The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway musical RENT, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, is coming to the Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center at Okaloosa-Walton College in Niceville for ONE SHOW ONLY on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are available for $45 from the Mattie Kelly Arts Center box office by phone at (850) 729-6000 or by web at www.owc.edu/arts. The toll free box office number is 1-888- 838-ARTS (2787). Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the box office window either in advance or at-the-door. Box office hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and 90 minutes prior to show time.

The 2007-2008 national touring production of RENT features Heinz Winckler as Roger Davis and Anwar Robinson as Tom Collins. 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.

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 "SAMA" 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. Winckler has received the People Magazine Award for "Hottest Hunk," "South Africa's Hottest Artist" and "Best Male Personality." He was also featured in Cosmopolitan's "Sexy Man Calendar."

Critics have called RENT "the best thing that has happened to the Broadway musical in a long time," and have said that RENT "justifies every bit of attention that has been lavished on this phenomenal musical."