Does anyone know who is replacing Annaleigh Ashford in Rent?

I got word today that Thursday is Annaleigh Ashford's final performance in the Off Broadway revival of Rent. I was wondering if anyone knew who would be replacing her?I volunteer ushering at the show on Friday night, and I was just curious as to who I might see.

---

Thank you LIzzie,

It's interesting to me that they are bringing on Justin Johnson as Roger. I saw him on Broadway with the final company, and again on tour as Angel. And, he was truly amazing in the role. And, he seems to me, more suited for it than the role of Roger. It is interesting to see how he will do as Roger.

I am aware that the producers were open about the fact that one of the reasons as to why they revived the show so quickly was to be a job for young actors. However, I am kinda wondering if the revival cast is soon going to be full of people who were recycled in and out of the Broadway cast within the last few years of its run.

---

Ephraim Sykes, who plays Benny, is also leaving on the 19th along with Adam and Matt. I haven't heard of who is replacing him. Anyone know?

Actually there was someone else as well. Marcus Paul James was in the ensemble of the final Broadway company (and on the DVD of the final performance) as Mr. Jefferson and others. An ensemble track that also included being the understudy to Collins as well as the male soloist in Seasons of Love. This is also the same role that he has with the revival of the show. I believe other than Rent, he was in the ensemble for a bit in In The Heights after Rent closed but didn't do much after In The Heights and the revival of Rent.

Justin Johnson and Marcus Paul James were similar in that they were both in the non equity tour of Rent and then went right to doing the show on Broadway. Arianda Fernandez is somewhat similar minus the fact that she never was on Broadway. She was, however, the Mimi in the last non equity tour.

---

cordialcherry,

I was wrong. I had thought his name was Johnson and not Johnston. However, it is the same actor that had played the final Angel on Broadway. I may have gotten the name wrong but Broadway.com has his picture in their article. And, I think that they may have mentioned that he was in the Rent DVD (don't know for sure if they did mention that but he was.)

---

Yes, it's the same guy.

Winston, Justin was never in a non-Eq cast of Rent. Also, Arianda was not in the final non-Eq tour. She was in the 2006 tour.

Two other former castmembers - Tracy McDowell and Aaron Lavigne - also have appeared/will appear in this off-Broadway version. Stayed tuned for more oldies returning.

Updated On: 1/10/12 at 11:47 PM

erinrebecca, I haven't read anything about Tracy McDowell being in the show (other than these forums) It was never officially announced and I never saw her name in any playbill or on the website. Or, for that matter in any article about the show. In fact, I'm not sure that she was ever with the Off Broadway company at all. There was one performance I was at a couple of weeks ago, where it was clear that they were in need of other cast members. For example, they only had one police officer and when it came time for the Mrs. Marquez solo they had to make it Mr. Marquez. My feeling was that if Tracy McDowell was indeed with the cast she would have been on that stage.

---

RENT has a history with not crediting people properly, for whatever reason. Tracy McDowell was indeed with the Off-Broadway company, though I have no idea if she is still.

A lot of people don't even know that Joaquina Kalukango, one of the female swings in GODSPELL, was also covering in RENT at the beginning of the run while she was still in GODSPELL. I don't know if she got RENT first and then left to do GODSPELL but stayed on while they found her replacement or what, but I know she was still technically an "emergency" cover during GODSPELL's early preview period, though I don't ever remember her being in the Playbill over at RENT.

---

somethingwicked- it's interesting you bring that up because Joaquina is leaving Godspell within the next month so maybe she is replacing someone in Rent.

I can understand not making a press statement or changing the playbil for someone who is going to be with the show on a temporary basis. But what about the board outside the theatre that lists the entire company. Isn't there an equity rule about the bored needing to be accurate? Or is that just for understudies?

Also, I just find it funny that for the two actresses mentioned here, they were with the show for a limited time and yet there was no press release on it. And yet, when the actor who originated Collins in this production took a brief leave, they had an article about it in playbill.com. Maybe that was because it was a situation of leading role verses ensemble?

---

Was anyone else here at Annaleigh's last performance last night? I thought it was such a high-energy performance, she will be missed.

That being said, best of luck to Emma. She's gonna be great.

---

Love Josh's take on Mark. Especially the Halloween scene when he sings "How did we get here..." I actually got choked up. I was there for their 1st night.

---

I caught Emma as Maureen on Jan 16, before Grisetti and Johnson joined the cast... and I'd dare say she was my favorite Maureen, and I've seen the show 8 times and "heard" many others.