Play Audiobook Sample
Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.02) - 2,442 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Anthony Rapp captures the passion and grit unique to the theater world as he recounts his life-changing experience in the original cast of the Pulitzer Prize–winning musical Rent.
Anthony Rapp had a special feeling about Jonathan Larson's rock musical Rent as early as his first audition, which won him a starring role as the video artist Mark Cohen. And when the show opened to thunderous acclaim off Broadway, Rapp knew that something truly extraordinary had taken shape. But even as people celebrated Rent's success, they were also mourning the sudden death of Jonathan Larson, the show's creator.
When Anthony's mom began to lose her battle with cancer, he struggled to balance his theater career with his responsibility to his family. Here, Anthony recounts both the show's huge success and his overwhelming loss. He also shares his experiences discovering his sexuality, the tension it created with his mother, and his struggle to gain her acceptance.
Download and start listening now!
"This book was a brithday present - and I really enjoyed reading it. It has lots of very heartbreaking moments (lets just say I was all teary in the middle of the cafe downstairs of my work....) At times it seems repetative, the same events happening over and over and over - but its a book that tells the story of losing a loved one - and the actions you go through are very repetative. All in all it was a great read. The story of Rent coming into being is only a throughline - and only because the timelines overlap with what was happening in his personal life. So if you are not a theatre person or not a fan of the show, you will still enjoy this autobiography. Enjoy!"
— Shaun (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Anthony Rapp has written a courageous, brutally honest memoir that breaks new ground in writing about the constantly changing arena of the American family experience.”
— Chris Columbus, director of the film adaptation of Rent -
“No roar-of-the-crowd, smell-of-the-greasepaint scrapbook; it’s a sprawling tear-streaking life story and unabashedly sentimental ode to his mother…[Rapp’s] voice is unpretentious and unfailingly honest.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“Beautifully written…[Without You] shows that a life story truthfully told can be stranger (as well as more touching) than fiction.”
— New York Post -
“The tragic, compelling backstory to Rent extends the book’s appeal far beyond the show’s fans.”
— Chicago Tribune -
“Pitch-perfect…a book for everyone who has experienced great loss, [and] for anyone who has survived and grown because of that loss.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“Absorbing, warm and hopeful, the book celebrates a man, his work and a generation struggling with AIDS but determined to survive.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“[Rapp] delves deeply, with real emotion, into the making of a blockbuster show, providing details that any show-biz buff will adore…the climax is a tearjerker.”
— AudioFile -
“Rapp here makes an impressive debut as a writer, bringing a keen actor’s sense of detail, timing, and pathos to the page…Writing with painful sensitivity…he reaches a deep, affecting level of personal expression. A hit.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Heartbreakingly beautiful, a contemporary portrait of an artist as a young man.”
— David Román, professor of English and American studies,University of Southern California
Without You Listener Reviews
-
" I loved this book, very honest and intriguing. "
— Sanmi, 2/19/2014 -
" A story of how the broadway show RENT was written. It is narrorated in the situation of one of the performers. The book shows how the writer died at a close moment to their first performance and how tough it was to pull through the whole situation without crying. "
— Christopher, 2/17/2014 -
" A must read for any Renthead! "
— Kym, 1/24/2014 -
" Rent is by far my favorite Broadway show, probably will be ever, and this memoir was a really easy read and a good reminder of why Jonathon Larson's death was such a loss to us fans. And why I adore Anthony Rapp so much. "
— Jen, 1/19/2014 -
" I'm a big Rent fan and think Anthony Rapp is pretty cool, so I enjoyed reading this book and learning about the time leading up to the debut of the show on Broadway. It's a pretty intense story from Rapp's perspective because he was going through his mother's battle with cancer. He also talks a lot about what it was like to be a sort of spokesperson for the gay community and how his small town midwestern family dealt with that. Overall, I wouldn't say it's an amazingly written book (although not bad either), but it's a powerful story. "
— Terra, 1/17/2014 -
" Anthony has this ability to write with such pure, raw, emotion and it feel as if I've known this guy forever. :] "
— Kelsey, 1/12/2014 -
" For any RENT-head, even the late-blooming ones like me. "
— Jen, 1/11/2014 -
" If you LOVE RENT then this is a must. It gives you the inside story of Jonathan Larson and the production of RENT from Anthony Rapp's (Mark) perspective. Sad, but inspiring. "
— Katie, 1/10/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this memoir. I love Rent and Anthony Rapp just rocks my socks. I wish he would have spent a little more time with his experiences with the show, but his writing is very direct and honest. "
— Abigail, 1/1/2014 -
" good, but probably only for rent fans "
— Maggie, 12/18/2013 -
" I think if you are a RENT fan, or a Anthony Rapp fan, you will enjoy this book. Or if you have lost a parent who was one of your biggest suppporters. It was great to read Anthony's stories about growing up, and coming out to his mom, and the beginning of RENT. "
— Dana, 10/5/2013 -
" Deeply affecting and well-written. Not just for Rentheads but for those who love a good memoir. "
— Walter, 9/29/2013 -
" I'm loving it- He does a great job at keeping the readers attention. And as a theater person/ Rent lover, I'm that much more attached to the story. "
— Paige, 9/22/2013 -
" anyone who loves rent has to read this book. "
— Jen, 8/25/2013 -
" Wonderful, tear jerker, an honest look into Anthony Rapp's life before and after RENT. "
— Carrie, 6/5/2013 -
" It made me laugh out loud in public, bawl my eyes out and desperately want to see Rent again. I loved it. "
— Marlena, 1/4/2013 -
" This book is hands down my favorite auto-biography, Rent is my favorite musical and I shared Rapp's journey of losing a parent to cancer. This book is therapy for me. "
— Becky, 7/25/2012 -
" As a huge fan of "Rent", I couldn't let this one pass me by. However, even if you're not a fan, you can certainly appreciate the honesty of Rapp's writing. It's a story of both success and loss and how life goes on amidst tragedy. "
— Heather, 4/30/2012 -
" Realllly good book. Especially if u r fans of rent. "
— Lauren, 4/19/2012 -
" I absolutely love Rent and when I found out Anthony Rapp wrote a book, I had to read it. This was an excellent and heartwarming story. "
— Meredith, 4/11/2012 -
" An amazing book written by an amazingly talented man. Touching and well written. "
— Jess, 9/2/2011 -
" Good book, but a bit too over-dramatic at times "
— Adam, 8/23/2011 -
" Great read for any Rent fan. "
— Tiff, 8/22/2011 -
" One of my favorite autobiographies. "Rent" is one of my favorite musicals and this was a compelling look backstage. Anthony is a great writer and an amazing person. "
— Erin, 6/12/2011 -
" good, but probably only for rent fans "
— Maggie, 5/8/2011 -
" Surprisingly compelling and very affecting. Lovingly written tribute to his mother, Jonathan Larson, and Rent. Quite beautiful. "
— Huling, 4/15/2011 -
" Bold and honest, this is one of the most amazing memoirs I have ever read. Everyone needs to read this book! "
— Corey, 3/1/2011 -
" This is a beautiful book. But it does have some adult material i think that nobody under 13 should read this and there's also sadness in this too. so if you don't like sad books do not read this but overall I love this book and I decided to read this cause i love RENT and i love anthony rapp "
— Claire, 2/22/2011 -
" I really enjoyed this memoir. I love Rent and Anthony Rapp just rocks my socks. I wish he would have spent a little more time with his experiences with the show, but his writing is very direct and honest. "
— Abigail, 2/2/2011 -
" Anthony Rapp will always be Mark, one of the characters of the best Broadway play ever, "RENT'. Anthony recalls his life leading up to, during, and after RENT. At times Rapp is too honest, but this book is an amazing read, which I recommend to all Rentheads. "
— Christine, 1/29/2011 -
" Great read for any Rent fan. "
— Tiff, 1/21/2011 -
" Really enjoyed this, especially after hearing him speak at William & Mary. Would love to see him perform the one-man show based on the book! Got my copy signed! "
— Caitlin, 1/2/2011
About Anthony Rapp
Anthony Rapp has been acting professionally since he was nine years old. He is best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera Rent. He lives in New York City.