Vanessa Hudgens, Keala Settle, and more cast in Fox’s Rent Live!
The company just revealed its entire cast for the Fox’s upcoming TV musical, Rent Live! through Facebook just a few hours ago.
Vanessa Hudgens, who played the titular role of Gigi in the show’s 2015 Broadway revival, and who was most recently seen as Rizzo in Fox’s 2016 live TV musical Grease: Live, will be playing the role of Maureen Johnson. Brandon Dixon, who assumed the role of Aaron Burr in Broadway’s Hamilton in 2016 and was most recently seen playing Judas Iscariot in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!, will be playing the role of Tom Collins. Jordan Fisher, who was also in Grease: Live as Doody and who assumed the role of John Laurens/Philip Hamilton in Broadway’s Hamilton from 2016-2017, will be playing the role of Mark. And according to Variety, Keala Settle, who originated the role of Becky in Broadway’s Waitress and who is popularly known for playing the bearded lady in the movie musical The Greatest Showman, will be part of the ensemble and will be singing the solo from “Seasons of Love”.
Other members of the cast include recording artist Tinashe as Mimi Marquez, Brennin Hunt as Roger, Kiersey Clemons as Joanne Jefferson, reality star Valentina as Angel Schunard, and pop star Mario as Benny.
Rent is set to air on Fox this January 27, 2019. Michael Greif, who directed Rent’s original Broadway production, will oversee the stage direction of the live musical. Alex Rudzinksi will serve as the live television director.
Loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème, Rent follows the lives of seven young artists struggling to survive in New York City. Book, music, and lyrics were written by Jonathan Larson. The original Broadway production won four Tony Awards, Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who originated the role of Angel Schunard.
You can find the company’s cast announcement in the video below.
