Principal casting announced and booking extended for RENT in West End
Photo credit: Jenny Anderson
Principal casting has been announced for the new production of Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT, which begins performances in the West End at the Duke of York’s Theatre (soon to be renamed The Tom Stoppard Theatre) on 26 September.
Directed by Olivier Award winner Luke Sheppard, the cast includes the previously announced Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things, Netflix) as Mark, with Travis Ross (Cabaret, West End) as Roger, Bella Brown (Into the Woods, Bridge Theatre) as Mimi, Billy Nevers (Jesus Christ Superstar, West End) as Collins, Lazy Violet (SIX, West End/UK tour) as Maureen, Olivier Award nominee Danielle Fiamanya (Brigadoon, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Joanne, Jeevan Braich (Starlight Express, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre) as Angel, and Joaquin Pedro Valdes (The Frogs, Southwark Playhouse) as Benny. Further casting to be announced soon.
It has also been announced today that due to popular demand, booking for the show has now been extended until 27 March 2027.
Producers Chris Harper and Sonia Friedman said: "One of the greatest privileges of producing theatre is discovering and championing exceptional new talent, and that’s exactly what this extraordinary young company represents. This remarkable group of actors embodies everything that has made Jonathan Larson’s RENT so enduring: individuality, honesty, fearlessness and generosity of spirit.
Nearly thirty years after it first changed the landscape of musical theatre, RENT remains as vital, urgent and life-affirming as ever. Its story of love, friendship, community and resilience continues to speak powerfully to every new generation, which is why it felt so important that this production should be led by the voices, vitality and authenticity of the artists performing it today. We can’t wait for audiences to discover these exceptional performers and experience the thrilling chemistry they’ve created together as they honour Jonathan Larson’s extraordinary legacy."
RENT has music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson. It is directed by Luke Sheppard, with choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves, set design by David Woodhead, costumes by Gabriella Slade, lighting by Howard Hudson, audio production and sound by Paul Gatehouse, video design and cinematography by George Reeve and Nathan Amzi, make-up and hair design by Jackie Saundercock, UK casting by Pearson Casting CSA, CDG, CDA, US Casting by Jim Carnahan CSA, musical supervision by Bill Sherman, musical direction and associate musical supervision by Katy Richardson, intimacy direction by Asha Jennings-Grant, and dialect coaching by Joe Trill.
