New York’s EPIC Players, a neuroinclusive theatre company, will stage a revival of Rent this summer. The production, directed by Travis Burbee, is scheduled to run from June 4 to June 14 at A.R.T./New York Theatres and will feature a cast composed almost entirely of neurodiverse and disabled actors.
A New Lens on a Classic
Rent, a Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical by Jonathan Larson, reimagines Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème, setting the story in New York City’s East Village during the 1980s. The musical explores themes of love, loss, poverty, addiction and the AIDS crisis. This production aims to present the story through a neurodivergent and disability-centered perspective.
Aubrie Therrien, executive and artistic director of Epic Players, stated that the production’s themes “remain profoundly relevant” thirty years after the musical’s debut. Therrien likewise noted that the production reflects the company’s mission to “create space for every voice, and to ensure inclusion in the arts, and dismantle social stigmas.”
The Cast
Eric Fegan will portray Mark, while Conor Tague will play Roger. Genesis Solivan is cast as Mimi, Jocelyn Elena Stout as Maureen, Lai Williams as Joanne, Joshua Cartagena as Angel, Cameron Walker as Collins, and Hunter Hollingsworth as Benny.
The company also includes Ahjaah Marie Jewett, Alex Herrera, Andrew Kader, Diana Osorio, Elisa Weiss, Ethan Homan, Gravity Queen of Love and Hope, Kevin Ray Johnson, Laisha Gonzalez, Malcolm Hollis, Micah Tremblay, Nick Prior, Nina Sarna-Jones, Sarah Getzler, and Sven W.
Tickets and further information are available here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EPIC Players?
EPIC Players is New York’s leading neuroinclusive theatre company.
When and where will the production of Rent be performed?
The production will run from June 4 to June 14 at A.R.T./New York Theatres.
Who wrote Rent?
Rent was written by Jonathan Larson.
As theatre continues to evolve, how might productions like this one influence broader conversations about representation and accessibility in the arts?
