A Message to the Producers of the RENT, Cast Hopefuls, and Fans

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 11:37am

I am a fan of Rent.

I have seen both the show and film multiple times, and am one of the many who finds themselves able to recite much of La Vie Boheme from memory. The original cast recording is incredible: surely it is considered a "modern classic." Rent truly has DEFINED a generation.

I have just one request. Rather than "replicating" the original cast and production, I hope that thought will be given to creating a "new" production with a fresh face on the cast. I understand the need for the audience to feel "satisfied" by seeing their favorite production back on stage, but I think similar feelings could still exist in a different approach.

I am really not suggesting rewrites, but I am asking that thought be given to casting actors who may not be exactly like "Anthony Rapp," "Adam Pascal," or "Idina Menzel." All three of those actors were incredible in the original cast, and still are extraordinarily talented actors. Feeling the need to try to emulate their performance may be a natural thing, but I feel strongly against it.

After watching some of the audition videos, I was very impressed with the quality of many of the submissions. The only criticism I have, are the ones that try to be "imitations" or "soundalikes" (sometimes even the "blocking" was similar. I of course understand that much of this is unavoidable, but again it would be awesome to have a brand new vision.

I am aware of the discussion about the "race" in the show, and a desire to keep it consistent with the original. My feeling is this: If a character was written with a particular race in mind, that is fine. But again, if the producers only want to remount the original, I do not think it is the best idea creatively.

I felt that part of the timeless factor of RENT, was the ability to see parts of one's self inside the characters. Obviously that is the goal of MANY if not all works of theater, but RENT did an especially good job of showcasing an ensemble that really showcases the diversity among us.

If the producers ever hope to remount this production, I think their best shot will be investing much effort in creating a new overall vision, giving an even more massive audience something to WANT to go back and see.

I only hope this production is a smash for those involved, and those interested.

Best of luck,

A Fan of Rent
Updated On: 3/18/11 at 11:37 AM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:08pm

I fear you're missing the "point" of this revival.

They want it to run and run and run and make a sh!t ton of money, so they are replicating the original production. This idea is not borne of artistic aspirations, but financial ones.

The. Period. End. Period.

[tourboi]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:25pm

Originally didn't they say that it was to be an entirely new production?

Now it does appear that it is simply just a remount of the original... lame.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:29pm

Its going to be an exact remount of what was seen at the Nederlander. But maybe in the smaller space it will give a taste of how the show was at NYTW which was very exciting indeed.

[Icey Noah]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:08pm

I totally agree with the OP here. I was so sad when RENT closed, but immediately excited about the day when it was revived and restaged. The thing I love about directing is how you can take a script and a score and go so many different directions with it. The original production of RENT is great but the show itself has so many other possibilities and so much potential. Its super disappointing that they're just going to do the same exact production again.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:17pm

"...am one of the many who finds themselves able to recite much of La Vie Boheme from memory..."

"Much" of it? A real fan can do the whole thing in his or her sleep including choreographic variations between Daphne and Simone.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:26pm

Ugh. Has there ever been a show so undeservedly venerated as this pretentious piece of hooey?

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:34pm

Yes, there has.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 2:01pm

I was sure there was but I couldn't think of one.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 2:47pm

A message from billboyA to the cast of RENT- Don't smoke, it's unprofessional.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 2:53pm

I agree with tourboi. A remount of the exactly same show everyone has seen sounds boring and lame. I would love to see something new and original.

[robertupland]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 3:11pm

How do you guys know it's going to be a replica? I thought it was supposed to be 'all new'.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 3:39pm

I think the show will feel fresh and original if they hire youth to play the roles who can sing well as opposed to populating Bohemia with 40 somethings with jowls, crows feet, and bald spots as in the recent past.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 7:01pm

I think it would be really refreshing to see a very young cast.

[Jon]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 7:08pm

I'd love to see a Mark who DOESN'T have spiky hair, glasses, a striped scarf, and a blue and maroon shirt that shows his navel when he does his spastic dance moves.

[dexter3]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 8:55pm

Methinks this whole "message to the producers" sentiment is inspired more by a bitterness of an actor who's not the right type for his dream role *or* has already not made it to the next round of callbacks.

[singtopher]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 11:18pm

Am I the only one who is going to pick on the OP for saying "the RENT"?

[My Oh My]

Posted: 3/19/11 at 2:12am

Rent's message isn't near and dear to me, thanks to its flip-flopping on its own message of "no day, but today."

Mimi rising from the dead sort of nullifies all of that.

At any rate, I've lost most of my faith in directors these days. It used to be that a re-staging or different perspective of a musical respected the original's integrity. Nowadays it seems directors are full of themselves and will take a winning piece, heavily experiment with it, ruining it in the process, then call that "brave," even insinuating a certain genius inherent within where none existed in the stupid, overblown original.

Oh, yes, and tiny spaces suddenly boast stunning revelation where religious experiences are had, compared to the boring, large, original productions staged in standard 1,500 seat theatre that offer your standard Broadway entertainment. If I read another director interview that states some stage the size of my closet somehow makes HIS/HER production superior and makes them a genius, I'm gonna screeeeaaam.

That's not to say I think ALL directors nowadays are that way, but there seems to be a general trend toward adopting a piece as if it were their own as opposed to serving its intended purpose, supporting its message and finding new, effective ways to do that.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/19/11 at 2:36am

"Mimi rising from the dead sort of nullifies all of that."

How?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/19/11 at 2:43am

I am curious as well. How does Mimi rising from the dead "nullify" the show's message? If anything I think it illustrates the show's message that life is all about living now and in the present.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 3/19/11 at 3:58am

But having the character that preaches that message rise from the dead sort of defeats it, don't you think?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/19/11 at 4:03am

Isnt' the point that you might not be able to enjoy/live tomorrow? Rising from the dead gives her back tomorrow.

At least that's what I think myohmy is trying to point out.

Personally, the message I got from Rent was: Do whatever the hell you want today, because tomorrow you can just avoid responsibility.

Updated On: 3/19/11 at 04:03 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/19/11 at 4:26am

My oh my and dramamama - I see what you're saying and that is a good point. I guess it just depends on how you view the show abd the message you take away from it. Different people will take away different messages and have different insights. I do see what youre saying though.
On a side note, one thing that bothers me about the ending to Rent is that I feel like nothing is really solved. Mimi comes back and they all sing together, but then it just ends. Are we just supposed to assume everything gets better, or that they will keep on struggling to get by?

Updated On: 3/19/11 at 04:26 AM

[wendilin622]

Posted: 3/19/11 at 7:28am

"Are we just supposed to assume everything gets better, or that they will keep on struggling to get by?"


I've always assumed that they continued to struggle to get by, but now they had each other more so than before....or at least Mimi and Roger did.

[TheatreDork3]

Posted: 3/19/11 at 7:42am

RENT, for all its failings, is what made me love Broadway. I remember reading about RENT in the New York Times in the mid-90s when I was a college student. As someone who grew up in a city that was recently named the second most conservative city in the country, hearing the lyrics of RENT was ground breaking. Heck, before RENT I had been raised primarily on Contemporary Christian Music, so the show opened my eyes in a completely brand new way.

As for the topic at hand, I would love to see a re-envisioning of the show. I was lucking enough to see most of the original cast (with Norbert Leo Butz, Pascal's replacement), but it was still an amazing (almost religious) experience. However, I was in my late teens then. I'm turning 35 today, so I now see RENT as an interesting historical piece - like my parents view HAIR. I see my own life and my own trajectory in life through RENT. As such, I've changed and grown up and now want to see a new RENT.

TD