In a setting where diversity is not an exception but the heart of the story, EPIC Players once again moves New York with a powerful new production of RENT, Jonathan Larson’s iconic musical that marked generations with its portrait of love, loss, resistance and chosen family.
This version, presented at ART/New York Theatres, brings together a cast made up of 99% neurodivergent and disabled artists, who reimagine the classic from their own experiences, creative energy and authenticity. Under the direction of Travis Burbee and Cassidy Kaye, with musical direction by Blake Brauer and choreography by Yannick-Robin Eike Mirko, the production turns each scene into an act of visibility, art and belonging.
The impact has been immediate: due to the public response, the season has been extended and will now run until June 20, 2026, reaffirming the growing interest in a theater where all voices have space.
RENT, released in 1996, revolutionized Broadway by chronicling the lives of young artists in the East Village facing the crisis of HIV/AIDS, poverty and the search for identity. Today, EPIC Players honors that legacy from an even more intimate perspective: that of artists who have historically been underrepresented on professional stages.
The energy of this production is also reflected in those who bring it to life on stage. Actress of Puerto Rican heritage Genesis Solivan (Mimi), who has previously participated in EPIC productions such as A Christmas Carol and Seussical, expresses with emotion what this project means:
“I am very proud to be working on a musical that humanizes communities and cultures that historically have not been viewed kindly, to put it mildly. Doing so with EPIC adds to that same goal of elevating and celebrating neurodivergence and the art of people with disabilities. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this production.”
From the Bronx, performer Joshua Cartagena (Angel) shares a story of pride and personal improvement:
“For me, being part of EPIC and RENT gives me the opportunity to show my talent as a neurodivergent person with Tourette syndrome. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
For her part, the artist Laisha González (Ensemble, Dance Captain, substitute actress for Mimi) finds in this experience a point of personal and professional transformation:
“As a Latina, neurodivergent, and legally blind artist, I didn’t think there was a place for someone like me in theater. Finding EPIC Players changed that. RENT has always been one of my favorite musicals, so it means the world to enter this world alongside such a talented, passionate, and powerful cast. Through EPIC I have grown not only as a performer, but also as a working professional. Representation on stage is essential. Our voices, experiences, and art belong in these spaces.”
Beyond the stage, EPIC Players continues to build an artistic community where inclusion is not a concept, but a daily practice that opens professional, creative and human doors.
And as the audience continues to fill the theaters, this version of RENT becomes more than just theater: a living reminder that difference does not limit the story, it enriches it.
For more information visit https://epicplayers.ticketspice.com/epic-players-presents-rent-.
