EPIC Players, a New York's premier Neurodivergent theatre company, is excited to present RENT, Jonathan Larson's rock opera about chosen family, resilience, love, and living authentically. The production will run this spring at ART/NY The Mezzanine Theatre (53rd) from June 4th - June 14th.

EPIC Players (Empower, Perform, Include, Create), founded in 2016, is a nonprofit, neuro-diverse theatre company dedicated to creating professional performing arts opportunities and supportive social communities in the arts for Neurodivergent and Disabled artists. Via inclusive mainstage productions, musical cabarets, original showcases, skills-based classes and career resources, we hope to increase critical employment opportunities, pioneer increased inclusion in the arts, and break down social stigmas surrounding neuro-diverse communities. EPIC produces performances, classes and cabarets both in NYC and Los Angeles.

Our productions are carefully curated and actor led, access-forward, and rooted in collaboration, care, and high artistic standards.

• TDF - BUM BUM (Or this farce has Autism)
• EXTRA TV - EPIC LA
• NY TIMES PICK
• GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Roger Davis – Rock Tenor - Any Ethnicity

A once successful now struggling musician and former drug addict, Roger discovered he had HIV/AIDS in a note his girlfriend left him before she took her own life. His main goal is to write one great song before he dies. He is roommate and best friend of Mark. Often depressed and sullen, Roger battles with being HIV-positive, but he can be expressive and passionate at times. He is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain. The actor playing this role must be a good actor and an excellent singer with a rock edge. Guitar skills are desired, but not essential.

• Gender Presentation: Male
• Vocal range top: A4
• Vocal range bottom: F2

Tom Collins – Baritone/Tenor - BIPOC

A nurturer with a smooth and relaxed disposition, Collins is a gay computer genius, anarchist and liberal professor who was recently expelled from MIT. Former roommate of Mark, Roger and Benny, he is brave enough to allow himself to fall in love with Angel in the knowledge that they are both HIV positive. Collins and Angel’s relationship is the heart of the show, as the genuine love and devotion they have for one another brings hope and inspiration to the rest of the group. The actor playing this role must be an excellent singer and actor.

• Gender Presentation: Male
• Vocal range top: A4
• Vocal range bottom: F#2

Joanne Jefferson – Pop Belt - BIPOC

An activist and headstrong lesbian, Joanne is a Harvard-educated lawyer. Though raised in an affluent, political family, she is committed to helping those less fortunate. Joanne has an insecure relationship with Maureen and struggles not to be jealous of Maureen’s flirtatious nature with others. Competent, organised, dedicated, and a bit of a control freak, Joanne loves “margins and discipline” and “makes lists in her sleep.” She’s happiest when she has control, which happens frequently in her professional life but less often in her personal one. The actress playing this role must be an excellent singer and a good actress. Good movement skills are required as she dances the tango with Mark.

• Gender Presentation: Female
• Vocal range top: E5

Angel Dumont Schunard – High Tenor with good falsetto - BIPOC

A drag queen or trans woman and street percussionist, Angel is outgoing, flamboyant, yet an honest and caring individual. He has a magnetic personality and people are naturally drawn to him. Angel is the most generous and selfless character in the show. He meets and falls in love with Collins and, despite being HIV positive, embraces life and lives each day to the full. Angel succumbs to the disease in Act II and his death is mourned by all of the characters. Collins and Angel’s relationship is the heart of the show and the genuine love and devotion they have for one another offers hope and inspiration to the rest of the group. The actor playing this role must be an excellent actor, singer, and mover. Percussionist skills desired but not required. The audition should ideally be done in heels.

• Gender Presentation: Male
• Vocal range top: A4
• Vocal range bottom: C3 Music – “Today for You B” (beginning – b.46)

Mimi Marquez – Strong High Belt/Mix - BIPOC

A dancer in a strip club, Mimi struggles with her addiction to heroin which has resulted in her contraction of HIV. She is an extremely sexy, optimistic, and likeable character but holds dark secrets. She lives in the same building as Roger and Mark and subsequently falls in love with Roger. She is also Benny’s ex-girlfriend. Though Mimi has “lived life”, she still sees the world through the eyes of a young woman and intends to make the most of every day. The role requires a strong singer, dancer, and exceptional actor with the ability to convincingly portray the struggles of heroin addiction, sexual promiscuity, and HIV/AIDS, whilst maintaining the optimism of youth. Must be able to play a girl of 19 as sung in “Light My Candle”.

• Gender Presentation: Female
• Vocal range top: E5
• Vocal range bottom: Eb3

We enthusiastically welcome performers of/who:

• All genders, races, ethnicities, body types, and abilities
• Identify as Neurodivergent
• Identify as Disabled
• Identify as Neuro-typical
• Are Blind/Low Vision and Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing artists
• Other Chronic illness and other access needs

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Saturday’s 2:30pm - 6:30pm, Manhattan, beginning 1/24/26
• Thursday’s 5:30pm - 9:30pm, Brooklyn, beginning 1/29/26
• Tuesday’s 5:30pm - 9:30pm, Brooklyn, beginning 3/24/26
• Monday’s 5:30pm - 9:30pm, Brooklyn, beginning 5/4/26

Tech Rehearsals:

• Load in 5/25/26
• Tech rehearsals 5/26/26 - 6/4/26
• Rehearsals will be Weekday evenings and Weekend Mornings/Afternoon - tech schedule to be confirmed by beginning of April 2026.
• Strike 6/14/26 and 6/15/26