BWW TV Preview: First Look at RENT Off-Broadway!

[Rob]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:10pm

Click Here to Read BWW TV Preview: First Look at RENT Off-Broadway!

[metropolis10111]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:17pm

Love how the show is called "a cult classic"...

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:24pm

That was a pretty bad preview, IMHO. It looks like they all took 3 valiums before shooting it. And the staging looks like "Move wherever you can find space!"

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:35pm

As much as I loved the original 1996 production of RENT I have zero interest in seeing this "revival" and this preview solidifies it. This show needs a rest.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:37pm

Just horrifying.

[Overkill]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:48pm

This preview did nothing for me. I was actually more excited to see it before I watched this. I like the new costume and set designs. Just wish they would have tried to change up the orchestrations a little more. I'm not familiar with barely anyone in this production, but from this video, I did NOT like the Mark one bit. But I hear he's getting the most praise, so maybe it's just this video.

"It looks like they all took 3 valiums before shooting it. And the staging looks like 'Move wherever you can find space!'"

I was thinking the same thing. "Okay, we'll turn around a few times, right here! Now let's interact." Didn't seem very organic.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:50pm

Does Matt Shingledecker sing Roger like a soprano the whole night, or just the opening song?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:56pm

Love Matt Shingledecker, but... LMAO

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 6:00pm

NOT a good first impression at all for me. But if the reviews are good, I'll still be interested in seeing this.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 6:11pm

Wow. I feel sorry for them in a way, but then again, I don't. I saw the show on the 16th, and personally loved it. I thought the cast was great, and Adam, Annaleigh, and Nicholas Christopher stole the show. Oh, and MJ Rodriguez. The cast was just that solid, that I could just list all of them as standouts, even Arianda. This video represents in no way shape or form anything from how the show is live. It was clearly not a live performance, and they probably just ran through those songs real quick before the show, saving their energy for the actual performance. In that sense, I don't feel bad for them, because they should have given their all for the press shots. But, they will be seen as this until other footage and reviews come out.
Updated On: 8/1/11 at 06:11 PM

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 6:50pm

In the video, the stage looks quite cramped--is it really that small? And the vocals were really lacking. Not at all impressed. I'm hoping you're right and the cast is much better than this would lead you to believe.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:22pm

Wow overeaction much?

I thought they sounded fine in Rent and Seasons of Love, the cast have a great youthful energy, something that was lacking from Rent during the last few years on Broadway (though i thought the final Broadway cast were very good). The costumes look great and i liked the set. As for cramped....where? I didnt see that at all, sure the stage is smaller than what its used to playing on but the director has done a great job with the space.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:28pm

They did film during a performance you can see the heads of audience members in one of the scenes.

The stage appeared to be cramped in the beginning but the cast is getting to know their way around it and, at least I, don't get the feeling that it is cramped anymore. I think the set is fabulous. The lighting and video is fantastic. For off Broadway, this is a pretty top notch production. I have been lucky enough to do something I always wanted to do and that is see a show a number of times during previews to follow its changes. I just saw it again last night and like what I saw.

[massofmen]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 10:58am

ugh

[shrekster224]

Posted: 8/11/11 at 1:27pm

I just learned that these videos were show on June 30, before the show even started previews. (Michael Rodriguez (Angel) tweeted something along the lines of "video shooting day" on June 30). A whole two weeks before! Maybe that's why they aren't great. By the time previews started, wow were they much better! These videos do not do the show justice, and they should have waited to film.

[Sophiia]

Posted: 8/11/11 at 2:35pm

I've decided not to watch anymore of these so-called "previews." Not a single video I have seen so far has done the production justice. I don't know why it is captured so terribly on film, but I just saw the show last weekend and LOVED it. All of the voices (perhaps with the exception of Arianda, whose voice was struggling towards the end) were incredibly strong, and the acting was nuanced. The stage doesn't feel cramped, but is instead quite dynamic. I'm sure there are many who won't enjoy this production on principle, but don't base your opinion on these video previews. The show is MUCH better live :)

[THDavis]

Posted: 8/11/11 at 6:08pm

I was really excited to hear about Adam as Mark, however after that video preview... ugh.

If it really was filmed two weeks before previews started, I'd blame the producers. I've never been in a show that would be considered polished enough to record, especially on video, two weeks before previews.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/11/11 at 9:28pm

I really like the costumes. It's nice to see a fresh take on things and not just that same old Mark scarf and Mimi blue pants.