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Annotated Bibliographies

Berg, Robert William. “Anthony Rapp’s Without You.” Rev. Without You, Rapp,
Anthony. Robwillreview.com. February 11, 2006. 4 Oct 2010.

In his review on Anthony Rapp’s Without You, Berg addresses how this book is
definitely recommended to “Rent-heads.” This is because of the great details Rapp
is able to describe being an original cast member of Rent even from the workshop.
However, he comments on how Rapp “writes movingly about his mother.” He
mentions a certain part of the book where Rapp and his mother finally have a real
discussion about his sexuality. After Rapp shows his mother a letter from a
homosexual teenage boy who is inspired by Anthony’s confidence and bravery in
having being “out.” This is a truly moving part of the book, where finally Rapp can
say what he wants to his mother before she dies. It also expresses how Rapp feels as
though this is “part of my life’s work” (206). During this discussion, Rapp sends his
message that no one should be ashamed of who they are or afraid to express
themselves. I think this book review helps focus on the intensity Rapp’s truthful
writing can produce.

Cantwell, Alan. “AIDS: A Doctor’s Note on the Man-Made theory.” Los Angeles, CA.
Aries Rising Press. February 1998.

In this historical of the origination of AIDS, Alan Cantwell explains many different
theories to which people believe how the disease began. In 1981, when AIDS
became a very popular epidemic, it was seen that most of the victims were of
homosexual orientation. Therefore, many began to blame gays for spreading the
virus. It became known as the “’gay pneumonia’” because the first cases to be
observed were those of “young, predominantly white, and previously healthy
homosexual men.” Although people to this day still blame gays for the epidemic,
“most of the world’s AIDS cases are heterosexuals.”
This essay could be used to teach Anthony Rapp’s Without You because it gives
insight into why so many of Anthony and Jonathan’s friends died from aids. Also, it
emphasizes why Rapp and many more people felt such a connection to Larson’s
“Rent”. Because Rapp himself was a homosexual, he did infact struggle with the
idea of AIDS, but he never let other’s criticism let him down.

Colombus, Chris. Rent. Rapp, Anthony, Pascal, Adam, Menzel, Idina, Dawson, Rosario.
Rent Prodcutions LLC, 2005.

The movie edition of “Rent” still casts many of the same actors that starred on the
original Broadway cast. Of these original cast members were; Anthony Rapp as
Mark Cohen, Adam Pascal as Roger Davis, Idina Menzel as Maureen Johnson,
Jesse Martin as Tom Collins and Wilson Jermain Heredia as Angel Dumott
Schunard. The movie is the movie version of Jonathan Larson’s Broadway show
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“Rent”. It follows a year in the struggles a group of friends from East Village,
NYC, some HIV positive, some not.
This would be used in a lesson after reading the entire book. It would be an easier
way to see the magic of the “’exhilarating’ and ‘vigorous’” (140) musical that
transformed Anthony’s life. In his memoir, Rapp also refers to many of the musical
scores and how the music was “beautiful and evocative” (14). Watching the film
would give a great perspective to how truly moving and powerful Rent’s message
is, because Rapp seems to be devoted to it throughout his memoir.

Evans, Denise. "Homosexuality in Nineteenth-Century Literature." Nineteenth-Century

Literary Criticism 1997. eNotes.com. 2006. 7 Oct, 2010

In this critical essay, the presence of homosexuality in nineteenth century literature

is the topic in which the Evans emphasizes. The essay brings to mind how during
the time period, homosexuality and other same sex relationships were not
acknowledged. However, in literature homosexual relationships were still present.
This was done in a very discreet manner. Because homosexuality was not accepted
in society at the time, the only way to write about it was to make it almost a hidden
message. This was done “through socially acceptable and heavily disguised forms,
such as the romantic friendship.” At this time, writing about male-male
relationships was not seen as homosexual behavior because the authors were very
smart in depicting them as just friendships.
This would be used in teaching Anthony Rapp’s Without You because he is much
more open about his sexuality. This would be a good essay to read and learn how
much the view on homosexuality has changed, and how some way it has stayed the
same. Rapp is especially open about how he is homosexual. In his memoir, he refers
to many of his romantic relationships, all being with men. Just by this, we know
how much literature has grown to accept homosexuality in text. In one part of his
novel, Anthony explains his relationship with an ex-boyfriend, Marcus. They were
beginning to see each other again; however he was afraid of how well it would
work out. This being because Anthony was openly gay, while “Marcus was not out
publicly” (142). Unfortunately, Marcus “never intended to be” out (142). Unlike
Anthony, he is afraid of what it would do to his career, afraid he would no longer be
accepted. His fears show us that some issues presented in the essay are still a part of
today’s struggles for any homosexuals. In the essay, homosexual activity would be
“perceived almost exclusively as a crime, a sin, or both.” This is why Marcus is
afraid to express who he truly is. The world has not fully accepted same sex
couples. This is a major purpose of Rapp’s memoir. To show any young individual
who feels lost because of who they are that they have no reason to be. As long as
you are comfortable with who you are, no one is going to be able to put you down.
Rapp wanted to “bring some much-needed attention to queer issues” (142).

Friends of Rent.7 October 10. http://www.friendsofrent.com/

This interactive website holds many pictures of the original cast on set. Also, it
shows the huge success of the show with all of the fans and their comments. This
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can also be used to find out more information of “Rent” and its story. Anthony
Rapp was so passionate in it that he dedicated much of his memoir to its greatness.
Also, the play’s message of self-expression and loss really connected to his life.
This is also what Rapp tries to produce through his own memoir.
Kolb, Jack. “Hallam, Tennyson: Homosexuality and the Critics.” Essay on
Accessmylibrary.com. 2000. 7 October 2010

This essay also speaks of how homosexuality once had to be hidden in literature to
be accepted from society. Because there is “general prejudice against
homosexuality” it is much harder for the topic to be written about and recognized.
The essay focuses mostly on Alfred Tennyson’s poem “In Memoriam” which is
said to be for his romantic partner’s death. However, many argue if this poem is
misinterpreted.
Again, this essay can help readers of Rapp’s Without You, determine how literature
has changed in writing of homosexuality. The essay touches base on how close
friendships can be misinterpreted into a romantic relationship. There is also an
“uncomfortable, and possibly ugly, confrontation” (156) Rapp and his mother have
about his sexuality. She did not realize Anthony’s relationship with a friend he had
when he was just a teenager was much more. Of course, Anthony was too afraid to
tell his mother he had a boyfriend. And of course, his mother did not think of their
friendship as anything more than friends, until, she caught the two boys sharing a
kiss. This shows how, like the essay says, homosexual behavior can be
misinterpreted. But also, it may not be recognized.

Martin, Patrick, “Jonathan Larson: The Man Behind the Magic.” Essay on
www.oasisjournals.com . Oasis Magazine. 1997. 7 October 2010.

In this essay, we are presented with great information of Jonathan Larson’s work
and life and death. Because Larson was a great influence of Rapp’s memoir, it is
only necessary that while teaching Rapp’s book, you would also teach more about
Jonathan Larson. Larson’s purpose for Rent was “to change the world and make a
difference” through it’s story of love, loss, friendship and success.
Larson’s musical Rent contributes to the main purpose of why Rapp decided to
write this memoir. He and the rest of the world was deeply moved by the lyrics and
messages of every song. Larson was an “idealist and a revolutionary” which
showed through his music. In his memoir, Rapp tells of how he could really relate
to Larson’s words because some reminded him of his mother. Some of the lyrics
seemed to be “reflective of my own struggles to come to terms with Mom’s illness”
Rapp explains. When reading of who Larson was and what he loved to do, we can
get more of an idea of how great a loss it was for Anthony, and the entire cast and
crew of Rent when he died. Rapp credits a lot of his career to this man; therefore, it
would only be necessary to learn more about who Larson was. Anthony felt so close
to Jonathan that after his death, he believes he was trying to send Anthony signals
that he was okay. This is explained when Anthony was in a store and the song
“Losing My Religion” by the band R.E.M played over the speakers. Rapp believed
this was Larson reaching out to him because this was also the song he sang at his
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first audition for Rent. It is evident that Larson was a big contribution to Rapp’s
decision to write this memoir, therefore it would be a great source to read when
teaching this book.

Rafsky, Robert. “April 19, 1992: My AIDS Death”. New York Times. 5 Oct 2010.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/opinion/eq-rafsky.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Robert
%20Rafsky&st=cse

In this piece, Robert Rafsky, a person living HIV positive, speaks of how he fought
to create AIDS awareness. He joined the AIDS activist group Act Up in their
struggle in demanding faster approval of AIDS drugs with the FDA. Their “tactics
worked” and the FDA efficiently began the drug approval process. This was a great
achievement for anyone living with a chronic disease.
In Anthony Rapp’s memoir AIDS is a very important topic that affects his life in
many ways. He loses a great friend to the epidemic. Also, the Broadway show that
gives him his successful career is based on fighting the disease. And also, as a
homosexual, Rapp has to be extra cautious of the disease. His mother is very aware
of this and on one occasion they have an exchange of words where his mother
makes him promise he will always be safe. Already experiencing the loss AIDS can
contribute to life, Rapp reassures his mother he will never be stupid enough to put
himself in danger. This journal piece would help express the hardships those living
with AIDS do experience.

Rapp, Anthony. Writer. Personal Interview. “Without You” Barnes & Noble

In an interview about his book, Anthony Rapp tells of how he was presented with
the idea to write a memoir from Rob Wiseback. Rapp decided to write about his life
working on the Broadway show Rent in New York City while his mother struggled
with cancer in Chicago. Rapp knew that the only way he could tell the story was by
telling it honestly. He focused on targeting the grief and loss he encountered during
this period of his life. He does this through both his mother’s and his play writer,
Jonathan Larson’s, death.
This interview can be used to show not only how much writing this memoir meant
to Rapp, but also, how hard it was. For him to get the stories perfect, he had to
“capture the truth of the moments” (interview) by reliving them. By doing this, he
was brought back into much of the pain he had already gone through. He had to
remember seeing his mother at her worst, “her eyes more drunken and exhausted
and wild than” (61) he’d ever seen before. Listening to the interview helps discover
Rapp’s purpose for his memoir. During the period Rapp writes about, he lossed to
greatly influential figures in his life. He lost his mother to her long fight with
cancer. He struggled with the grief for so long because after moving to NYC for
college, Anthony never spent a lot of time home, only special occasions, or if his
mother was sick. We also see the way he deals with the death of Jonathan Larson,
the creator of Rent, and the mean that jump-started his career. Jonathan’s death was
more sudden which caused Rapp to have so many things left unsaid. And that’s
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something Rapp’s memoir preaches, to never leave things unsaid, and always
express who you are.

Timrod, Henry. “Sonnet: Grief Dies” University of Georgia Press. Athens, Georgia.
1965. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/print.html?id=178778

In Henry Timrod’s sonnet grief is the topic resolved. In his poem he writes, “grief
dies like joy” because neither of them last forever. They are emotions you can have,
but neither will always be what you feel. Anthony Rapp writes about this idea of
grief in his memoir, Without You. In his poem, Timrod writes of how “weak a thing
it seems that grief should die,” meaning that grief never does really go away.
Although, you may not always feel it presently, it is still there “upon my brow.”
This can be used to connect to how the cast feels after Jonathan Larson’s death in
Without You. Everyone is extremely heartbroken and shocked by the loss. They
grieve for the little time they have. Then, they move on and finish his great work.
Although, Rapp explains how every show and every ounce of energy put into it was
for Jonathan. Like the poem says, “no grief of mine should ever pass away,” Rapp
never forgets or stops missing the two great lives he has lossed. However, he uses
that grief to get him through his days.