'Stranger Things' star Gaten Matarazzo to play Mark Cohen in 'Rent' West end revival
Washington DC, May 19
'Stranger Things' actor Gaten Matarazzo is all set to make his West End debut as he joins the upcoming revival of the popular musical 'Rent', Variety said.
The actor, best known for playing Dustin Henderson in Netflix's hit series 'Stranger Things', will play the role of Mark Cohen in the new production.
The musical will begin performances at London's Duke of York's Theatre in September as part of the show's 30th anniversary celebration.
Created by Jonathan Larson, 'Rent' follows the lives of a group of young artists in New York's East Village as they deal with friendship, love, dreams and life during the HIV/AIDS crisis. The musical first opened in 1996 and later became one of Broadway's longest-running shows. Some of its most loved songs include 'Seasons of Love' and 'La Vie Boheme'.
The new production will be directed by Luke Sheppard, who is known for projects like '& Juliet' and 'Paddington'. He had earlier directed a version of 'Rent' in Manchester in 2020 during the pandemic.
Apart from 'Stranger Things', Matarazzo has also worked on Broadway in shows like 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Dear Evan Hansen'.
The rest of the cast for the revival is yet to be announced.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great choice! Gaten's Broadway experience in 'Dear Evan Hansen' and 'Sweeney Todd' shows he's got the chops. 'Rent' is such an important musical, and Mark Cohen is a complex role. Can't wait to see what he brings to it. London is lucky!
As a huge 'Stranger Things' fan, I'm thrilled to see Gaten exploring new roles. But honestly, I wish they'd cast someone from the South Asian community for this revival—diversity on West End still has a long way to go in India's opinion. Still, wishing Gaten all the best! 🌟
'Rent' is a masterpiece, and Gaten has the talent to do it justice. His work in 'Sweeney Todd' was impressive. I just hope the production captures the raw emotion of Jonathan Larson's vision. Mark Cohen is the heart of the show—no pressure, Gaten! 😅
Honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. Gaten's energy is great for Dustin, but Mark Cohen requires a lot of emotional depth. Hope he's worked on his acting chops beyond the charisma. Still, I'll give it a chance—'Rent' deserves a stellar cast. Let's see!
So excited! 'Rent' changed my perspective on life and art when I first saw it in college. Gaten playing Mark is perfect—he's got that earnest, slightly awkward vibe that Mark needs. Plus, the 30th anniversary angle makes this extra special. Can't wait to stream it if there's a recording!
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