The Musical Rent – No Need to Rent it, Experience it Live!
Ever since 1994 when it first debuted, Rent has been the talk of theatre. Rent, with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is a multilayered joy. It is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Bohème”, but would go on to become its own unique story, and a mainstay of gay culture. What has happened since 1996, when the play swept the Tony’s (winning Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Featured Actor), is that the film has transcended its gay roots and become a legitimate part of American culture.
The film was the undercurrent subject of the 1990s and by 2005, was a household name. The production was even turned into a feature length film with most of the original cast members returning. However, the film never quite captures the spirit of the original production, and this is why most “Rent-Heads” insist that you watch the play live. The brilliant play is what started the hype in the first place, and what led to several national tours and numerous productions overseas.
What is Rent about? The musical tells the story of a group of youths, penniless artists and struggling musicians, who struggle to survive New York’s Lower East Side. The backdrop is Bohemian Alphabet City, and one of the film’s most important subjects is HIV/AIDS. Some of the top songs from the Rent soundtrack include Seasons of Love (a popular pop song in its own right), “La Vie Boheme A”, and “I’ll Cover You.”
Sadly, the creator of the play, Jonathan Larson, never lived to see the mainstream acceptance of his life’s greatest work. He died the night before the off-Broadway show premiere. Nevertheless, his work has since been embraced by fans of all races, nationalities and sexual orientations. Rent won a Pulitzer Prize, four Tony awards and is one of the longest running plays in Broadway history (12 years, grossing nearly $300 million). As any artist would agree (except maybe the sell-out landlord Benjamin), it’s not about the money but about the art.
The best way to experience Rent, a musical and opera mixed in one, is to see it live!
Categorized in: Musical