Cast from 2016 20th Anniversary production of Rent performing at special event

Cast from the 2016 20th Anniversary production of Rent are to perform pieces from the show in a secret location in an abandoned lot in London on 17th  June at 2.30pm and 7pm, and on 24 June at 2.30pm and 7pm. The exact address is still to be revealed with protest posters and fancy dress actively encouraged.

The cast appearing includes Shanay Holmes (The Bodyguard) as Joanne, Layton Williams (Hairspray) as Angel, Lucie Jones (Eurovision, Legally Blonde) as Maureen, Billy Cullum (Matilda) as Mark and Philippa Stefani (In The Heights) as Mimi. They will perform some of the show's most iconic songs including  "Seasons of Love", "La Vie Boheme" and "Take Me or Leave Me" before the movie begins.Further cast appearances are to be confirmed.

Holmes said: "We wanted to put something together for the fans to say thank you for their continued love and support for our production of this incredible show! This will be the ultimate Rent head experience."

Buy tickets for special performances of Rent

Broadway's Anthony Rapp in Concert during Rent 20th Anniversary Tour

Amended 24th September; Broadway star Anthony Rapp is coming to London to appear in his solo concert  to coincide with the  RENT 20th Anniversary Tour  when it is in the Main House at the St James Studio between 5th-17th December 2016.

He  created the role Mark Cohen  in the original off-Broadway, Broadway and West End productions of Rent, will present his solo concert in the Studio for a limited two week run from 5th-17th December.

Rapp most recently reunited with his RENT co-star Idina Menzel in new musical If/Then on Broadway, before reprising his performance for the US tour.He last performed in London in his show Without You at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2012.

Tickets for Anthony Rapp Live In Concert

Casting and 2016 Tour Dates announced for 20th anniversary production of RENT

Update:  The 2016 tour dates and booking links are:

Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre 15th-19th November 

Malvern Festival Theatre 22nd-26th November

High Wycombe Swan Theatre 29th November-3rd December

 Dates for 2017 to be announced soon.

A new 20th Anniversary production of Jonathan Larson’s musical RENT opens at Theatr Clwyd for a limited season from 21st October to 12th November 2016, it  will go on a three-week tour, prior to a Christmas Season at St. James Theatre, London from 8th December 2016 to 28 January 2017.

The new production will be directed by Bruce Guthrie with a cast including: Ross Hunter (We Will Rock You, Rock of Ages, The Book of Mormon) as Roger Davis, Billy Cullum (Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Mark Cohen, Ryan O’Gorman (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot) as Tom Collins, Shanay Holmes (Thriller Live, The Bodyguard) as Joanne Jefferson, Layton Williams (Billy in Billy Elliot, Thriller Live, Hairspray, Bad Education) as Angel Schunard, Philippa Stefani (In The Heights, Ghost the Musical, High Society) as Mimi Marquez and Lucie Jones (X Factor, Legally Blonde, Ghost the Musical, American Psycho, Les Misérables) as Maureen Johnson.  Casting for the role of Benjamin Coffin III will be announced shortly. The cast will also include Katie Bradley, Jordan Laviniere, Bobbie Little, Christina Modestou, Jenny O’Leary and Kevin Yates.

The much-loved score features songs such as Seasons of Love, Take Me Or Leave Me, One Song Glory, La Vie Bohème, Without You, I’ll Cover You, Out Tonight, I Should Tell You and the title song.

Tickets on sale soon for Rent at Theatr Clwyd.

Tickets on sale now for Rent at St James Theatre 

Kerry Ellis & Cast of Rent in Concert Performing on Alan Titchmarsh Show

The new tour of Rent in Concert starts up again on 30th January.

You can see Kerry Ellis and the cast performing live on Friday 24th January on the Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV at 3:00pm when they will be singing Rent and Seasons of Love.

Cast Announced for Rent in Concert 2014 Tour

The full cast for Rent 20th Anniversary Concert  which kicks off at Hackney Empire on 30th January has now been announced.

Leading the cast is West End and Broadway star Kerry Ellis, who will be joined by Superstar runner up Rory Taylor. Mykal Rand is Collins which he has played both in the West End and on tour.

The full cast list is Kerry Ellis (Mimi): Rory Taylor (Roger): Paul Ayres (Mark): Lisa-Marie Holmes (Joanne): Ian Stroughair (Angel): Mykal Rand (Collins): Kenny Thompson (Benny) and Ruthie Stephens (Maureen).

They will be joined by ensemble members Tim Prottey Jones, Joel Harper-Jackson, David Hinton-Gale, Beth Humphries and Kate England

Natasha Hamilton Starring in New Rent in Concert Tour

Following its success in April of this year, the musical Rent is going on a 15 date concert tour again during the month of November opening at Blackpool Opera House on the 11th.

The last tour starred Kerry Ellis and Rory Taylor who will be reprising the role of  Roger on this new tour. He is currently appearing in the new tour of Jesus Christ Superstar which is in Australia prior to a UK arena tour in October. Paul Ayres/Mark and Ian Stroughair/Angel will also be returning,

And it has just been announced West End leading lady and Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton is joining this tour as sexy lesbian performance artist Maureen -  a role which has been made famous by Idina Menzel, Nicole Scherzinger and Denise Van Outen.

Natasha said; “I love Rent so I am made up to be playing the role of Maureen! She’s a great character…a little bit cheeky, flirtatious and injects some real comedy moments into the show.”

Tickets go on sale for the tour at 10:00 am this Friday 10th June.

Cast Announced for Rent in Concert

Celebrating 20 years since it's first staged performance Rent in Concert is going on a short tour in April and May starring West End and Broadway leading lady Kerry Ellis as Mimi and Rory Taylor who was the runner up in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Superstar playing Roger.

More cast members have just been announced and Kerry and Rory will be joined by Paul Ayres/Mark: Nikki Davis-Jones/Maureen: Leon Lopez/Collins:Ian Stroughair/Angel: Jemma Alexander/Joanne and Kenny Thompson as Benny. Members of the ensemble still to come.

Nikki Davis-Jones opens in the new musical Lift at the Soho Theatre at the end of this month with other musical theatre credits including standby Elphaba in Wicked! Never Forget, Mamma Mia and Blood Brothers.

Paul Ayres has appeared in Ghost, alternate Galileo in We Will Rock You and covered Frankie Valli Jersey Boys

Leon Lopez appeared iun Brookside for four years with theatre credits We Will Rock You, A Little Night Music, Tick, Tick… BOOM! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Piaf and Strictly Motown. He is reprising the role of Collins which he has played in the West End and at a gala concert.

Ian Stroughair's credits including Chicago, Fame and Cats and he also performs in cabaret as alter-ego Velma Celli.

Jemma Alexander has been in  Lend Me a Tenor, Singin in the Rain', The Full Monty and A Tale of Two Cities.

Kenny Thompson has appeared in The History Boys, Carmen Jones, Showboat. Mother Courage and Her Children.