Alexa Lopez will make her West End debut in Rent, Luke Sheppard’s production of Jonathan Larson’s musicl coming to the Tom Stoppard Theatre (the Duke of York’s Theatre) this September.
Lopez will play Mimi, joining Gaten Matarazzo as Mark, Travis Ross as Roger, Billy Nevers as Collins, Lazy Violet as Maureen, Danielle Fiamanya as Joanne, Jeevan Braich as Angel and Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Benny.
Bella Brown will no longer appear as Mimi this autumn, making the decision to withdraw from the production due to an injury sustained prior to rehearsals.
The cast is completed by Baylie Carson, Laura Delany, Ryesha Higgs, Montoya Holloway-Johnson, Rhys Hopkins, Shem Omari James, Hannah Macpherson, TJ Matara-Holloway, Ryan Nixon, Leah Vassell, James Wilkinson-Jones and Kevin Yates.
Set in New York’s East Village, Rent follows a group of young artists, musicians and friends, navigating love, ambition and creativity while trying to build lives on their own terms. Inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, this iconic musical captures the joy, uncertainty and resilience of a generation determined to make every moment count. Featuring an unforgettable score and a story that continues to resonate, Rent is a powerful celebration of community, connection and a call to live every minute as if it were your last. No day but today.
Rent has music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson. It is directed by Luke Sheppard with choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves. Set design is by David Woodhead, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Howard Hudson, audio production and sound design by Paul Gatehouse, video design and cinematography by George Reeve and Nathan Amzi, make-up and hair design by Jackie Saundercock, UK Casting by Pearson Casting and US Casting by Jim Carnahan.
The musical supervisor is Bill Sherman and the musical director and associate musical supervisor is Katy Richardson, the intimacy director is Asha Jennings-Grant, the associate director is Priya Patel Appleby and the dialect coach is Joe Trill.
This production of Rent will be produced in the West End by Chris Harper Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions, Winkler & Smalberg and Julie Larson in association with the Hope Mill Theatre.
It was originally produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S Gordon and the New York Theatre Workshop.
Rent will begin performances at the Tom Stoppard Theatre on September 26, 2026, with an opening night on October 8, 2026. The production is booking until March, 27, 2027. Tickets here.
Top image: Alexa Lopez (c Oliver Rosser), Gaten Matarazzo (c Jenny Anderson), Danielle Fiamanya (c Oliver Rosser), Travis Ross (c Oliver Rosser) and Lazy Violet (c Oliver Rosser) (images supplied)