People of Color & Representation in RENT
“RENT prioritizes two white, straight men within a narrative set at the peak of the AIDS epidemic, which disproportionately affected queer people and people of color; HIV/AIDS continues to claim lives in these communities to this day. But to dismiss the musical offhand and disregard the lasting legacy made by the many queer people of color who have been members of its casts over the years would be overly reductive and is also not my call as a queer white woman.” - Caroline Smith, The Daily Californian
Interview with Gwen Stewart about The Trevor Project
The People of Color in RENT
There was nine people of color out of the 15 original cast members - 60% of the cast.
Marlies Yearby -Choreographer
A modern/postmodern choreographer, Marlies Yearby is best known for her Tony-nominated choreographic contributions to Jonathan Larson’s Broadway hit Rent (1996), a reinterpretation of Puccini’s La Boheme made relevant for the AIDS era. As a teenager in the late 1970s in Oakland, California, Yearby was a professional disco dancer. In the 1980s, she trained in modern dance at San Jose State University, supplemented by classes in Limon technique with Aaron Osborne at New Performance Gallery in San Francisco. In addition to her work for musical theater, she is founder and co-artistic director of Movin’ Spirits Dance Theater
Jesse L. Martin - Tom Collins
Jesse Lamont Martin (born Jesse Lamont Watkins; January 18, 1969) is an American theatre, film, and television actor. He is best known for originating the role of Tom Collins in the Broadway theatrical production of Rent, and for his portrayal of NYPD Detective Ed Green on the NBC drama television series Law & Order.
Byron Utley - Ensemble
An original Broadway cast member of the groundbreaking, Pulitizer Prize, Tony Award winning Broadway musical RENT for which he received an Obie Award and a Gold & Platinum record Award. Has worked extensively on Broadway and regional theater in the United States and abroad.
Daphne Rubin-Vega - Mimi
Daphne Rubin-Vega (born November 18, 1969) is a Panamanian-American dancer, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known for originating the roles of Mimi Marquez in the Broadway musical Rent and Lucy in the Off-Broadway play Jack Goes Boating.
Fredi Walker - Joanne
She is an alumna of New York University. Her Broadway debut was the role of Joanne Jefferson, the high-class lawyer and lover of Maureen Johnson (Idina Menzel), in the original Broadway cast of Rent. At 33, Walker-Browne was the oldest of the eight principal cast members.
Rodney Hicks - Paul / Ensemble
As an actor I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn from and be a part of the Original Broadway casts of RENT at New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway, directed by Michael Greif and choreographed by Marlies Yearby, in the role of Paul and others. Later coming back as Benjamin Coffin III as part of the closing cast and can be seen on the RENT: Live on Broadway 2008 DVD. Peter in the 2000 Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Taye Diggs - Benny
In 2015, Taye Diggs returned to Broadway in title role of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH. The appearance marked his first New York stage role since the 2005 revival of A Soldier's Play. He made his Broadway debut in 1994 in the Tony Award-winning revival of Carousel. Soon after, he landed the role of Benny in in the landmark musical Rent, a role he recreated in the 2005 film version. Diggs other New York stage credits include Chicago, Wicked, and Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. His many film and television credits include Steven Bochco's crime drama "Murder in the First," How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Go, Chicago,The Best Man, its follow up The Best Man Holiday, and six seasons on ABC's hit drama "Private Practice."
Aiko Nakasone - Ensemble
Aiko Nakasone: Theater credits include Buffalo Gal (Studio Arena), Stop Kiss (Geva Theatre), Pericles (Expanded Arts) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Rude Mechanicals). Aiko has been seen in such Broadway shows as RENT (original cast), The Rocky Horror Show (original cast) and How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. National tours: The Who’s TOMMY and Starlight Express. She had a small part in the movie Meet the Parents that ended up on the cutting room floor.
Wilson Jermaine Heredia - Angel
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Wilson J Heredia was always surrounded by music. His mother was a seamstress and his father was a super. But they were both very musical. He studied medicine, and thought about advertising, but he realized he had to express himself, so he got into acting. He worked at a railway station in NY before he auditioned for the musical, RENT. He said he needed the $300 a week. Unbeknownst to him, his stint with the hit-musical would bring him popularity as a singer, dancer and actor, fans from all over the world and both the 1996 Tony award and Drama Desk award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Gwen Stewart - Ensemble / “Seasons of Love” soloist
The next chapter in a show she began 15 years ago. Rent appearances: The Tonight Show, David Letterman, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Rosie O’Donnell. She was honored to sing at the Democratic National Convention, Gracie Mansion, and the Library of Congress, where Jonathan Larson’s music lives on. Her Broadway and regional theater credits include All Shook Up (Ovation Award: Best Featured Actress in a Musical), Big River, (NAACP nomination: Best supporting actress, and honorary Tony for best ensemble), Starmites, and Suds. Her TV and film credits include House, The Love Guru, The Goods, Hooked Up, Down To Earth, Related, Law & Order: SVU, 24, Charmed, All My Children, and Strong Medicine, to name a few.. No day but today!