Wednesday night’s Snow Hard Feelings tour performance at Stage AE wasn’t Reneé Rapp’s first time in Pittsburgh.
“It’s so good to be here,” Rapp said to the sellout crowd. “I used to come here all the time growing up.”
She opened her show with “Talk Too Much,” followed by “Poison Poison” — both from her debut album, “Snow Angel,” which was released in August.
Rapp rose to fame after making her Broadway debut in 2019 as Regina George in “Mean Girls.” She’s also known for her portrayal of Leighton Murray in “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” Rapp will reprise her lead role in “Mean Girls” — the movie adaptation — set to be released in 2024.
The backdrop for the night at Stage AE was a giant window, displaying various animated scenes and photos to go along with each of her songs. As Rapp was starting her set, photos from her childhood were projected onto the window.
She opened up to the audience about the writing of her debut album, saying there were a couple songs that defined the process for her. One was the song “Willow,” which she said she considers to be a “love letter to her younger self.”
Rapp included some of her older tunes, like “Bruises” and “Colorado,” the former of which encouraged the audience to participate by clapping along.
Encore = “Snow Angel”
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 26, 2023
Here’s a video of the bridge… @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/DO4q1iPaaf
“I Wish” — Reneé Rapp and Alexander 23 @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/0DVaxmTMco
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 26, 2023
Reneé Rapp opens with”Talk Too Much,” a song from her new album Snow Angel here at Stage AE @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/e1GkOlN51G
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 26, 2023
When “Pretty Girls” started, the audience screamed, as it’s one of the most popular of her new tunes. She took liberties with the melody, riffing and harmonizing as she performed.
“Does anybody here do theater?” Rapp asked.
She was impressed with how well the audience was “carrying the melody” and singing along with her.
Rapp said as she was recording “Snow Angel,” there were a few song lyrics that shaped the album. One can be found within the song “23.”
“But tomorrow I turn 23, and it feels like everyone hates me,” the lyric reads. She asked the audience if anyone else in attendance is also 23 like her.
During her performance of “I Hate Boston,” a depiction of the city was projected onto the giant window behind Rapp. Animated rain trickled down over the black-and-white image.
“This is my favorite ballad on this album,” Rapp said.
The piece sheds light on how a failed relationship can ruin a specific place in someone’s mind because of memories that were made there.
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The window was used once again during “So What Now,” as animated people walked back and forth across the screen. The lyrics play on what it would be like to have an ex return home and wonder what might happen next.
Toward the end of her set, Rapp sang “Tattoos,” which is the first song she ever released in 2022. She credits the song with changing her career — and her life.
Rapp also performed “Too Well,” which featured her guitarist, as well as “Gemini Moon,” “The Wedding Song” and “In The Kitchen.”
Towa Bird and Alexander 23 opened for Rapp, and both were invited back to the stage during her set. Towa Bird played guitar for “Tummy Hurts,” and Alexander 23 sang “I Wish” as a duet with Rapp. Alexander 23 produced Rapp’s debut album.
After leaving the stage, Rapp returned for a dazzling encore, performing the ballad “Snow Angel,” which is the title track of the album. The finale was filled with bright, white lights and ethereal wings — making Rapp a true snow angel.
