Nelson Brown - Roger (he/him) 
Nelson cannot overstate how elated he is to be performing this dream role in his ultimate bucket list show.  It was hearing RENT that first ignited Nelson's passion for musical theatre.  Some other favorite roles along the way include Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Lewis in Pippin, The Adult Men in Spring Awakening (SFBATCC finalist, MMTC), Cousin Kevin in The Who's Tommy (NTC), and Vince Fontaine in Grease (The Mountain Play).  Thanks and love always to Nikki and family, and gratitude to Jonathan Larson. 
Trixie Abala - Mimi (she/her)
Trixie is beyond excited to join MMTC in RENT as Mimi! She was recently seen as Petra in A Little Night Music at 42nd Street Moon. A local Bay Area performer, she was raised in Pinole and currently lives in San Francisco. Trixie graduated from SF State University, majoring in Theatre Arts (2016). Past credits include: Svetlana in Chess: In Concert (42nd Street Moon), Cynthia (u/s) in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (Contra Costa Musical  Theatre), Erzulie (u/s) in Once on This Island (Contra Costa Civic Theatre), Little Red in Into the Woods and Little Sally in Urinetown (both at SFSU). Enjoy the show!
Jake Gale - Mark (he/him)
RENT holds a special place in his heart. It was his first production back in 2012 at the University of Sussex opening his eyes to theatre and performing, and in 2016 he was in the ensemble of the 20 year anniversary production in Brighton, with members of the original London cast.
Recent credits include Harold Bride, Titanic (42nd St. Moon),  Nicky/Trekkie, Avenue Q (NCTC), Snoopy, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (NTC, TBA & BATCC Noms.), Sky, Mamma Mia (Mountain Play) and Pippin (MMTC). Music Director credits include Tommy (NTC), Spring Awakening (MMTC, TBA Award) & Guys and Dolls (MMTC).
Gary Stanford Jr - Tom Collins (he/him)
Gary is ecstatic to be a part of the RENT cast with MMTC! As a performing artist he has been involved with singing, dancing, and acting since a young child he spent his youth with P. S. Performance, a bay area performing arts company that primarily performed for senior/retirement homes and hospitals as well as competed in State Talent Competitions. As an adult performer, he has been heavily involved in Bay Area Musical Theater and appeared in over 80 musicals with various theater companies. 
Shayla Lawler - Maureen (she/they)
Shayla is thrilled to be in her first MMTC production! You may have seen her as Brie in There are No Diving Pools in Hell (NYU's Broke People’s Play Festival), Lily in A Man of No Importance (YMTC), Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Berkeley Playhouse), and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (YMTC). She would like to thank those who have helped her on her journey, as well as every audience member for coming and supporting the performing arts! She wants to remind you that life will always have something worth staying and singing for. Please, sit back and enjoy the show! 
Anna Vorperian - Joanne (she/her)
​Anna is excited to be back on stage, performing in MMTC’s production of RENT! She has been performing throughout the north bay since the age of seven. Her very first show was Guys and Dolls with Marilyn Izdebski Productions and she's been hooked ever since. Her favorite roles include: Diana Morales in A Chorus Line (NTC), Vanessa in In The Heights (Throckmorton), and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (Stapleton). She would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support over the years. 
Arup Chakrabarti - Benny (he/him)
Arup is making his Bay Area theatrical debut with this production. His acting credits include The Pajama Game, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Damn Yankees, Twelfth Night, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Arup is a recovering software engineer by day and musical aficionado by night. He is very excited to join this cast of RENT.
Stephen Kanaski - Angel (he/they)
​Stephen is honored to be making his MMTC debut with a show he grew up with and has always wanted to do, RENT. Notable credits include Crutchie in Newsies (Hillbarn, SFBATCC Featured Actor Nomination), Franz in Rock of Ages (Palo Alto Players), featured actor in ReOrient 2017 (Golden Thread Productions), Charles in the regional premiere of Sons of the Prophet (TBA Nomination Best Ensemble in a Play) and Alan in the West Coast premiere of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (NCTC), Justin Card in FantasticLand (Town Hall Theatre), and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (PSP).

Ensemble

Jesse Lumb (he/him) gratefully returns to RENT for the first time since 2005.  After 4 years of bohemia in New York, he moved west and fell in love with theatre at the College of Marin.  In 2017, Jesse co-founded Birdbath Theatres, directing their inaugural production of The Aliens by Annie Baker.  Favorite roles in the Bay Area include Dr. Astrov in Uncle Vanya, Leo in 4000 Miles, Little Charles in August: Osage County, and Jack in Dead Accounts.  He also appeared in West Side Story and Grease on Mount Tamalpais with The Mountain Play.  Offstage, Jesse helps operate the Bookmobile with Marin County Free Library.
John Diaz (he/him)  is thrilled to be back in the theater for his second show for both MMTC and NTC! While not performing, John teaches all various aspects of theatre around Marin. His favorite roles include Usnavi; In the Heights @ Throckmorton Theatre, Jesse; Hunting and Gathering @ College of Marin, and Jack Kelly: Newsies @ 23 Elephants. In his free time, you can find John playing basketball or playing video games on his Twitch channel. Hope you enjoy the show!
Gwen Tessman (she/her) is so excited to be a part of MMTC’s production of RENT. This is one of the first musicals Gwen has been a part of and though she doesn’t have much experience in theater, she has been dancing her whole life and just graduated from the University of Arizona with a BFA in dance in May 2021. She has performed works from various companies including the Limon company, Vim Vigor, and Chuthis. She can also do the macarena backwards, which she personally believes is pretty impressive. Theater rocks and so do all the lovely people that support it, enjoy the show!
Katie Wickes (she/her)
RENT is the first show Katie’s mom took her to on Broadway at 11-years-old. Favorite shows include Spring Awakening (SFBATCC Nomination - Choreography), Legally Blonde (TBA Finalist - Choreography).  When not on stage or in the dance studio, she works in nursing administration.  Her recent performances include Grease, Mamma Mia, & Beauty and the Beast with Mountain Play and Urinetown: The Musical (Mrs. Millennium/Dance Captain)and A Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Future/Dance Captain) with Stapleton. Have a good RENT!
Sleiman Alahmadieh  (he/him) has been doing theatre for 7 years and is so excited to be a part of his 4th show on the NTC stage! Starting with Chorus Line (Gregory Gardner), Sweeney Tod and then in Tommy as Tommy Understudy, pin ball lad #1, and Lover. This will be his first show with MMTC and he is so excited for so many more!! Shout out Sabrina Gelini.
Jenny Boynton (she/her)
Finding herself amongst the chosen family of this cast is a once in a lifetime opportunity. She received her AA in Drama and Dance as well as her BA in Music . Jenny has performed with many companies throughout the Bay Area. Most notably she has performed several times with The Mountain Play Association, playing “Maria” in Man of la Mancha and as a Pick-A-Little Lady in The Music Man.  Most recently, Jenny was seen as "Janet" in The Rocky Horror Show with MMTC and “Penelope Pennywise” in Urinetown the Musical with Stapleton Theater Company.  Have a good RENT! 
Michael Hunter (he/him) is grateful to (finally) be back on a stage after waiting over two years. This is Michael Hunter's first show with Marin Musical Theatre Company. Michael's previous credits include Mortimer Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, Spike in Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike (Arty Award, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy), Scranton Slim in Guys and Dolls, Rochefort in The Three Musketeers, Renfield in Dracula and Ruckly in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. When not on stage, Michael is usually out and about with his camera doing his other love, photography.
Alexandra Rosen (she/her) is Latinx dancer based in Fairfax, CA. Upon graduation from Marin School of the Arts she continued her passion for dance at Goucher College. She is trained in multiple styles including break dance and modern dance. She has worked with many artists including Christopher K. Morgan and Shani Collins Achilles. Alexandra stopped dancing in 2020 after being involved in a car accident that left her with multiple injuries. She has since rebuilt her strength, ran a marathon, raced in triathlons and is very excited to finally be back on the stage again!
Amy Dietz (she/her) To the tune of Seasons of Love: In 525,600 minutes. How do we measure this last year of life? In Zoom calls, in face masks, in grubhub, in cups of coffee. Apart six feet, with no touch, the ennui ran rife. In 525,600 minutes. How do we come out of this last year of strife? With vaccines and loooooooove! Having desperately missed the magic of live theater, I hope that this show brings you a fraction of the joy that it does me. ​For Dad. Always.
Michael Lister (he/him) is so excited to join the cast of RENT.  Born and raised in the Bay Area, he is excited to be back in Marin, overjoyed to be doing theater again, and so grateful to MMTC for inviting him to play. An NYU Tisch School of the Arts alum, his favorite musical theater credits include Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Bobby in A Chorus Line, and the Hysterium in ...Forum.  He has collaborated with the Classic Stage Company, the Flea Theater, and Fresh Ground Pepper.  Recent film/series credits include It's Always Something and the pilot episode of BIT.
Jamari McGee (he/him) is thrilled to be making his debut with Marin Musical Theatre Company.  He was last seen in Pennisula Ballet Theatre's  production of Guys and Dolls as (Harry the Horse) Some of his most recent credits  include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling (Chip Tolentino) Urinetown (Senator Fipp) Once On This Island (Tonton Julian) and A Raisin in the Sun. (Joseph Asagai) with Pittsburg Community Players. Other credits include Mamma Mia, Anything Goes, Into the Woods, & Guys and Dolls. Jamari is the assistant manager at  KFC in SF and when he is not acting or working, he enjoys horror flicks and going to the amusment parks. Jamari is pursuing his degree in Theatre Arts at City College of San Francsico and  after graduation he plans to finish his education on the east coast where he will continue to audition and grow as an actor. He would like to thank his family and friends for their support and thanks for coming! ​