Best versions of Rent and Les Miz to screen?

I'm trying to whet the appetite of someone with slim-to-zero exposure to theater about some of my favorite musicals...

...the question is, what version should I show her?

For Les Miz, I thought the 2012 Hollywood version did not do the show justice (Crowe, Jackman both terrible) but the only other iteration I can seem to find on streaming apps is the 35th anniversary staged concert. Is there another version out there I'm not aware of? Since my target audience is someone who is unfamiliar with the story, songs, etc., and not someone who already loves it and would be happy just hearing the music, is a "staged concert" enough to get a sense of it all? Or should I show Jackman and Crowe straining and warbling for three hours?

Ditto Rent...I love the show, but I remember being very underwhelmed by the Hollywood version with the way-too-old-by-then original cast. The only other version I see on streaming services is a filmed version of closing night. But I know that closing nights are often more about sing-alongs, inside jokes, and having fun with the score than they are about an orthodox rendition...so would this be a good version to screen to a newbie? Or go with the low-energy Hollywood version?

Any other versions of these shows, or recommendations for someone who doesn't have a background in theater, would be grand. Already showed Hamilton and West Side Story (whose movie version is perfect, in my view) is next. Once after that.

Thanks!

Thank you...I'm less concerned about the composition of the cast, and more want to make sure that it showcases a full-fledged theatrical production, rather than people standing around at microphones belting. If you're already familiar (and in love) with the score, then listening to the best voices singing it is a treat...but if the story and production are totally unfamiliar to you, you need costumes, blocking, sets, etc. to get a sense of its majesty...and what exactly is going on!

The 25th Anniversary concert is by far the best (the film doesn't compare even a little bit). It has the greatest cast you could ask for to sing that score (with the exception of Tone Deaf Jonas), and there is a lot of action for a concert. No one sings "Stars" better than Norm Lewis.

Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway was outstanding. I think audiences have gotten worse since 2008 because it's just enthusiastic clapping and love for the cast, nothing obnoxious. It's well worth it and the cast? My GOD. Adam Kantor! Will Chase! Michael McElroy! Rodney Hicks! Tracie Thoms! Renee Elise Goldsberry! Eden Espinosa! The film was garbage and doesn't hold a candle to the live recording.

Seriously, it's the best cast since the OBC. Watch it!

Updated On: 1/2/21 at 10:50 PM

I would search out bootlegs of Les Mis (preferably the original production with the turntable.. the reboot is fine but is no where near as epic) because the only other versions are the concerts. If you end up going the concert. If you end up going the concert route nothing beats the 10th anniversary. Lea Salonga, Philip Quast, Michael Ball, Michael Maguire and Colm Wilkinson are all spectacular.. and Nick Jonas basically ruins the 25th anniversary concert.

I did not really like the film adaptations of both of these shows.

If anything, watch the final B'way performance capture of Rent and the Les Mis 10th anniversary concert. Those should be more worth your time.

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They don't call it the Dream Cast for nothing. The 10th Anniversary Les Mis concert doesn't compare to any other incarnation of the show.

Of the four filmed versions of Rent, Rent Filmed Live on Broadway is the only way to go. It is everything Rent should be.

Les Miz is a bit trickier. Each version has something great to offer, but also has a host of drawbacks. The 10th anniversary concert is probably the best performed, but also has the most stagnant staging, and because of this, it begins to feel a bit tedious. The 25th anniversary concert is big, and better staged, but despite Alfie Boe's truly gorgeous voice, he isn't a strong actor. The 25th anniversary concert also has Nick Jonas, who looks like a lost puppy on that stage. The film adaptation is a very fine movie, but the close-ups are awkward, and by the time Bring Him Home was filmed, Jackman's voice sounds worn out and tired, which is disappointing, also Russle Crowe is generally considered to be a weak link. The most recent staged concert has a very strong cast, and is mostly a scaled down version of the 25th Anniversary concert. Boe's acting is a bit better, but Michael Ball is clearly ill, and that affects his performance. A major issue I have with both the 25th Anniversary Concert and the Staged Concert are that neither is complete, with the glaring omission of the death of Gavroche immediately coming to mind.

^ Word.

For Rent, it’s a no brainer for me to say that you should show your friend the filmed Broadway production rather than the movie. When it comes to the movie adaption of Rent, I honestly don’t know where to begin to start the list of flaws it has.

As for Les Miserables, while it is true that there are a few different versions to show. I’d go with the 2020 concert over the dream cast or the 25th anniversary concert.

I suggest this not only for the cast but for content as well. When they did the Dreamcast concert, they cut some things out. Nothing major but still due to it being a concert not the full blown show. Now, the dream cast concert as well have the 25th anniversary concert have the same cuts. But they put back more stuff in for the game 2020 concert.