Casting news for Rent

By Amy Somensky May 4, 2007, 15:39 GMT

Rent is a new spin on the classic opera La Boheme. Set in New York City\'s East Village, it\'s an emotionally stirring story of a community of young artists struggling to live and celebrate life. A penniless songwriter, Roger, stricken with Aids has given up on life until he meets his beautiful neighbor, Mimi, who is also Aids stricken. ...more

New York: Tamyra Gray is set to join the Broadway cast of Rent on May 29th as Mimi. Gray was a contestant on the first season of American Idol and made her Broadway debut in Bombay Dreams.

In other casting news confirmed by Playbill.com, original Rent stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp will reprise their roles as Roger and Mark. The duo will join the cast on July 30th for a six week stint through September 9th.

Rent currently stars Christopher J. Hanke as Mark, D'Monroe as Benny, Nicolette Hart as Maureen, Tim Howar as Roger, Justin Johnston as Angel, Troy Horne as Collins, Tonya Dixon as Joanne, and Antonique Smith as Mimi.

Since opening in 1996, the musical has played over 4,100 performances, and has become the 7th longest running production on Broadway. It won every major best musical award including the Drama Desk and Tony awards as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Over the years it has developed a community of loyal fans dubbed "rent-heads" who have been touched by the musical's themes, music, and spirit.

The musical is of course the work of Jonathan Larson, who penned the music, lyrics, and book. Jonathan tragically died of an aortic aneurysm on January 25, 1996, the night before the musical was to have its first performance at Off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The rest of the team behind the production includes direction by Michael Greif, choreography by Marlies Yearby, set design by Paul Clay, lighting design by Blake Burba, costume design by Angela Wendt, and producers Allan S. Gordon, Jeffrey Seller, and Kevin McCollum.

Rent is a new spin on the classic opera La Boheme. Set in New York City's East Village, it's an emotionally stirring story of a community of young artists struggling to live and celebrate life. It follows eight friends over the course of a year as they experience love, life, and death by trying to live the motto "No Day But Today."

For Rent tickets visit tickets.monstersandcritics.com.