Johnny G. as Benny

[maliatkb8]

Johnny G. as Benny#1

Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:46pm

Um, I was just on John Gallagher Jr.s myspace, and someone commented something about him playing Benny in RENT this spring. Does anyone know what that's about?!

[focusingonmoviesmatt]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#2

Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:48pm

there was a rumor going around that he was going to play mark, but benny?
Updated On: 2/12/08 at 06:48 PM

[Yankeefan007]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#2

Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:49pm

Times is hard when...

a Tony Award winner is the umpteenth replacement in RENT.

[george95]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#3

Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:49pm

aww I hope he doesn't join RENT because then I'd be compelled to go see it again and I have just finished putting RENT behind me and moving on with my life. This will bring up so much baggage............

[LizzieCurry]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#4

Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:50pm

It's always sad when cast changes bring upon personal hardships. In fans.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

[george95]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#5

Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:54pm

Its always sad when lizziecurry takes a post like that seriously. Come on! Baggage? For RENT? I'm bummed the show is over but that's about it.

I should have put in some kind of emoticon to show I was only half serious.

[LizzieCurry]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#6

Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:56pm

I can't really tell with you.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

[george95]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#7

Posted: 2/12/08 at 7:04pm

I know i'm sorry I didnt make it clear. I am a total RENT pyscho, fine, I admit it, but I was depressed for a few days and I got over it by just forgetting about the show.

No hard feelings!

[Gobstopper]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#8

Posted: 2/12/08 at 8:18pm

George95, don't break the rules.

Only LizzieCurry is allowed to be sarcastic on this board.

[george95]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#9

Posted: 2/12/08 at 8:22pm

ok ok now i know!

[popular_elphie]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#10

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:43pm

I think she was joking.

...However, if she wasn't, this is the most random thing ever. Benny? What?

[hermionejuliet]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#11

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:46pm

Seriously?

So, that was the Drowsy Chaperone. Oh, I love it so much. I know it's not a perfect show...but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue. Ya know?

[broadwayfan7]

re: Johnny G. as Benny#12

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:53pm

I'm sure he will make a fantastic Benny!

"Everytime you step on that stage it is somebody's first Broadway show and somebody's last Broadway show. Make it count."

[Trekkie2]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#13

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:55pm

I think that would be very odd and a wee bit disturbing.
But if it gets confirmed, I'll be the 1st one in line.

"I think of avant-garde as downtown shows where you rub waffles and chocolate on yourself."- Hunter Bell

[masb19872]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#14

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:59pm

This is the funniest rumor I've heard yet :) Yaz Alers' coming back as Benny, duh
Updated On: 2/12/08 at 09:59 PM

[george95]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#15

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:59pm

Ok I'm just gonna bring it up---hasn't benny always been cast as a black guy? Has there there been a white Benny before?

Before anyone goes into cardiac arrest over this........I'm just asking, and I dont care if the actor is black or white--just curious.

[masb19872]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#16

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:02pm

Not in any American productions. There have been non-black Bennys in a lot of foreign productions, though.

[antiandrewx]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#17

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:03pm

Yeah, Benny is normally played by an African American actor. (Actually I'd say all of the time he is.)

[DRSisLove]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#18

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:03pm

Isn't Benny black...? I'm all for color blind casting... but...

[sgv123]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#19

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:05pm

John was at joe's last night and it was a joke among the people there. he will NOT be going to rent.

[exhalemusic]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#20

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:05pm

Weird if it's true...I can't see him playing that part at all...he would be a much better Mark IMO

[Gobstopper]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#21

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:27pm

OH, people, for the love of Duncan Sheik,

IT WAS A JOKE!

Just like sgv123 said! The rumor was that Johnny would play Mark, so people started joking about him playing Benny.

Random factoid: There have only been like 4 or 5 Bennys on Broadway. Weird, huh?

[george95]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#22

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:31pm

Well that makes sense because D'Monroe was Benny from 1925-2007.......way too long. And why did he always have to be "aroused" during the contact scene---it was like that Simpsons episode when Ned Flanders wore that skintight ski suit and Homer kept picturing him going "Its like I'm wearing nothing at all! nothing at all! nothing at all!"

:

[commasplice]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#23

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:55pm

"Isn't Benny black...? I'm all for color blind casting... but..."

Benny is generally cast as African-American, but from a quick flip-through of the libretto (the one published in the New American Musical anthology), I couldn't find any physical description of him, so he could be an Oompa-Loompa for all we know.

[scaryclowns223]

John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord#24

Posted: 2/12/08 at 11:36pm

I would pay good money to see an Oompa-Loompa cast do Rent.

Just saying...