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NOMI PARSAI
MARK

Nomi is a fourth-year Psychology Specialist at the University of Toronto. Outside of theatre, he enjoys studying psychology, spending time with friends, and hitting the gym. He’s the proud winner of the Dougie Award for Best Leading Performance in a Musical as JD in Heathers (TCDS, 2025) and the Iggy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Gabe in Next to Normal (TCDS/VCDS, 2024).

JAMES HIGGINS
ROGER

James is a second-year UofT Drama major with a double minor in Philosophy and Urban Studies. James has been very active in campus theatre since 1st year, and being Roger in RENT has been one of his dream roles.His credits include: Samuel Ratchett in Murder on the Orient Express (TCDS), Michael in Tick, Tick... Boom! (SMCT), Klein in Dystopical (TCDS), Ace in Universes (VCDS), Reverend Hale in The Crucible (TCDS).James hopes you laugh, cry, and enjoy the show. Bring flowers!!!

ANYA ALMIRANTE
MIMI

Anya is an Arts Management Specialist and Drama Major who has always been passionate about the performing arts. RENT marks her first production at U of T, and she’s thrilled to bring Mimi Marquez to life alongside such a talented cast and crew. She hopes you enjoy the show as much as they’ve loved creating it!

Malikhai Kolonko
collins

Malikhai is a second-year student doing a double major in Women and Gender studies and Critical Studies in Equity and Solidarity.As they grew up, Malikhai thrived and discovered himself in the musical theatre scene. While loving performing in previous productions in Elementary through High school, Malikhai is thrilled to have the opportunity to make their University theatre debut and hopes you enjoy watching the show as much as he enjoyed being a part of it!

Juan Parra
ANGEL

Juan is a third-year Drama and Cinema Studies student at the University of Toronto who loves acting in both theatre and film. His previous credits include Monsieur Bouc in Murder On The Orient Express (TCDS, 2024), for which he received Best Supporting Actor at both the Dougie and Iggy Awards, and George in Stop Kiss (UofT Director’s Showcase, 2025). Juan is thrilled to return to the stage with RENT, bringing his Colombian energy to the joyful role of Angel. Disfruta el Show!

Thato Sotashe
JOanne

Thato is a third year in the Astronomy and Physics specialist and Math minor at UofT.She grew up in South Africa, where she received training in musical theatre as an extramural activity and participated in school musicals, before moving to Canada in 2021. Rent will be her first musical since moving and she is beyond excited to be a part of the show and work alongside the amazingly talented cast and crew.Thato really looks forward to presenting the beautiful story of RENT to audiences alongside the wonderful team, and hopes that everyone will love the show as much as she does.

Gaby Bondoc
maureen

Gaby Bondoc is a Filipino artist and fourth-year at UofT studying Arts Management and International Development Studies. While seemingly disparate areas of study, she tries to use her ongoing knowledge of both to try to facilitate theatre that represents marginalized communities! She is also the current Artistic Director of the UTSC Drama Society, as well as one of the Festival Coordinators on the Drama Coalition.She is thrilled to have worked with such a wonderful team and hopes you enjoy the show! @gaby.bondoc

Evan Lee
benny

Evan is a fourth-year Rotman Commerce student at UofT. He has been involved in theatre since middle school and is thrilled to be part of this year's production of RENT as Benny. Working with such a kind and dedicated cast and creative team has been a highlight of his final year of university, and he hopes audiences will enjoy the show as much as he loved bringing it to life.

Sam Borenstein
Ensemble

Sam is a 2nd year at UofT, double majoring in Studio Art and Media and Communications. He was born and raised in California, where he attended the Academy of the Performing Arts. He is so excited to be apart of his first production with Trinity College! Recent acting credits include Orcus (She Kills Monsters), Mark/Richie (A Chorus Line), Colin (The Secret Garden), and Scuttle (The Little Mermaid). Sam would like to thank his teachers and mentors, his friends back home and here, and the RENT team for the opportunity to be apart of one of his all-time favorite shows.

Kiara Accurso
ensemble

Kiara is a fourth-year double major in Sociology and Italian studies at UofT. She grew up in the GTA and attended an arts high school as a musical theatre major. Kiara is excited to be back on the stage doing what she loves! Kiara cannot wait for the audience to see how hard the cast and crew have worked to put on this fantastic show!

Genelynn Gray
ensemble

Genelynn is a second year in Ethics, Society and Law at UofT.She grew up in Toronto and has always been interested in theatre, recently beginning to immerse herself more into campus theatre. Genelynn is excited to have had the opportunity to perform for you with the rest of the amazing cast and crew!

Scott Oxholm
Ensemble

Scott Oxholm recently completed his degree in Industrial Engineering with minors in AI and Business. A longtime musician, he played trumpet for many years with the Hart House Jazz Ensemble and in the pit band for the engineering musical Skule Nite.He’s thrilled to return to the stage as a cast member for the first time since performing in musicals during his high school arts program at Cawthra Park Secondary School in Mississauga.

Mia Lobo
ensemble

Mia Lobo is a filmmaker and animator currently working as video editor and motion graphics artist. She grew up in Toronto and has only last year begun diving into theatre. RENT has been one of her favourite musicals since high school, so this production has been a dream come true! She can’t wait to be back on the stage and is thrilled for the opportunity to do so.

Brody Giroux
ensemble

Brody is a second year theatre and performance major at the UofT.He grew up in Saskatchewan and performed countless theatre productions since he was 6 years old. Whether he’s the lead actor, director, lights operator, writer, French Horn player in the pit, or owner of his small theatre company, Brody loves anything to do with performing and will for the rest of his life. Since this is his first time performing in a downtown production in Toronto he’s incredibly excited to be with such an amazing cast and crew.Brody knows you’ll enjoy the performance and hopes you can tell all your family and friends about this amazing experience.

Charis Li
Ensemble

Charis is a 2nd year music student at University of Toronto. This is their first musical on campus, and they are super excited and grateful to be part of RENT! Past experience theatre includes Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia! and Gretchen Weiners in Mean Girls during her time in high school. She hopes you enjoy the production.

Olivia Phillips
ensemble

Olivia is a second year in Theatre and Drama Studies Specialist at UTM and Sheridan with a double minor in Creative Writing and English. She was born in Hamilton, Ontario and raised in London, Ontario. As a BIPOC and Queer performer she is ecstatic to work with Hart House Theatre and get to share the amazing story of RENT which is one of her favourite shows of all time. So, she is so proud and excited to share this show with you all!

Kit dixon
director

Jo O'Leary-Ponzo
Music Director

Ella Naumoff
Stage Manager

Maya Elder
Choreographer

Mohamed Alinur
Equity Director, Media & Marketing

Val Vergara
Costume Designer

Anaia Corrigan
Costumes

Will James
Costumes

Neehla Pal
Set Manager & Set designer

Liz So
Set Designer

Leila Emir
Set Construction

Makenna Brissette
Set Painter

ximena biron ren
Graffiti artist

Chey Lim
Graffiti artist

Maya Gordon
Set Building Assistant

Sydney Hayward
Set Building Assistant

Yujin Oh
Stage Crew

Ciaran McCausland
Assistant Stage Manager

Ceilidh Hutchings
Assistant Stage Manager

Lauren DeLoyde
Head of Media & Marketing

Nghi Nguyen
Graphic designer

Soda Wang
Photographer

Kolya Gorbulia
Photographer

Tatiana Hill
Media & Marketing

Isabelle Fox
Poster Artist

Lincoln Macdonald
Sound Designer

Vedant Gupta
Sound Assistant

Winton Daum
Lighting Designer

Zack Radford
Lighting Operator

Alison Wardley
Props Master

Nara Parsai
Assistant Props

Floryana Shanira
Hair & Makeup Designer

Jay-Daniel Baghbanani
vocal consultant

Frank Yu
Vocal Consultant

Jo O'Leary-Ponzo
Keyboard 1/Conductor

Amy Lee
Keyboard 2/Assistant Music Director

Hayden Thomas
Assistant Music Director

Nica Fleming
Drums

Jake Lamb
Guitar

Michelle Gopaul
Bass