Señor's long-running role in Broadway's Rent has transformed the 29-year-old's life. It allowed him to live abroad while he performed with Rent's London company. It afforded him an apartment in Manhattan . It made him a star. But when Señor talks about what he will take from his six-years performing in Rent when he leaves this month, he really speaks of his heart.

“Playing that character has absolutely changed my life,” Señor said. “It taught me every human attribute essential to life. Angel is so loving, patient, kind, loyal and giving. If I have a problem during the day, every night I get to resolve it. He's like my best friend, this person I know so well.”

The Miami native landed the role in 1997 during his last semester as a theater major at FIU. At the time, Señor was auditioning for the MFA program at the University of California at San Diego . The director at the auditions also was the director of Rent .

Señor took a chance and approached him about auditioning for the Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway show.

The next week Señor was on a plane to New York . Within a day, he had landed the role. Señor performed in the Los Angeles show then spent one year touring with Rent , performing in every major U.S. city. He also spent one year with Rent in London , an experience he calls: “Amazing…amazing…amazing.”

In 2000, Señor returned to New York and opened on Broadway, fulfilling his highest acting aspirations. He performs eight shows a week, singing and dancing as Angel, the character he has played since he was 22.

“It is never boring,” he says of his role. “I've changed a lot so you always have something new to bring to the character.”

Days are free, so Señor has also worked on the side. He has appeared in a Verizon commercial and an episode of Ed . He has a small role in Dummy , a new Adrian Brody movie with Milla Jovovich. “My scenes are silly,” Señor said. “I have like five lines. But I was on the silver screen.”

His interest in acting began in junior high when he played in Romeo and Juliet . He stayed with drama in high school and decided to make a career of it. Señor says he always knew acting was the right choice for him.

“I like being able to recreate moments and emotions I've had,” he said. “It's almost therapeutic in a way. It allows me to further understand myself and humanity.”

Last year, Señor took a leave from Rent and went backpacking through Europe . The break inspired a new artistic path in music. Señor has always loved music, playing and performing, although he never had formal training. “I got my voice training in my room listening to Guns and Roses and Skid Row and salsa,” he says.

After returning from his hiatus, Señor says he picked up his guitar. “I'd never been able to write music in my life, and I started writing music. If I had not left the show, I would have never found this gift.”

In January, Señor will once again leave Rent. He's not entirely sure what comes next. He will move to Los Angeles , write music, audition. He says he does not fret about his future. The six years he has spent playing Angel have prepared him for this next journey.

“We have this way of brainwashing ourselves into a little corner and saying, ‘This is who I am,” and ‘This is what I have to do.' We become afraid of the rest of the world. The more we let go and give in to things we're afraid of, the less we will be afraid….There's nothing to fear. There is so much more.”

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