(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Arden Theatre Company is thrilled to close out its 2024-25 season with the electrifying Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT. Following its Broadway debut in 1996, where it earned four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and Best Featured Actor in a Musical, RENT redefined musical theatre by taking audiences on an unforgettable journey of love, loss, hope, and resilience.
The Arden brings Jonathan Larson’s iconic story to life on the F. Otto Haas Stage, in a powerful new production directed by Terrence J. Nolen and Steve Pacek. Due to popular demand, RENT has been extended through June 29.
With its unforgettable score and songs like “Seasons of Love” and “I’ll Cover You,” the production tells the story of a close group of young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create a life in New York City’s East Village during the height of the AIDS crisis. The production follows iconic characters Mark Cohen (Matthew Kemp), Roger Davis (Matteo Scammell), Mimi Marquez (Leigha Kato), Tom Collins (Rajeer Alford), Angel Dumott Schunard (Gilbert D. Sanchez), Maureen Johnson (Katherine Fried), a performance artist; and Joanne Jefferson (Imani Moss), Benjamin Coffin III (Sevon Askew).
RENT is a powerful, life-affirming musical that celebrates resilience, hope, and the beauty of living life boldly and authentically. Even as the group faces illness, poverty, addiction, and discrimination, they fight to hold onto their dreams—and each other — discovering the true meaning of love, friendship, and community along the way.
“Jonathan Larson's work has had a major impact on me as a musical theatre artist,” said director Steve Pacek. “Ever since sleeping on 41st St overnight in the winter to get a $20 student rush ticket to the original Broadway production of RENT (sorry, Mom!), I've been compelled to defy the 'norm,' push the boundaries of what's possible, and embrace a bit more of a rockstar mentality in my life as an artist. I'm hoping audiences get a number of things: when we raise our voices together and sing and hope and resist what's wrong out loud; we can be heard and make change happen; to love and to spread love is an act of rebellion in times when fear and hate are on the rise; the opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation.”
The dynamic cast features new and familiar faces to Arden audiences, including Rajeer Alford (Tom Collins), a Cherry Hill, New Jersey native making his Arden debut. Alford’s regional work includes productions at the Lincoln Center Theatre, New York, Delaware Theatre Company, 11th Hour Theatre Company, and the Gretna Theatre in Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania.
Sevon Askew (Benjamin Coffin III) makes his Arden debut while previously appearing in the national tour of Hadestown. Regionally, Askew has appeared in roles at the Scranton Shakespeare Festival and the University of Michigan Theatre.
Charlie Barney (Ensemble) returns to the Arden after appearing as an understudy in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Once on This Island. His regional work includes productions with New Light Theatre and Delaware Theatre Company.
Bryant (Ensemble) is a Philadelphia-based performer making his Arden debut. Regionally, they have appeared in productions at Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Shakespeare in Clark Park, Temple Theaters, and the Philly Fringe Festival.
Elena Camp (Ensemble) is a Philadelphia-based performer making her Arden debut. Regionally, she has appeared in productions at Theatre Horizon, Act II Playhouse, Limelight Performing Arts Center, Montgomery Theater, and Bristol Riverside Theatre.
Asia DeShields (Ensemble) is a Philadelphia-based performer making her Arden debut. Her regional work includes Heathers: The Musical at the Milton Theatre.
Katherine “Kata” Fried (Maureen Johnson) is a musician, composer, performing artist, and poet well- known to Arden audiences for her roles in Assasins (Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme), Into the Woods (The Baker’s Wife), Once (Girl), and A Streetcar Named Desire (Eunice Hubbell). Fried’s regional work includes roles at Theater Latté Da, Guthrie Theater, and the Fulton Theatre.
Michael Jahlil (Ensemble) returns to the Arden, where he previously understudied Intimate Apparel and Once on This Island. His regional credits include productions at Opera Delaware and the University of the Arts.
Matthew Edward Kemp (Mark Cohen) is a New York-based actor making his Arden debut. Kemp previously understudied the role of Evan Hansen in both the Broadway production and national tour of Dear Evan Hansen. Kemp’s regional work includes roles at the Apex Theatre in Saint Augustine, Florida, and the Geva Theatre in Rochester, New York.
Leigha Kato (Mimi Marquez) is a New York-based actor who has previously appeared at the Arden in A Year with Frog and Toad (Bird, Mouse, Mole, Squirrel, Young Frog) and Metamorphoses (Myrrha).
Regionally, Kato has appeared in roles at Bristol Riverside Theatre, Theatre Horizon, Quintessence Theatre Co., and Philadelphia Theatre Co.
Gabe Moses (Ensemble ) returns to the Arden, where he appeared in The Lehman Trilogy (u/s) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2020 digital production). His regional credits include People’s Light, Inis Nua Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.
Imani Moss (Joanne Jefferson) is a Tempe University alum and Philadelphia-based actor who has previously appeared at the Arden in Once on This Island (u/s Papa Ge), School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Ama). Moss’ regional work includes roles at The Candlelight Theatre, People’s Light, Ensemble Arts Philly, and Delaware Shakespeare.
Eliana Pinkney (Ensemble) returns to the Arden where she appeared in Once on This Island. Her regional work includes productions at Candlelight Dinner Theater, Center Theatre, and Temple Theaters.
Gilbert D. Sanchez (Angel Dumott Schunard) is a New York-based actor making his Arden Debut. Regionally, Sanchez has appeared in roles at Bucks County Playhouse, Perelman Theatre, and Westchester Broadway Theatre.
The production design team includes Alexis Goode (Assistant Director), Ryan Touhey (Music Director), Gina Giachero (Assistant Music Director), Alec E. Ferrell (Stage Manager), Alexis Wells (1st Assistant Stage Manager), Paige Hathaway (Scenic Designer), Thom Weaver (Lighting Designer), Asaki Kuruma (Costume Designer), Elizabeth Atkinson (Sound Designer), Jorge Cousineau (Video Designer).
Arden Theatre Company, founded in 1988, is a professional theatre company in Old City, dedicated to bringing to life great stories by great storytellers on the stage, in the classroom, and in the community. To date, the Arden has produced 46 World Premieres. The Arden has developed four distinct educational programs: Arden for All, our in-school arts education program for elementary level students; Arden Drama School, our on-site, tuition-based theatre classes for pre-K through 12th-grade students; Teen Arden, our theatre enrichment program for high school students; and the Arden Professional Apprentice program, a rigorous training program for young theatre professionals.
