Gaten Matarazzo, the Stranger Things star who captured hearts with his portrayal of Dustin Henderson, is set to head straight to Broadway after his tenure in the beloved series. The 23-year-old actor will make his London stage debut in an exciting revival of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent, which is scheduled to premiere at the West End in the fall of 2026.
Gaten Matarazzo's Latest Musical Venture
The renowned musical will debut on October 8, 2026, following preview performances starting September 26. This fresh production of Rent will be directed by Luke Sheppard, who recently won the Olivier Award from the Society of London Theatre for his work on Paddington: The Musical.
Sophie Friedman, the producer of the musical, expressed her awareness of the demographics that have evolved since the original premiere 30 years ago. She shared her enthusiasm, stating, "And how excited they are going to be about seeing Gaten on stage. And to introduce them to something like Rent over here in the UK is just mind-blowingly exciting. He's going to bring in a whole new audience, as our play did, and this feels really special," according to Deadline.
About Gaten Matarazzo's Career on Broadway
While Gaten Matarazzo gained widespread recognition after starring in the supernatural thriller series, he is highly familiar with the Broadway stage. At just 9 years old, he made his stage debut in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, according to Broadway Direct. He then ventured into musical theatre, playing the role of Gavroche in the 2014 revival of Les Misérables. After starring in the 2019 production of Into the Woods as Jack, he played Jared in Dear Evan Hansen in 2022. Later that same year, he appeared in Parade in New York City, and most recently played Tobias in the 2024 revival of Sweeney Todd.
This upcoming role in Rent marks a significant milestone in Matarazzo's career, bridging his television fame with his deep-rooted passion for live theatre. The revival promises to attract both longtime fans of the musical and a new generation of theatergoers eager to see the actor's stage prowess.
