RENT: Take Me or Leave Me, Show starts on Pg. 14! Options

[raygun101093]

Welcome to RENT: Take Me or Leave Me! This is an interactive redux to choose the eight main characters for the next Broadway cast of RENT. This is a little different than most interactive reduxes, so please bear with me and read EVERYTHING. I tried to set it up the best I could.



In 2010, Wayne Brady nabbed the part of Collins in Neil Patrick Harris’s Hollywood Bowl Cast of RENT. He’s best known for appearing on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and hosting shows like Don’t Forget The Lyrics and Let’s Make A Deal. Now, he’s ecstatic to be hosting RENT: Take Me Or Leave Me!



You may sign up as a judge/mentor, however, this has some responsibilities.

1. You must file through the suggestions for your group and choose the top eight for your two groups.
2. You must send in comments for your judge on the live shows.
3. You must make the final decision for eliminations in your groups based on the bottom 2.

Anthony Rapp - aifanatic100
Anwar Robinson - DHSdude10
Tracie Thoms - druth8x
Tamyra Gray - IdolDiva

Anthony Rapp is best known for originating the role of Mark in the 1996 Broadway cast of RENT. Now, he's ready to put these contestants through the rigor, as he will be mentoring the aspiring Marks and Rogers.

Anwar Robinson is best known for placing seventh in American Idol's fourth season, but he also played Collins in a national touring company. Now, he's ready to mentor the actors vying for Collins and Benny.

Tracie Thoms is probably the most qualified person to mentor the Maureens and Joannes, as she played Joanne in the film version of RENT, as well as in the Hollywood Bowl Cast and several other productions of the show. She is also well-known for playing Detective Kat Miller in the CBS television show Cold Case.

Tamyra Gray placed fourth on American Idol's premiere season, and had a successful run as Mimi during 2007-2008. Now she's ready to take on RENT: Take Me Or Leave Me, as she'll be mentoring the contestants up for the roles of Mimi and Angel.



ANGEL DUMOTT SCHUNARD
Description: A young drag queen, street percussionist with AIDS. He is Collins's love interest.
Previous Actors: Wilson Jermaine Heredia / Justin Johnston / Telly Leung / Michael Rodriguez
Songs: Today 4 U / I’ll Cover You

BENJAMIN "BENNY" COFFIN III
Description: Landlord of Mark, Roger and Mimi's apartment building and ex-roommate of Mark, Collins, Roger, and Maureen. Now married to Alison Grey of the Westport Greys, a very wealthy family involved in real estate, and he is considered a yuppie scum and a sell-out by his ex-roommates. He is also Mimi's ex-lover, although he considers himself her ex-boyfriend.
Previous Actors: Taye Diggs / Rodney Hicks / Collin Pennie / Ephraim Sykes
Songs: Tune Up #2 / You’ll See

TOM COLLINS
Description: A gay anarchist with AIDS. He is described by Mark as a "computer genius, teacher, and vagabond anarchist who ran naked through the Parthenon." Collins dreams of opening a restaurant in Santa Fe, where the problems in New York will not affect him and his friends. He was formerly a roommate of Roger, Mark, Benny, and Maureen, then just Roger and Mark, until he moves in with Angel.
Previous Actors: Wayne Brady / Nicholas Christopher / Jesse L. Martin / Michael McElroy / Anwar Robinson
Songs: Santa Fe / I’ll Cover You

JOANNE JEFFERSON
Description: An Ivy League-educated public interest lawyer and a lesbian. Joanne is the woman for whom Maureen left Mark. Joanne has very important parents (one is undergoing confirmation to be a judge, the other is a government official.)
Previous Actresses: Frenchie Davis / Corbin Reid / Tracie Thoms / Fredi Walker
Songs: Tango: Maureen / Take Me Or Leave Me

MARK COHEN
Description: A struggling Jewish documentary filmmaker and the narrator of the show. He is Roger's and Collins's roommate until Collins moves out; he is also Maureen's ex-boyfriend.
Previous Actors: Skylar Astin / Adam Chanler-Berat / Adam Kantor / Anthony Rapp
Songs: Rent / Tango: Maureen

MAUREEN JOHNSON
Description: A lesbian performance artist who is Mark's ex-girlfriend and Joanne's current girlfriend. She is very flirtatious and often cheated on Mark.
Previous Actresses: Annaleigh Ashford / Eden Espinosa / Idina Menzel / Nicole Scherzinger
Songs: Over The Moon / Take Me Or Leave Me

MIMI MÁRQUEZ
Description: A club dancer and drug addict. She lives downstairs from Mark and Roger, and is Roger's love interest that, like him, has HIV. She is also Benny's ex-lover.
Previous Actresses: Rosario Dawson / Arianda Fernandez / Renee Elise Goldsberry / Tamyra Gray / Vanessa Hudgens / Daphne Rubin-Vega
Songs: Out Tonight / Without You

ROGER DAVIS
Description: A once successful but now struggling musician who is HIV positive and an ex-junkie. He hopes to write one last meaningful song before he dies. He is having a hard time coping with the fact that he, along with many others around him, knowing that they are going to die. His girlfriend, April, killed herself after finding out they had HIV. He is roommates with Mark.
Previous Actors: Will Chase / Adam Pascal / Will Shingledecker / Aaron Tveit
Songs: One Song Glory / Light My Candle





1. Kris Allen (topspinace09)
2. Ricky Braddy
3. Colton Dixon (IdolDiva)
4. Anthony Fedorov
5. Neil Haskell (*Wallace)
6. Blake Lewis
7. Robbie Rosen
8. Jim Verraros



1. Ashley Parker Angel
2. David Cook (NYChica)
3. Chris Daughtry
4. James Durbin
5. Casey James
6. Matthew Metzger (IdolDiva)
7. Toby Rand
8. Ace Young



1. Brandon Bryant
2. Marcus Canty
3. Justin Guarini (NYChica)
4. Todrick Hall (aifanatic100)
5. Stefano Langone (topspinace09)
6. Marque Lynche (IdolDiva)
7. Brandon Rogers
8. Nikko Smith (*Wallace)



1. Chikezie
2. Matt Giraud
3. George Huff (aifanatic100)
4. Ju'Not Joyner (IdolDiva)
5. Jacob Lusk
6. Michael Lynche
7. Gedeon McKinney
8. Elliott Yamin (*Wallace)



1. Melinda Doolittle (KrAdIsonSox)
2. Jennifer Hudson (*Wallace)
3. LaKisha Jones
4. Kimberley Locke
5. LaToya London
6. Mandisa (aifanatic100)
7. Tarralyn Ramsey
8. Nadia Turner (IdolDiva)



1. Dana Andrews
2. Diana DeGarmo (aifanatic100)
3. Aundrea Fimbres (1234567890)
4. Siobhan Magnus
5. Melissa McGhee
6. Katharine McPhee (topspinace09)
7. Carly Smithson
8. Pia Toscano (IdolDiva)



1. David Archuleta (TOCTenor2005)
2. EJay Day
3. RJ Helton
4. David Hernandez (topspinace09)
5. Adam Lambert (1234567890)
6. Danny Noriega (aifanatic100)
7. AJ Tabaldo
8. Mario Vazquez



1. Tiffanie Anderson
2. Simone Battle (TOCTenor2005)
3. Kimberly Caldwell (aifanatic100)
4. Kimberly Kelsey
5. Syesha Mercado (*Wallace)
6. Haley Reinhart (topspinace09)
7. Vonzell Solomon (1234567890)
8. Jordin Sparks (NYChica)

AUDITIONS: Revealing The Top 64
WEEK ONE: Anthony's Groups / Anwar's Groups / Eliminations
WEEK TWO: Tracie's Groups / Tamyra's Groups / Eliminations
WEEK THREE: Anthony's Groups / Anwar's Groups / Eliminations
WEEK FOUR: Tracie's Groups / Tamyra's Groups / Eliminations
WEEK FIVE: Anthony's and Anwar's Groups / Tracie's and Tamyra's Groups / Duet Night / Eliminations
WEEK SIX: Anthony's and Anwar's Groups / Tracie's and Tamyra's Groups / Duet Night / Eliminations
WEEK SEVEN: Performance Finale / Grand Finale

This post has been edited by raygun101093: Jan 27th 2012, 2:07 PM

[druth8x]

I need to watch the musical...is the original the best one or which adaptation that is finable for free online should I look for?

Can I be Tracie Thoms?

This post has been edited by druth8x: Dec 29th 2011, 2:34 PM

[raygun101093]

I need to watch the musical...is the original the best one or which adaptation that is finable for free online should I look for?

Can I be Tracie Thoms?

You can watch any production. I've seen the movie and the 2008 final performance film. I don't know which are free online, but you're free to look.

And yes, you may!

[aifanatic100]

I haven't even read the rules yet but I'm SO ALL OVER THIS!!!!! RENT is my all time favorite musical EVER and I'm super excited to have a redux for it!

I'm literally SO EXCITED right now. Thank you for making this! I'm gonna go read the rules now

I need to watch the musical...is the original the best one or which adaptation that is finable for free online should I look for?

To get the FULL story of the show, watch the Broadway performance. If you wanna see the original cast in action, then watch the movie. I'd say watch both if you have time, but for the purposes of this, watch the stage version

Here's the link to the first part of the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjfA7IpQN1Q
The channel that posted that has the entire thing divided into 18 parts

[aifanatic100]

Oh and if I can play a judge, I'd love to play Anthony

[NYChica]

Sent my picks

[raygun101093]

Sent my picks

I'm sorry, but I had to delete your response, as you did not vote for all the parts.

[NYChica]

I'm sorry, but I had to delete your response, as you did not vote for all the parts.

Sorry about that...I didn't know we were supposed to vote for all the parts...I'll revote once I get a chance to listen to all the songs you linked to

[raygun101093]

Sorry about that...I didn't know we were supposed to vote for all the parts...I'll revote once I get a chance to listen to all the songs you linked to

No problem.

[aifanatic100]

I sent in my lists! They were kinda tough to do. Stuck to mostly Idol contestants but threw in a few extras. I love this concept so much and I love that it was so interactive like that! I'm not even gonna lie, I kind of typecasted on the survey but it's hard not to when you're really familiar with the show I did throw in some that were kind of out of left field though that I think could work I'm excited to see what other people think and who the final contestants end up being! Can't wait for this to start!

[IdolDiva]

Im not really sure how we play but can I be Tamyra?

[aifanatic100]

Im not really sure how we play but can I be Tamyra?

Basically, from the rules, it seems that as Tamyra you will have to send in comments as you would any other redux. Plus you'll be responsible for choosing the final 8 contestants plus making eliminations in the Mimi and Angel groups

But correct me if I'm wrong Ray.

[raygun101093]

Im not really sure how we play but can I be Tamyra?

It's a sign-up game. Since you're playing as a judge, you get to choose the eight people for your two groups using the suggestions given from the survey (Mimi and Angel), send in your comments for the live shows, and have the final say on eliminations within your group. Don't worry, it will make sense later on.

This post has been edited by raygun101093: Dec 29th 2011, 4:00 PM

[druth8x]

Dion, thanks for the length.

I'm not too interested in watching things twice (I don't watch the same stuff again) though I have seen at least 3 different versions of Romeo and Juliet so if they are different takes not just "covers" then I'm all for it esp if I like the story.


As far as cast suggestions, I wouldn't know where to begin.

This post has been edited by druth8x: Dec 29th 2011, 4:29 PM

[raygun101093]

Dion, thanks for the length.

I'm not too interested in watching things twice (I don't watch the same stuff again) though I have seen at least 3 different versions of Romeo and Juliet so if they are different takes not just "covers" then I'm all for it esp if I like the story.
As far as cast suggestions, I wouldn't know where to begin.

The character descriptions and the picture I posted of who played the characters in the movie are good for physical descriptions. If you find contestants that look similar who you think could play the part, suggest them.

[*Wallace]

I only know a few songs from RENT, most of which I really like, but this looks super cool. I'll def be following it and looking forward to how this will run!

[aifanatic100]

Dion, thanks for the length.

I'm not too interested in watching things twice (I don't watch the same stuff again) though I have seen at least 3 different versions of Romeo and Juliet so if they are different takes not just "covers" then I'm all for it esp if I like the story.
As far as cast suggestions, I wouldn't know where to begin.

No problem! I'm a huge RENThead so I'll help anyone out who needs anything in this redux

Yeah I can understand not wanting to watch the same thing twice. The stage version is much longer than the movie because they left out some stuff in the movie. But that usually happens. The original Broadway cast is amazing and they are all in the movie version (except for Mimi and Joanne are played by Rosario and Tracie, who were not in the original cast).

The character descriptions and the picture I posted of who played the characters in the movie are good for physical descriptions. If you find contestants that look similar who you think could play the part, suggest them.

Yeah he helped y'all out a lot by putting the character pics and the descriptions up Only other thing I could suggest is listening to the songs or watching the scenes with those songs in them (or the whole show if you have time) and see what the attitude of the character is. For the most part I based it on look and voice, but there were a few exceptions in my rankings where I based it solely on whether they looked the part or whether they could perform the part vocally and personality-wise.

[FunkyFrankie]

I freaking love RENT.

[NYChica]

I freaking love RENT.

Hey...did you see that the cast reveal for Bo's All Stars game has been posted?? So far, I didn't see any of us listed, but I do remember the girl who played Erinn...the two of us were allies in a Micronesia redo, and she was a pretty good player in that one too

[FunkyFrankie]

Hey...did you see that the cast reveal for Bo's All Stars game has been posted?? So far, I didn't see any of us listed, but I do remember the girl who played Erinn...the two of us were allies in a Micronesia redo, and she was a pretty good player in that one too

haha yeah, I did. I probably won't make it. And I don't know if you heard but the "girl" who plays Erinn is actually a guy.