RENT on Broadway

Rent is a smash hit, bohemian musical, written by Jonathan Larson.

It lived at the Nederlander theatre on Broadway for 12 years, before departing, much to the despair of the legion of Renthead fans. A few years later it has been resurrected and found new residence at the New World Stages Theatre, off Broadway. The show is directed by Michael Greiff who directed the original productions. The show went into previews on July 14, 2011 and opened August 11, 2011.

Based on Puccini's La Boheme this show explores ideas of love, loss, hardship and life. Winner of 10 Tony Awards, Rent will go in history as the Broadway smash that bucked the trend of 1990's musical theatre at the time.

RENT based on Puccini's La Boheme is the story of a group of bohemians, living in New York's East Village. They struggling to get by, they can't pay their rent, whilst seeing their loved ones fighting AIDS. The show explores ideas of success, acceptance, poverty, survival, death, loss, love and living for the moment.

Meet the colourful and diverse characters that make up the show

Now pay attention - this circle of friends gets complicated...

MARK COHEN: The show is narrated through Mark's perspective. A bohemian and struggling film maker. He is the ex-boyfriend of Maureen, and lives with Roger. Mark creates the final movie that documents a year in the life of friends.

ROGER DAVIS: A bohemian musician, recovering heroin addict and infected with HIV from his ex-girlfriend April (who killed herself after finding out she had HIV). Love interest of Mimi, and roommate of Mark.

TOM COLLINS: A philosopher (teaching at the MIT) and anarchist, fighting with AIDS. Friends with Roger, Mark, Benny and Maureen. Former roommate of Roger. Angel's lover.

MIMI MARQUEZ: Heroin junkie, exotic dancer at the Cat Stratch club, HIV positive. Roger's love interest. Used to be in a relationship with Benny.

ANGEL DUMOTT SCHUNARD: Drag Queen, street percussionist living with AIDS. Collin's lover.

JOANNE JEFFERSON: Ivy League-educated lawyer; Maureen's lover.

MAUREEN JOHNSON: An anarchist performance artist. Joanne's girlfriend. Mark's ex-girlfriend.

BENJAMIN "BENNY" COFFIN III: Landlord to Mark and Roger - also the building where Mimi lives. Ex-roommate of Mark, Collins, Roger, and Maureen. Married to Alison Grey (who we never meet) of the Westport Greys and so considered to be a yuppie and a corporate sell-out.

A lot of people think RENT means "paying the rent"...but there are more definitions that open up the meanings behind this show's title.

Rent

noun

1. a payment made periodically by a tenant to a landlord in return for the use of land, a building, an apartment, an office, or other property.

verb (used with object)

2. to grant the possession and enjoyment of (property, machinery, etc.) in return for the payment of rent from the tenant or lessee. (often followed by out ).

verb (used without object)

1. to be leased or let for rent: This apartment rents cheaply.

Idiom

1. for rent, available to be rented, as a home or store: an apartment for rent.

Synonyms

1. lease, let. See hire.

Rent [2]

noun

1. an opening made by rending or tearing; slit; fissure.

2. a breach of relations or union between individuals or groups; schism.

Rend verb, rent, rend·ing.

verb (used with object)

1. to separate into parts with force or violence: The storm rent the ship to pieces.

2. to tear apart, split, or divide: a racial problem that is rending the nation.

3. to pull or tear violently (often followed by away, off, up, etc.).

4. to tear (one's garments or hair) in grief, rage, etc.

5. to disturb (the air) sharply with loud noise.

Synonyms

1. rive, sunder, sever, cleave, chop, fracture, rupture.

(Definitions taken from: Dictionary.com)

Looking at these definitions, we can see that this show is more than just needing to pay the rent. It is about financial freedom (or lack of it), friendship groups and relationships tearing apart, lives being destroyed by the violent wrath of AIDS, people being made homeless, people losing their dreams and not knowing what path to take in life and lots of unknowns with open and closed doors. Everything is RENT.

Creator of RENT

Jonathan Larson (February 4, 1960 - January 25, 1996) lived and breathed RENT. His work explored diverse ideas of life and what it means to live your life to the full, knowing that death is imminent. Starting creative work on the show in 1993, RENT got to Broadway in 1996. Tragically, Larson died the day before opening night, of an aortic dissection. His family gave their blessing to go ahead with the show, and it ran on for another 12 years. Larson's legacy lives on.

[image credit - Wiki]

From diaries, to musical scores, there is a lot about RENT in paper format. Have a browse...

The most beautiful thing about eBay, is that you can find rare and unique collectable items - perfect for the avid fan, or the new explorer.

If you only watch one video on this lens, make it this one...

For full lyrics, check out AllMusicals.com

The cast of RENT changed the words to "Seasons of Love" to fit in with Regis' leaving. Have a listen to the harmonies, they are just beautiful! Although, some of the words are altered, the sentiment is still the same as what the shows intimates.

RENT is about living for the moment, seizing the day and valuing each precious moment you have on earth. The song "Seasons of Love", explores the different ways that you can measure a year. Love, is really the conclusion to the song (and show), but what do you think?

How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?

When the original Broadway production of RENT closed it's doors back in 2008 - many hearts were broken...a moving tribute here by Whoopi Goldberg, and the original cast of RENT

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