Rent: Declan Bennett & Harley Jay to assume the roles of 'Roger' & 'Mark'

The producers of Rent have announced that Declan Bennett and Harley Jay will assume the roles of Roger and Mark, respectively, on 8 Oct 2007, joining original cast member Rodney Hicks, who returned unannounced to the the role of Benny on 13 Sep 2007.

Declan Bennett and Harley Jay are assuming the roles from original cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who originated the roles of Roger Davis and Mark Cohen.

Pascal and Rapp returned to the show for a limited engagement which began on 30 Jul 2007 and was originally announced to end on 9 Sep 2007, but was later extended through to 7 Oct 2007.

Declan Bennett is making his Broadway debut in the production. A fiercely independent singer-songwriter, with a dedicated following on the UK underground circuit, he has just completed his second solo album, to be released early 2008. Theatre credits include Rent (2006/2007 National US tour), and Boy George's Taboo (West End and UK tour).

Rodney Hicks made his Broadway debut in Rent, in which he originated the the role of Paul. He also played Peter in the Broadway revival of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (2000).

The Broadway musical Rent is currently taking bookings through to 31 Dec 2007 at the Nederlander Theatre.

Rent, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, opened at Broadway�s Nederlander Theatre, on 29 Apr 1996 following a sold out, extended limited engagement at off-Broadway�s New York Theatre Workshop.

The musical went on to win four Tony Awards: Best Musical, Book, Original Score and Featured Actor in a Musical (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Rent is the seventh longest running show in Broadway history.

Rent is the story of Le Boheme retold about poor New Yorkers on Lower East Side with a different ending.

The musical, directed Michael Greif and choreographed by Marlies Yearby, currently features: Nicolette Hart (Maureen), Tonya Dixon (Joanne), Rodney Hicks (Benny), Anthony Rapp (Mark Cohen), Adam Pascal (Roger Davis), Troy Horne (Collins), Justin Johnston (Angel) and Tamyra Gray (Mimi Marquez).

In a recent review of the show New York Theatre Guide said "It remains fresh for new audiences through its sheer exuberance and its longer running themes of tolerance and understanding."

The show has set design by Paul Clay, costumes by Angela Wendt and lighting by Blake Burba.