Back to the Future's Casey Likes and Maureen Dias Watson of Scottsdale Community Players have announced plans to co-direct and co-produce Rent in Scottsdale, Arizona. The production will run July 5-7 at Stagebrush Theatre, and include a video foreword from Likes' Broadway co-star Roger Bart, who will share his connection with Rent and friendship with composer Jonathan Larson. The 2024 Tony nominee is the namesake of the musical's songwriting character Roger.
The cast will feature Likes as Roger, RuPaul's Drag Race's Brita Filter as Angel, Ethan Drew (Camp Hideout) as Mark, Mia Cherise Hall (Relapse) as Joanne, Christian Johannsen (El Otro Oz) as Mimi, Micah J Lawrence as Collins, Nora Palermo as Maureen, and JP Moore as Benny. The company also includes Caleb Reese, Jessie Jo Aka, Angelica Santana, Brach Drew, Katie Stone, Eric Liu, Evan Kaushesh, Noah Sucato, Tatum Grell, Andrew Matcuk, Josh Ransford, Stephanie Likes, and Claire Likes.
READ: Why Casey Likes Stepped Into a High School Show After Getting Cast in Back to the Future
The production is Likes' second collaboration with Scottsdale Community Players, where he performed growing up. Likes previously co-produced a production of Next to Normal starring his mother, Stephanie Likes, who will play Roger's mother in Rent.
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