Adam Pascal on the closing

[Pascal/Menzel/Bundy]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 1:43pm

Adam posted this on his blog on his website (adampascalmusic.com) I think he pretty much hits the nail on the head. (In case you don't know, Lennon and Monte are his sons...):

"Rent Closing
Hello everyone. I feel I should address the closing of Rent on Broadway. I know there are many people who are very upset, and I understand. This show has changed many lives, mine included. However that fact, is what is important. Going to see the show over and over again only allows one to remain longer in a fantasy world. What Jonathan would have wanted is for people come away from the show with a renewed spirit, and take that feeling into the real world! To live YOUR OWN LIFE the way the characters in the show, the words and the music have inspired you to. It means nothing to come and sit in a theater night after night and immerse yourself in fantasy, only then to walk out the door and be unchanged in reality. This show will live on in our hearts. But where it truly must survive is in our actions, our compassion and our generousity of spirit towards one another. It is time for the next chapter in this story. I'm excited to see how this story continues to change lives through regional productions, High school productions, small community theater productions and eventually when my kids are old enough, THE BROADWAY REVIVAL starring LENNON AND MONTE as Mark and Roger. That would be something....

long live Rent!
Adam"

[jarretSF]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 1:50pm

I'm not a huge fan of Adam's, but I love that he said that.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 1:54pm

"high school productions.."

Oh my god. That will be a horrid day.

Nice words from Mr. Pascal. :)

[paphillyguy]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 1:56pm

Clumsy,

There already have been High School versions. I saw the one at Truman High in Bristol PA and it was not bad at all.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 1:58pm

Yes, but I can just imagine my old high school attempting it and it sends shivers of fear down my spine.

I'm sure well put together high schools will do amazing work with it, but the horrible youtube videos can be seen in my nightmares of horrible high school productions to come.

Updated On: 1/18/08 at 01:58 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 1:58pm

I think he hit it perfrectly as well.

Most of the current generation of Rentheads are ones who see the show non stop, know every little thing there is to know about each actor ect. They never seem to leave the theatre and actually living out the message of the show.

Instead they spend thier free time in the Nederlander time and time again. Getting themselves drenched in the world of the parable that is Rent and never trying to do in actions the messages that the show depicts.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 2:01pm

There's only one r in perfectly, Winston.

[guymy13]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 2:25pm

I agree with everything that Mr. Pascal (and others in this thread have) said, but I could have never worded it so perfectly.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 2:39pm

I think that was beautifully written by Adam! Thanks for posting!

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 2:49pm

I too am not a huge fan of Adam, but here he's saying something that truly makes sense. He's right, and it's nice to hear. Though I'm still going to miss being able to see it live, especially as I'm finally coming to NYU in the fall, and it will be gone. But it's been a great ride, and my 7 (soon to be 8 thanks to the tour) times will never be forgotten.

[Pascal/Menzel/Bundy]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 2:49pm

You're welcome!

[alliez92092]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 2:49pm

I loved that. I really admire and respect Adam. He put how I feel into words.

That was also the first coherent thing he's written in awhile. serious****inly.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 2:55pm

God that guy hit it on the nail there. What good do these people get from making nusiances of themselves at the theatre nightly, night after night after night. There you go Rent Heads your God has spoken to you and he says 'GO GET A LIFE!' lol

[Pascal/Menzel/Bundy]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 3:07pm

HAHA ALLIE! I loved when he made up that word. That was hysterical.

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 3:07pm

LOL, to some extent, yes, that is what he's saying. Although far more eloquently. I would like to point out, however, some of us are already doing what he says, and living our dreams and being a part of our communities and fighting for what is important and what is right.

*off soapbox*

Sorry. Still having some issues getting used to RENT closing - I just found out yesterday.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 3:13pm

That was a very well written statement. And yes, eloquent.

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 3:27pm

perfect and well said

[jerseyboyschick2]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 3:39pm

Beautifully said. Just another reason I love him.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 3:51pm

"Going to see the show over and over again only allows one to remain longer in a fantasy world."

So true.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 4:01pm

I've been saying this for 10 years. The great sadness of RENT is that so many people should have left that theater and created exciting art but they just imagined friendships with the 8th Mark replacement while documenting how awesome it was to almost catch the key again.

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 4:03pm

Perfectly put!

[george95]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 4:40pm

Every time I see RENT I am instantly transported back to that circa 96/97 era, and as much as I loved reliving it each time I saw the show, now I feel like I can put all of that early 20-something, college and post-college angst behind me. YES I would stil prefer for RENT to stay open with some tender loving care.......I have to admit that Adam Pascal's words are true.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 4:57pm

In other words, he's telling you people who are whining about the closing to get a life.

[Chloe]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 5:02pm

Adam, who is quite capable of calling his own fans names, doesn't use other words much. I'm pretty sure he means it the way he put it.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 5:08pm

"Every time I see RENT I am instantly transported back to that circa 96/97 era, and as much as I loved reliving it each time I saw the show, now I feel like I can put all of that early 20-something, college and post-college angst behind me. YES I would stil prefer for RENT to stay open with some tender loving care.......I have to admit that Adam Pascal's words are true. "

I agree that I would much rather see Rent stay open with CARE. That's the key word. I think it could have if it had some care over the past few years.

I love the show, and honestly, I think you should be able to see a show as many times as you want without being told to get a life. Which is basically what Adam is saying that these people don't have a life. That isn't true of all Rent fans. I think Adam is addressing a small group whose life is Rent. There are PLENTY of fans that come back to Rent or other shows for two hours of fantasy --- what's wrong with that? Plenty of people watch the same movie or tv series over and over. Plenty of people re-read their favorite books. At least these people are interacting with others at the theatre.

When that is all that one does during one's free time, it can become a bad habit. However, everyone needs a little fantasy in their life. That is why there are so many options of entertainment. And goodness knows that Rent's message is so much better than messages in other outlets. Maybe it will take a couple of years to apply the message to one's own life. Maybe they ARE measuring their life in love and creating art. Maybe they don't have the ability to create art, but find joy in watching others do it.

I get what he is saying, but I'm not sure that this is the majority of Rent fans. You can't put Rentheads in one box.