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Renee's Loft

By Kenneth Jones
16 Jun 2008

Renée Elise Goldsberry, who created the part of Nettie in The Color Purple, joins the Broadway cast of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent June 16, playing the role of Mimi.

The "One Life to Live" actress succeeds Tamyra Gray and will be the final Mimi of the show's 12-year Broadway run.

Daphne Rubin-Vega created the role. As previously announced, Rent will end its award-winning run at the Nederlander Theatre Sept. 7.

The Rent cast currently includes Will Chase as Roger, Adam Kantor as Mark, Michael McElroy as Collins, Eden Espinoza as Maureen, Justin Johnston as Angel, Rodney Hicks as Benny, with Merle Dandridge, Shaun Earl, Andrea Goss, Marcus Paul James, Telly Leung, Caren Lyn Manuel, Jay Wilkison, Maia Nkenge Wilson, Karmine Alers, Crystal Monée Hall, Trisha Jeffrey, Owen Johnston II, Todd E. Pettiford and Kyle Post.

Goldsberry played Nettie in The Color Purple. She was also seen on Broadway as Nala in The Lion King, and she played Sylvia in the Public Theater's presentation of Two Gentlemen of Verona. She spent five years on "Ally McBeal" and was seen in the film "All About You." Goldsberry is a two-time Emmy and NAACP Image award nominee for her work as Evangeline Williamson on "One Life to Live." The actress also appeared in the recent York Theatre Company staging of The Baker's Wife.

A new national tour of Rent starring original cast members Adam Pascal ("Roger") and Anthony Rapp ("Mark") will launch in 2009.

Rent, which has book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history.

The performance schedule will remain unchanged throughout the summer: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday and 2 PM and 7 PM. There will be two exceptions: the show will be dark on Independence Day, Friday, July 4 and there will be an added performance that week on Wednesday, July 2, at 8 PM; and there will be no performance on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, and special added performances Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 2 PM and 8 PM.

Rent, directed by Michael Greif, opened on Broadway April 29, 1996, following a sold-out, extended limited engagement at Off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award.

Rent is one of only seven musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Article by Playbill News.

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