Original Broadway Cast
(In Order of Appearance)
Adam Pascal (Roger Davis)
Anthony Rapp (Mark Cohen)
Jesse L. Martin (Tom Collins)
Taye Diggs (Benjamin Coffin III)
Fredi Walker (Joanne Jefferson)
Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Angel)
Marcy Harriel (Mimi Marquez)
Daphne Ruben-Vega (Mimi Marquez)
Idina Menzel (Maureen Johnson)
Kristen Lee Kelly (Ensemble)
Byron Utley (Ensemble)
Gwen Stewart (Ensemble)
Timothy Britten Parker (Ensemble)
Gilles Chiasson (Ensemble)
Rodney Hicks (Ensemble)
Aiko Nakasone (Ensemble)
Adam Pascal (Roger) makes his debut theatrical performance in Rent for which he received
nominations for the 1996 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Actor in a Musical as well as 1996
Theatre World and Obie awards. He played guitar with the group Mute and recorded a CD with them. Mr.
Pascal is pleased that he is able to use his musical ability in this way.
Anthony Rapp (Mark) is proud to have been associated with Rent since its '94 studio production at New
York Theatre Workshop. Broadway: Precious Sons (Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk
nomination). Six Degrees of Separation. Off-Broadway: Rent (Obie Award), Raised in Captivity,
Trafficking in Broken Hearts, Yourth Is Wasted, Sophistry, The Destiny of Me. Film and television:
Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Six Degrees....Twister, The Mantis
Murder, David Searching, "The Lazarus Man." He studies and teaches with Sande Shurin.
Jesse L. Martin (Tom Collins). Broadway: Timon of Athens, The Government Inspector, Off-Broadway:
Rent (NYTW, Obie Award), The Arabian Nights (MTC), Ring Of Men (EST). Regional: I Ain't Yo Uncle
(Hartford Stage), Shakespeare's Rock-n-Roles (Actors Theatre of Louisville), The Butcher's Daughter
(Cleveland Playhouse), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Arena Stage), Romeo and Juliet (The Acting
Company). Television: "New York Undercover," "One Life To Live," "Guiding Light." Currently preparing
his two one-man shows, Fiend and an untitled piece based on the life of Marvin Gaye. Love and thanks
to Michael Greif, Bernie Telsey, my kinfolk and my new family: the cast.
Taye Diggs (Benny) Broadway: Nicholas Hytner's Carousel (Understudy for Jigger/Ensemble).
Off-Broadway: Rent (Obie Award), TV: "New York Undercover" (Stephon). Film: Blind Date (Gabriel).
Other credits include The Greeks, Black Love Song #1 and Dutchman. I thank God, my family, and all
my "peoples."
Fredi Walker (Joanne) is honored to make her Broadway debut in this special show with these
wonderful people. She dedicates every performance of Rent to the memory of its creator, Jonathan, I
thank you. Prior to Rent, for which she received an Obie Award, Fredi directed the Audelco Award
winning play When the Chickens Came Home to Roost by Laurence Holder. Acting credits include
Erzulie in Once on This Island; Riverside Shakespeare's Cinderella; Little Shop of Horrors; Ain't
Misbehavin'; They're Playing Our Song; Nunsense II; God Is a Guess What; Liz Swados' Esther, A
Vaudeville Meghillah; and The Buddy Holly Story. Film and TV; "NY Undercover," "The Upper Room"
(PBS), and "Night of Swords."
Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Angel) makes his Broadway debut in Rent for which he received the 1996
Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and an Obie Award. Raised in
Brooklyn, he previously starred in Elizabeth Swados' The New Americans for which he composed the
song "No Es Asi." He also appeared in Popol Vuh at Lincoln Center, Intar, and on tour, and The Tower
(Danny Kaye Theatre). Wilson has danced (and was choreographer for) several music videos including
"Joli" and "Josue de Jesus." He dedicates his performance to his family and Jonathan Larson.
Marcy Harriell (Mimi) makes her Broadway debut with jubilation. new york: Capeman Workshop by
paul simon; Camila (Hal Prince Workshop); Golden Boy (Lorna, York Theatre); Jigsaw. Regional, tours:
Once on This Island (Rep. Theatre of St. Louis); Another Midsummer Night (AMTF); Blood Brothers,
West Side Story (Maria) with Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents. Thank you, family!... and to Rob for
giving her courage and love.
Daphne Rubin-Vega(Mimi) performed in the '94 studio production of "Rent" at the New York Theatre
Workshop. She received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for this production. Presently,
Daphne is working on her debut album with Mercury Records. She is grateful to share this blessed event
with her cast and crew, and feels this experience is like being shot out of a cannon. Jonathan, I love you
and know you are watching.
Idina Menzel (Maureen) is making her Broadway debut in Rent for which she received a 1996 Tony
Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and an Obie Award. Idina, a graduate of NYU,
is a singer/songwriter who performs with her own band throughout the New York City club circuit.
Recently signed to Hollywood Records, she is currenty writing material for her debut album due out in
1997. She is grateful to her friends and family for their love and support and would like to thank all those
involved in Rent for making this the most rewarding experience of her life.
Kristen Lee Kelly (Ensemble) is very happy to be making her Broadway debut in Rent. Off-Broadway:
Rent (NYTW, Obie Award), Loved Less (Via Theatre), The Apollo of Bellac (Ubu Repertory). Regional:
The Diary of Anne Frank (Barrington Stage Co.), The Heidi Chronicles (Two River Theatre), Oleanna
(Capital Rep.), Dream of the Red Spider (ART). TV: The Kennedys of Massachusetts." Love and thanks
to my family, friends, NYTW, the Rent cast and crew and, of course, Jonathan.
Byron Utley (Ensemble). Broadway: Death and the King's Horseman (Olunde), Bob Fosse's Big Deal
(Charley). Regional: Uncle Tom in I Ain't Yo Uncle (Hartford Stage), Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream
(Williamstown Theatre Festival), Herald Loomis in Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Studio Arena), the lead
in Othello (Shakespeare in Delaware Park). Off-Broadway: Rent (NYTW, Obie Award), Film and
television: Night and the City, "Law & Order, ""Ghostwriter,""The Dudley Moore Show." Featured vocalist
with Hannibal Peterson at the 1995 Theatre Festival in Venice and Milan. Mr. Utley also participates in
the Colgate Palmolive Partnership Mentor Program.
Gwen Stewart (Ensemble) is very happy to be returning to Broadway in Rent-theatre history in the
making. Broadway credits: Starmites (Cannibelle) and Truly Blessed (Flo). Off-Broadway: Rent (NYTW,
Obie Award); Suds (Marge), Regional: Avenue X (Julia), Ain't Misbehavin' (Nel), Dreamgirls, The Wiz
(Evelline), Abyssinia (Corine) and Big River (Alice). Gwen is also a two-time winner on "Showtime at the
Apollo" and is no stranger to the film and music industries. The sky's the limit for this diva. All thanks to
God for my gift of song.
Timothy Britten Parker (Ensemble) Broadway: The Visit, Runaways, The Innocents, Off-Broadway:
Night and Her Stars, Machinal, The Cherry Orchard, Rent (Obie Award), and 45 other Off and Off-Off
Broadway productions including Jonathan Larson's Superbia (Playwrights Horizons, 1990). Founding
member of Naked Angels Theatre Company. Favorite roles there include Summer Winds, Suffering
Colonel, Heartsick Pioneer (L.A. Drama-Logue Award), Perfectly Happy, Claus, Chelsea Walls. Film:
Quiz Show, Joey Breaker. Television: four episodes of "Law & Order" (role of M.E. Hoeke): "New York
Undercover." Dedicated to Pam and Jonathan.
Gilles Chiasson (Ensemble) proudly makes his Broadway debut in Rent. National tours: Les
Miserables, Forever Plaid, Gift of the Maji. Off-Broadway: Groundhog (MTC), Rent (NYTW, Obie Award).
Regional: Heartbeats (Goodspeed Opera House), A Little Night Music (Theatre Virginia), Good Person of
Szechuan (O'Neill Theatre Center), Pippin (Cherry County Playhouse), A House Divided (Tennessee
Rep), Broadway Bound (Weston Playhouse). Founding Member: Adirondack Theatre Festival.
Inspiration: Jennifer. Gilles dedicates this performance to the memory of Jonathan Larson.
Rodney Hicks(Ensemble) Broadway debut. National tours: I Was Looking at the Ceiling, Then I Saw
the Sky (Peter Sellars, dir.); Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar. Off-Broadway: Rent (NYTW, Obie Award),
Lotto (Lincoln Center Theatre, Billie Holiday Theatre), Chaos (workshop), Bring in the Morning (The
Apollo Theatre). TV: "One Live to Live," co-host on "Dance Party USA." Also industrials, commercials
and print. Thanks to God for giving me these 22 fulfilling years and many more to come, all my family,
friends, Sharon Carry, Bernie Telsey, Michael Greif, Rich, and an awesome new family!
Aiko Nakasone (Ensemble) is incredibly grateful to be returning to Broadway in this very special show.
She was last seen on Broadway in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
National tours include The Who's Tommy and Starlight Express. Off-Broadway: Rent (NYTW, Obie
Award). Aiko would like to thank her sister, Kooko, and her parents for their undying love and support.
She sends special thanks to her angels and Bear.
