Fox announced the cast for its next live musical “Rent Live” which includes Vanessa Hudgens, Tinashe and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season nine winner Valentina.
“Rent” is a modern update of Giacomo Puccini’s opera ” La Bohème” from the late Jonathan Larson. The rock musical follows a group of struggling arists living and squatting in New York City during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The Broadway musical would go on to win four Tony awards including Best Musical.
Valentina will portray Angel Dumott Schunard, a street percussionist and drag queen, who falls in love with philosophy professor Tom Collins. Collins will be played by Brandon Victor Dixon, who was recently nominated for his role as Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar Live.”
R&B singer Tinashe has been cast as Mimi Rogers, a drug-addicted club dancer whose love interest is angsty musician Roger Davis, played by Brennin Hunt (“Nashville”).
Jordan Fisher, known for “Hamilton” and the 2017 winner of “Dancing with the Stars,” will portray the narrator of the show Mark Cohen, Roger’s roommate and a documentary filmmaker. Maureen Johnson, a bisexual performance artist and Mark’s ex, will be played by Vanessa Hudgens. Maureen is currently dating lesbian lawyer Joanne Jefferson (Kiersey Clemons).
Other cast members include singer Mario as Benjamin Coffin III, the landlord of Mark, Mimi and Roger and Mimi’s ex.
“Rent Live” airs on Jan. 27, 2019 on FOX.
Story courtesy of the Washington Blade.