It’s fair to say that Lucie Jones is currently extremely busy. Not only is the Cardiff born singer and actress starring in the 20th Anniversary touring production of Jonathan Larson’s musical Rent which comes to Wales Millennium Centre on April 3, but she is also preparing to represent the United Kingdom in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
“I’ve been doing Rent since September and love the show,” Lucie tells Andy Howells, “I’m doing 8 shows a week as well as my Eurovision commitments. Seeing friends and having a life is falling by the wayside now but it’s so exciting and so much fun and there are so many cool things to do and see, its crazy.”
The company of Rent Picture: Matt Crockett
In Rent, Lucie plays the role of Maureen Johnson, a young woman who is part of a group of bohemian artists who struggle to maintain their friendships and their non-conformist ideals in New York’s East Village. Facing their problems head on, they make personal self-discoveries and find what really matters most in life.
Inspired by Puccini’s opera La Bohème, Rent won four Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996. The poignancy of Rent’s story was heightened when its creator, Jonathan Larson died of an aortic dissection on January 25 1996, the night before the show’s first off-Broadway performance at New York Theatre Workshop. The musical ran on Broadway for 12 years as well as an 18-month run in London’s West End.
The company of Rent Picture: Matt Crockett
“It was very pivotal when it was written,” says Lucie, “there was nothing else like it. It really deals with some testy issues in a respectful way, keeping you engaged while been light hearted and maintaining comic relief. It’s wonderful and fills every genre of music. It’s a very wonderful thing, we’ve had a standing ovation at every single performance, people are so moved by it and they come back again and again.”
Starring in Rent at Wales Millennium Centre will also feature a first in Lucie’s career. “I’ve never actually done a musical at the Millennium Centre but I’ve done lots of concerts,” she reveals, “ I’ve been to so many amazing places but I just think the Millennium Centre is so special, I can’t wait to see a home crowd.”
Rent and Eurovision Star: Lucie Jones
Rent will play at The Millennium Centre from April 3 – 8, although Lucie won’t be appearing on April 8 due to Eurovision commitments. “it’s a real marriage having a career in music and musical theatre career at the same time,” says Lucie, “It’s a very delicate situation to handle because people are working very hard that your dream can work in both musical theatre and in music its amazing that ive got wonderful supportive people around me.”
Lucie is also grateful of her fans support on social media “I could never do what I do without the people who reply to my tweets and listen to my songs,” she says.
- To book tickets for Rent call the box office on 029 2063 6464 or visit wmc.org.uk To follow Lucie Jones on Twitter follow @luciejones1