The "One Life to Live" actress will step into the role of Mimi, which is currently being played by Tamyra Gray. Gray will offer her final performance June 15.
Goldsberry will be the final actress to play Mimi, the role created on Broadway by Daphne Rubin-Vega. As previously announced, Rent will end its lengthy, award-winning run at the Nederlander Theatre Sept. 7.
As previously reported, Eden Espinosa will make her Rent debut as Maureen May 30.
The New York Rent company currently features Will Chase as Roger, Adam Kantor as Mark, Michael McElroy as Collins, Justin Johnston as Angel, Rodney Hicks as Benny, Tamyra Gray as Mimi and Merle Dandridge as Joanne with Caren Lyn Manuel, Tracy McDowell, Marcus Paul James, Maia Nkenge Wilson, Jay Wilkison, Telly Leung, Shaun Earl and Andrea Goss.
Renée Elise Goldsberry played Nettie in The Color Purple. She was also seen on Broadway as Nala in The Lion King, and she played Sylvia in the Public Theater's presentation of Two Gentlemen of Verona. She spent five years on "Ally McBeal" and was seen in the film "All About You." Goldsberry is a two-time Emmy and NAACP Image award nominee for her work as Evangeline Williamson on "One Life to Live." The actress also appeared in the recent York Theatre Company staging of The Baker's Wife. Rent, which has book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is the seventh longest running show in Broadway history.
The performance schedule will remain unchanged throughout the summer: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday and 2 PM and 7 PM. There will be two exceptions: the show will be dark on Independence Day, Friday, July 4 and there will be an added performance that week on Wednesday, July 2, at 8 PM; and there will be no performance on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, and special added performances Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 2 PM and 8 PM.
Rent, directed by Michael Greif, opened on Broadway April 29, 1996, following a sold-out, extended limited engagement at Off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award.
Rent is one of only seven musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
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