cary shields

(roger) cary is a 24 year-old toronto native who was last seen in a turkish pantene shampoo commercial.  a singer and songwriter, cary fronts the rock band 'theives crossing', and makes his theatrical debut in RENT.   many thanks to his family and friends for continued love and support.

update:  cary's last day with the bennytour was may 18th.  he has (we hope temporarily) moved to the toronto cast.

update:  cary returned to the benny cast in august 1999, replacing peter matthew smith.

update:  cary replaced christian as 'roger' 11/28/99.

update:  cary was replaced by jeremy kushnier in march 2001.

(alexi) tricia  is a recent graduate of the randolph school for the performing arts' three-year program, in which she studied acting, singing and dance.   she made her professional debut at the royal alexandra theatre in the canadian cast of RENT.  She would like to say special thank-yous to barbara onrot and associates, of stage kids productions, for giving her her first job - thanks for all your support - and, of course, to the most important person: thanks, dad.

(mimi)  from atlanta.  theatre: "chess" (alliance theatre.); "slam", "black bativity" (jomandi productions.); "times", "psalm thirteen", "soweto! soweto!" (freddie hendricks youth ensemble of atlanta). TV/film: “dawson’s creek” (WB), "mary jane’s last dance" (MGM), "ditchdigger’s daughters" (family channel), "funny valentines" (starz!). thanks to God and my family.  hey mom!

raquel roberts

(swing/understudy) raquel is proud to make her professional theatrical debut with RENT.   credits include commercials for disney, performances with an improvisational comedy troop entitled live nude people, helen keller in 'the miracle worker', and various college plays. racquel has studied theatre at UC irvine, UC san diego and oxford university.
  

stacey-lea
marhue

(dance captain/swing)  stacy was born and raised in toronto, and studied at claude watson school for the arts and the ryerson theatre school.   stage credits include 'miss saigon', 'tommy' and 'la cage'.  she is very excited to join RENT, and would like to send a thank you to family and friends for their love and support.
  

(ensemble) matt made his broadway debut as steve and others in RENT.  most recently he was seen in the boy group 'dudez a plenti' on conan o'brien."  he is currently working on an album with will be released this fall.  matt thanks God, family and friends for all their support.

erin keaney

(maureen)  erin joins this company directly from RENT's first national tour. originally from toronto, erin's past credits include "i love you, you're perfect, now change", "R.S.V.P broadway", and "crazy for you".  all my love to family, friends and brett.

courtney corey

(swing/understudy) courtney is proud to be making her national touring debut with rent.  regional credits: "hair" (jeannie); "hello, dolly!" (irene malloy); "ruthless" (judy denmark).  a recent graduate of san diego state, courtney spend most of 1996 performing at tokyo disneyland.  she wishes to thank everyone who helped make this dream come true.

update: courtney joined the angel tour in december 1998.

update: courtney rejoins this company directly from RENT's angel company.  regional credits: "hair" (jeannie); "Hello, Dolly!" (irene molloy); "ruthless! "(judy denmark).   a recent graduate of san diego state, courtney spent most of 1996 performing at tokyo disneyland.  she wishes to thank everyone, especially matthew, who helped make this dream come true.
  

horace rogers

(collins)  past credits include:   "abysinnia", "my children! my africa!", "fences", "spunk".  people who've done for him:  stephanie berry, annie mae burney, beverly lawson, ida jenkins, aunt frances, larry leon hamlin, aggie pride!   he praises God for his talent and honors his sister yvette c. rogers for being such a courageous example. "no day but today."

update:  horace left the tour in june, 2000. 

enrico rodriguez

(swing/understudy) enrico was last seen on broadway as a big kid  in "big the musical" and most recently appeared in "west side story", "crazy for you", and "bye bye birdie" with rue mcclanahan at the pittsburgh civic light opera. enrico proudly joins the RENT family after completing one year at the university of michigan.

update:  enrico left the tour to join the broadway cast as a swing.  

(swing/understudy) marcus is proud and extremely enthusiastic to be making his theatrical debut with the touring company of RENT.  born and raised in berkeley, california, marcus studied theatre at the university of southern california. he wishes to thank God for this opportunity, and his family for all their support.  "marcy".

josh greene

(paul and others)  motorcity kid happy to be "renting" california style.  national tours: "smokey joe's cafe," "grand hotel." shows: "dreamgirls," "a chorus line," "jubilee" and others.  soloist for '88 papal visit.  for desi, chuck, marc, brian, the haywoods, susan, lex, noney.  love to mom, dad, and God.   smooches!

update:  our last obc'er to leave.  we miss you brent!

stu james

(benny) regional credits: "ain’t misbehavin’", "once on this island", "cotton patch gospel", international: "motown music showcase" in japan. most recently, he performed in disney’s "festival of the lion king".  TV and film: "savannah", "the cosby show" and "school daze". stu has a BA in finance from morehouse college and is a songwriter.  He thanks all his family and friends, especially big mama, mom, pop, myron, karen, fishe and angela for love and support, and God for guidance and overflow!!  And so it is!

trey ellet

(ensemble)  trey joins this cast of RENT from the first national tour. he just completed a workshop of duncan sheik’s new musical, "spring awakening", at la jolla playhouse. regional credits: michael john lachuisa’s new musical "the highest yellow",  "macbeth" (malcolm), "the merchant of venice" (lorenzo), "drood" (john jasper), "the lion, the witch and the wardrobe" (edmund), seasons at seaside music theatre and mill mountain. co-founder of NYC-based theatre company 'eight productions'.

(maureen) comes to this company directly from the australian company of RENT. a former hairdresser, she is a singer/songwriter who started her own bands WHIP, high energy techno dance band with influences from 1940's and 50's and magnetic, a rock and pop band with tastes of techno. magnetic scored an international recording contract with polydor records and released two cds and videos.  michelle is currently working with a new record company.

update:  4.15.00. michelle has left the bennytour and is in europe recording an album

scott hunt

(mark)  scott has performed on broadway in RENT, and in the 10th anniversary company of "les miserables", where he performed the roles of joly and marius.  off broadway:   "violet" (what *is* it with this show?) (workshop - playwrights's horizons).  education: university at cincinatti's college conservatory of music.  scott would like to thank God, family and friends for their love and support.

update:  scott replaced curt skinner in the ensemble on 2/3/98.

update:  june '98:  scott has taken over the role of steve on broadway.

update:  scott returned to the benny tour 8/3/98 in the role of mark.

update:  scott left the benny tour 1/31/2000.

(swing/understudy) sandra is proud to join the cast of Rent. she recently graduated from NYU's tisch school for the arts where she received a BFA in drama. much thanks to mom, dad, jenny, jules, laura and Bryan for all their love and support.

update: sandy left the bennytour in toledo on 12/19/99.

julia santana

(mimi)  julia's career as an actress/singer began with the musical theatre company first act.  she appeared as "the girl with the incredible feeling" by elizabeth swados, continuing her career with off center theatre as a street performer.  she signed with atlantic records headlining such major clubs as the palladium and roseland.  she's working on new music with her band, the cribb.  she's grateful to her manager susan rybin, and her family and friends.

speak: "...it's about living, it's about love, it's about no day but today".

update: both julia & christian (our original mimi & roger) left the tour november 28, 1999.

christian mena

(roger)  christian is thrilled to make his musical theatre debut in RENT.  born in chile and raised in canada, christian currently fronts latin pop band maracujah.  He is well known nationally for his soulful vocals and dynamic range, while singing fluently in english, spanish and portuguese.  christian is also the principal songwriter of his band's current critically acclaimed cd, maracujah.  he recently played the lead role in the sub-culture short film "aftershock".

update: chris is currently out on medical leave.   he will rejoin the tour in november 1998.

update: chris has returned :-)   october 27, 1998

update: both christian & julia (our original roger & mimi) left the tour november 28, 1999.

danielle greaves

(joanne) a native new yorker, danielle is happy to be a part of the RENT family.   her broadway credits include hal prince's 1994 revival of "show boat", "sunset boulevard" and madison square garden's "the wizard of oz".   "to my family and friends - thank you for all your constant love and support.   to the universe - thank you for all the blessings."

update:  danielle replaced moe as joanne 2/9/99.

update:  danielle left the tour in september 1999 and moved to the broadway cast.

(maureen) cristina joins RENT from the european tour of "fame" where she played serena.  an l.a. native, she studied acting at loyola marymount , performed in numerous regional theatres and commercials and industrials.  favorite roles: chava in "fiddler on the roof"; sweethart in "in trousers"; the witch in "into the woods". thank you God, mom and dad.

update:  cristina left the tour in september 1999 and moved to the broadway cast.

(benny) carl is ecstatic to be making his touring debut with RENT. carl was recently on tour singing backup vocals for atlantic records recording artist robin s.  film credits: "the siege", "harlem aria", "nipply ray".  off-broadway: "sweet blessings", "you shouldn't have told". carl thanks his family and friends for their love and support. for those in pursuit of their dreams, always remember "nothing beats a failure but a try."

update:  carl left the tour in september 1999, replaced by Stu James.

("seasons of love" soloist, bag lady, others)   wichasta is a recent graduate of CSUF, having fulfilled her degree in theatre arts with an emphasis in musical theatre and acting.  past credits include connie in "sea of white hopes", lottie in "heuotrope boquet", eunice in "a street car named desire", hortense in "the boyfriend" and ciera in "hair".

update:  wichasta left the tour in september 1999.  sigh.

(ensemble)  owen is proud to be a part of this very special show.  broadway: "shogun the musical".  national tours: "the king and i", "miss saigon", "42nd street".  owen would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support, and his wife bridget who is truly a gift from God.

update:  owen left the tour in august 1999 and moved to the broadway cast :-)

(gordon, 'the man')  peter is proud to be making his touring debut with RENT as the youngest cast member at 21.   his regional credits include evita, big river (tom), jesus christ superstar (simon), a chorus line (mike), and the pirates of penzance (frederic).  He would like to thank God and his friends and family for all of their support.  ooo.

update:  peter has permanently taken over the role of gordon, 'the man', replacing curt.

update:  peter left the tour in august 1999.

curt skinner

(ensemble)  curt traveled the world performing his own act on cruise ships.  credits: television, regional theatre, voiceovers, children's cd's (bright ideas label), national anthem soloist. In l.a., phantom in barbara epstein's "beetlejuice's graveyard revue." training: cincinnati conservatory of music.  curt has a really nice mom and dad in south carolina.

update:  curt left the show on 2/1/98, in tempe.  he'll be missed, he was a wonderful asset to the show.  he's headed back to l.a. - watch for him on tv!

update:  curt has returned to the benny cast for six months as of mid july (louisville) 1998.

update:  curt left the show again in january, 1999.

update:  curt's back again (4/99).

 

update:  curt's gone again (5/99).  oy :-)

(ensemble) thom joins the tour from the canadian company. originally from winnipeg, he appeared at the 1992 stratford festival season in "romeo and juliet", "the tempest" and "two gentlemen of verona."  in toronto, he was seen in the original canadian companies of "miss saigon" and "tommy" and as a featured performer in "sophisticated ladies." other credits: "the mousetrap", "anything goes", "peter pan", "cinderella" and "sweet charity".

update: thom left the tour 6/6/99.

(ensemble)   robert happily joins the benny company of RENT after performing the show for several months in toronto.  originally from canada, rob received his first taste of theatre only 2 years ago. performing in 2 productions: "my favorite year" and "joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat"; and a revue show "sheridan style". he sends his dedication and thanks to sheridan staff, style, family and the God almighty.

update: robert returned to the broadway cast 5/99.

(collins) dwayne is happy to be joining the benny national touring company of Rent. credits include:  "smokey joe's cafe" broadway, national and international tours. dwayne thanks God, mom, dad, tiffany, family and friends.

update:  dwayne left the tour 5/99.

(swing/understudy)  yasmin was born in brooklyn, ny.  she is a singer/songwriter, currently residing in seattle.  "one of the best things about RENT is the theme of 'no day but today.;  i am blessed to be part of the cast."

update:  yasmin left the tour 5/16/99.

christine
bandelow

update:  christine left the tour 5/2/99.

(swing/understudy)  l.a. audiences have seen him in "fiddler on the roof," "pirates of penzance" and recently in a new musical bound for broadway, john stothers' "pilgrim" in the lead role, tinker.   ron dedicates his performance to his two biggest fans, momma and poppa.

update:  ron has returned (1/99).

update:  ron left again (4/99) and curt's back again :-)

(swing/understudy)  anika has played off-off broadway characters ranging from a singing homecoming queen thrown down a well to hortense in a gender-reversed "taming of the shrew".  she majored in theatre at yale, where she sang in an r & b acapella group.  anika would like to dedicate this performance to her amazing mom and pops.

update: anika left the show in new orleans, april '99.

kristin mcdonald

(ensemble)  kristin is thrilled to be with the Rent National Tour. Directly from the modern dance company Urban Bush Women, she has performed and taught in the U.S. and abroad. Kristin is a graduate of Stanford University. Originally from Chicago, she thanks her family for their support and Anthony for the gift of his love.

update: kristin left the show in april '99.

(joanne)  monique was raised and educated in the los angeles area.  she has appeared in tv shows and numerous commercials.   her singing experience includes solo work and she is presently a member of a performing band.  she has done photographic and runway modeling including work in europe.

update: monique replaced kenna on 2/24/98.

update:  moe left the show on february 7, 1999.

(ensemble)  roxanne hails from la palma, ca, and is thrilled to be a part of RENT.  credits: miss saigon (kim) - broadway, making tracks (cindy lee) - theater; independent film: speedwalker (rice girls).   she dedicates her performance to the filipino ingorots.  roxanne thanks God, her family and friends for their love and support.

update: roxanne left the tour december 27, 1998.

(maureen)  a native of edmond, ok, leigh spent three years at the university of southern california before joining the sensational cast of RENT.  some of her professional credits include "bye bye birdie," "a chorus line," "the sound of music" and the title roles of "annie" and "oliver."  leigh would like to thank her loving parents steve and nancy, richard darby, christy carson, rich krevolin, warren skeels, lora zane and is also thankful for the life and talent of jonathan larson.

update: leigh returned from medical leave january 7, 1998.

update: leigh left the tour in december 1998 and is coming back to l.a. to live.

(collins)  alan  is from the d.c. metro area, but spent the last three years at the university of california, irvine, where he just received his masters in acting.  last fall he was seen co-starring on "frasier".  alan thanks God, his family and friends (especially mom and aaron) for their never-ending love and support.  He dedicates this performace to james mingo.

update: alan rejoined the angel tour in december 1998.

michael lee

(ensemble)  broadway:  "miss saigon" (thuy).   east west players: "pacific overtures" (manjiro);  "sweeney todd" (birdseller).  regional: "baby" (danny), "jesus christ superstar" (judas) and "the king and i" (lun tha).  films:   "highland park blues" (lee), "yong at heart" (yong).   graduate of stanford university.  dedicates this to his family.

update: michael left the tour in december 1998.

(swing/understudy) chipper is a native of richmond, va. credits: national tour of "dreamgirls" (c.c. white); chicago credits: "kiss of the spider woman" (apple tree theatre), "bingo long... all-stars" (world premiere, dreamstreet theatre), "treasure island" (drury lane theatre, evergreen park); ray kenedy productions (cruise ship singer/dancer to alaska and the caribbean).  "thank you Jesus for dreams... they really do come true!"

update:  chipper has replaced paul stovall in the benny tour.

update: chipper left the tour in november 1998.

(christmas caroler, others) kye is a 1994 naacp image award winner for his role in "five guys named moe" (l.a. company).  national companies: "the tap dance kid," "dreamgirls," "sophisticated ladies," "my one and only."  guest starred on television's 'full house' and sang back up for barry manilow and marilyn mccoo.

update: kye left the tour 11/1/98.

andy senor

(angel)  a native of miami, andy is thrilled to be making his professional debut in RENT.  he recently completed his undergraduate training in theatre at florida international university.  he would like to thank God, his family, friends (moo), and mentors for their continued love and support.

update: as of november 18, 1997, andy has taken over the role of angel in the benny tour, replacing wilson cruz.

update: andy left the tour 10/4/98 and has taken over the role of angel in the london cast.

update: andy joined the broadway cast when the london tour ended.

update:  jasmine left the tour 10/4/98 to join adrian in london.

(ensemble)  hallie is thrilled to be making her professional debut in RENT.  She studied theatre at kenyon college and the british american drama academy.  prior to RENT she appeared in various bars, clubs and restaurants in Lower Manhattan in the roles of bartender and waitress.  hallie sends special thanks to heidi marshall, bernie telsey, her friends, her brother and her mom.

update:  hallie left the tour 9/20/98 to pursue other opportunities.

(roger) trained: welsh college of music & drama.
theatre: judas (understudied & performed) and annas in jesus christ superstar (lyceum theatre); silvius in as you like it (BAC); tobias ragg in sweeney todd (royal national theatre - award winning production); schwarz in reunion (derby playhouse).  other:  Sweeney todd, BBC radio two; jesus christ superstar - original cast album.

update:  adrian left the tour 9/6/98 to assume the role of roger in the london cast.

mark jackson

(collins)  mark makes his theatrical debut in RENT, appearing in the broadway 1st national tour and west coast productions. Prior to RENT, mark worked as a studio singer in new york city.  he would like to thank his family and friends for all their love and support and dedicates this performance to his mentor duane davis.  also many thanks to bernie, michael, allan, kevin and jeffery.  i'm proud to be a part of this wonderful experience.

speak: "i would die if i couldn't make art".

update:  mark left the tour 9/6/98 to assume the role of collins in the london cast.

(benny)  this hampton university graduate was recently nominated for a helen hayes award in washington, d.c. for best lead actor in a resident musical.  he was a member of the first national company of RENT, also the voice for several shows for the discovery and learning channels. though he has performed for film, television, and stage, his music remains his first love. "keep your knees bent, head to the sky and always be true to yourself."

speak: "(i) really want to feel like that when i leave this world - that... i have touched the lives around me in a positive way, that it may be just a little better place.  the struggle,the love, it's timeless..."

update:  d' left the tour 9/5/98 to return to the angel tour.

(mark)  kirk is thrilled to join RENT, having just completed the workshop of the new hal prince/livent musical parade.  other credits: off broadway - the award winning violet: footloose - (workshop - director walter bobbie), west side story, the secret garden, oliver, peter pan.  kirk, from orlando, is a 1995 graduate of nyu's tisch school of the arts."

small world:  kirk also worked with michael mcelroy (ny collins) in "violet"

update:  kirk left the tour 8/2/98.

update:  yassmin has temporarily replaced laura dias in the benny tour.

update:  yassmin left the tour may 25th, 1998.

(swing/understudy)  adam feels blessed and proud to be making his professional debut in RENT.   a graduate of harvard, adam would like to thank those who have helped to make this aspiration a reality - david miller and rachelle, jean, bryan, jasse, davis, gamma, kitty, cropdustah, blaney, ronkalah, davus, and especially, gaily and joe.

update:  adam left the tour may 1998.

(christmas caroler and others)  credits: "blade to the heat" (apple tree), "journey to the west" (goodman, huntington, berkeley rep), "black star line" (goodman), "a perfect ganesh" (northlight), "notebooks of leonardo da vinci" (goodman, lincoln center), "good person of setzuan" (goodman).  paul recently completed his debut album with grammy winning producer steve rodby.  for roger gobble.

update:  5/10/98 paul's last day in the benny tour.  moving on to new opportunities  :-)

(ensemble)  laura is a singer/songwriter overjoyed about being part of the RENT family. theatre credits: "jesus christ superstar" (simon zeolots), "west side story" (anita), "grease" (rizzo), "a chorus line" (diana morales), "the legend" (sara).  laura thanks God, her family, t, f, michael, tim, bernie jeffrey, kevin and allan for the opportunity and jimmy tavares for just knowing.

update:  5/1/98 - laura has taken the role of mimi in the angel tour production.  we'll miss you laura, but congratulations!

(joanne)  kenna is thrilled to be part of the benny company of RENT.  her credits include the roles of the acid queen in the first national tour of "the who's tommy," directed by des mcanuff, and of leila in the world premiere of "i was Looking at the ceiling and saw the sky," directed by peter sellers.  kenna gives special thanks to her parents charles and joyce ramsey, marcia kelly, david giella and all at gml agency for their tremendous help and support.

speak: "i love artistic personalities. i love creative people and just being around that energy is what keeps me going everyday."

update:  2/23/98  kenna has left the house.   this girl will *always* be my joanne.  perfection.

("seasons of love" soloist, bag lady, others)   the native new york rocker was hand-picked by michael bennet to play effie while in his last full production of "dreamgirls" on broadway and on tour.   film: "sister act II", "i'll do anything", "for keeps", "missing pieces", "a chorus line".  tv: "fresh prince", "a different world", "the crew", "cop rock".  broadway: "dreamgirls", "joseph ...dreamcoat".  tours: the music of andrew lloyd webber,  one city, the wiz.  she is currently producing her self-titled rock cd.

update:  2/18/98 was sharon's last nite in the benny tour.  we'll miss you sharon, good luck!  wichasta replaces sharon.

neil patrick harris

(mark)   neil is grateful and thrilled to (have been)  involved in RENT.  he earned a golden globe nomination at age 14 for his first film, 'clara's heart,' and a second nomination and people's choice award for his starring role in "doogie howser, md."  theatre credits include: "the end of the day" (coast playhouse), "a fair country" (seattle rep.), "luck, pluck & virtue" (la jolla playhouse, atlantic theatre).  films: "starship troopers" (nov. '97) and "tempting fate" (feb. '98).

speak: "it's nice to be able to see all these issues and deal with them in a very matter of fact way".

update:  january 18, 1998 was neil's last performance in RENT.  kirk mcdonald replaced him. 

carla bianco

(maureen, mrs. cohen, others)  carla is an ascap award-winning artist who wrote the #1 billboard song, "the lover that you are."  she recently moved from new york where she attended nyu while writing for jellybean benitez.  carla just completed a self-produced demo which she performed, wrote and arranged.  she sends love and thanks to her family and friends.

update:  since october '97 (or so - can't remember the date) carla has assumed the role of maureen, replacing leigh hetherington. You both rock!

update: january 4, 1998.   carla has left the show.   leigh hetherington returned as maureen january 7th.

wilson cruz

(previously l.a. angel)  wilson is best known for his portrayal of the troubled, introspective, teenager ricky in the critically acclaimed abc series 'my so called life.'  wilson starred alongside david arquette and lukas haas in first look's "johns" which was screened at the 1996 sundance film festival.   wilson's latest film 'all over me' made its debut at this year's sundance festival.   It was released domestically by fine line features in april.  he dedicates this performance to sheila robinson-his own special angel.

speak: "i think angel embodies the theme of the show - that you take what you have, right now, in this day, and you enjoy that and you don't think about what might happen tomorrow or what has happened in the past.  angel has taught me more than any character has ever taught me.  i've played characters that i felt i could breathe life into, and in this case life has been breathed into me."

update: november 16, 1997 was wilson's last performance as angel in the benny tour.  he assumed the role of angel on broadway on december 2nd.  we wish him all the luck and love in the world!  andy senor has assumed the role of angel in the benny tour.