Chase, according to a production spokesperson, will join the cast of the Jonathan Larson musical May 5 in the role of Roger; Espinosa will make her Rent debut as Maureen May 30.
They will join a cast that currently features Adam Kantor as Mark, Michael McElroy as Collins, Justin Johnston as Angel, Rodney Hicks as Benny and Tamyra Gray as Mimi.
Will Chase, recently seen in the Signature's production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, has starred on Broadway in High Fidelity, Lennon, The Full Monty, Aida, Rent and Miss Saigon. His regional credits include roles in Assassins, Mame, Electra, Son of Fire, You're Gonna Love Tomorrow and Trask & Fenn. Chase was also part of the star-studded concert version of The Secret Garden.
Eden Espinosa, who will soon be seen in the Reprise production of Flora, the Red Menace, made her Broadway debut covering the roles of Elphaba and Nessarose in Stephen Schwartz's Wicked. She eventually assumed the role of Elphaba on Broadway and also opened the sit-down production of Wicked in Los Angeles. Espinosa also played the role of Brooklyn — a part she created at the Denver Civic Theatre — in the musical of the same name at the Schoenfeld Theatre, and she made her solo concert debut at New York's Town Hall. The actress began singing at the age of three, performing at the age of five and recording at the age of ten.
Rent, which has book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is the seventh longest running show in Broadway history. The performance schedule will remain unchanged throughout the summer: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday and 2 PM and 7 PM. There will be two exceptions: the show will be dark on Independence Day, Friday, July 4 and there will be an added performance that week on Wednesday, July 2, at 8 PM; and there will be no performance on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, and special added performances Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 2 PM and 8 PM.
Rent, directed by Michael Greif, opened on Broadway April 29, 1996, following a sold-out, extended limited engagement at Off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award.
Rent is one of only seven musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
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