The Cast

These are descriptions of the main characters in RENT. Beside the characters' name, you will see the name of the person that played her/him in the Original Broadway Cast (OBC). Many of these people are no longer in RENT. But there are lots of different tours of RENT with great & new actors/actresses.

Roger Davis played by Adam Pascal is a struggling musician. He plays the guitar. He had a girlfriend who committed suicide, but left him a note before she did so saying "We've got AIDS." He wants to find that "one song" before he goes, one song to leave behind. He shares a loft with Mark and doesn't get out of the loft much, until he meets Mimi..

Mark Cohen played by Anthony Rapp is a struggling film-maker. He doesn't go anywhere without his camera -- catches everything on film. He had a girlfriend, Maureen, who left him for Joanne.

Tom Collins played by Jesse Martin is a teacher and a computer genius. He is very good friends with Mark and Roger. He is gay and infected with HIV. He finds his true love -- Angel.

Benjamin Coffin III played by Taye Diggs is an ex-roomate of Roger and Mark. He is now their landlord. Throughout the musical, he asks for the RENT..which Mark and Roger do not have. His dream is to open a multi-media studio. He is married to Alison (whom we never see).

Joanne Jefferson played by Fredi Walker is Maureen's new lover. She is also a public-interest lawyer. At first, she puts up with a lot of Maureen's crap...but in the end, she shows her who is boss.

Mimi Marquez played by Daphne Rubin-Vega is a dancer at The Cat Scratch Club. She's beautiful (ok, I think she is). She used to have a relationship with Benny, but she has found Roger. They have a bumpy relationship -- they are both scared. Mimi has AIDS, also.

Angel Shunard played by Wilson Jermaine Heredia is a street drummer. He plays the drums on his "ten gallon plastic pickle tub." He is also a transvestite who is infected with HIV. He finds Collins on the street and the two are immediatly drawn to each other and fall in love (ooh I love their relationship!).

Maureen Johnson played by Idina Menzel is Mark's ex-girlfriend and Joanne's new lover. She is a performance artist..and very talented in a strange kinda way. She's a bit concieted...always wants things her way.

Other small-role characters are: Mark's mom, Joanne's mom and dad, Mimi's mom, Gordon, Paul, Steve, Mr. Grey, Alexi Darling, cops, and carolers.