THE CAST OF RENT
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
BRANDON ANDERSONBRANDON ANDERSON (Waiter, Cop, Ensemble) returns to the cast of RENT after appearing in the production as part of GREAT Theatre’s Inaugural Broadway Series in St. Cloud. A Theater Major at St. John’s University, He has appeared in, among others, Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), The Importance of Being Ernest (Jack), Pride & Prejudice (Mr. Bingly), You Can’t Take it With You (Tony), and Our Town.
JAMECIA BENNETT
JAMECIA BENNETT (Joanne) is a manager, singer, songwriter and producer who has sung background for superstars like Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, Patti Labelle, and Lionel Richie. She is an original member of the Grammy award-winning group Sounds of Blackness, and is a featured soloist on the hit by James Grier & Co, “Don’t Give Up.” Jamecia has also performed in several Tyler Perry shows including, I Know I’ve Been Changed, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, and Madea’s Family Reunion. Her extensive theatre credits include: Caroline, or Change at the Guthrie, A Woman Like That Off-Broadway at The Village Gate, Blues in the Night at Ordway Center, Get Ready, Black Nativity and many more at Penumbra Theater. She has two sons, Shakur and Jamez, and one daughter, American Idol’s Paris “Princess P” Bennett. Jamecia and her family own Community Fitness Today, a non-profit organization that assists AIDS patients and raises awareness of this disease.
PARIS BENNETTPARIS BENNETT (Ensemble/Mimi Cover) 21 year old Paris is an American singer. She came to national recognition as a contestant on the fifth season of the reality television talent show, American Idol, finishing in fifth place. She released her debut album Princess P on 306 Entertainment/TVT Records in 2007 and her holiday album A Royal Christmas is available on Amazon and itunes. Paris was born in Rockford, Illinois, to Jamecia Venzett Bennett, former soprano vocalist of the vocal ensemble Sounds of Blackness, and current solo artist. Paris began performing at the age of six and was trained by her mother and grandmother, Ann Nesby, the former lead singer of the Sounds of Blackness.
MARGEAUX DAVISMARGEAUX DAVIS (“Seasons” Soloist/Ensemble) 23 Year old Margeaux was born and raised in Minneapolis. Self trained in voice and music since the age of three, her specialties range from opera to soul, hip hop and gospel – to name a few. Graduating from North Community High School in Minneapolis, Margeaux received recognition for creativity and visual performing arts award; also receiving a certificate of achievement as an African American Achiever. Margeaux graduated on the "A" honor roll and participated in many of the Arts and Communications presentations, including extensive training at MacPhail Center For Music. A solo recording artist, Margeaux has performed in Las Vegas at the Bootlegger and House of Blues as well as been featured on KMOJ radio in Minneapolis. Her self-titled CD is in development for the new year.
AJ ESKRIDGEAJ ESKRIDGE (The Man and Others) St. Paul native AJ Eskridge has performed and recorded with local acts such as The New Congress, Nicholas Mrozinski, Jacob Rice, Desdamona and more. He has planted roots nationally by opening for Boyz II Men, Mint Condition & Dwele, and as a background vocalist for Anthony David, while also performing at B.B. King Blues Club in Times Square. AJ's solo performances include opening for resident artists at Bunkers Music Cafe and was a showcased artist at the former Times Cafe. He holds a BA in Business and Music from the University of MN Morris and currently, you can catch him performing around town with the R&B group, Dreamchyld.
REID HARMSENREID HARMSEN (Mark) Reid returns to the Minneapolis theatre scene after 2 sold-out runs of Disney’s High School Musical at the Tony Award Winning Children's Theatre Company, directed by Peter Rothstein. Other credits include Gypsy with Peter Rothstein's Theater Latte Da, The Secret Garden with Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Hamlet with the Guthrie Theater, and A Christmas Carol with Troupe America. He recently performed the role of Mark in RENT with GREAT Theater's Inaugural Broadway Musical Season. Reid received his BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Minnesota-Duluth. 
KATIE HAWKINSONKATIE HAWKINSON (Alexi Darling) Katie Hawkinson is a recent graduate of Lawrence University, where she double majored in Music/Voice and Theater. While at Lawrence, Katie performed in over a dozen productions. She also spent two summers performing with College Light Opera Company on Cape Cod. Some of her favorite credits include Erma in Anything Goes Babe/Delores in Working, Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Martha in The Secret Garden, and Sally in Me and My Girl. In addition to performing, Katie has been active as a stage manager and theater administrator, working with Lawrence University Opera Productions, English Touring Theater (London, UK), and the Playwrights' Center.
MARIA ISAMARIA ISA (Mimi) Born and raised in the Twin Cities to Nuyorican parents, singer, songwriter and emcee Maria Isa serves up spicy Afro-Boricua rhythms of Bomba and Plena, with the cool sounds of R&B, Motown and Reggaeton. The result? A Latin hip-hop remix choc-full of pulsating “Spanglish” rhymes and beats that are as forceful for their lyricism as for their call to social activism. Beginning her arts education at El Arco Iris Center for Arts, Maria co-founded Raices in 2002 to help conserve ancestral Puerto Rican heritage through music and dance. In 2006 she was nominated to the Minnesota Music Award's "Best Hip-Hop Artist" category, released her debut album, M.I. Split Personalities in May of 2007, and her CD Street Politics in 2009, which followed a sold-out show at the historic First Avenue Nightclub in Minnesota. Her theatrical debut began in 2006 at the World History Theatre’s premier of Snapshots: Life in the City by J. D. Steele, and directed by David Grant.
ANDY LAMPANDY LAMP (Gordon/Ensemble) has his B.A. in from University of Iowa having completed majors in Performing Arts, Music, and Pre-Landscape architecture. His recent productions include Woof in Hair, Silvius in As You Like It and Rocky in Rocky Horror Show. He has also appeared in front of the camera in the short film How to Not Murder Your Roommate.
KINAUNDRAE LEE (Angel) is a native of Minneapolis, MN and has been performing on the stage since the age of 15. He began with Youth Performance Company as a brother in Joseph....Dreamcoat, among many others. After high school, Kinaundrae went to McNally Smith where he received his Associates degree in Vocal Performance. He's been seen at the Children's Theater, Bloomington Civic Theater, Ten Thousand Things, and The Director's Studio. His Credits include Urinetown, Disney's High School Musical, Annie, Caberet, Once on this Island, and many more. Kinaundrae was very honored to be part of Little Rock 1957 which won an Ivey Award in 2009. He also performs with his own ska band, 2 Tone Runts, which has toured the country and plays in various Minnesota venues.
COLLEEN SOMERVILLECOLLEEN SOMERVILLE (Maureen) is thrilled to reprise this dream role. Local credits include The Sound of Music at The Ordway, The Merchant of Venice at The Guthrie, HMS Pinafore at Theatre in the Round, Carousel at Nautilus Music Theatre, Summer of ’42 at Minneapolis Music Theatre, and numerous roles and shows at Bloomington Civic Theatre. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Kent State University in Ohio.
MAISIE TWESMEMAISIE TWESME (Ensemble) Nineteen year old Maisie is a current theater arts major at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She first worked with Andrew Rasmussen in the GRENT Theater’s Inaugural production of RENT in St. Cloud earlier in the fall. Maisie has performed in various venues around her hometown Madison, WI in shows including Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show. Lucy in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Claire in Rumors.
VEE WASHINGTON (Benny) returns to center stage following his portrayal as Troy Bolton in Disney’s High School Musical and RENT at GREAT Theatre in St. Cloud MN, The Solo Artist, Producer & Song Writer Currently in College, working as the Lead in the up coming film “Blazdale” will be headed to Orlando Fl to Pursue his Entertainment Business Degree.
HARLEY WOODHARLEY WOOD (Roger) is the lead vocalist of Minneapolis' rock band, FAR FROM FALLING and has performed with an eclectic mix of artists from Blind Melon to En Vogue at venues as diverse as House of Blues and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He recently performed the role of Roger in RENT and has appeared on 2 seasons of Bodog Battle on the FUSE TV network with Jonny Rotton of the Sex Pistols and Bill Duffy of The Cult. FarFromFalling.com / EP available at Best Buy and itunes.
LORIN YENORLORIN YENOR (Collins) is ecstatic to reprise his role after appearing in the Minnesota Premiere of RENT with GREAT Theatre's inaugural Broadway Season. Lorin grew up in Blaine, MN. Local acting credits include: Jonathan in TICK,TICK, BOOM!, Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde, John Hinkley in Assassins, Kenicke in Grease, Smokey in Damn Yankees. Lorin has also directed Assassins, Insanity of Mary Girard. In 2009, he formed the first Grand Guignol company in Minnesota, Crawling Eye Theater, directing Crime In A Madhouse for it's inaugural production.