Hope Mill Theatre’s hit production of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical Rent has welcomed six new cast members as rehearsals begin for the production’s imminent return to live performances.
Luke Bayer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Apollo Theatre, Soho Cinders, Charing Cross Theatre) is joining the cast as Mark alongside Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship recipient Michael Ahomka-Lindsay who will make his professional stage debut as Benny.
New ensemble members will include Iona Fraser (Sister Act the Musical, Shanklin Theatre) and three recent graduates making their professional stage debuts in the production – Alison Driver, Joe Foster and Karl Lankester.
The newcomers have joined original cast members: Arts Ed 2020 graduate Tom Francis who continues in his first professional role as Roger; Jocasta Almgill (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre, Dreamgirls, Savoy Theatre) as Joanne; Dom Hartley-Harris (Hamilton, Victoria Palace, Bat Out of Hell, London Coliseum) as Collins; Millie O’Connell (Olivier nominee for Six The Musical, Arts Theatre and UK tour, 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Maureen; Maiya Quansah-Breed (Olivier nominee for Six The Musical Arts Theatre and UK tour) as Mimi; Alex Thomas-Smith (Dear Evan Hansen, Noël Coward Theatre, Bat Out of Hell, Dominion Theatre) as Angel and Isaac Hesketh (Book of Mormon, UK tour).
After playing just five performances in the short window before restrictions returned late last year, the production is due to return to play the Manchester venue for a strictly limited season from 6 August until 19 September.
Director Luke Sheppard heads a creative team that includes choreographer Tom Jackson Greaves, musical supervisor Katy Richardson, musical director Chris Poon, set and costume designer David Woodhead, LX designer Howard Hudson, sound designer Paul Gatehouse, projection designer George Reeve, assistant director Priya Appleby, costume supervisor Ester Mangas, production photographer Dujonna Gift-Simms and make-up and wigs designer Jackie Saundercock. Casting is by Pearson Casting.
Inspired by Puccini’s opera La Bohème, Larson’s critically-acclaimed work won four Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996.
The rock musical boasts a book, music and lyrics by Larson, with musical arrangements by Steve Skinner, original concept and additional lyrics by Billy Aronson, music supervision and additional arrangements by Tim Weil, and a dramaturg by Lynn Thomson. Rent was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Alan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop.
Announcing the return of the production which was originally due to open in July 2020, the executive director of Hope Mill Theatre, William Whelton said earlier this year: “It was so heart-breaking to have to close our production of Rent after only five shows, due to entering another lockdown. We were so thrilled that we managed to capture the show and share it with audiences online.
“The reaction to the show both critically and with audiences alike was truly overwhelming. However, we built this show to be experienced live and there is still a lot of unfinished business with this special show. It is with such excitement that we announce we will be bringing back Rent to Hope Mill Theatre later this year for another run. We hope to bring back as many of the original cast as possible and once again share this truly electric, heart-warming and unique version with our audiences.”
Angela Thomas
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