Well I'm glad someone pulled this thread from the woodwork; it's been wonderful to read. I was lurking about occasionally back in August, but somehow missed this thread. So here's my story...
I do consider myself a Renthead, though I've never seen the show, it doesn't make it out to Utah often. I'm as old as Adam Pascal is, 35, and a single mom. Back in 1996 I was also a postal worker who rarely saw her kids and didn't even know I liked Broadway music yet. I loved music, and plays were nice, but I just had no idea.
Forward to 1999, after a time of homelessness, hospitalization for depression and the violent death of a family member. A therapist at the hospital thought I might like to hear a song, it was Seasons of Love. I'm about to cry right now remembering how that song made me feel that day. It took that big, scary 24 hours of the unknown and broke it down to minutes measured in love.
It helped me remember why I keep breathing air; that stumbling isn't failure, not getting back up is; and that ultimately everything is about the ones you love. Everything else will eventually fall into place.
I had to have the CD, so I bought it right when I got out. It has become my anthem. No Day But Today. I also became a fan of Broadway musicals and will be forever.
Life hasn't been easy by any means with a layoff early this year; my oldest getting married and my son finding ingenious ways of not doing what he's told, he's 16. This was a good year for the movie to come out. I must say that since my first exposure to RENT, it has become easier to take things in stride and go sing a song or something. I don't mean to sound Pollyanna about it, and maybe it doesn't do this for everyone, but it does help me keep my perspective.
I'm a good mom, I work hard, I'm back at the post office actually and in school full time; it's difficult but a blessing as well. I can still be a kid too, lock myself in my room and belt out Over The Moon....instantly all is well with me!
My children, (ages 18, 16, and 11), have heard RENT at least weekly for over 6 years; know all the words (they don't say the bad ones, lol); and they "get" it. Maybe it's because of all our struggles as a family, it's something we can all share and understand. It's not simply entertainment.
I don't know if a Renthead is someone that's seen the show 127+ times, or if it can be someone who has listened to and imagined the show 127,000+ times. I'm of the latter group and consider myself a Renthead. Anyone that comes to my house has to listen to it, and now watch clips of the movie too and promise to see it; and if they don't come to my house I talk about it. I plug Adam's CD's shamelessly and talk up Idina to high heaven.
All I know for sure is that RENT is very personal to me, and has been an important and literal soundtrack of my life. It has helped me in ways I know I haven't adequately expressed here.
Updated On: 10/9/05 at 07:26 AM