American Idol's Tamyra Gray Will Return to Broadway in Rent

Popular American Idol season one finalist Tamyra Gray will join the company of Broadway's Rent on May 29, slipping into the shiny blue pants of dancer Mimi Marquez. She will remain with the long-running rock musical at the Nederlander Theatre through November 25.

Gray's run will overlap with recently announced returning OBC members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who begin their six-week stint on July 30.

The actress and singer made her Broadway debut as a replacement lead in Bombay Dreams after finishing fourth on the first season of American Idol. She has appeared on TV in Boston Public, What I Like About You and All of Us, as well as in the feature film, The Gospel. Gray also released a solo album called The Dreamer in 2004 and penned the songs "I Believe" for Idol winner Fantasia Barrino and "You Thought Wrong" for first season champion Kelly Clarkson.

Written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, Rent opened on Broadway on April 29, 1996, following a sold-out engagement at off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to the Tony Award for best musical and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Rent now ranks as the seventh longest running show in Broadway history.