Josh Grisetti, Justin Johnston, Rashad Naylor Are Rent's New Mark, Roger and Benny Starting Jan. 20

By Kenneth Jones
20 Jan 2012

Josh Grisetti
Josh Grisetti

The Off-Broadway production of Rent at New World Stages welcomes Justin Johnston and Josh Grisetti as Roger and Mark, respectively, and Rashad Naylor as Benny, on Jan. 20.

Johnston (a former Angel in the show's Broadway run) succeeds Matt Shingledecker; Grisetti (acclaimed for Off-Broadway's Enter Laughing) succeeds Adam Chanler-Berat (Next to Normal, Peter and the Starcatcher). Naylor has appeared in Broadway's Hairspray, Chicago's Jersey Boys and the first national tour of Rock of Ages.

Emma Hunton recently joined the cast in the role of Maureen (Jan. 13) and Aaron LaVigne joined (Jan. 7).

Rounding out the cast of Rent are Margot Bingham (Alexi Darling, Roger's Mom), Brandon Victor Dixon (Collins), Arianda Fernandez (Mimi), Marcus Paul James (Mr. Jefferson, Paul), Tamika Sonja Lawrence (Mrs. Jefferson, woman with bags), Corbin Reid (Joanne), MJ Rodriguez (Angel), Michael Wartella (Steve, Gordon, Waiter), and Morgan Weed (Mark's Mom). Also in the company are Sean Michael Murray, Xavier Cano, and Genny Padilla.

Rent, by composer-lyricist-librettist Jonathan Larson, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize. Following a long Broadway run, its producers mounted the current production Off-Broadway. It includes physical and directorial reconsiderations by its original director Michael Greif.

New World Stages is located at 340 W. 50th St., between 8th and 9th Avenues at World Wide Plaza. For tickets and information, visit siteforrent.com.