Highway Run Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co have today announced the cast line-up for their new Australian production of RENT, which will be performed at the Hayes Theatre Co. venue in Potts Point from October 8 until November 1.
Directed by Shaun Rennie alongside musical director Andrew Worboys, this new Australian production of RENT is set to feature talent including: Stephen Madsen (Heathers The Musical) as Mark – a struggling documentary filmmaker, and best friend of Roger, a HIV-positive musician who is recovering from heroin addition portrayed by Linden Furnell. Loren Hunter (Strictly Ballroom, King Kong) is Mimi, an HIV-positive stripper and dancer who is also a heroin junkie and Roger’s love interest. Laura Bunting (The Voice, Wicked) plays spunky performance artist Maureen, who is Mark’s ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend of Joanne, a tough, headstrong Harvard-educated lawyer portrayed by Casey Donovan (The Sapphires, Flowerchildren).
Collins, the HIV-positive philosophy teacher, friend and former roommate of Roger, Mark, and Maureen is played by Nana Matapule. Chris Scalzo (Dr Zhivago, Wicked) has been cast in the role of Angel, an HIV-positive drag queen with a heart of gold and Collins’ love interest. Benjamin, played by Matthew Pearce, is the former friend and landlord of Mark, Roger and Mimi’s apartment.
Completing the cast are Denise Devlin, Josh Gardiner, Jack O’Riley, Monique Sallé, Kirsty Sturgess and Chloe Wilson.
Synopsis for RENT
The East Village is dead. At the dawn of the 1990s, New York City’s East Village is home to an ever-diminishing bohemian community. Development pushes people from their borough, disease withers loved ones from their lives, and a group of friends fight for their place in the face of such quiet vanishing. One iconic city, one life- changing year, one astonishing masterpiece: RENT.
