The West Coast premiere of the musical theatre phenomenon Rent, which opens July 1 at La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA, has extended its run for two weeks, due to extraordinary ticket demand and record breaking sales.
Ticket availability for the production's originally scheduled, 70 performance run is standing room only. La Jolla's Rent now runs through September 14. There is no possiblity of the show extending beyond that date.
Here is the La Jolla cast of Rent:
Neil Patrick Harris (Mark) - best known for playing Doogie Howser M.D. on TV, he also starred Off-Broadway in James Lapine's Luck, Pluck & Virtue. Mark, the documentary film-maker, is played by Anthony Rapp on Broadway.
Sharon Brown (soloist on "Seasons Of Love") - played Effie in Dreamgirls on Broadway.
Wilson Cruz (Angel) - played Ricky on TV's "My So-Called Life."
D'Monroe (Benny) - played in the Boston company of Rent.
Mark Leroy Jackson appeared in the Broadway Rent.
Also in the cast are Carla Bianco, Kevyn Brackett, Hallie Bulliet, Monique Daniels, Laura Days, Leigh Hetherington (Maureen), Sala Iwamatsu, Owen Johnston II, Christan Mena (Roger hristopher Patric, Kenna Ramsey (Joanne), Julia Santana (Mimi -- the role originated by Daphen Rubin Vega), Andy Senor, Curt Skinner, Paul Oakley Stovall and Brent Davin Vance.
La Jolla Artistic Director Michael Greif will repeat his Obie-winning direction of Jonathan Larson's alternative-rock retelling of the La Boheme story.
Casting for the La Jolla production has not yet been announced. Auditions were held in L.A., San Diego and New York. "People flew all over the country for these auditions," La Jolla associate spokesperson, Mary Lee Warning said.
Greif's entire New York design team -- set designer Paul Clay, costumer Angela Wendt, lighting designer Blake Burba and sound designer Kurt Fischer -- will recreate their work at La Jolla. The production is being billed as the centerpiece of the theatre's 50th anniversary season.
Tickets to the La Jolla Rent can be purchased through the box office, at (619) 550-1010. For the rest of the season, which includes the world premiere of Barry Manilow's musical, Harmony, refer to the La Jolla Playhouse regional listing on Playbill On-Line.
