What is considered the lead roll for the musical RENT?
I’d say that Mark is, without a doubt, the lead. Jonathan Larson, who created the musical, based it on the Puccini Opera La Boheme, in which Roger and Mimi play the main characters. However, according to Jonathan’s close friends and family, Mark was Jonathan. He wrote himself into the play, so that the drama unfolded before HIS eyes. Throughout RENT, especially during small asides and interludes, Mark (a filmmaker) narrates the musical. The other characters have solo parts, of course, and are very important, but everything goes back to Mark and his point of view. Everyone, on Christmas Eve, meets through some sort of relation to Mark (e.g. Joanne and Mark meet because of Maureen). Also, it is clearly stated during the musical that Mark will be the one to survive after all of his friends have passed on (excluding Joanne and Maureen). Therefore, it makes him the focus of the story. Whew that was long. Hope it helped.
