Video Flashback! Rent Inspires Mormon Star Nikki M. James to Live 'La Vie Boheme' on Tony Night

In the final days leading up to the 2011 Tony telecast, Broadway.com is posting videos of favorite Tony memories of this year’s nominees, with their own commentary. Nikki M. James, a Best Featured Actress nominee for her performance as Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, recalls being inspired by the original cast of Rent while watching the 1996 Tony telecast.

“My ultimate memory is when the original cast of Rent performed 'La Vie Boheme.' I watched it a million times. It was the most exciting thing, and I still have it all memorized. I was about 15 years old, and Rent was this show that really spoke to the youth. All the sudden, it was cool again to be a fan of Broadway.”