Original Cast of Rent question

[wiggum2]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 8:50pm

Sorry another Rent question
Did the OBC stay their year or did they leave early... later? Have any of them reprised their roles later on?
I checked IBDB and they didn't say how long they were there for. I also did a search but we all know how many rent threads there have been lately ļ

Thanks

Updated On: 12/30/05 at 08:50 PM

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 9:00pm

I'm not really sure but my friend saw Anthony, Adam, Wilson and one other (forgot who) perform in London. That was in 1998.

[hateobnoxiousteens]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 9:19pm

Daphne Rubin Vega was the first to leave and she broke her contract, less than a year, then Idina, then Jesse then Taye, many months later Adam and Freddie left on the same day in November '97 and four weeks following Wilson left. Anthony stayed the longest Jan 4, 1998. None of them reprised their roles. Hope that helps.

[wiggum2]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 9:21pm

thanks for the help, I was just curious. Anyone know why Daphne left early? Was there a big deal with her breaking her contract?

[Patronus]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 9:21pm

Sad to admit, I am doing this from memory...

Daphne Rubin-Vega left on 4/5/97 (Marcy Harriell replaced her)
Idina Menzel left on 7/1/97 (Sherie Rene Scott replaced her)
Jesse L. Martin left on 7/13/97 (Michael McElroy replaced him)
Taye Diggs left on 8/31/97 (Jacques C. Smith replaced him)
Adam Pascal left on 11/2/97 (Norbert Leo Butz replaced him)
Fredi Walker left on 11/2/97 (Gwen Stewart replaced her)
Anthony Rapp left on 1/4/98 (Jim Poulos replaced him)

Wilson Jermaine Heredia is the only one I can't remember for sure. It was definitely sometime in November 1997. He was replaced by Wilson Cruz.

It is actually incorrect that none of them reprised their roles.

Wilson Jermaine Heredia rejoined the Broadway cast in 2002 or 2003, I believe. Not entirely sure. Anthony Rapp did a two week run with the Angel tour in Chicago after leaving the OBC. He closed that run on 1/25/98. Daphne Rubin-Vega did a stint in the Angel Tour in Los Angeles in early 1999.

Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin and Wilson Jermaine Heredia all reprised their roles in the original London company as well.

ETA: I believe Daphne left the show because she got a role in the film "Wild Things" with Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Denise Richards , Bill Murray and Neve Campbell. I don't recall there being any bad blood as a result of her leaving and she did press for the show and rejoined the Angel tour later on. Reportedly, they were all so family oriented that everyone from producer down to stage hand were all really thrilled for everyone's success.
Updated On: 12/30/05 at 09:21 PM

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 9:54pm

Does anyone have info as to when Wilson reprised his role in 2002/2003 (or if this was the case)?

[Patronus]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 10:01pm

My year was off. It was August 1999 that Wilson Jermaine Heredia reprised his role on Broadway.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/47077.html

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 10:41pm

Patronus - great avatar... took me a little while to figure out who it was but that is AWESOME.

[Patronus]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 10:44pm

Thanks. I love how vague it is.