Will Chase in Rent

[MissNY]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 9:50am

Starting after Christmas, Will Chase will be playing Roger in RENT.

Is anyone else totally thrilled about this?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 9:57am

I AM SO TOTALLY THRILLED. Hooray!!

My mother loves him; maybe THIS will get her to see the show.

Updated On: 11/30/05 at 09:57 AM

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 9:58am

I'M ECSTATIC!!!

That's the Roger I'm seeing this time, then!

Now, about Matt Caplan...

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:01am

I've seen Will's Roger before and it's really quite good.

Not sure if that coupled with the fierce Kenna Ramsey returning to Joanna would be enough motivation to get me to see the show again as long as the terrible existing company is still in the show, (I really despised everyone in the company currently except Ava Gaudet and Colin Hanlon) but it'd be tempting.
Updated On: 11/30/05 at 10:01 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:03am

You can always hope for "bad" luck....

Maybe someone can confirm this, but I heard that Matt has a few weeks off around March.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:04am

Nooo, that's too late. I'm gonna be around for January. Patronus, however, could seize the chance. XD

I'm just hoping Matt'll decide to be out.

Updated On: 11/30/05 at 10:04 AM

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:06am

Nah, sadly I am entrenched in Los Angeles for at least the next year or so.

I'm planning on moving to NY, but a lot has to fall into place before that happens.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:10am

From where did this news originate?

I'm trying to remain calm and not... enjoy this news before it is definite.

[thawikedclown]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:11am

will chase is goddamn amazing!!! i cant really see him as roger, but im excited to see someone actually act!!!!

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:15am

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

::runs around the room screaming::

i have to see rent again.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:16am

He went on as Roger a few times, didn't he? I never got to see it, he was always just playing Steve or whatever but...

This sort of news (which I'm still sitting here in shock not believing) gives me hope for the future of Rent and the sanity of the people casting it. Because I was losing faith.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:17am

I think he did, at some point.

Now they need to go and re-cast the rest of the show. Pronto. The people in it are talented, but so LIFELESS. Will's a really energetic performer. THIS IS SO GOOD.

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:17am

Yes, he went on. As I mentioned in an above post, I saw him as Roger and he was good. Vocally, I prefer his Mark but he will definitely be an upgrade to anyone in the current cast.

They are either lifeless or have completely spastic, inappropriate interpretations of the characters (Matt Caplan/Justin Johnson). I found both of their performances to not only be poor, but almost a mockery of the material.

Those two mixed with the corpse-like performance of the rest of the cast made for an entirely atrocious production.
Updated On: 11/30/05 at 10:17 AM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:17am

This has been rumored for a while but I'd wait til it's official before you get too excited.

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:21am

While a link isn't yet available, a poster on compulsivebowlers.org said that Will has confirmed it verbally in his circle of friends. Take that for what it's worth.

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:23am

when did you last see the show? i saw it a few weeks ago and i was fully expecting it to be horrendous and completely phoned in...and actually ended up loving it. going again tomorrow... (friend's bway debut!!)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:24am

Me? August.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:27am

Maybe Mr. Chase can play both Mark and Roger, ala LENNON in reverse.

I would love to see that.

I saw it with Patronus last week, it was one of the most terrible theatrical experiences ever.
Matt Caplan repulses me with his interpretation, which has been dubbed "Ruprect Mark" by Patronus.

I agree with Patronus, everyone else was either spastic or lifeless.

I might see it just to see Will though, if Matt is out.

Updated On: 11/30/05 at 10:27 AM

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:29am

We saw it about a week and a half ago.

I think sp78 said it best during intermission when he said something along the lines of "I feel like I am watching the Forbidden Broadway skits of Rent."

RuprechtMark, HobbitRoger, SpasticAngel and WWEMimi were all frightening.

ComaInducingCollins, BoredBenny and GetMeOutofHereJoanne were making me sleepy.

It was really just terrible.

Updated On: 11/30/05 at 10:29 AM

[MissNY]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:29am

The news came from Will himself. His contract was just signed yesterday so there will probably be an "official" announcement very soon.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:30am

Ruprect Mark.

*golf claps*

Thank you, Smart Penguin, for that.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:42am

This post is making me cry... and not in a good way.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:50am

I've actually come to be all good with Antoinique as Mimi - but Matt Caplan offends me so badly that I pretty much refuse to see the show unless he is out. He makes a mockery of that material. The point of Mark is NOT "lets see how many laughs I can get out of every scene"

Destan Owens is boring as sin, not bad, just BORING.

I love Rent, but it needs a Les Mis style 10th anniversary overhaul.

Throwing Will in there as Roger would be a good start.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 10:57am

Matt is like... the horny teenaged-boy version of Mark, and I resent it. A lot. I'm really sorry that Mark is sex-starved at whatnot, but that is SO not the point of the character; it irks me to an infinite degree that Matt choses to focus on that.

[kates422]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 11:08am

GAH! What I would give to see him!!! He was so amazing in Lennon.