Playbill Online
September 17, 1998

There are some major cast changes this week in the West End production of the multi-award-winning Rent, playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre. As from this Monday, Sept. 14, Adrian Lewis Morgan takes over the role of Roger Davis from Adam Pascal, Mark Leroy Jackson takes over from Jesse L. Martin as Tom Collins and Jocelyn Hughes takes over from Jessica Tezier as Maureen.

At the same time, Peter Eldridge will join the ensemble cast and Sharon D. Clarke will temporarily take over the role of Joanne from Jacqui Dubois, who is recovering from glandular fever.

From October, Joe McFadden will also replace original Broadway cast member Anthony Rapp as Mark. McFadden is best known in the UK for his television roles in "The Crow Road," "Small Faces," "Dad Savage" and "High Road".

Adrian Lewis Morgan comes to Rent directly from the show's American national tour. Previous credits include Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar and Sweeney Todd, both in London. American actor Mark Leroy Jackson has played Collins on Broadway and on tour. Both Jackson and Hughes will be making their West End debuts in Rent.

The London cast will continue to feature original Broadway cast member Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel, along with Krysten Cummings as Mimi and Bonny Lockhart as Benny.

Rent originally opened in New York at the New York Theatre Workshop in February 1996 before moving to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre in April that year. It opened in London on May 12 this year. Rent has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, four Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards, three Obie Awards, two Theatre World Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

For further information, contact the Shaftesbury box office on 011-44-7000-211-221.