Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Fox goes Bohemian with premiere of RENT LIVE January 27

Brandon Victor Dixon

Cast includes Donna Reed Alumnus

Brandon Victor Dixon, a 1999 Donna Reed scholarship finalist in musical theater, will appear in the role of Tom Collins on FOX's live television adaptation of “Rent” which airs January 27, 2019 at 10/9c.

Dixon, who played Tom Collins in the 2011 Off-Broadway revival of “Rent,” is best known for his performances in the original Broadway companies of The Color Purple, Motown, and Shuffle Along, and as the first Aaron Burr replacement in Broadway’s Hamilton. Earlier this year, TV audiences discovered just how talented he is when he turned in an Emmy-nominated performance as Judas Iscariot in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, alongside Sara Bareilles and John Legend.

The groundbreaking, Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is a re-imagining of Puccini's "La Boheme," and set in New York City's gritty East Village. "Rent" tells the unforgettable story of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams during a time of great social and political turmoil.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Jared Grimes joins cast of NBC series "Manifest"

Jared Grimes as Adrian

Recurring role as Adrian

Jared Grimes, 2001 Donna Reed Foundation national scholarship recipient in dance, has joined the cast of the NBC series “Manifest” in a recurring role.

His first appearance was in last week’s mid-season premiere, “Crosswinds,” and he will next appear in the Feb. 4 episode. He plays Adrian, an entrepreneur whose life was disrupted by the events that set the series in motion. Now, he is trying to make sense of things. The show revolves around the crew and passengers of a plane that disappeared under mysterious circumstances for five years.

Grimes has previously appeared on such shows as “Boardwalk Empire” and “Fringe,” and has extensive stage experience including such Broadway productions as “After Midnight” and “Holler If You Hear Me” and the Radio City Music Hall production of “The New York Spring Spectacular.”