Through Angel, we get to explore themes of gender identity, sexual orientation, and illness, challenging norms and expectations along with providing representation for queer individuals in the musical and creating a platform for their voice beyond the world of Rent. Angel is a friend who provides emotional support, companionship, and a sense of family to the group who are all undergoing a variety of personal and societal issues. Angel in my mind represents hope and resilience. They showcase the incredible ability for people to find joy and beauty regardless of adversity. Their positive energy in the midst of a whirlpool of negativity encourages us to embrace ourselves, our lives, and the people around us. I believe that Angel presents a sparkle of joy and glitter in everyone’s lives, even when things seem down. Using that as inspiration, I wanted to really allow Angel to shine, providing them with a dramatic (maybe even unconventional) introduction and an overall sparkly eye and lip makeup look, showcasing what it means to be living your fabulous own life regardless of what others think.