Color Purple Veteran Brandon Victor Dixon Is Rent's New Tom Collins

By Kenneth Jones
01 Dec 2011

Brandon Victor Dixon
Brandon Victor Dixon

Brandon Victor Dixon, the actor who created the role of Harpo in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, joins the Off-Broadway cast of Rent Dec. 1 in the role of Tom Collins.

He'll play the part through Feb. 12, 2012, taking over for Nicholas Christopher who is on medical leave and will return to the show in February.

Dixon recently appeared in Cotton Club Parade for Encores! at New York City Center. He also created the role of Haywood in The Scottsboro Boys at the Vineyard Theatre. He was nominated for Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for his turn.

Dixon also played adult Simba in the national tour of The Lion King and Ray Charles in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Ray Charles Live.

The 2011 Off-Broadway incarnation of composer-lyricist-librettist Jonathan Larson's Rent, a tale of friends, lovers and artists in early AIDS-era New York City, is directed by Michael Greif, who staged the 1996 New York Theatre Workshop premiere and subsequent move to Broadway and international success. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award as Best Musical.

Rent, now with a fresh design and directorial approach, plays New World Stages Mondays and Wednesday through Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 7:30 PM, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 PM.

New World Stages is at 340 W. 50th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues.

Tickets may be purchased by visiting siteforrent.com or telecharge.com; by phoning (212) 947-8844; or by going to the New World Stages box office.