager calling for places.

All actors for the first number must make their way to the stage at once.

Tonight's production is about to begin,

so Anthony picks show business career.

He spent more than a decade trying to become a star but so far has only acted in a series of smaller roles in television, film, and theatre.

Eighteen months ago, though, he was cast as Mark Cohen, one of the lead roles in Rent,

an off-Broadway musical that was then still in development.

The show finally premiered several weeks ago, and after wowing audiences, it's transferred to

the larger Niederlander Theater for its debut in the most famous theater district in the world Broadway.

Anthony heads up a narrow flight of stairs to a door marked stage. He gently

pushes through into the cool still darkness beyond. You can hear the chatter of the

waiting audience. A dresser adjusts Anthony's scarf making sure that his costume is

just right. The dresser then offers a silent thumbs up and leaves

Anthony to fight his position next to his castmates for the opening number. In the

darkness he shares a quick smile with the other actors. This is the moment they've all been

waiting for. The audience grows quiet as the lights in the theater dim.

Anthony takes one long final breath and takes his first step on stage.

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