Johnny G. as Benny
Johnny G. as Benny
maliatkb8
Understudy Joined: 10/21/07
#1Johnny G. as Benny
Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:46pmUm, 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?!
#2re: Johnny G. as Benny
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: Johnny G. as Benny
Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:49pm
Times is hard when...
a Tony Award winner is the umpteenth replacement in RENT.
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#3re: Johnny G. as Benny
Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:49pmaww 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............
#4re: Johnny G. as Benny
Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:50pmIt'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
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#5re: Johnny G. as Benny
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.
#6re: Johnny G. as Benny
Posted: 2/12/08 at 6:56pmI can't really tell with you.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#7re: Johnny G. as Benny
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!
#8re: Johnny G. as Benny
Posted: 2/12/08 at 8:18pm
George95, don't break the rules.
Only LizzieCurry is allowed to be sarcastic on this board.
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
popular_elphie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/3/05
#10re: Johnny G. as Benny
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?
#11re: Johnny G. as Benny
Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:46pmSeriously?
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?
#12re: Johnny G. as Benny
Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:53pmI'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
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/7/06
#13John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
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
Stand-by Joined: 6/1/06
#14John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#15John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
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
Stand-by Joined: 6/1/06
#16John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:02pmNot in any American productions. There have been non-black Bennys in a lot of foreign productions, though.
#17John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:03pmYeah, Benny is normally played by an African American actor. (Actually I'd say all of the time he is.)
#18John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:03pmIsn't Benny black...? I'm all for color blind casting... but...
sgv123
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/06
#19John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:05pmJohn was at joe's last night and it was a joke among the people there. he will NOT be going to rent.
#20John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:05pmWeird if it's true...I can't see him playing that part at all...he would be a much better Mark IMO
#21John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#22John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/29/04
#23John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
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.
#24John Gallagher Jr=Black landlord
Posted: 2/12/08 at 11:36pm
I would pay good money to see an Oompa-Loompa cast do Rent.
Just saying...
Videos