Singers Joey Fatone and Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown have played the show in the past, and on Sept. 10 Lachey tests his wings. He's scheduled to play filmmaker Mark Cohen through March 11, 2005.

The Tony Award-winning Rent, winner of the Best Musical Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, plays the Nederlander Theatre.

The company also includes Frenchie Davis (as the "Seasons of Love" soloist), Jeremy Kushnier (as Roger), Mayumi Ando, Merle Dandridge (as Joanne), D'Monroe (as Benny), Mark Richard Ford (as Collins), Colin Hanlon, Justin Johnston (as Angel), Catrice Joseph, Kelly Karbacz (as Maureen), Kendra Kassebaum, Destan Owens and Enrico Rodriguez.

Cincinnati native Lachey attended the pre-college Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts. Together with his brother, Nick Lachey, he formed one half of the group 98 Degrees. The four-part harmony pop group had hits with "98 Degrees and Rising" and "Revelation."

Michael Greif directed the Jonathan Larson-penned rock musical inspired by Puccini's La Bohème. For ticket information, call (212) 307-4100.