RENT (08/22/07)
Desert Mountain grad to make Broadway debut

A former North Scottsdale resident andDesert Mountain High School graduate, Harley Jay, will be making
his Broadway  debut this fall. Mr. Jay, 24, will be joining the Broadway cast of the musical “RENT” and
starring as filmmaker Mark Cohen beginning Sept. 10.  “I’m stoked,” Mr. Jay said. “I’m absolutely thrilled
because it’s taken me like eight or nine years [of auditioning], but I finally did it.”  Getting the chance to
perform on Broadway has been a huge dream of Mr. Jay since he was a teenager growing up in
North Scottsdale. “I was never a huge Broadway person until I heard “RENT,” he said. “I immediately
thought in my head that this is my one shot to make it in some type of entertainment.” 
However, this is not Mr. Jay’s first experience with “RENT” as he recently played Mark on
the national tour of the show from September, 2006 through May, 2007, which he believes helped
prepare him to play the role on Broadway.  “[The tour] really got my voice ready to sing this show
eight times a week,” he said.  “I also became a better actor, more in the moment and much more
relaxed and learned how to sustain that through what I hope is an entire show.” “RENT” tells the
story of a diverse group of friends living in the LowerEast Side of New York City looking to find love
and friendship and live for today, while dealing with hardships such as poverty, disease,
drug use and death.  Mr. Jay will play the unofficial narrator Mark Cohen, a quirky filmmaker trying
to keep his friends together while not becoming detached from the group himself.
“[The characters] all have their own little things that are going on with them and yet you get all
these different people who can come together and look at each other as equals and look at
each other as one,” Mr. Jay said. Mr. Jay was born in Salt Lake City and moved to Arizona when he
in sixth-grade. While attending Desert Mountain High School, he performed in shows both
at school and in the community including “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Footloose,” “West Side Story,”
“Titanic,” “Into the Woods,” “Cinderella” and “Romeo and Juliet.”  After graduating from high
school in 2001, Mr. Jay moved to Los Angeles where he did everything from children’s theater
and stage readings to commercials and other television work to  voiceovers before joining
the “RENT” national tour in September of 2006. “I didn’t want to leave anything out,
I wanted to do everything,” he said. “If there was a kid’s show, I wanted to do it. If there was a cartoon,
I wanted to do it. If there was a thing where all I had to do was whisper, I wanted to do it.” 
Mr. Jay began auditioning for “RENT” when he was a sophomore in high school and
had 28 total callbacks over the next severalyears before finally being cast as Mark for the
national tour of the show.  Mr. Jay was offered the role on Broadway while on tour, which he
accepted after a couple days of thinking.  “It took me a day or two to finally sink in that I was just
offered a Broadway role,” he said. “It was mind-blowing.”  Mr. Jay will be replacing Anthony Rapp,
who originated the character of Mark in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of “RENT,”
starred in the 2005 film adaptation and recently came back to reprise his role on Broadway this summer. 
As Mr. Jay prepares to make his Broadway debut, he is feeling a variety of emotions. 
“It’s a mix of [feeling] totally excited and totally wicked scared,” he said. “It still hasn’t quite
sunk in that this is what’s happening. I don’t think I’ve ever loved playing another character more than Mark.”

--Gina Mizell
volunteer contributor to Independent Newspapers
North Scottsdale Independent


RENT
Some really cool banners from www.voicesforrent.com

--by Smgdesignz


--by ISthisREALlife


RENT (05/08/07)
RENT - The Paramount

"...As an ensemble, this cast in incredibly tightly-knit. The excitement and power they provide and elicit is spectacular.
Harley Jay (playing Mark Cohen) provides an unbelievable performance. His originality and his energy shine
through and visibly energize everyone on stage."
--Nigel Andrews
The Broadway Hour
Seattle, WA 


RENT (04/26/07)
THEATER REVIEW: 'Rent' is still due its praise
"...There's Mark (Harley Jay), the embittered narrator and videographer, who once enjoyed a relationship with
Maureen (Tracy McDowell), who's now in a lesbian tryst with Joanne (Chante Carmel Frierson). 
"...Jay maintains a solid consistency, subduing his character's heartache and flirting with financial windfall.
"...The latter teams with Jay for the rousing "Tango Maureen" number that bristles with both adoration and frustration."
 --Tom Titis
(Reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Fridays.)
Daily Pilot
Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, CA


RENT (04/24/07)
Male actors outshine females during performance 'RENT' 
" The Goodrich Lobby of E.J. Thomas Hall was transformed into a colorful and graphic representation of downtown
New York last Thursday to celebrate the three performances of RENT on Friday and Saturday. "Voices of the City,
An Urban Painting and Multimedia Installation" utilized highly experimental heroic-scale paintings, original artists' videos,
photography and neo-primitive animated digital projections. Mark Soppeland, a painting and drawing instructor
at the University of Akron, led the project. "It's the biggest art installation with which I have ever been involved," Soppeland said.
 "Some amazing people are working on this. It is totally out of control - so much paint, energy and original vision.
 It's the artistic equivalent of discovering a wild new neighborhood." Soppeland has been involved with more than 50 public
projects during his career. He said his main goals for the collaboration were "to enhance the experience of RENT,
create more outreach activities for E.J. Thomas and utilize the opportunity for new direction."
The multimedia installation tapped the talents of many artists ranging from freshman graphic design major J.D. Dumire
to senior interdisciplinary studies major Dustin Grella to alumni Laura Bidwell, who is currently the curator for
Summit Art Space. The art exhibit was a precursor to the weekend series of RENT performances. The opening night
crowd was abuzz with energy, and the multimedia installation helped to set the stage for the quintessential New York musical.
The cast was certainly talented as well. Harley Jay, who played Mark Cohen,
seemed to magically morph into Mark on stage. Although he had broken a finger during the previous evening's performance,
nothing seemed to slow him down. Jay single-handedly controlled the pacing of the play,
only being challenged as the star by Declan Bennett (Roger). In a musical dominated by several love stories,
it was surprising that the male actors outshone the female leads. Taken as a group, Harley Jay (Mark),
Declan Bennett (Roger) and Melvin Bell III (Angel) were more charismatic than their female counterparts. Harley Jay
overshadowed Chante Carmel Frierson (Joanne) in combined musical numbers, especially "The Tango Maureen."
Although their singing and acting abilities were on par with the male leads, some of the women were trying too hard.
The one female that competed with the male trio of Jay, Bennett and Bell was Jennifer Colby Talton, who played Mimi.
The cast of the National Tour of RENT delighted the audience, as evidenced by the flashbulbs at the beginning
of the second act when the cast lined the stage to sing "Seasons of Love." After the show, many audience members
gave the cast a standing ovation, while die-hard fans rushed to the stage door in the hopes of
getting an autograph and photo opportunities with their favorite characters."
--Carla Klusty
Arts & Life
The Buchtelite


RENT (04/24/07)
Young `Rent' actors relate their lives to their characters'
"PLAYWRIGHT JONATHAN Larson died in 1996, shortly before opening night of his
"La Boheme"-inspired musical "Rent." Because of that, he never got to enjoy the tremendous success
his tale of New York hipsters dealing with love, art, poverty, addictions and HIV became, nor did he get
to see the actors who were in the original cast go on to successful movie and stage careers.
But as tragic as Larson's death was, his legacy goes on, inspiring actors to audition for the many national
and regional productions going on around the world, even though it may take some time for them to get cast.
In Harley Jay's case, that meant six years and 28 callbacks before he got the part of Mark in the
tour that stops at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa starting Wednesday. "It was a long and incredible process,"
said the Arizona native, adding that he wasn't "a huge musical theater fan seven years ago" but liked "Rent"
after his sister saw it and recommended it. His character, Mark, is one of two roommates who live in a
New York loft they struggle to pay rent on. He is an aspiring filmmaker, his roommate Roger is a musician.
Roger is battling depression over a break-up and HIV diagnosis, though he soon finds love with Mimi,
an HIV-positive dancer, while Mark is trying to cope with his girlfriend Maureen, a performance artist
who dumps him for a woman. "It's obvious he was in love with Maureen," Jay said.
"But it's one of those `it's not me, it's you, it totally is because you don't like boys.' " Mark is an observer, Jay said,
which is a trait the actor shares with his character. "One of my favorite things in the world is to people-watch," Jay said.
Tracy McDowell, who plays Maureen, also shares traits with her character. However, unlike Jay, McDowell
made it to "Rent" in just eight callbacks. "She's extremely outspoken," said McDowell, adding that she modeled
Maureen's performance style on Laurie Anderson's. Anderson, a musician and performing artist, has been known
to perform in ice skates whose blades were frozen in a block of ice. "Maureen would probably do a lot of political stuff." 
"It was the only part I could ever play," McDowell continued. "I've been performing since I was 5;
I was always really loud and singing, anyway." As for Maureen dumping Mark for a woman, it really isn't about
 spurning one gender for the other. "I think she just doesn't care," McDowell said. Her new girlfriend, Joanne, played
by Chante Carmel, is the opposite. "Joanne is a lawyer, she comes from a very upscale African-American family,"
said Carmel, a Los Angeles native who got her start acting in the TV series "A Different World." "Joanne is very straight up,
straightforward. She likes things done a certain way." Like her castmates, Carmel shares traits with Joanne.
 "Both of my parents have three degrees," she said. "I went to college to study law, but it was way more fun to play
a lawyer on TV." Carmel, a UC Santa Barbara graduate, got the role after attending an open casting call.
She had not seen the musical on stage, but did see the feature film. So, as much as they are like their characters,
are they also facing some of the obstacles the young bohemians in "Rent" do,
such as HIV and poverty for the sake of art?Well, not directly, said Jay, though all actors know what it's like
to scrounge for jobs in such a competitive market. "The theater world is so small, I think everybody
kind of knows someone who knows someone who's been through that (dealing with HIV)."
One thing that is definite, though, is this - Jonathan Larson
may have died young, but "Rent" is on its way to a ripe old age."
--A.K. Whitney 
STAFF WRITER 
ak.whitney@presstelegram.com
 presstelegram.com


RENT (04/10/07)
“RENT” Proctor’s Theatre
Larson’s powerful songs, stories own `Rent’
"Harley Jay’s Mark Cohen is amiable, masking the loneliness that lies deep in the
heart of the artist who can’t make ends, or much else, meet."
--Michael Eck
Special to the Times Union
timesunion.com


RENT (04/05/07)
Get inspired when "Rent" comes to Wharton Center this weekend
Love & life
"I've done 140 performances," said Harley Jay, who plays Mark Cohen in the Wharton Center show.
"And every time, I've had a moment of shock where I (think), 'Oh my gosh, I'm in 'Rent!' "
..."Jay points first to Larson's score. "There's R&B, there's classic rock, there's modern rock, there are ballads.
It has everything."
..."Larson once described his message: "Art is about love - the love you never got as a child,
the love you can give as an adult, the love you can only give your work."
He didn't have the sort of troubled childhood that many artists recall.
Like Jay (who plays the Larson-like character), he describes loving, encouraging parents."
 --Mike Hughes
Lansing State Journal


RENT (03/28/07)
"The power of `Rent'"

Harley Jay, left, and Chante Carmel Frierson sing and dance the Tango Maureen
during Tuesday's performance of Rent at Bass Performance Hall.
"A decade has passed since Jonathan Larson's rock opera Rent opened on Broadway. The big question is, does a show
pegged to such a specific time period -- the early '90s in New York's East Village -- still translate? Were it created about
today's 25-year-old starving artists, the emerging filmmaker character Mark (Harley Jay in the tour that opened Tuesday
at Bass Hall) would be constantly uploading his work to YouTube, and the frequently mentioned drug AZT would be replaced
by one of today's less cringe-inducing HIV-therapy drugs. And it might all be captured on a reality show so folks all over
America could watch other people's pain, safe in their Ikea-furnished living rooms. But Rent is just as powerful as ever.
It still carries weight because ultimately, Rent is about finding connections in a world that doesn't always make sense.
And it has that electric and melodic score, and uses singers with power-pop voices (come to think of it,
it's perfect in an American Idol world). Rent is based on the Puccini opera La Boheme, and Larson's characters correlate.
Mark is Marcello, HIV-infected Roger (Declan Bennett) is Rodolfo, and Mimi (Jennifer Colby Talton) is Mimi.
Puccini's philosopher Colline is now Collins (Warren G. Nolan Jr.), and Schaunard is the drag queen Angel (Ano Okera).
The Italian singer Musetta becomes Maureen (Tracy McDowell), who has left Mark for a woman,
Joanne (Chante Carmel Frierson). The tour has an outstanding ensemble. Nolan, Jay and McDowell stand out as the
strongest vocalists among the main characters, but almost every one handles the character relationships beautifully.
That's paramount in a musical where the actors sing not to the audience but intimately and passionately to each other.
That's worth every penny you'll pay for these tickets."
GRADE: A-
--Mark Lowry
Staff Writer
Star-Telegram
Fort Worth, TX


RENT (03/22/07)
Accent
"'Rent' remains relevant, dynamic and poignant"
'"Rent" is 11 years old. That's the same age of C.J. Mahaffey. He sat in prime seats at Tuesday's opening night
performance of the Jonathan Larson rock musical, silently singing along to every song. His friend, Danyell Clauer,
13, did, too. They, along with a Tucson Music Hall packed with other Rentheads, grooved to the sounds of the musical,
a mixture of blues, ballads, calypso and just about every genre of music that grabs you and demands you move.
"Roger, Angel and Mimi were my favorites in the movie," said C.J., wearing a baggy T-shirt from a Rob Thomas tour.
"But everybody's my favorite in the play." Danyell agreed. And there was something more she liked about it, too. "There's a
lesson in the play about how to help people," she said, her voice taking on a serious tone. "And it talks about AIDS."
Don't tell us that "Rent" is past its prime. The non-Equity production rocked with effusive energy and enormous heart and a
cast that worked together as though they'd been doing it forever. Yet, this production, brought here by Broadway in Tucson,
felt as fresh as a monsoon storm. "Rent" shook up Broadway when it opened in 1996. There was the dramatic story
of its creator, Larson, who did an interview with The New York Times, watched a technically messy rehearsal,
then went home, collapsed and died of an aortic aneurysm. He was 35. The musical opened not long after that,
with the technical glitches gone and a cast completely committed to the gritty story. Based loosely on Puccini's
"La Bohème," it is about a group of scrappy artists in New York's East Village who are on the verge of being
evicted from the cold, rundown warehouse they squat in and call home. Some are junkies fighting AIDS.
Some are gay, also fighting AIDS. All are idealists, with a fierce sense of justice, and even fiercer passions.
Tuesday's opening night audience here was into the show in a big way, cheering a favorite character when
he/she appeared, or screaming loudly when the first few chords of a favorite song were heard. In this road show,
it seems almost unfair to point out a single actor — it truly was a joint effort of strong singers and actors backed by
a dynamic band. Nevertheless, here we go:
Harley Jay was completely rooted in the character of Mark, the slightly insecure, smart narrator and documentarian
of the bohemians' lives. Jay grabbed hold of a song and completely owned it.
Plus, he had mighty impressive moves. And he was totally in sync with
Declan Bennett, who played Roger, Mark's slightly depressed best friend and roommate.
Clumps of Bennett's dark hair were bleached blond, his pants
didn't quite fit, and he owned the persona of an artist who has better things to do than look pulled together.
He was perfect. Warren G. Nolan Jr., who played Tom Collins, suffered through some sound problems during the first act.
Thankfully, his deep, rich voice came through loud and clear in the second. New to the cast was Ano Okera,
who breathed life into the drag queen Angel with such relish, such energy, and such grace that it was almost difficult
to focus anywhere else when he was on stage. Almost. Again, this cast is so strong and so harmonious with each
other and the material that no one star shone brighter — they all worked together to make a terrifically fun constellation.
"It's like it's 1996 in the play," said Danyell. "But it sure fits our times."'
--Kathleen Allen
kallen@azstarnet.com
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona


RENT (03/16/07)
Accent
"Touring with rock musical pays the 'Rent'"

Harley Jay and Chante Carmel Frierson in the road show of "Rent."
"Harley Jay was freezing. Last week, the Scottsdale-bred singer/actor was climbing off a bus in Detroit,
where he was starring in the non-Equity road show of "Rent," the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical that
stops in Tucson next week. "It's 15 degrees here," he said, a shiver running through his voice. This week: Illinois.
So by the time Jay, who turned 24 earlier this month, gets back to his home state, he's going to be ready for the
Arizona weather. "What is it, 80 degrees?" he asked, envy in his tone. "I can't wait." "Rent," loosely based on
"La Bohème," is 11 this year. Despite the disappointing 2005 movie of the all-song musical, it is still going strong
on Broadway and on the road. Jay has been with the production since September. He plays the part of Mark,
who serves as the sort-of narrator of the story of a bunch of misfits (read: artists) trying to take a stand and survive.
As he hustled along the Detroit street, he held his cell phone to his ear and answered a few questions for us.
Is this your first road show?
"It's my first major tour. I love it — we've been places like Waco, Texas, which I didn't even
know existed. But it was fun to check it out, I guess. People say there's nothing to do in Scottsdale, and I say,
'Yeah, try going to Waco.'"
What's the best thing about the play?
"For me, the best is the music. The message is
awesome, and it has a moral. But you get every single genre of music. If you love all kinds of music, this is the
perfect show for you."
The worst?
"A lot of people hear it has drugs and alcohol and sex, and they don't give it
a chance to learn the message; they automatically assume the show isn't for them. Some don't try to love the show;
they hear it has gays and lesbians, and they don't even want to learn about it."
OK, so what is the message?
"The message for me is to be who you are and to live for who you are.
And family. And there's a message of harmony. Harmony is everybody doing something differently together."
What is it about this play that keeps it alive, that still speaks to audiences?
"The music. I think that's why 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
is still a big deal, or that people still love 'Hair.' It's the music."
What song in the show do you love singing the best?
"Probably 'What You Own' ('You're living in America / At the end of the millennium . . .').
It's a total rock song and I get to sing it with the guy who plays Roger, who I met on this show and will
be a lifelong friend."
What's the best role in the play?
"I would have to say Mark. It's my character, but it's the best. He's the best-written in the show — he gets to be funny,
and snarky, and he gets to create something, and his goal is realized by the end of the show. It's cool to be Mark if you
feel you are an actor who sings, or a singer who acts."
If you had to do another role in the play, which would you like it to be?
"Roger, hands down. He's the ultimate in cool. He's like the Brad Pitt of the show. He has all the money notes,
he wears black nail polish — the guy is cool."
On your Web site (www.harleyjay.com), you list your special skills as
"Eagle Scout, Honest, Vocal Tenor, Guitar and Acting Coach (Studio of the Performing Arts), ALL Sports,
Improvisation, Owner 'Top 5' DJ Co., Stand-Up Comedy, French Kissing." Which is your standout skill?
"Well, I've never been told I'm a bad French kisser, so I'll go with that one. Though I haven't had that much practice."'
--Kathleen Allen
kallen@azstarnet.com
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona


RENT (02/28/07)
Valley man makes ‘Rent’ "Harley Jay is living his dream.

The 23-year-old Scottsdale native is the current star of the hit musical “Rent” in its national touring production.
After graduating from Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Jay moved to Los Angeles and attended
one semester at UCLA before moving back to Arizona. “I was lucky enough to have picked up enough work in
Los Angeles to go back to Arizona and do random group theatre,” Jay said. From there, Jay was cast in the touring
production of “Miss Saigon.” After that production wrapped up, Jay was cast as Mark, one of the main characters of “Rent.”
Jay joined the cast in September 2006. “I’ve been trying to get this role since I was 17-years-old,” Jay said.
“This is the number one thing I wanted.” Jay credits his success to hard work and luck. “I’d say it’s fifty-fifty of
hard work and a stroke of luck,” Jay said. Jay’s success comes in spite of his lack of involvement in musicals and
plays in high school. Jay has always been a singer, but never applied his performance skills until late high school.
“I wasn’t particularly fond of theatre people in high school,” Jay said. “But I decided to do a play just for fun my senior year
and I was hooked from there,” Jay explained. Now that Jay has found his niche in musical performance,
he’s getting used to the demands of traveling in a touring production.
 “A typical day starts at 7:00 or 7:30 a.m., and we take a bus to the city and do press or interviews for TV.
Then we’ll usually head to the local mall and eat. After that, we do sound checks for the show, do the show and then
eat some more food,” Jay said. Not only has Jay enjoyed the fruits of his labor on stage, but offstage as well.
“It’s been amazing being a part of this tour, not just being on stage, but being able to travel to places like Illinois,
Orlando, San Diego, etc. I wouldn’t have had the chance to see these places if I wasn’t in this tour,” Jay added.
Since joining the show, Jay has been over 104 shows and came back to his Arizona roots on Feb. 23 and 24 when
“Rent” played at ASU’s Gammage Theatre. “It’ll be nice to be back home and spend even just fifteen minutes with
my family and friends and reconnect,” Jay said. Jay’s future endeavors include pursuing a role in “Wicked” and
“Spring Awakening” after his contract with “Rent” ends. He also plans on getting into movies and is preparing for the
release of his upcoming CD when he heads back to Los Angeles. Further down the line, Jay also said he wants
to return to school and go back to college. “There’s always something to learn. You can always benefit from education,”
Jay said. To keep up with Jay and find out more about him, visit www.harleyjay.com."
--Ivy Villaflores
Editor-In-Chief
Volume 44, Issue 10
MESA LEGEND


RENT (02/24/07)
"I saw Rent last night, and I absolutely loved it; today I have purchased the 2005
movie version as well as the movie soundtrack. But I have to talk about the performers in the show last night.
Of all the musicals I’ve seen on stage, I have never seen and heard such a concentrated bunch of
talent in one room. (Just thinking about this in comparison to things like American Idol makes me sick.)
Their voices were absolutely astounding…. and I mean to tell you, there wasn’t a single weak
vocal chord in the lot of them. I don’t know if you have ever tried to belt out a song at an elevation of
4500+ feet, but when you’ve spent your life watching performers hack their lungs out and sweat buckets
up here in the mountains, you would be as amazed and impressed as I am. They hit the high notes, the
low notes, and everything in between, completely and fully.
Let me tell you about the two lead boys.
    
The musical didn’t capture me until Roger’s performance of “One Song Glory”, after which I was hooked.
Roger is performed by a British singer/songwriter (few to no acting credentials) named Declan Bennett,
who apparently was recruited and came here straight from his musical career in the UK. The talent in his voice -
and yes, his acting - were so pure that he just exuded Roger’s persona. I know it’s his job -
a dime a dozen in some places - but this guy was really fantastic on stage. The British element was refreshing
and almost natural. Mark was played by Harley Jay, and this kid was so perfectly Mark that he could have been
born for this role, small as it may be. As for some of the other characters - well, the women were just perfect, and
Mimi was so amazing and had such great chemistry with Roger that every version of “Light My Candle” I’ve managed
to find on the Internet today has been a disappointment in comparison. I hope that if you are into theater shows
and musicals, you are able to see a stage performance of Rent, and if you can see this crew I would love to hear what
you think of them. Now I really want to see Rent in NYC - I just might be ditching one of the other two shows I’d already chosen.
D---it man. ETA: K called and held two tickets for tonight’s show, too. Maybe we’ll get to see it
again before they’re out of here!"
--Laura (how about love)
Thenoodleincident.org


RENT (02/17/07)
"...Mark...Harley...such incredible chemistry with Declan. You really don't feel that his Mark is a role,
but it is him up there. Tango Maureen was fabulous! A little less crotch thrusting during the begining of LVB
would have put him it in the fabulous catagory as well. ...Overall, I was going into this expecting nothing.
I had always compared performances to the Angel and Benny tours and really fried myself and took the
enjoyment out it. Tonight was fresh and fun and exciting. The cast has great chemisty and the crowd gave them
a roaring standing ovation before the lights were even back on.
The 3 performances that stood out for me were Declan, Harley, and Mimi."
--Puck Fan
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (02/13/07)
"...Harley Jay (Mark) - I really enjoyed his interpretation of Mark. I felt that he understood exactly
what Mark was about, and how to show that to the audience. He had some humorous ad-libs in 'La Vie Boheme,'
though I didn't feel they were in the over-the-top style of Matt Caplan. I don't know what else
to say except that I thoroughly enjoyed watching him as Mark."
--ItsMeMark
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (02/10/07)
"...Harley Jay-Mark – I have never been a big fan of the character Mark but Harley
was exceptionally good, he was funny and had great chemistry with everyone.
Oo and I liked in "Happy new Year" instead of saying "You can the girl out fo kicksville but you can't take the
hicksville out of the girl" he said "you can take the girl out of Jersey but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl" hah..."
--FNM
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (02/01/07)
"harley... ummm- hilarious. beth and i were cracking up like we had never seen the show before.
i love him, i love his humor, but i also love his mark. he topped andy and brian for me (yes you can stone me!)"
--I'llHaveSexWithYou
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (01/31/07)
"I really enjoyed Harley, who says that mark has to be sweet and cuddly -- why can't he get mad?
I liked the fresh take on the role -- and his Tango Maureen is freakin hilarious!"
--BethBreakey
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (01/31/07)
"RENT Cast Makes “Virtual” Visit" The first time the Center has utilized technology
to broadcast a moderated “cast visit” to multiple schools in real time.

"Harley Jay, who portrays Mark in the Broadway tour of RENT,
speaks to students via a live web broadcast. (photo Blumenthal) Charlotte, NC"
"The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Education Institute hosted a web conference today for area high school
students featuring three actors from the cast of RENT. This is the first time the Center has utilized technology to broadcast
a moderated “cast visit” to multiple schools in real time. Students submitted questions and watched the interview from
their own classroom while the actors were filmed by web camera at Spirit Square in Uptown Charlotte.
The cast visit was broadcast to five schools in Union and Gaston counties (Sun Valley, Weddington, Central Academy,
Forest View and South Point) via “Elluminate,” a web-conferencing tool designed specifically for education by SAS
(the world's largest privately held software company). Dr. Thomas E. Moncrief, High School Curriculum Coordinator for
Performing Arts in Union County Public Schools moderated the interview. RENT performs tonight through Sunday, Jan. 28
at Ovens Auditorium ( 2700 East Independence Blvd. , Charlotte ) as part of the Stanford Broadway Lights Series, sponsored
by Stanford Group Company and presented by US Airways."
--Liz Rothaus
NCBlumenthal Performing Arts Center


RENT (01/28/07)
"I liked Harley. And...that's it... ...Like I said, I liked Harley. He's cute and funny,
great voice, really great dancer... ...Basically the only number that I could get into was 'Tango: Maureen.'"
--MegforRent
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (01/26/07)
RENT Touring company's narrator talks about the powerful
Broadway musical making its way to Charlotte this week
"...With roles in more than a dozen theatrical productions and television spots, Harley Jay has an impressive resume.
At the bottom of this resume, though, is a list of special skills -- Eagle Scout, guitar coach, stand-up comedian.
Also on that list is French kissing. "Hey, I've never had anyone complain, so I must be pretty good," quipped Jay,
a lead in the national tour of "Rent." stopping at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte this weekend. Jay plays narrator
Mark Cohen, a filmmaker whose girlfriend left him for another woman, in the award-winning rock musical created by
the late Jonathan Larson. Set in New York City's gritty Lower East Side, "Rent" is a modern version of the opera
"La Boheme" that tells the story of a group of young artists struggling to live and love in the shadows of poverty,
AIDS and illness. The show opened to rave reviews in 1996 and has become one of Broadway's biggest hits. It won the
1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical, among a slew of other honors. A decade later,
"Rent" was made into a feature film starring most of the original Broadway cast. Before joining "Rent" in September,
Jay was in the Broadway Palm West's traveling production of Miss Saigon. Other credits include "Jesus Christ Superstar,"
"Footloose," "West Side Story" and "Romeo and Juliet." Nothing, however, excites him more than "Rent," he said.
He recently took a few minutes to chat during a tour break.
Here are excerpts from that conversation:
Some have said "Rent" pushes the limits, with gay characters, AIDS talk and drug use.
The thing is, people don't see past that.
We've had sold-out shows where, by intermission, people have left and won't come back. People picket and
think we're all about AIDS and gays. But those are the ones who need to see this show the most.
The message is about acceptance, friendship and living in harmony, about going through bad times and good times.
It's about how, at the end of the day, how will you measure your life.
What attracted you to this production?
The music. I first heard the show when I was 15. I wasn't really into musicals at the time, but my reaction was,
"Gosh, this is great." Not every Broadway show is "Oklahoma." It's a different story, but people can relate to it.
I'm not gay. I don't have AIDS, and I'm not addicted to drugs, but I can relate to the message,
which is live life to the fullest. There's no day but today.
"Rent" has some great songs, like "Seasons of Love," "Light My Candle" and "I'll Cover You."
Do you have a favorite?On that note, do you ever get sick of singing the same songs?
My favorite is "Christmas Bells" (which is not in the movie or on the soundtrack). It's just complete controlled chaos.
And no, I thought maybe I'd get sick of all the songs, but I've done like 70 performances, and each night,
I just think to myself, "Wow. I'm in 'Rent.' I made it." You had some pretty big footsteps to follow.
How does your Mark compare to Anthony Rapp's, the original Mark?
To me, Anthony will always be Mark. So yes, it's a tough act to follow. But I try to play the character
a little more fun and fresh. Most people would classify Mark as a "poor me" kinda guy.
But I've always tried to make him more comedic and uplifting.
What have you learned while playing Mark?
I don't know if I've learned this playing just Mark or being in the show in general,
but I've learned a lot about relationships. That bigger isn't always better. And to keep it real.
How does "Rent" change the younger generation's perception of musical theater?
When "Rent" first came out, it brought 13- and 14-year-olds into theater.
They connect to these characters. They connect to the music. The songs are great -- they're powerful. And the characters
are like real people -- people you want to be friends with. It hits everyone in places maybe they weren't expecting.
We have "Rent" heads who travel around to the shows because they can't get enough. It's become this whole phenomenon.
That was Jonathan Larson's goal -- to change the face of musical theater. He did it, and we're all so grateful for his legacy.
Harley Jay was asked to describe the play's main characters with one word or phrase. Here's what he said:
Mark -- goof-ball filmmaker
Roger -- aspiring rock star
Mimi -- crazy, horny lover chick
Maureen -- outspoken hottie Joanne --
lover-stealing lawyer
Collins -- very witty, a scene stealer
Angel -- life of the party"
--Shannon Greene
Heraldonline
Enquirer-Herald


RENT (01/26/07)
"...Okay so last night I saw the tour at the Koger Center in Columbia, SC and lets just say t
hat they have improved soooo much since when I saw them in October. They just got back from their
month or more break and the seem very well rested and full of energy. Harley made the most improvement in my opinion.
Harley Jay- his portrayl of Mark is just soooo awesome. I think I am becoming biased for this cast, for some reason
I connect with them so much. But anway I saw much more emotion in his Halloween than I did in Oct. He punched the
phone during that song, it scared me a little, lol. Very intense strong performance. He also added in some riffs in there,
I was really surprised to hear the skinny white boy riff like that. During Mucho Masterbation, he slowed it down,
I really can't explain it, but it was hilarious!! really slurred
Muuuuuuuucccccccchooooooooo Maaaasssterrrrrbaaatiiiiiiiionnnnnnnnn...so funny, and when the line came about
unable to hold an erection he put the camera between his legs and hit and it just dangaled, it was great!!!! haha
--Maurphaba
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (12/19/06)
"...Harley Jay (Mark) - I absolutely loved this guy. He was great and extremely energetic.
His physical movements were very expressive and I thought that he had both great vocal control and a great
dancer (nice moonwalk during La Vie Boheme). Very articulate and clear on his pronunciations."
--nomo4life
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (12/11/06)
OvertheMoon
- A RENT RPG - Review!
"...You're right! Harley Jay is so adorable!! I started getting really mad at the camera, because I wanted
it to zoom in on Harley being all cute. Even from that distance, I found him more adorable than Jed Resnick.
In that one song alone, Harley's now one of my favorite Mark's. Acutally...maybe my second or so,
since there have been a lot of wierd Mark's in the past. I loved Harley's flamboyant hand movement and
hacking cough and everything. That was cute."
--Angel Dumott Schunard
@8:00pm
Overthemoon1.proboards103.com


RENT (12/11/06)
"...Ummmm RENT WAS SO AMAZING. ...me and Kelcie looked everyone in the cast up on
myspace and added them (HAHAHA), and Harley Jay, the guy who played Mark, is actually SO hot."
--Lindsey (lindseyxx)
Livejournal.com


RENT (12/11/06)
"...So Mike and I saw RENT tonight at Shea's and here's my little review.
...Rent: I was a little nervous for Harley Jay (Mark) because some notes in the beginning sounded strain.
But he sang this song with power so I thought it must have been a fluke. Very solid piece from the whole ensemble.
...Tango Maureen: Such an adorable song between Jay and Chante Carmel Frierson.
They seemed to have great chemistry and they made the scene very entertaining.
Once again it seemed by the end that Harley couldn't hit some of the notes and when he spoke
his voice was unusually low from before. ...I heard someone behind me whisper,
"Mark understudy," and as I'm looking at Mark he's about 6 inches shorter with darker hair. I was so shocked at first like is an
ensemble member dressed up in Mark's clothes? Then I get this terror feeling inside me, "OMG it's an understudy!
When did this happen?" Mitch Dean filled in as Mark for the rest of the show. I must say this was pretty smooth
move by the company. If people weren't paying attention close enough they probably didn't notice and the cast
change didn't disrupt the show at all. So kudos to swings for always being prepared.
...La Vie Boheme: This was Dean's stronger songs as Mark. He seemed to be enjoying this
opportunity trying to make up to the audience for having an understudy in the role.
...I went to the stage door afterwords and met Bennett, Nolan, Ifill, Frierson, and McDowell.
I also saw Jay and he apologized to the fans for sounding bad and bailing out. And he was like, "Listen to me now!
I don't even sound that bad." I really think he wanted to continue, but there was no way that he could."
--ubdramadrew (ubdramadrew)
Livejournal.com


RENT (12/10/06)
"...Alright, on with the review. I guess I will go through and give my thoughts on each actor.
Let me just say now, that I loved it!!!! ...Mark - Harley was right on the, well, Mark!!!! What great casting! I am a huge
Anthony fan, but if anyone else could play Mark as well as he could, it would be Harley for me. I loved his voice,
although there was a noticeable key change in "What You Own", must be his range is a bit different from Anthony's
(or Declan, for that matter since it's a duet) but I didn't notice it in any other songs."
--dancernl (dancernl)
Livejournal.com


RENT (12/07/06)
"Regret is yours if you miss RENT"
Broadway musical rocks Colonial despite sound snafus
"...After Mark (performed by Harley Jay, channeling Broadway's original Anthony Rapp) grasped his dingy apartment's
extension cord and spilled his heart in front of the packed audience, the music meant to boom throughout the room,
shake your brains, and put you in a true rock and roll moment, that is the show's opening title "RENT"...
...Overall, the show isn't just a musical. It's an experience. It captures the true emotions of youth, independence and family.
Its mantra "No day but today" has come to resonate with an entire generation."
--Faith Swymer
A & E
Keene Equinox


RENT (12/07/06)
"REVIEW: 'Rent' moves in for the weekend"
Artists' tale playing through Sunday
"...Anyone whose only notion of "Rent" is the recent film version will get much more fulfillment
out of the touring version of the Broadway blockbuster, in town through Sunday. ...There was nary a
weak link in Tuesday's performance, performed before a near-capacity crowd at Shea's Performing Arts Center.
...Roger's best friend, Mark (Harley Jay), shares his East Village loft and his dream of artistic success,
his ongoing film documentary being the string that ties the show together. Jay brings an innocence to a
character who's been through a lot in his life, including recently losing his girlfriend -- to another woman."
--Paul Lane
NIGHT & DAY
Niagara Gazette and Tonawanda News


RENT (12/03/06)
"...Well I got into Baltimore at around 12:40. I didn't find the theater until 1:40. I was afraid I would miss some of it.
Anyway, the show went on great, I didn't see any mistakes. They were all amazing, much better than the
last season of the tour. ..Harley Jay (Mark) I loved him, he was funny, he could sing, and his pronunciation was clear,
at the stage door everyone wanted his picture and signature so I didn't get it...but oh well we move on.
I really enjoyed his performance."
--andrewcomp
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (12/02/06)
"...Okay, so I'm just going to type a few quick thoughts on the people who are new to the tour.
On the whole, I was extremely impressed with this group! *So* much better than the last tour.
...Harley Jay (Mark) - This guy is GREAT! His Mark is 100% original. People have said he's a "mix of Anthony and Matt."
Yeah. Right. That would be an insult, as it's clear Harley has really thought a lot about what to do with the character.
His performance is abundant with physical humor (lots of schtick), but he conveys a full range of emotions. It's quite clear
that he's having the time of his life up there. One of the stand-outs for me!
...FINAL THOUGHTS:
I think he must have been losing his voice over the weekend, because he was less sure vocally
with every successive show. Of course, if any of the principals have to suffer in this area, thank goodness it's Mark.
I did notice what you said, Jb2, about Harley's goofiness. However, I would not relate this back to
Matt Caplan's "antics" at all. Matt was goofing off because
he had obviously been in the show too long and was trying to find a way to keep himself from falling asleep ...
At least that's what I got from him the few times that I actually saw him perform his "antics" (man I detest that word!).
In contrast, Harley isn't goofy, his MARK is goofy. And what's more, he's entirely original (at least when up against
the other Marks I have seen). I prefer him to Jed because Jed made me want to fall asleep at times. I'd put Jed in the
Trey Elliot school of Mark Cohen. They both tried to make the character too somber and dreary. In the end,
I find it difficult to find the character's second act realizations to be either nonexistent or, at the very most, trivial.
With Harley, we see a clear change in character and he is never the same again after Angel's death …
I will hand it to you, though, as I do find the friendship between Declan's Roger and Harley's Mark a little difficult
to buy, even if their chemistry is rather good. Does that make sense? ...all in all, I had a great time and I would love
to see this cast again. Like I said, this group is miles and miles ahead of the last touring cast."
--javertim
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (12/01/06)
"Career Move"
ENTERTAINMENT
"Cast Recording Swayed 'Rent' Star to Musical Theater"
"...When Harley Jay first heard the music from "Rent," he was barely a teenager. A West Coast kid who listened to rock
music and not show tunes, Jay heard the shows 11 o'clock number -- the tragic "One Song Glory," sung by AIDS-stricken
rocker Roger -- and was hooked. "I popped the cast recording in and was totally floored by the whole thing," said Jay,
who now at the tender age of 23 is starring in a national tour of the 10-year-old rock musical. His sister had seen the show
on Broadway with the original cast and purchased a CD of the cast recording for her brother. "I hadn't been into musical
theater much," Jay said without any qualms. His approach to the material isn't out of the ordinary for people his age.
Whereas most teenagers connect to the popular music of their adolescence as a retreat from their elders, from the
responsibility of accepting responsibility, "Rent" bridged the gap between rock fans and musical theater aficionados.
"I had always [sung] in church and choirs, but I had never thought [of musical theater]," he said. "The only musical
theater stuff I had heard was 'Cinderella' and 'Oklahoma,' which are great shows but don't fit my voice." It wasn't until
Jay left Scottsdale, Ariz., for shiny Los Angeles that he began to see that his voice could in fact fit within the musical
theater idiom. "I probably auditioned for 'Rent' like 25 times, saying that sometime before I die, I gotta get in 'Rent.' "
Appearing as Mark, the filmmaker best friend of Roger, Jay finds himself reconnecting with a demographic that,
despite its adolescent markings, sees hope and pride in a show now 10 years on. "I think people in their 20s have this
thing in their head that 13-year-olds don't get it. And we see people after the show, and they totally get it," he said.
"I think we don't pay attention to it as much as they do. But in this show, they definitely get the message. They get it."
The message, namely, is multifaceted yet simple. Based on Puccini's "La Boheme," it tells of a group of bohemian
friends struggling to define themselves and their times through sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. With the AIDS crisis out of
the limelight now, details are dated, referring to the last decade with nostalgia. Today, the bohemian
lifestyle is nothing more than a fashion trend. But Jay thinks otherwise. "I think the bohemian thing will stick around.
I think the hippies will stick around. But as people progress, people move on," Jay said. "I think a lot of the bohemian
lifestyle, too, was [about being] creative with what you've got. And hopefully that will be staying around." Jay plans
on staying around, too. With the "Rent" tour keeping him on the road until May, he already sees the next step in
his budding theater career. "They're doing a two-year stint of 'Wicked' at the Pantages in L.A.," he said.
"I don't know who I need to talk to or who I need to rob, but I need to get that show."
--Benjamin Siegel
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
The Buffalo News


RENT (11/26/06)
"...RENT boys So, "Rent" was AWESOME yesterday! The music was incredible--the actors' voices
were so perfectly toned, and though there were some rocky moments in the beginning (which made me fear
for the health of my ears), they all really picked it back up and made the show amazing. The acting was superb, too.
And the scenery--exquisite. But the best part (and I'm gonna sound pretty shallow by saying this but I'm going to anyway)
was the boys who played the parts of "Mark" and "Roger". Mark was played by a fellow named Harley Jay
(who is the fetching fellow in the bottom picture), and Roger was played by the phenomenal Declan Bennett
(in the picture on the top), who joined the U.S. cast of "Rent" (which is currently touring nationally) direct from
London, England. Harley has been seen on both the big and small screen on productions put on by Fox and MTV and was
also in the movies "Fast and the Furious" and "Bring It On Yet Again". Declan released an album in 2005 called
"The Painter's Ball" under the pseudonym "sumladfromcov" (he is originally from Coventry).
Links to these beautiful boys:
  
Harley Jay http://www.harleyjay.com
Declan Bennett http://www.declanbennett.co.uk."
 --Elliot
Blogspot.com


RENT (11/23/06)
OvertheMoon
- A RENT RPG - Review!
"...And Harley Jay does sound like Anthony. And I just loved La Vie Boheme. He like made it all his own.
That was awesome. I hope they do put up a video of it sometime."
--Joanne Jefferson
@10:02pm
Overthemoon1.proboards103.com


RENT (11/22/06)
OvertheMoon
- A RENT RPG -Review!
"...Harley Jay - Yay! In the first few seconds of La Vie Boheme, I thought he sounded like
Anthony a bit. Aww, but he was cool. He sounded like he was probably doing a fantastic job of
whatever he was doing on that table."
--Angel Dumott Schunard
@11:52pm
Overthemoon1.proboards103.com


RENT (11/19/06)
"...rent was amazing!!!! The cast was so so good they sounded JUST like the original cast!
Harley Jay is the HOTTEST Mark after Anthony, of course. Some old ladies in my box got up
and started dancing during La Vie Boheme, seriously, at first I was like wtf sit down it's Broadway yo,
and then I just got up and competed with them..."
--(ob la di, ob la da...)
LiveJournal.com


RENT (11/09/06)
"...Harley Jay tackled the role of Mark with equal intensity. Serving as both a primary character and moderator,
Jay was convincing as a character with demons deep inside and was central in providing focus to a script
that contained many subplots. ...The show is well worth seeing, especially with its current cast,
and if you're paying attention, makes you think."
--Dan Barile
Farragutpress.com


RENT (11/05/06)
"...The video is the conversation amongst my friend Kayla, my mother, and myself after seeing
RENT LIVE AND ONSTAGE!!!!! It was one of the most freaking amazing experiences in my entire life.
I think it pretty much ties with my first kiss for most amazing. For those of you who are wondering, RENT is
much better on stage than in the movies. Some of my favorite song sequences included "Contact"
(which I might add, was totally hot) "Tango:Maureen" (freaking hilarious), "One Song Glory",
(the guy who played Roger had the smoothest and sexiest voice I've ever heard), and of course,
"La Vie Boheme" (they did a lot more hilarious sh** with this song than they did in the movie. Perfect example:
Mark did this hilarious thing with the table during the line "Mucho masturbation").
I thought that the guy who played Mark was hysterical, not to mention cute.
...Well anyway, the whole performance was freaking amazing. I don't know where they found some of the actors to
play these parts, but they got some good ones! Declan Bennett [Roger] was British actually, and you could kind of tell
by the accent when he sang, but other than that you really couldn't tell (unless of course you looked at the playbill and
it told you he was from London). ...But my absolute fave was Mark. Harley Jay did such an awesome job playing him,
because he made the show so hilarious (esp with some of his antics in "La Vie Boheme" and "Tango:Maureen."
--redneckwoman81492
Xanga.com


RENT (11/05/06)
"...Well, on Saturday 11/4, I saw RENT the tour for the 4th time at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana.
I was a little bit hesitant, because some o fthe reviews of this current touring cast were not that great. But I did
find a few posts saying that after the cast change in September, things got much better.
To my enjoyment, this was TOTALLY the case. This cast is superb. Certainly one of my favorite casts I have seen on tour.
The production went on with virtually no issues whatsoever... ...The guy who played Mark was awesome, very very funny.
He had the right look and the right sound. He was a perfect Mark."
--(NefariousAryq)
BroadwayWorld.com


RENT (week of 11/5/06 thru 11/11/06)
What's Hot on Broadway World? LOOK! LOOK! LOOK! Harley is in the top 15 people
of "Who's Hot on Broadway World" this week!!

Go to: www.broadwayworld.comto read further!
--BroadwayWorld.com


RENT (11/05/06)
"...RENT was absolutely amazing! I loved it! The tour cast is definitely a great group. Great vocal
abilities and acting abilities. So good! Harley Jay who played Mark Cohen was terrific...
he was made for the part. ...The whole thing was just amazing. I want to go see it again...If you ever get the chance
to see it, you must! Do not pass up the opportunity!"
--Nicole
Myspace.com


RENT (11/01/06)
OvertheMoon
- A RENT RPG - Review!
"...Harley Jay as Mark...All I have to say about that is Love, Love, and Love. Oh my God. He was like soo awesome.
And he's soo cute too xD. But he was great. That boy could do no wrong. He played Mark so well.
He's so on my list of guys I love now."
--Joanne Jefferson
@5:39pm
Overthemoon1.proboards103.com

"...I love Harley Jay's name. And that's about all I can say. Except I am going hunting for bootlegs of him singing."
--Angel Dumott Schunard
@6:32pm
Overthemoon1.proboards103.com

"...Harley Jay <3 That's all I have to say about him. ;]"
--Joanne Jefferson
@8:09pm
Overthemoon1.proboards103.com

"...What I always wanted to do is go to the stagedoor after the show and meet them all. I've never been able to do that.
Like, the tour cast is so amazing, and I wanted to just go hug them all. And I always hear such nice things about
all of them too! I mean, not only are castmembers in RENT very talented and good looking people,
but they're also extremely nice."
--Angel Dumott Schunard
@10:14pm
Overthemoon1.proboards103.com


RENT (10/31/06)
"...Just wanted to say I'm pretty much in love with Harley Jay and Declan Bennett as Mark and Roger.
That is all."
--Caitie
Myspace.com


RENT (10/29/06)
"Theme of support pays the 'Rent'"
INTERMISSION: THEATER & DANCE
"Lucky No. 28? That's how many times Harley Jay auditioned for a production of "RENT" before he landed
the role of Mark in the touring production that stops Friday at Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center.
He says he auditioned for "RENT" 28 times before he finally made the cast. The shows music originally attracted
him to the show. 'I had not heard music like that in anything other than (Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar)', he says.
Jay auditioned for the play at age 17, and again when he turned 19, 20 and 21. 'I finally lucked out and scored the
gig on my 28th shot', he says. Once Jay made the cast, he found another reason to love the musical -- the script and plot.
"RENT", an adaptation of Puccini's "La Boheme", tells the story of a group of artists living in apartments in New York's
East Village in 1989 and '90. The friends struggle to keep from getting evicted and to make art without sacrificing their
artistic vision while dealing with losing friends to AIDS or being HIV positive themselves. Jay says "RENT" addresses
how deeply HIV and AIDS moved into such places as the East Village. Medical advances extend the longevity of those
diagnosed with HIV now -- if they have the means to buy the medicine. Although there is still a stigma associated with
being HIV positive, compassion for those who contract the virus has grown as people learn more about the virus and
about AIDS. In 1989, however, people who contracted the virus and their loved ones felt as if they were under siege.
The play captures how those living in the apartment support each other. That theme of support now means more to Jay
than the music that first attracted him to the musical. "RENT", he says, shows how people come together to form a family in
the truest sense of the word and how they support each other in good times and in bad times.
'That's how my family is', Jay says.
'We take care of each other because when you come down to it, family's all you got.'
--Howard Dukes
TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
SouthBendTribune.com


RENT (10/21/06)
"...Harley Jay (Mark Cohen) - Harley is my favorite Mark as of right now.
Seriously, he was just simply...perfect, from the beginning until the end."
--(Jana_IsA_Party)
Xanga.com


RENT (10/20/06)
"...Mark Cohen played by Harley Jay...wonderful. No particular shining moment for me, but that is only
because he was spot on with every single emotion. He was funny when he was supposed to be,
and moving when he was supposed to be."
--(Glory like a Sunset)
MySpace.com


RENT (10/18/06)
"...More about RENT. I never really loved "What You Own" but at Saturday's performance, wow, I fell hard.
Harley Jay and Declan Bennett made it amazing...there wasn't even any dancing or much choreography,
but wow...they made me really feel it. SOOOOO good." "...Again, life is emptier now without RENT."
--Christiana (singingtoast)
Xanga.com


RENT (10/17/06)
"...OMFG!!!! The show was amazing...I was going in trying to deep myself from judging the guy
who played Mark...but it didn't matter..He was great, hot, funny, spastic...he was perfect!
...the guy who played Roger was a hot British dude. And everyone else was great. Maureen was actually blond
...which was different. During her performance almost everyone, including me, mooed...it was GREAT..."
"...I am so complete now...a true RENThead...*sigh*...there is just so much to say..."
--(leprechaunV5)
Xanga.com


RENT (10/16/06)
"...Harley Jay (Mark) - In my opinion, he is an Anthony Rapp look alike. My fellow RENT friends don't really agree.
Great voice. "Tango Maureen" was really fun, and he pulls off the comedic Mark parts well. Once again,
the relationship between Roger and Mark is great. I loved Harley's part in Christmas Bells. He obviously has a
very strong voice/great diction because I generally can not determine Mark's lyrics during this song."
"...This is the first cast I've seen since the reunion, and I left the fifth show wanting to see another performance.
So I'd say they were pretty good." "...Overall, just a really strong cast. Far less uneven and messy than the first leg
of the tour. I completely buy into their takes on the characters, and sorry to use this over-used phrase, but they
definitely made the characters their own."
--(i'matheatreperson)
Compulsivebowlers.org


RENT (10/15/06)
"...Mark (Harley Jay): This guy was AMAZING. I was worried b/c I've been spoiled by Anthony Rapp,
but wow...Harley is just freakin' AWESOME. I read his bio and apparently he's been Judas in JCS...
I would've loved to have seen that. And I told him about my "No day but today" tattoo and he said, "No s-$!, really?!"
Hee hee. Very friendly, very funny, esp. during "Tango: Maureen," "Life Support," "La Vie Boheme,"
and "Happy New Year." He kept filming Maureen from bottom to top while she was in her cat suit...and in
"La Vie Boheme" he had some of the best dancing...during the line "Why Dorothy and Toto went over the rainbow
to blow off Auntie Em" he was crawling on the floor and Mimi was on the table, pretending to walk him. Totally awesome."
--Christiana (singingtoast)
Xanga.com


RENT (10/09/06)
"...I just want to throw this one out there...Harley Jay (Mark on the RENT tour) is awesome. I mean really,
he's good as Mark (IMO), he's hot, and he actually responds on MySpace and acts personable! He's a great guy!
Well, I'm assuming he is. Yeah. I like him. Kbye." -
-(shootinstr11)
BroadwayWorld.com


RENT (10/08/06)
"...Tuneup 1 and Voicemail - Mark explained the lot, and I could tell right away he was going to be good.
So adorkable. Harley was a very all-over the place Mark, while Declan was a very brooding Roger...
...Tango: Maureen - I have an irrational love for this scene. It's just so funny. And Harley really played it up.
He's such a spaz dancer. He was doing all this crazy, hysterical footwork. Chante was really good too. She worked
well with Harley, and they were sooo good dancing together. He was so much taller than her though, that when she
bent him back it was pretty funny. And because of that she sorta threw him, rather than dropped him, on the ground.
Such a good number. ...Life Support - Best part of number was Mark's entrance. He just looked so AWKWARD.
And when he said his name (finally), he raised his hand, like he was in 1st grade. Hehehehe. ...Happy New Year -
Lots of funny moments for this. Like Mark filming Maureen's a-- then making suggestive motions behind her when
she's trying to call Joanne. Then she took his camera away and tried to hit him. Bwahahaha. Oh Mark. More great
chemistry between him and Joanne when she showed up. ...Halloween - Poor Harley sounded so distressed in this scene.
He really pulled off the emotion. ...What You Own - ...Great singing from both Harley and Declan."

--(Thoroughly Modern Monj)
Livejournal.com


RENT (10/07/06)
"...Harley Jay who played Mark was fantabulous! Soo funny. I have to say the cast is better than Broadway.
Harley did some stuff that just made me crack up! Like when Maureen is in her cat suit he got a shot
with the camera of her a@# and then did a few other things like that with her. And I just loved it.
"...the chemistry between Mark and Roger? The best. They were really touchy and Mark was really
dorky and they would have made the greatest pair!!! Harley is the best Mark ever. Better than Matt. He just let
go and did such a wonderful job. I loved the way he narrated. "...I wanted to wait for Harley (at the stage door)
but then it would have been a longer walk down to my mom's booth. So I didn't. If I had had more time,
I would have definitely waited because he was soo great."
--(angel_1stdegree)
Livejournal.com


RENT (10/07/06)
"...First of all, I love Harley. I thought I was going to hate him because I'm such a huge Anthony Rapp fan,
but I absolutely loved him! I met him back stage--he's uber funny. My friends and I wound up at the backstage
door 20 minutes after the show ended (we walked all the way around the Peace Center trying to find it) and only
he, Warren, and Melvin were there (plus a huge group of fans.) When I was getting a picture with him,
he was like "Hold on!" and my friends looked at him and he spit out his gum before saying, "Man, that stuff was gross.
" It was really random but so hilarious because of his face. Then we couldn't get the camera to work, so we just sat there
for a minute hugging each other while my friend was trying to get the flash on and I was just like, "Oh well. It's not like
I don't mind hugging you." and he hugged me tighter and was like, "Aw, me neither!"
Once again, a very, very funny moment."
--(boho junkie)
LiveJournal.com


RENT (10/06/06)
"...The lights blacked out and I began to see dark figures moving around on the stage,
when all of a sudden I heard the first notes of Roger Davis (Declan Bennet) tuning his guitar to set up the first song.
Then I heard those first few notes sung by Mark Cohen (Harley Jay) of the song "Tuning Up," and began to get
chills up the back of my neck as I fought the urge to sing along with all the songs. From the very beginning to
the very end, all of the actors kept the energy high and kept the audience in whirlwind of emotion.
...Last but not least the two main characters Mark Cohen and Roger Davis were fantastic...
...Mark Cohen, to put it bluntly, was exceptional. His ferver and outgoing personality was truly personified
right in front of my very eyes. The entire performance was one of great music, exceptional acting and just fun,
 timeless entertainment. ...I would recommend to that everyone see this play. It was one of the better
performances that I'd seen in a very long time.
I...began to get chills...as I fought the urge to sing along with all the songs."
--Lee Burbage
District online
scaddistrict.com


RENT (10/05/06)
"...Briefly, I will just say that the rest of the cast was simply amazing!
I had most of the same cast that I saw in Asheville earlier this year except for Mark and Roger.
The guy who played Mark (Harley Jay) was dead on in that part...awesome stage presence.
Ah, I was just blown away again and I was only three rows back from the stage! What a wonderful evening at the theatre!"
--(oodlesofnoodles)
Greatestjournal.com


RENT (10/04/06)
"...RENT in Greenville was totally incredible. I liked the cast much better than the one I saw in Atlanta in June..."
"...Harley Jay (Mark): I never thought I'd say this, but Harley Jay's Mark beat Jed Resnick's by a mile.
Harley totally made the part his own (in that it didn't seem like he was trying to be Anthony Rapp),
and though I wasn't coherent enough to ask him after the show, it seemed to me that he was fairly heavily
influenced by NYTW Mark. He was kind of silly and totally horny and still hung up on Maureen.
A few examples: Durning the 'impromptu salon' in LvB when Roger mentioned his 'inability to hold an erection
on the high holy days', he held his camera between his legs, and when he tried to point it straight ahead,
it just... fell back down. You get the idea, right? It was awesome. The perfect little touch to make an already funny
moment completely hilarious. Also, his performance made me understand something I (in all my readings of the
libretto, and listening to the OBCR and viewings of videos of a somewhat questionable legal status) had never
quite gotten before. In "Christmas Bells", after Mark and Mimi are introduced, when Mimi and Roger are
singing "I should tell you", Mark sings along with them. That never made sense to me. The way they had it
blocked though, Roger and Mimi were facing each other, with Mark facing the other direction, as if speaking to
someone that wasn't actually there. I automatically assumed Maureen, and that he wanted to tell her that he
still had a thing for her. That fit in with the rest of his performance well. Lastly, I met him after the show and took a
 picture with him. He was really nice, asking if I liked the show and how many times I'd seen it and stuff.
Totally adorable." -
-(Slant_truth)
Livejournal.com


RENT (10/01/06)
"...Harley Jay - Mark (new) - Since Mark is my favorite character, I hold really high standards for
everyone who plays him and though he wasn't Anthony Rapp, he was very good. The interaction
with Roger was wonderful. His mix between silly and serious was perfect and you could see his
detachment even when he was being silly and happy.
...-Tune-up Number 1 - I always loved the tune-ups but what made this one so great was the interaction between
Roger and Mark. While Mark talked on the phone with Benny, Roger was messing with him because of Maureen.
Their relationship was firmly established during this.
...Tango: Maureen - This is one of my favorite songs no matter what but Harley and Chante did so well.
Their voices mix perfectly and their awkwardness-but-then-acceptance was amazing.
Mark's reaction to Joanne being called Pookie was hilarious.
...La Vie Boheme - Just as with OTM, it was humorous as always but you could tell that each and
every character was doing it for more than just being funny. They were all truly celebrating and really
understood. It was amazing. I felt as if I was really in the Life Cafe as they were doing it. Amazing."
--Jem (rainbows n bulk)
LiveJournal.com


RENT (09/27/06)
"...Although the show started a little shaky with filmmaker Mark (Harley Jay) sounding
nervously breathless, it quickly found its voice as a powerful message on love and the
ephemeral quality of life. ...'Harley' and Chante Carmel Frierson (Joanne) deliver a spirited and
perfectly voiced "Tango: Maureen," with 'Harley' showing off some nice, subtle comic ability."
--Pam Harbaugh
Florida Today.com
Lifestyle Blog


RENT (09/30/06)
"...My first impression of Harley in this role were that he was just as good as Anthony Rapp.
He sounded like him, had the moves down...But then as the story progressed a bit, and I think during
La Vie Boheme I really was able to see him become his own Mark. It was so fun watching these
people come into these characters, because I believe for MOST of them it was their first show.
Or the second show, not including dress rehearsal. So from beginning to end, you could see the
transformation more and more into the characters, and Harley sticks out in my mind as one who really had that down.
FAVORITE PERFORMANCE: "What You Own" stands out to me most, because he was completely aware of
himself and the character at this point. And his performance with Declan was perfect."
--Bret (slayerfanboy)
MySpace.com


RENT (09/30/06)
"...Harley Jay (Mark)-Favorite performer of this show. He just has this presence on stage that's so infectious.
His acting choices were impeccable - there are so many moments that he made his own and he was hysterical.
But I also love his versatility - when he was serious, he was heartbreaking. Singing was on the entire night.
Tango: Maureen was the funniest thing ever."
--singinmysong13
BroadwayWorld.com


RENT (09/30/06)
"...Declan Bennett (as Roger), Harley Jay (Mark), and Krystal Brown (Mimi) put in solid performances..."
--Paul Hyde
STAFF WRITER
GreenvilleOnline.com


Footloose (11/12 thru 12/03)
"...Harley Jay had some tough shoes to fill for those of us who picture Kevin Bacon in the leading role,
but he really shines as Ren -- his acting, singing and dancing were all admirable.
...Undoubtedly the most encouraging thing about "Footloose" is the fact that all the talented young people
in the production will hopefully be gracing the Valley's stages for some years to come."
--Barbara Balletto
Sonoran News


Jesus Christ Superstar (09/05/03)
"...However, countering that is Mr. Jay's inspired and musically impressive performance as Judas.
While he is never given a chance to positively connect with Mr. Linder's Jesus before launching into
his downward spiral of betrayal, he brings a twisted lip sneer to the growing disillusionment of his character.
The highlight of the show is his big number at the end, where he swoops about the stage and asks what he feels
are the right questions with the dying Jesus mounted on the crucifix behind him."
--Mark S.P. Turvin
GoldfishPublishers.com