"Rent" Film Star Thoms to Join Broadway Production of Larson Musical

By Andrew Gans
22 Jul 2008

Tracie Thoms
Tracie Thoms
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Tracie Thoms, who played Joanne in the 2005 "Rent" film, will join the Broadway production of that Pulitzer Prize-winning Jonathan Larson musical.

Thoms, Variety reports, will step into the role she played on film — Joanne Jefferson — beginning July 26 at the Nederlander Theatre. The singing actress will stay with the production through its final performance on Sept. 7.

Tracie Thoms made her Broadway debut in Drowning Crow. Off-Broadway she was seen in The Exonerated and Up Against the Wind, and her regional credits include Joe Turner's Come and Gone, A Raisin in the Sun, The Oedipus Plays and Hair, earning a Helen Hayes nomination for her work in the latter. Thoms' screen credits include "The Devil Wears Prada," "Grindhouse," "Rent," "Cold Case," "Brother to Brother," "As If," "Porn 'N Chicken," "The Shield" and the Fox series "Wonderfalls."

Rent, the East Village-set rock musical about artists and lovers struggling to be heard and connect, plays the Nederlander Theatre. The late Jonathan Larson wrote its book, music and lyrics.

The cast currently includes Will Chase (Roger), Adam Kantor (Mark), Renee Goldsberry (Mimi), Eden Espinosa (Maureen), Merle Dandrige (Joanne), Justin Johnston (Angel), Michael McElroy (Tom Collins), Rodney Hicks (Benny), Telly Leung (Steve), Shaun Earl (Paul), Gwen Stewart (Seasons Soloist), Marcus Paul James (Seasons Soloist), Jay Wilkison (Gordon), Andrea Goss (Alexi), Tracy McDowell (Mark's Mom).

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