The 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical was won by the musical 'RENT'. Written by Jonathan Larson, 'RENT' is a rock musical loosely based on Giacomo Puccini's opera 'La Bohème'. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in New York City's East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City. The musical was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards and becoming one of the longest-running Broadway shows of all time.