Rent remixed

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On October 16, 2007, the production Rent Remixed opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End. Kylie’s creative director, William Baker, put the show together. This production was the same as the original rent but has been modernized for 2007.

The cast includes Oliver Thornton (Mark), Luke Evans (Roger), Craig Stien (Benny), Leon Lopez (Collins), Francesca Jackson (Joanne), Jay Webb (Angel), Siobhán Donaghy (Mimi), Denise Van Outen (Maureen) and lydia Perrow. The ensemble consists of Ruth Augilera, Lewis Griffiths, C.J. Johnson, Antony Luperi, Earl Perkins, Jamie Sampson, and Philippa Stefani. However, following a throat infection, Van Outen was forced to cancel several performances, and the role of Maureen was played by C.J. Johnson. From December 24, 2007, the role of Maureen will be played by former EastEnders actress Jessie Wallace.

The production, although aimed at the late teenage to young adult age range, has received generally bad reviews. The Guardian gave it 1/5 stars^{[citation needed]}, saying "They call this 'Rent Remixed'. I'd dub it 'Rent Reduced', in that the late Jonathan Larson's reworking of La Bohème, while never a great musical, has been turned into a grisly, synthetic, pseudo pop concert with no particular roots or identity. "

Although initially booking until April 5, 2008^{[citation needed]}, the production closed on February 2, 2008^{[citation needed]}. A European tour may follow.

[edit] Characters

Mark Cohen: A struggling documentary filmmaker and the narrator of the show. He creates a final movie which details his friends' lives and journeys throughout the story. He is Maureen's ex-boyfriend, and Roger's roommate.
Roger Davis: An HIV-positive musician who is recovering from heroin addiction. His girlfriend April committed suicide after discovering she had HIV. Roger is Mark's roommate and Mimi's love interest.
Tom Collins: A gay philosophy teacher and anarchist with AIDS. Tom is a friend and former roommate of Roger, Mark, Benny, and Maureen. He is also Angel's lover.
Mimi Marquez: An HIV-positive exotic dancer and heroin junkie, who is also Roger's love interest. She used to be involved with Benny.
Angel Dumott Schunard: An upbeat and enthusiastic gay drag queen street percussionist/musician with AIDS, and Collins' lover.
Joanne Jefferson: A Harvard-educated lawyer, and Maureen's lesbian lover.
Maureen Johnson: A bisexual performance artist, currently Joanne's girlfriend and Mark's ex-girlfriend.
Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III: Landlord of Mark, Roger and Mimi's apartment building. He is an ex-roommate of Mark, Collins, Roger, and Maureen. Now married to Alison Grey of the Westport Greys and thus considered a yuppie sell-out.