Rent: Pop Idol finalist Tamyra Gray plays Mimi

Tamyra Gray, the popular first season finalist of 'American Idol,' joins the cast of Rent on 29 May 2007. Gray, who finished in fourth place on 'Pop Idol,' will play the role of Mimi Marquez through to 25 Nov 2007. Grey assumes the role from Antonique Smith.

After 'American Idol' Tamyra Gray landed a recurring role on the television series 'Boston Public' as well as numerous guest spots on shows such as 'What I Like About You' and 'All of Us.' Ms. Gray made her Broadway debut in the Bollywood-themed musical Bombay Dreams.

The Broadway musical Rent is currently taking bookings through to 30 Sep 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) 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, also features Nicolette Hart (Maureen), Tonya Dixon (Joanne), D'Monroe (Benny), Christopher J. Hanke (Mark), Troy Horne (Collins), Tim Howar (Roger) and Justin Johnston (Angel).

As prevously announced, original cast memers Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who originated the roles of Roger Davis and Mark Cohen, respectively, at New York Theatre Workshop, on Broadway, and in London, as well as in the 2005 movie version of the musical, will return to Rent for a limited six-week engagement from 30 Jul � 9 Sep 2007.

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.