'Rent Live' actor suffers broken ankle, but Fox says show will go on (original) (raw)
Published on January 27, 2019 06:31PM EST
It may or may not be “One Song, Glory” for Brennin Hunt tonight on Rent Live.
The country singer who was poised to play Roger Davis, the wannabe rock star originally portrayed onstage by Adam Pascal, has sustained a broken ankle during dress rehearsal for the Fox live musical special.
In a joint statement, FOX Entertainment & 20th Century Fox Television said, “Last night during a live performance of Fox’s production of Rent, one of the actors, Brennin Hunt, was injured. But in the spirit of Rent, everyone – producers and cast, original and current — is dedicated to ensuring that tonight’s broadcast must, and will, go on.”
Pamela Littky/FOX
Live musicals on both NBC and Fox have never made a habit of employing understudies (a trend they might want to reconsider), so the show worked around the injury by using pre-recorded segments taped during yesterday’s dress rehearsal, a contingency plan live broadcasts often use in the case of emergency.
It has been confirmed that the original Broadway cast of Rent, including Adam Pascal, will appear on the broadcast in some capacity. So producers could always opt to have Pascal sub in for Hunt if absolutely necessary — he also performed the role in the 2005 feature film adaptation of Rent and in a 2009 national tour.
“The experience of putting together this beautiful new production of my brother’s work, while emotional, has been truly joyous for all of us,” said producer Julie Larson (sister to Rent creator Jonathan Larson) in a statement. “This new cast has embodied the spirit of the show from day one and they embraced Brennin with positive and uplifting love in his moment of need. Rent has always been about resilience and community. I speak from my heart when I say that we have a spectacular show for you tonight. We can’t wait for a new generation to experience Jonathan’s legacy.”
It seems that Roger’s confession to Mimi, “I should tell you I’m disaster” has turned out to hit a little too close to home, but if there’s anything Rent has taught many a theater-lover, it’s that there’s no day but today. So, Viva La Boheme and Rent Live for that matter too.
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