NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 5- Disney’s THE LION KING

by | Sep 21, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, News, Shows

See the source image
See the source image
RISE AND SHINE BROADWAY FANS! It is 5 DAYS AWAY till the 74th Annual Tony Tony Awards. We are continuing to wake you up each morning till Broadway’s biggest night playing you the best of the Great Bright Way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Always love having a new show of the day on our playlist.
At # 5 on our countdown is one of the most unbelievable shows that continues to wow audiences everywhere. We travel deep in the heart of Africa where we meet a brave young lion cub on a journey to find his place in the world and eventually becoming the King of the Jungle. We of course are talking about Disney’s longest running show out there…. The Lion King. Based on the iconic 1994 Animated film of the same name, the show features a score by Elton John, Tim Rice, and Lebo M along with a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, the show is based on the acclaimed 1994 Animated film of the same name.
From the 1998 telecast, Tsidii Le Loka as “Rafiki” and the original Broadway cast perform the show’s breathtaking and legendary opening anthem…. THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.
THE LION KING was originally first conceived by former CEO of The Walt Disney Company himself Michael Eisner. At the time, Disney was becoming successful with the Great White Way with their debut musical… Beauty and the Beast which opened in 1994 (the same year the original animated film version of The Lion King was released). One day, Eisner was sitting in a meeting to talk about some possible new projects for Broadway. He decided one possible idea would be THE LION KING. Everyone in the conference room (including Thomas Schumacher, the President of Disney on Broadway) began to laugh and telling Eisner it was “the most dumbest idea ever”. He didn’t care about how the show should be put, Michael just wanted THE LION KING as a Broadway Musical. Suddenly. Thomas Schumacher came to his senses and thought of one possible idea… He called acclaimed director and visual artist Julie Taymor (which they both worked on another previous project in the past). With her incredible skills in direction, set design, and breathtaking puppetry (which she’s done in Off Broadway, Films, and Opera), Disney began to work on the production. They hired the creative team from the 1994 film including its Oscar winning composers Elton John and Tim Rice along with the traditional South African choral themed music from Lebo M along with the screenwriters Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. The show went through many years of readings and workshops. During the time, Taymor began to expand more of the storyline of the characters, hiring African American and South African performers to help bring their traditions as the inspiration for the show. In addition, one of the characters was gender swapped from a male to a female (inspired by a South African healer called a Sangoma)…. “Rafiki The Baboon”.
The show had its world premiere out-of-town tryout at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1997 where it became an instant smash. A few months later, the show officially arrived on Broadway playing the beautifully newly renovated, reopened, and restored New Amsterdam Theatre (thanks to the “Disneyfication”). It later transferred to its current home at the Minskoff Theatre in 2006. So far THE LION KING has played over 9,000 performances here in New York City. It also holds the distinction as the 3rd Longest Running Show in Broadway History. Its grossed over $1 billion in ticket sales.
The Broadway production recently re-opened after this crazy long 18 1/2 month intermission due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily (as “Rafiki”) says…. THE KING HAS RETURNED.
Under the direction of Julie Taymor, the original Broadway cast consisted of….
the late Jason Raize as “Simba”,
Scott Irby-Ranniar as “Young Simba”,
the recently late Samuel E. Wright as “Mufassa”,
Tony winner Heather Headley as “Nala”,
Kajuana Shuford as “Young Nala”,
Tony nominee Tsidii Le Loka as “Rafiki”,
John Vickery as “Scar”,
Max Casella as “Timon”,
Tom Alan Robbins as “Pumbaa”,
Geoff Hoyle as “Zazu”,
Tracy Nicole Chapman-Nolan as “Shenzi”,
Stanley Wayne Mathis as “Banzai”,
Kevin Cahoon as “Ed”,
and
Gina Breedlove as “Sarabi”,
The show continued to have over numerous replacement actors from all over the world. The show is known for its unbelievable diverse casting and many of its company members past and present are from South Africa.
THE LION KING was nominated was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 1998 winning 8 including BEST MUSICAL. In addition, Julie Taymor made Broadway History as the first female ever to win for BEST DIRECTION OF a MUSICAL.
In addition to its success on Broadway, THE LION KING went on to become a global phenomenon with productions everywhere from London’s West End (where it most recently re-opened earlier this summer) Germany, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, its ongoing North American National Tour and more.
THE LION KING still lives on. There are even productions happening in schools and community theaters but as a JUNIOR edition which is now available for licensing via Music Theatre International.
Isn’t this musical such a ROARING spectacle?!!

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 6 – THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

by | Sep 20, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

See the source image
See the source image
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS! We are getting closer each day to celebrating Broadway’s biggest night. The 74th Annual Tony Awards is only 6 DAYS AWAY. We got more iconic performances coming up on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Are you ready to celebrate the return of Live Theater here in NYC?!!!
At # 6 on our countdown, we take you back in time to Paris in the year 1881. There, we meet a mysterious disfigured musical masked living in the subterranean labyrinth lair underneath the Paris Opera House and the young orphaned soprano he has trained and slowly falls in love with. However, when things don’t go the figure’s way, disaster strikes. This is the classic story of The Phantom of the Opera. With a score by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and a book by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe, it’s based on the famous 1911 French novel by Gaston Leroux.
From the 1988 telecast, Award winner Michael Crawford as the title role and Sarah Brightman as “Christine Daae” perform the musical’s iconic JOURNEY TO THE LAIR scene consisting of the title song and the haunting THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was first concieved by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1984. At the time, he wanted to write a piece for his wife at the time dancer turned soprano Sarah Brightman. He called longtime friend and collaborating producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh about aiming for a romantic story told on the stage. Webber suggested on the classic Gaston Leroux story. To get a visual sense, both watched the iconic 1925 Lon Chaney silent film version and the 1943 Claude Rains film version. However both Lloyd Webber and Mackintosh were unable to see how it could leap from screen to stage. A few months later in New York City while working another show, Lloyd Webber finds a second-hand copy of the original Gaston Leroux novel which supplied more the details and the necessary inspiration to develop a musical. He decided to give PHANTOM a 2nd chance. From there, he went straight to work on the piece. Lloyd Webber contacted Jim Steinman to write the lyrics thanks to his “dark obsessive side”, but he declined in order to fulfill his commitments on several albums he was producing at the time. He then reached out to Alan Jay Lerner who later became seriously ill after joining the project and was forced to withdraw. None of contributions (including the involvement of the song MASQUERADE) are credited in the show. Lloyd Webber’s 3rd contact was lyricist Richard Stilgoe (which they previously collaborated together on the musical STARLIGHT EXPRESS). To give the audience a taste of the story, Lloyd Webber staged an early production / workshop at his home in Sydmonton (located in Hampshire, England) a year later. What they originally saw was an early rough draft with songs being cut and later rewrites by a young unknown writer named Charles Hart. However, parts of Richard Stilgoe’s original lyrics are still in the score today. In addition, the initial mask for “The Phantom” was a full muffled mask where people couldn’t even hear him sing full out. However, it was changed to what we know today as the half-faced white mask. From there, a full creative team was brought together including Maria Bjornson designing the sets and costumes, Gillian Lynne as choreographer, and direction by Hal Prince.
The show began its full-out world premiere in 1987 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End. However most people realize that during its early dress rehearsals and previews, the show went through so much technical problems including the crashing of the chandelier (where thankfully no one was hurt). In addition, the leading lady lost her voice by the 2nd preview which now today makes the show use 2 alternating actresses for the lead role of “Christine”.
The show still went on to become the hottest ticket in London’s West End with the show’s original cast recording selling both of which have been certified 4× Platinum in the US and sold 4.97 million copies all around the world.
The original London production was continuing to play to packed houses every night till the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The show was abruptly shutdown for 16 1/2 months. Most recently, it returned this past July with a fully updated edition of the original staging. In addition throughout the pandemic, Cameron Mackintosh, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and his team also did some updates to Her Majesty’s Theatre giving it a little refurbishment and renovation.
The London production of PHANTOM is currently the 2nd Longest Running Show in West End History. It went on to win London’s Olivier Awards for BEST NEW MUSICAL.
A year later by critical acclaim, the show made its way overseas to our NYC backyard. The Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre in 1988. It also became an instant smash hit where it was also playing to packed houses every night. It has been here in NYC for the past 33 YEARS. It’s played over 13,000 sold out performances.
In 2006, the show played its 7,486th surpassing the original production of Cats (another Lloyd Webber smash hit) becoming the top Longest Running Show in Broadway History. Under the direction of Hal Prince and choreography by Gillian Lynne, the cast featured its original West End trio reprising their roles on Broadway consisting of…
Michael Crawford as “The Phantom”,
Sarah Brightman as “Christine”,
the late Steve Barton as “Raoul”.
and more.
Numerous replacements have went on to take over these iconic shows on Broadway and London’s West End.
The Broadway production was also abruptly shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is scheduled to once again re-haunt the Majestic Theatre starting October 22nd, 2021.
The show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 1988 winning 7 including BEST MUSICAL.
Following its triumph in London’s West End and on Broadway, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA went on to become a worldwide smash hit.
In addition to its success on stage, the musical was captured on film TWICE.
In 2004, Warner Bros. Pictures released the legendary acclaimed film adaptation of the musical. It received mixed reviews but well received by audiences with critics praising the vocals and acting. It grossed over $154.6 million worldwide at the Box Office. Under the direction of Joel Schumaccher, the cast starred…
Gerard Butler as “The Phantom”,
Emmy Rossum as “Christine”,
and
Tony nominee Patrick Wilson as “Raoul”.
It went on to be nominated for several Awards including the Golden Globes and the Oscars but lost its categories.
The most recent filmed version of PHANTOM happened in 2011. For this version, it was the filming of an acclaimed concert production that played London’s Royal Albert Hall in honor of the musical’s 25th Anniversary of its world premiere. Because of playing a huge concert hall, there was some huge demands with the production that has been figured out including the chandelier and the changing of the sets. Most of the sets were projected onto an LED screen. In addition, the chandelier would not be crashed onto the stage but explode. With the full show, the concert also featured some surprises including the reunion of Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. In addition, 4 previous actors who played “The Phantom” joined forces to perform alongside Brightman and its concert masked man. Under the direction of Laurence Connor (who later directed a new touring production in honor of the show’s 25th), the cast starred..
Ramin Karimloo as “The Phantom”,
Sierra Boggess as “Christine”,
and
Hadley Fraser as “Raoul”.
Within these past over 30 years, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has played on 6 continents and was translated into every major language. Both the original and new production (that was made for the 25th Anniversary) is still being performed around the world.
In addition, There are already productions of PHANTOM as well being played in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
How beautifully haunting is this musical?

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 8 – THE BOOK OF MORMON

by | Sep 18, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

See the source image
See the source image
HELLO BROADWAY FANS. It’s almost here. Broadway’s Biggest night is almost here and 8 DAYS AWAY. You are once again waking up to some of the best performances from the past 74 years of the Tony Awards on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. What an incredible way to be celebrating the return of Broadway with the 74th Annual Tony Awards. Here comes another showstopper!!
At # 8 on our countdown is another one of Broadway’s current long running hits which this one gets people laughing. It tells the crazy adventures of 2 unlikely missionaries who team up, travel to Uganda to try to share their scriptures with the residents there. However, hell breaks loose for them!! We of course are talking about…. The Book of Mormon. With a score and book by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone, it’s inspired by an episode of South Park.
From the 2011 telecast, Tony nominee Andrew Rannells as “Elder Price” along with members of the cast perform the powerhouse anthem I BELIEVE.
THE BOOK OF MORMON was first conceived in the Summer of 2003. Trey Parker and Matt Stone were already becoming household names for their creation of the smash hit TV series South Park and were developing the marionette comedy film Team America: World Police. To get inspiration, Rudin encouraged Parker and Stone to see Avenue Q. After seeing it, Parker and Stone met Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (the composers of Avenue Q and super South Park fans) and went out for drinks. While talking, the 2 groups all shared something in common…. They wanted to write a comedy involving the story of Joseph Smith and the first Mormons. To learn more about Smith, they decided to take a trip to Salt Lake City interviewing missionaries. The timing was accommodated with Parker and Stone’s schedule with South Park. They continued working on the show and being inspired from a previous South Park episode about missionaries. In 2006 while still working on the piece, Trey Parker and Jeff Marx got into a little disagreement that caused Marx to drop from the production. From there, the show continued to be worked on with Lopez, Parker, and Stone. With Jeff Marx directing and then later dropped out, replaced by Tony winner Casey Nicholaw (a Tony nominee this year), the show went through numerous years of readings and workshops.
The show did not have a traditional out of town tryout heading straight to Broadway opening at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in 2011. The critics and audiences went crazy crying their eyes out for how hilarious it was. The show continues to sell out and it is still hard to get a ticket. It’s grossed over $500 million dollars since opening and has played over 3,000 performances. Under the direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, the cast consisted of…
Tony nominee Andrew Rannells (later Nic Rouleau, Matt Doyle, Gavin Creel, Kyle Selig, David Thomas Brown, and Kevin Clay) as “Elder Price”,
Tony nominee Josh Gad (later Jared Gertner, Cale Krise, Jon Bass, Cody Jamison Strad, Ben Platt, Christopher John O’Neill, and Brian Sears) as “Elder Cunningnam”,
Tony winner Nikki M. James (later Asmeret Ghebremichael, Nikki Renee Daniels, and Kimberly Exum) as “Nabulungi”,
Michael Potts (later Stanley Wayne Mathis, Daniel Breaker, Billy Eugene Jones, and Sterling Jarvis) as “Mafala”,
Tony nominee Rory O’Malley (later Matt Loehr, Grey Henson, and Stephen Ashfield) as “Elder McKinley”,
And more.
The show was nominated for 14 Tony Awards in 2011 winning 9 including Best Musical. It also won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater album and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
The show (now celebrating 10 years) was playing to packed houses all around the world. Along with NYC, it was being performed in London’s West End (where it won the Olivier for BEST NEW MUSICAL), on tour across America, in Australia, and on tour across the UK. However, they all were abruptly shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they’re all set to return this Fall.
The Broadway company of The Book of Mormon will make audience BELIEVE that TOMORROW IS A LATTER DAY once again beginning November 5th, 2021 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre. Other productions of the show set to reopen will also include its London company and UK/ Ireland Touring productions. More companies will be going out as well.
When the show does return, there will be some tweaks and updates to the script made. All of this has come following last year’s events of the Black Lives Matter protests. During that time, the show itself received so much backlash with its portrayal of Africans (since about 85% of the musical takes place in Uganda). Work will be made to the show’s score and book by its creators (Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez) to make it less offensive. These changes will go also to all future companies as well.
In addition, it returns without its main head producer Scott Rudin. Earlier this year, the producer had dropped from all his Broadway projects following recent reports of his horrific, arrogant, abusive, monstrous, ugly, and tyrannical behaviors towards people in the work place.
Doesn’t this show make you want to BELIEVE?

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 9 – WAITRESS

by | Sep 17, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

See the source image
See the source image
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS!! We are celebrating the best of the Great Bright Way returning to the Big Apple. Broadway’s biggest night is just 9 DAYS from now….. The 74th Annual Tony Awards. We at New York Broadway Tours are keeping you entertained each morning playing you our favorite performances on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN.
At # 9 on our countdown, things are about to get very delicious. We make our way over to a local diner somewhere in the south where a pregnant pie maker is trying to escape her abusive husband and start her life over. This is Waitress. Based on the 2007 film of the same name by Adrienne Shelly, the show was written by Grammy nominated superstar Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson (Shelly’s wife).
From the 2016 telecast, Tony winner Jessie Mueller, Tony nominee Keala Settle as “Becky”, Kimiko Glenn as “Dawn” and the original Broadway cast plus a special appearance by Sara Bareilles sing a medley of 2 of the beloved songs from the show….. OPENING UP and the 11:00 heartbreaking emotional anthem SHE USED TO BE MINE.
WAITRESS was first conceived around early 2012 by husband and wife Broadway producing duo Barry and Fran Weissler who secured the rights early to the 2014 film of the same name. It went through numerous years of readings and workshops before officially having its world premiere at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA in the Summer of 2015.
With the triumphant success of its Cambridge run, the show officially transferred to Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre where it ran for 33 previews and 1,544 regular performances. By the time it closed, the show held the record of being the Brooks Atkinson Theatre’s longest running show. Under the direction of Diane Paulus, the cast is led by….
Jessie Mueller (later Stephanie Torns, Sara Bareilles, Betsy Wolfe, Nicolette Robinson, Shoshana Bean, Allison Luff, Jordin Sparks, and Katherine McPhee) as “Jenna”,
Drew Gehling (later Chris Diamantopoulos, Jason Mraz, Erich Bergen, Joey McIntyre, Jeremy Jordan, and Mark Evans) as “Dr. Pomatter”,
Keala Settle (later Charity Angél Dawson, Maia Nkenge Wilson, and Natasha Yvette Williams) as “Becky”,
Kimiko Glenn (later Jenna Ushkowitz , Caitlin Houlahan, Katie Lowes, Lenne Klingaman, and Colleen Ballinger) as “Dawn”,
the late Tony nominee Nick Cordero (later William Popp, Will Swenson, Joe Tippett, Matt DeAngelis, and Ben Thompson) as “Earl”,
Christopher Fitzgerald (later Adam Shapiro, Alex Wyse, Eddie Jemison, Noah Galvin, and Todrick Hall) as “Ogie”,
and so much more.
WAITRESS was nominated for Tony Awards in 2016 including BEST MUSICAL but lost all the categories. The cast album was also nominated for a Grammy for BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ALBUM.
With the success of the Broadway company, Waitress went on to launch numerous tasty companies all around the world. Several productions including 2 North American National Tours (set to return with a Non-Equity company this Fall) and more.
Some of its productions including the Non-Equity North American Tour and London’s West End were abruptly shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, it’s on a UK National Tour.
In addition most recently, WAITRESS has returned to Broadway as part of the community’s triumphant comeback after an 18 1/2 month long intermission. It’s currently back on the Great Bright Way for a strictly limited engagement at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre which will continue to run till January 9th, 2022. With the same creative team led by Diane Paulus, the cast is led by….
Sara Bareilles reprising her portrayal of “Jenna”,
Drew Gehling reprising his original performance of “Dr. Pomatter”,
Charity Angél Dawson reprising her portrayal as “Becky”,
Bareilles’ real life BF Joe Tippett reprising his portrayal as “Earl”,
Christopher Fitzgerald reprising his Tony nominated performance as “Ogie”,
and more.
WAITRESS is truly one of the most powerful and delicious pieces of Musical Theatre ever written.
How tasty was that?!!!

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 10 – RENT

by | Sep 16, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Backstage with Amada, Blog, Broadway, Casting, East Village, Inspiration of Rent Tour, News, Shows

See the source image
See the source image
HOW’S IT GOING BROADWAY FANS?! The celebration of Live Theater’s return continues. We are only 10 DAYS till Broadway’s biggest Night of the year – The 74th Annual Tony Awards. This is the moment we are about to reach our TOP 10 portion of our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. We have an incredible lineup of legendary performances from previous telecasts in this lineup.
At # 10 on our countdown, we take you downtown to New York City’s bohemian lifestyle in the Alphabet City part of the East Village filled with struggling artists, drag queens, drug dealers, and people dying from serious diseases including HIV/AIDS in the late 80’s. This is Rent. An updated version of Puccini’s opera La Boheme, the show features a score and book by the late Jonathan Larson along with Billy Aronson.
From the 1996 telecast, here is the original Broadway cast performing a medley of 2 of the show’s anthems SEASONS OF LOVE & LA VIE BOHEME.
RENT was first conceived in the 80’s when a young aspiring composer by the name of Jonathan Larson met up with writer Billy Aronson who wanted to create an updated version of Puccini’s opera LA BOHEME set in present day New York City. Originally the story was set in SoHo but Larson knew that the show should be set in the area he was living at the time… New York’s East Village in the gritty area at the time of Bohemian Alphabet City. They began working on the project with Jonathan helping him out doing most of the work. From there, Larson and Aronson made a deal that if the show becomes a massive hit, Aronson would also share some of the credit. From there, Jonathan went to work on the show for many years while still working as a waiter at the Moondance Diner in SoHO. Larson was inspired by what was happening including his friends dying from serious conditions including AIDS which no one knew about at the time. He recorded many hours of cassette tapes and sent them out to numerous Theaters. Some approved and several rejected it. However his life changed when he came across a new Off Broadway house that just moved into the village at the time…. the New York Theatre Workshop. He got more information about the place before sending his demos to Jim Nicola (the artistic director) who replied really fast and accepted the piece. Nicola decided to give this new original rock musical a try. It went through many years of readings, workshops, and revamping before officially planning to launch a full scale production in 1996. Under the direction of Michael Grief, the team went to work on making the show a reality on stage.
Unfortunately for RENT’s road to the stage was very bittersweet and Jonathan Larson never lived to see RENT in it’s worldwide success. In the wee hours of the show’s first public preview performance at the New York Theatre Workshop, he unexpectedly died of an aortic aneurysm. Due to the emotional loss of their friend, the cast and creative team came together and decided to cancel the first preview to the public and instead invited all of Jonathan’s friends and family for a special memorial edition of the show. At the end of the show, there was a moment of silence and what broke it was a person in the audience cried out THANK YOU JONATHAN LARSON before erupting into a standing ovation.
RENT originally premiered downtown in a sold out run at the New York Theatre Workshop the next day before transferring to Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre playing a total of 5,124 performances. Under the direction of Michael Grief, the original cast featured…
Tony nominee Adam Pascal as “Roger”,
Anthony Rapp as “Mark”,
Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega as “Mimi”,
Taye Diggs as “Benny”,
Jesse L Martin as “Tom Collins,
Tony winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia as “Angel”,
Freddi Walker Browne as “Joanne”,
and
Tony winner Idina Menzel as “Maureen”.
The show went on to win 4 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score (for Jonathan Larson received by his sister Julie Larson). It also became one of the few musicals ever to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The show also brought more younger Theatergoers into the world of Theater. It also went on to play on 6 continents and translated into every major language.
Rent was later revamped as an Off Broadway revival in 2011 playing New World Stages for only 482 performances. The original revival cast featured…
Matt Shingledecker as “Roger”,
Adam Chanler-Berat as “Mark”,
Arianda Fernandez as “Mimi”,
Ephraim M. Sykes as “Benny”,
Nicholas Christopher as “Tom Collins”,
MJ Rodriguez as “Angel”,
Corbin Reid as “Joanne”,
and
Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford as “Maureen”.
Along with its success on stage, RENT became a massive hit on screen 3 times. The original film was released in 2005 featuring members of the original Broadway cast and new newbies consisting of…
Tony nominee Adam Pascal as “Roger”,
Anthony Rapp as “Mark”,
Rosario Dawson as “Mimi”,
Taye Diggs as “Benny”,
Jesse L Martin as “Tom Collins,
Tony winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia as “Angel”,
Tracie Thoms as “Joanne”,
and Tony winner Idina Menzel as “Maureen”.
In 2008, the original production was filmed during his historical final Broadway performances. It was released for a limited engagement and later released on DVD. The filmed performance consisted of…
Will Chase as “Roger”,
Adam Kantor as “Mark”,
Tony winner Renée Elise Goldsberry as “Mimi”,
Original Ensemble member Rodney Hicks as “Benny”,
Michael McElroy as “Tom Collins,
Justin Johnston as “Angel”,
Tracie Thoms reprising her role from the film as “Joanne”,
and
Eden Espinosa as “Maureen”.
Most recently in 2019, a new generation got to experience RENT like never before as a live televised musical event for FOX. The cast featured…
Brennin Hunt as “Roger”,
Jordan Fisher as “Mark”,
Tinashe as “Mimi”,
Mario as “Benny”,
Brandon Victor Dixon as “Tom Collins”,
Valentina as “Angel”,
Kiersey Clemons as “Joanne”,
and
Vanessa Hudgens as “Maureen”.
FUN FACT: 90% of FOX’s RENT LIVE was actually pre-tapped. During the dress rehearsal, Brennin Hunt injured his foot during the end of WHAT YOU OWN. Despite his injury, the show still went on. However luckily the crew were prepared and used the archival dress rehearsal footage for most of the airing. During the actually technically live, the cast performed the 90% as a concert with Hunt in a wheelchair. The only parts where the show went live on the air was the entire final scene of the show and the encore of SEASONS OF LOVE (featuring the live TV production cast performing alongside the original Broadway cast). However, it received so much criticism from viewers and critics saying they should have used an understudy.
In addition, RENT opened the door for many of Broadway’s current acclaimed Tony Award winning and nominated writers including…
and
Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal and If/Then).
Today, RENT is still performed on tour across America, in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
If you want to learn more about RENT and it’s road to Broadway. Be sure to join us on our INSPIRATION OF RENT WALKING TOUR where we’ll take you to some of the key locations in the East Village where Jonathan got RENT on its feet as well as places he was inspired by that he wrote about for the show.
Doesn’t this musical make you want to celebrate life?

RENT | 1996 Tony Awards Performance – YouTube