by Staff Reporter
Indianapolis Star
February 4, 2001

Major characters and the performers in the cast of Rent:

Roger Davis, HIV-positive rock musician and songwriter numb from the suicide of his HIV-positive girlfriend. Corresponds to Rodolfo, a poet who falls in love with Mimi in La Boheme. Played by Cary Shields, who made his theatrical debut in Rent and has performed in both the first national tour and the Canadian company.

Mimi Marquez, exotic dancer and HIV-positive junkie who falls in love withRoger. Corresponds to Mimi, the tubercular seamstress with whom Rodolfo is in love, in La Boheme. Played by Dominque Roy, a Montreal native who made her
Broadway debut in Rent.

Mark Cohen, Roger's roommate and an aspiring documentary filmmaker, who was left by Maureen. Corresponds to Marcello, Rodolfo's roommate and a painter, in La Boheme. Played by Matt Caplan, a recent graduate of the Governor'sSchool for the Arts in Virginia.

Maureen Johnson, performance artist and incorrigible flirt, now partnered with Joanne. Corresponds to Musetta, Marcello's sometime girlfriend and an incorrigible flirt, in La Boheme. Played by Maggie Benjamin, who comes directly from the Broadway company.

Joanne Jefferson, a lesbian public-interest lawyer and Maureen's lover, corresponds to Alcindoro, Musetta's wealthy patron, in La Boheme. Played by Jacqueline B. Arnold, who most recently performed off-Broadway in Bright Lights, Big City.

Tom Collins, an HIV-positive, computer-age philosophy teacher who falls in love with Angel. Corresponds to Colline, a philosopher in La Boheme. Played by Mark Richard Ford, who appeared in the Australian company of Rent.

Angel Schunard, HIV-positive drag queen and street musician. Corresponds to Schaunard, a musician in La Boheme. Played by Shaun Earl, who appeared on Broadway in this role. He also appeared on the TV show Fame for its last two seasons. Indiana native Justin B. Johnston is one of three understudies for this role.

Benny (Benjamin Coffin III), Roger and Mark's yuppie landlord. Corresponds to Benoit, the aging landlord in La Boheme. Played by Brian M. Love, who was cast out of an open-call audition in his hometown of Cleveland.