At RENT now... — Page 2

Not suprised at all.

The think is that correct me if I am wrong. But, haven't Rent's grosses been pretty low for the longest time now?

If so, it amazes me that the producers can go on and actually keep the damn thing open.

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Well it's pretty cheap to keep open. It's pretty useless to speculate on it's closing since it's gone against the odds for years now.

I think the lack of locals and regulars at lottery has to do with the new lottery policy and some actors extensions. OH well.

People say it'll close at the end of the year every year. At least since 2002. If people keep saying it every year, one of these years they're bound to be right. Also the cast never has any kind of idea what's going on. The fans knew about Adam and Anthony coming back before most of the cast did.

I also heard that the closing is on the horizon by the end of this year. I know that is said every year but this seems to be true.

Wow Brainlessorwise,
your post really knocked me out. You captured so eloquently how so many of us feel about the snide and rude comments people make about such trivial matters as spelling, and how its not necessary to be so mean to people who just post about shows that they love.

I have to say a big hearty THANK YOU though on behalf of those of us who post about shows we truly love, especially the long-runners that so many on BWW seem to hate so passionately.

RENT (along with phantom and before les Mis) is my constant as well. There is something very comforting about knowing that no matter what kind of crap goes on in the world, or no matter how bad a day i'm having, Mimi will still be in those blue tights tonight and Roger will still be trying to write that one great song.

I took the liberty of checkin into RENT's grosses to see if all this apocalyptic talk about RENT is really necessary.
So here goes:
1996 $18million gross, 85% full (april-dec 96)
1997 $28million gross, 102%full
1998 $27million gross, 97% full
1999 $23million gross, 86% full
2000 $22million gross, 82% full
2001 $20million gross, 82% full
2002 $19million gross, 78% full
2003 $16million gross, 73% full (2003-worst year for RENT)
2004 $17million gross, 71% full
2005 $20million gross, 77% full
2006 $24million gross, 79% full (RENT movie bump)
2007 $17million gross, 67% full

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Updated On: 1/14/08 at 11:45 PM

Grosses, are a walk on the slippery rocks
Low running costs, are a light in the fog

I was at the show tonight, and it was empty. There were about 40 people at lotto, because not everyone won. The problem with tonight was that a ton of people were clapping at parts where it makes no sense to clap/scream. But yeah, the current cast... there are a handful of people who are good and the rest I wonder how their contracts have been renewed.

I just wish the show had better marketing. I mean, they advertised the heck out of A&A. But what's the point of a stunt cast like Tamyra if no one knows she's in it? A street team or something would definitely help.

Also, the "Daphne is still the best Daphne" thing is a reference to something someone wrote on the Nederlander. My personal favorite is the "Adam Pascal ruined my daughter's birthday" hate note.

I am not ashamed to say that up until a couple of years ago I saw Rent religously. But, I didn't consider myself a Renthead. To me that meant being part of the teeny bopper fan club that goes with the show. Instead I avoided that like the plague. I saw the show 27 times in shy over a year. Going alone. Always alone. Never made a friend there. Never wanted to. It was the show and the music and the message that made me fall in love with it.

I grew out of that funk not that long ago. Just didn't continue to go for whatever reason.

Adam and Anthony comming back made me want to see it again. I did twice. The first time was annoying because I was in the rear Mezz and my glasses cracked in two. I mostly heard them and what I heard was amazing. The second time was compensation for not being able to see them the first time. I was in the Orchestra. I remember feeling so angry during the show I couldn't figure out why. It was because of the fact that there I was looking at this wonderful work of theatre that I love with all my heart. I was watching it being performed by people who looked as if they didn't want to be there. As if they didn't care. It just made me so angry to see something I love so much being treated as if no one cared about it anymore.

As much as I love the show (And I do. I always will) I think it is time for it to go. It is not getting any better from the fact that it is having a rotation of the same few cast members who have been around since the beginning of the decade.

It hurts me beyond words to see such a life changing event of theatre to be ripped to shreads by actors phoning it in all the time.

If that is what is going to be of this show then I would rather it never be on Broadway anymore.

I am still crossing my fingers and hoping that there are people in the production team that still care about this show. It isn't looking very likely.

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I'd say publicity is the way to go. Advertise more.

Voices for Rent worked so well.

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Keep in mind one thing regarding the Nederlander.

It was set up to look like the east village. Just like the O'neil was set up to look like the 50's when Grrease played there.

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"Nederlander...be an undesirable theater"

-why?

Keep in mind one thing regarding the Nederlander.

It was set up to look like the east village. Just like the O'neil was set up to look like the 50's when Grrease played there.

I understand that. But it is definately something that is helping to keep the show open. I personally have never heard of any rumors of upcoming shows wanting to call their home the Nederlander.

But whatever show opens after the theater won't have to restore it, that's Rent's job. When a show trashes a theater like that (ala Cats), they must set aside money from the initial budget to pay for restoring the theater after they leave. Also, where do you thing the 1.50 theater restoration fee goes?