Full cast anounced for 20th Anniversary production of RENT at the St James

Full cast announced as rehearsals begin.

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming 20th Anniversary production of RENT which runs at the St James Theatre for the Christmas 2016 season from 8 December to 28 January 2016, with an official opening on 13 December.

The production is a collaboration between obert Mackintosh and Idili Theatricals Limited, in association with Theatr Clwyd, and will open at the Theatr Clwyd for a limited season from 21 October before a three week tour and an extended London stay.

The production, which begins rehearsals today, is directed by Bruce Guthrie.

Completing the cast are Javar La'trial Parker as Benjamin Coffin III and Joshua Dever, who will be joining the previously announced Ross Hunter as Roger Davis, Billy Cullum as Mark Cohen, Ryan O'Gorman as Tom Collins, Shanay Holmes as Joanne Jefferson, Layton Williams as Angel Schunard, Philippa Stefani as Mimi Marquez and Lucie Jones as Maureen Johnson, with Kevin Yates, Jordan Laviniere, Christina Modestou, Bobbie Little, Jenny O'Leary and Katie Bradley.

Jonathan Larson's musical is inspired by Puccini's opera La Bohème and won four Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama following its Broadway premiere in 1996. After opening off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop, the show transferred to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre where it ran for 12 years from 1996 to 2008. The musical premiered in London's West End in 1998 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where it ran for 18 months.

"Larson's world is inhabited by a group of bohemian artists who struggle to maintain their friendships and their non-conformist ideals in New York's East Village. Facing their problems head on, they make personal self-discoveries and find what really matters most in life." The score features modern musical theatre standards such as "Seasons of Love", "Take Me or Leave Me", "What You Own", "One Song Glory", "La Vie Bohème", "Without You", "I'll Cover You" and "Out Tonight"

This new production will feature choreography by Lee Proud, musical direction by Phil Cornwell, set design by Anna Fleischle, costume design by Loren Elstein, lighting design by Rick Fisher, sound design by Mike Walker and video design by Andrzej Goulding.

Tickets for the London run are now on sale.