Broadway Philadelphia presents the local premiere of “If/Then” June 21-26 at the Academy of Music.
The original Broadway musical was written by the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning creators of “Next To Normal” and produced by David Stone — who was part of the production team behind the smash musical “Wicked.”
The story follows Elizabeth, played by “Hair” and “Wicked” actor Jackie Burns, who moves back to New York City to restart her life fresh. Elizabeth’s life simultaneously splits into two parallel paths as she takes on new names, Liz and Beth, illustrating how her choices impact her life and the lives of those around her.
Out actor Anthony Rapp plays Lucas, an old friend of Elizabeth who reconnects with her when she moves back to the city.
“It’s an examination of the way that everyone’s lives intersect with one another,” he said about the show. “New York is sort of the epitome of that. There are so many, many, many different people from all over the world coming together from so many backgrounds and life experiences. Anything can happen to anyone at any time. Random events can turn into life-changing events. So the show being set there was the most appropriate setting for it.”
The crossroads of Elizabeth’s choices splits into Liz’s choice to pursue more varied life experiences and Beth’s decision to seek professional success.
Rapp said that most audiences favor one path of the story over another.
“I would imagine most people probably more directly identify with Liz because her story is so much centered around romance. I think that most people have a hope for romance, if not the kind of romance that she has. I think that is the most immediately resonant story for most people.”
Lucas’ character undergoes the most radical change between Elizabeth’s life paths, which Rapp says is a big part of the charm of portraying him.
“The way that their lives intersect, it personifies the ripple effect that was have on one another,” he said. “If you and I were friends, things that you do can profoundly impact what happens in my life sometimes. I think that Lucas is the most extreme example of that. I think he’s interesting and quirky and a little neurotic. He’s smart and passionate and articulate and funny. He’s a richly drawn, interesting guy. I’ve been doing readings and workshops of this piece for years. The writers wrote it for me. It’s kind of like having a suit that has been tailormade for me in a way.”
When “If/Then” debuted on Broadway, it starred Idina Menzel, who was one of the original cast members of “Rent,” alongside Rapp.
We asked Rapp if being reunited with a cast member from such an acclaimed show put any undue expectations on “If/Then.”
“I can’t speak for our producer and director, but I think that there was excitement because we all have such a connection to one another and a real shared understanding of the kind of work we want to do and what we believe,” he said. “It felt like a natural fit. I think there was awareness that that would be something that would be talked about, hopefully in a positive light. But of course there are people that could be cynical about it too but you can’t make decisions based on other people’s cynicism. We know how we feel about one another and we know how strongly we connect as human beings and artists so that’s the most important thing to us.
“People have said that there is a feeling that this is sort of ‘Rent’ grown up. I think that that was something the writers had a little bit in mind. ‘Rent’ was a huge influence on them. [‘If/Then’ is] not exactly a sequel but there are themes that resonate between the two pieces that was conscious on the part of the writers.”
Besides high-profile roles in Broadway hits like “Rent,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “Little Shop of Horrors,” Rapp also regularly appears on film and television. He said that while he appreciates the work he does on the small and large screens, he’d rather perform on the stage.
“I always prefer live performance,” he said. “I’ve been doing that the longest in my life and my career. I’m certainly open to all sorts other possibilities. I’m not closed off to things, but if there were a priority, then I’d say it would be live performance. But it usually doesn’t come down to either/or. When I’m in a show like this, I’m not available to do other things so it’s not like I have the opportunity to make a choice.”
With the majority of successful Broadway hits being over-the-top stories or adaptations of popular films and TV shows, Rapp said he is happy to be part of an original show where audiences can relate to down-to-earth characters.
“I think that it’s really nice for audiences to come and see a show that is about real recognizable human beings that are going through life situations that are similar to their own,” he said. “Sometimes it’s fun to come to a show and have it be a real escape and pure entertainment. In this case, our show, it does reflect back on people’s lives and life decisions and I think it can resonate with people. That’s one of the things that I’m proudest of in regard to this piece.”
Broadway Philadelphia presents the Philadelphia premiere of “If/Then” June 21-26 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-893-1999 or visit www.ifthenthemusical.com.