Gaten Matarazzo is about to unleash his inner rockstar on the West End – and we can't wait! The breakout star of Netflix's Stranger Things, who stole our hearts as lovable, eccentric Dustin Henderson, is set to make his stage debut this autumn in a 30th-anniversary production of Jonathan Larson's iconic musical, Rent. When the curtain rises at London's Duke of York's Theatre, Matarazzo will join forces with an all-star cast to bring this Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera to life.
Director Luke Sheppard is behind the scenes, whipping up a thrillingly fresh staging that promises to electrify audiences. This mastermind theatre-maker has already made waves in London's theatre scene with his acclaimed production of & Juliet, which racked up multiple Olivier Award nominations and sold out shows galore.
Rent is a musical masterpiece, born from the tumultuous streets of New York City's East Village during the late 1980s. With its poignant narrative, show-stopping rock score, and unflinching portrayal of love, loss, identity, and community in the face of adversity, it's little wonder this classic has stood the test of time – clocking up over 5,000 performances on Broadway.
Gaten Matarazzo may be no stranger to the stage (having previously taken the boards in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables as a youngster), but this moment marks a major milestone for the talented actor – and we can't wait to see him shine alongside an incredible cast in this iconic musical.
The news is music to our ears, underscoring the West End's enduring allure for international talent and its ability to stage blockbuster revivals that captivate theatre fans from far and wide. With Larson's timeless story set to premiere at the historic Duke of York's Theatre, London's theatre scene is about to get a serious boost – and we're counting down the days until curtain up!