I've never even seen the Rent book, I guess that's the next thing to get. Here I am posting opinions about the movie when I've never even seen the show, only heard the cast recording. I'm kind of behind on Rent.
Allie, I take it you're seeing the tour when it swings up into Canada. I'm thinking about trying to see it in CT or NJ rather than going to the Nederlander. It doesn't sound like the current Broadway cast is the best first performance to see.
Ballerina, all I know about the Aida thing is that originally they wanted Adam to take off more clothes than just his shirt - don't know if that was just more, or all - but he refused.
From a Playbill Interview Adam: I wish I didn't have to take my shirt off, because I wouldn't have to go to the gym so much. It could be worse: in the original script, I had to take off all my clothes, but I said, "Wait a minute, come on here, now."
::imagining the BLIZZARD of flashbulbs going off every night if this had actually happened:: How much of the deathstare could audiences have taken?
It is pretty surprising that the original script had that. One thing I'm sure of, there's no way Heather Headley was going to take off anything, so it might have been a strange disparity.
During his first Chatterbox appearance Adam describes Heather as the epitome of the good girl, Christian, doesn't drink, smoke, swear, etc. I believe she's a minister's daughter also. I'm pretty sure with that background she would never agree to take her clothes off on stage.