'Rent' to close off-Broadway Sept. 9

NEW YORK, July 3 (UPI) -- The off-Broadway production of the musical "Rent" is to close Sept. 9, its producers announced Tuesday.

Written by the late Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, the show opened at New World Stages Aug. 11. The revival will have played 32 previews and 450 performances when it ends its run.

The original production of "Rent" opened at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre April 29, 1996, following a sold-out, extended limited engagement at off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical. Additionally, "Rent" is one of only eight musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

It closed Sept. 7, 2008, after playing 5,124 performances and 16 previews. It is the ninth longest-running show in Broadway history.