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Into History.

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

24-year-old actor Anthony Rapp strives through the warn 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 theater Land, 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 the stage at once.

Tonight's production is about to begin, so Anthony picks up the pace.

Tonight marks a milestone in Anthony's 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.

18 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.

...