Complete Cast, Schedule Announced for Rent National Tour

Complete casting and a schedule of cities has been announced for the forthcoming national tour of Rent, which begins on January 6, 2009, in Cleveland. Joining Broadway original stars Adam Pascal (Roger Davis), Anthony Rapp (Mark Cohen) and Gwen Stewart ("Seasons of Love") soloist will be Nicolette Hart (Maureen Johnson), Justin Johnston (Angel Schunard), Lexi Lawson (Mimi Marquez), Michael McElroy (Tom Collins), Jacques C. Smith (Benjamin Coffin III) and Haneefah Wood (Joanne Jefferson). The ensemble is rounded out by Karmine Alers, Toby Blackwell, Adam Halpin, Trisha Jeffrey, Telly Leung, Caren Lyn Manuel, Jed Resnick, Andy Senor, Yuka Takara, and John Watson. Johnston, McElroy and Stewart were members of the final company of Rent, which closed on Broadway on September 7.

The Rent tour is headed to the following cities: Cleveland, OH January 6-11; Buffalo, NY January 13-18; Durham, NC January 20-25; Charlotte, NC January 27-February 1; Philadelphia, PA February 3-8; Newark, NJ February 10-15; Detroit, MI February 17-22; Los Angeles, CA March 3-8; San Diego, CA March 10-15; Tempe, AZ March 17-22; Minneapolis, MN March 24-29; Chicago, IL March 31-April 5; Boston, MA April 7-12; Pittsburgh, PA April 14-19; Rochester, NY April 21-26; Houston, TX April 28-May 3; Dallas, TX May 5-10; Austin, TX May 12-17; Washington, DC May 26-31; St. Louis, MO June 2-7; Denver, CO June 9-14; Seattle, WA June 16-21; Portland, OR June 23-28; Tampa, FL July 7-12; Atlanta, GA July 14-19; Toronto, ON July 21-26; Schenectady, NY July 28-Aug 2; Tokyo, Japan August 4-30.

The tour is directed by Michael Greif, who received 1996 Tony and Drama Desk nominations as well as the Obie Award for Rent, and choreographed by Marlies Yearby who received a Tony Award nomination for her work on the musical. Tim Weil, the show’s original music supervisor and conductor, serves as music supervisor.