Rent is a rock opera written by Jonathon Larson set in New York City’s Lower East Side.
The story focuses on a group of starving artists trying to survive under the shadow of AIDS
when the bohemian Alphabet City was still thriving. The musical was first seen in 1994 at the
New York Theatre Workshop, which also became its off-Broadway home in 1996. Before its
off-Broadway premiere, Jonathon Larson died. The show went on to win a Pulitzer Prize and
go onto Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre where is ran for 12 years before ending in 2008.

The original cast:
Adam Pascal – Roger
Anthony Rapp – Mark
Daphne Rubin-Vega – Mimi
Jesse L. Martin – Collins
Wilson Jermaine Heredia – Angel
Idina Menzel - Maureen
Freddi Walker – Joanne
Taye Diggs – Benny

In 2005, a movie version of Rent was made with 6 members of the original cast with Rosario
Dawson and Tracie Thoms replacing Rubin-Vega and Walker as Mimi and Joanne.

Neil Patrick Harris, a former Mark in the LA production of Rent and on the national tour,
is making his directorial debut the 2010 summer production of Rent that will be running
at the Hollywood Bowl from August 6th to August 8th. He will have Tom Weil, the musical
supervisor and conductor of Rent on Broadway, as his musical director.

Cast of 2010 Hollywood Bowl Production:
Neil Patrick Harris - Director
Tom Weil - Musical Director
Vanessa Hudgens - Mimi Marquez
Nicole Scherzinger - Maureen Johnson
Wayne Brady - Tom Collins
Telly Leung - Angel Dumott Schunard
Tracie Thoms - Joanne Jefferson
Gwen Stewart - "Seasons of Love" vocalist
Aaron Tveit - Roger Davis
Skylar Astin - Mark Cohen
Jamal Sims - choreographer

Mimi is a 19 year old HIV positive addict. She is a dancer at the Cat Scratch Club, and becomes
the love interest of Roger. The two have a tumultuous relationship as Roger is a former addict
and her past relationship their former friend and landlord Benny. Mimi is extremely close with
drag queen, Angel Dumott Schunard.

Upon casting Vanessa Hudgens as Mimi, Neil Patrick Harris said, "she came in for a work session,
and I must say, Vanessa really impressed. She looks amazing, has great vocal chops, and seems
really committed to honoring the somewhat iconic role of Mimi. I look forward to audiences seeing
a dark, edgy, and very different side of Vanessa Hudgens this August." [source]

Out Tonight


Light My Candle


Another Day


Without You


La Vie Boheme

‘Rent’ Takes Over The Hollywood Bowl, Part One | Access Hollywood - Celebrity News, Photos & Videos
Stars Pay 'Rent' This Month At The Hollywood Bowl
BBC News - Pussycat Doll in the new all star cast of Rent
Vanessa Hudgens in 'Rent' rehearsals | Video | OnTheRedCarpet.com
Celebrity Videos | E! Online
Vanessa Hudgens in 'Rent' rehearsals, Neil Patrick Harris says 'bonding is fast and furious' | OnTheRedCarpet.com
BWW TV: RENT in Rehearsal at the Hollywood Bowl! Video Content (BroadwayWorld.com)
Neil Patrick Harris stages "Rent" at Hollywood Bowl - latimes.com
Photo Flash: First Shots of RENT in Rehearsal for the Hollywood Bowl! 2010/07/30

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(ask to be added)

Because holy S#!T. Seriously. SERIOUSLY?! MIIIIII-MIIIIII! *SPAZZ*
Because we knew it. Three years later, but we knew it, we said it - RIGHT HERE.
"I've been adding different emotions to certain lines that other people haven't done before"
"I came in and I sang a few songs for him, and we worked through it; it was so much fun"
"Within the songs are such loaded stories — it's a musical, & you get to say whatever you want within those songs."
"I thought Vanessa would be a good fit... I think she's really gonna be great."
"It's gonna push a few buttons for her as an actress, but that'll be great to watch."
"She came in for a work session, and I must say, Vanessa really impressed."
"She looks amazing, has great vocal chops, & seems really committed to honoring Mimi."
"... there's something tragic and vulnerable and raw about a very young addict."
"She came in, smoking hot, knew the part, sang it great. Why not be open it?"
"It wasn’t even so much advice as it was super appreciation, ‘you’re doing so much more than I had to do!’"
"Rosario downplays the need to give Hudgens any advice, saying she is in awe of what she is going to accomplish."
“This will be unlike anything you’ve ever heard before.”
“I can’t get the songs out of my head. I go home and I’m still in MiMi land.”
“Out Tonight is kind of a beast to tackle, but it’s been fun.”
“She’s got great stage chops and she’s awesome to work with.”
"Vocally, her performance was competent, if not stellar."
"She brought an endearing sweetness to the love songs."
"Her first performance last night wasn’t an embarrassment for anyone."
"Hudgens reminds one of Linda Ronstadt in "Pirates of Penzance" [...] clearly a bit out of her depth, but so winning and vulnerable you're inclined to cut the gal a break."
"Her acting requires no apologies."
"Her performance last night wasn't an embarrassment for anyone"
b/c she "brought an endearing sweetness to the love songs, transforming Mimi from a baggage-carrying basket case into an eyelash-batting romantic."
"There’s no telling how good she might be on stage with more experience and a fuller rehearsal schedule than the Bowl can provide. "
"The electric current that passed between her and the audience [...]is a resource that producers will surely will want to tap"
"Count this amiable mixed performance as part of her undergraduate musical theater education."


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