Who’s the new chick? Meet Rent’s Tracie Thoms
By Brandon Voss
You know the original Broadway cast members reprising their roles in the film version of Rent, and Rosario Dawson, Rent’s other new tenant, is practically a gay-household name. But you might not be as familiar with Tracie Thoms, the Julliard-trained actress who earned the role of Joanne, the lesbian lawyer dating Idina Menzel’s Maureen, after a number of near-miss auditions for the same part on stage. Thoms and I discussed her rise to stardom.
HX: Rent director Chris Columbus actually compared you to Aretha Franklin!
It was the biggest compliment I’ve ever gotten. A friend who read that blog told me about it. I’m like, “Clearly, that’s a typo!”
Oh c’mon, I’ve heard you belt that big “Seasons of Love” solo.
Our musical director was like, “You don’t have to sing the high C if you don’t want to.” I said, “If I don’t sing that high C, I’ll never live it down.” So now my blessing and my curse is that I have to be ready to sing a high C at any moment — like on The Today Show at 8:30 in the morning!
What drew you to audition for Joanne specifically?
Joanne was someone that I understood — her quest for order in her life. I’m not anal-retentive, but I’m a little bit of a control freak.
Are you also a lesbian?
[Laughs] No, I like boys a lot!
Have you spoken with Fredi Walker, the actress who created the role of Joanne on Broadway?
I’ve never met Fredi, but I’ve heard her blessing through other people, which is really important to me. I saw Fredi do the show twice, and I stole from her as often as I could. [Laughs]
Which cast member were you most excited to work with?
I saw Wicked so I could meet Idina, and it was very much like a first date. I was shaking, my palms were sweating. I was like, I hope you like me!
Is she a good kisser?
She is! The first day of rehearsal she’s like, “Every time we leave each other we have to kiss for real — just so we get used to it.” I’m like, Okay, cool!
HX, September 2005.