How long can Rent hang on?

[tkts]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:18pm

The last 3 weeks box office has been at 51%, 48% and 54% and hovering around $225,000 a week. With no tourists to support the show, can it survive? What is break even for them?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:20pm

I believe that weekly running cost for Rent is about $200,000

[sharon1]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:24pm

After reading the grosses the past few weeks I was also wondering about 42nd St.

[emmamia]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:27pm

i can see 42nd street closing before rent b/c the rentheads will somehow keep it alive ... and now with the promo thing rent is doing ... ticket sales might be boosted

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:38pm

I can just see Bulldog putting his best champagne in the fridge now to get ready for closing day....

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:41pm

RENT was a succes d'estime possessing little long-lasting life in the theater canon overall. I don't envision revivals over the years.

Yours for a better Broadway!

[tpdc]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:43pm

As even at those percentages it's above its weekly nut, it probably can run for some time yet. If it doesn't fall below the amount contracted with the theater and the producers want to keep it running, it could run another couple of years. When it falls pretty low, they can do a "last weeks" promotion and that might carry them for months like LES MIZ.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:47pm

I think 'Rent' will end up like 'Hair,' with a debatable place in history but several attempts to revive and reinvigorate the property, especially given that it DID bring a lot of new people to theater who may want to bring it back down the road.

Posted: 9/30/03 at 2:54pm

John, you're probably on the mark there. Never over estimate human nature. No doubt there will be people in the future who will wish they had lived in the early 1990's, just as there are some today who refuse to accept that the '60's were 40 years ago. RENT was always dated it may well however become a period piece in the future.

Bulldog.

[magruder]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:00pm

I've mentioned this before, but I'm very curious to see what will happen with the Nederlander Theatre when Rent eventually closes. When Rent began in 1996, the theatre was still in no man's land on West 41st Street, and the house had not been booked for four and half years. The Nederlander was a house of last resort.

Now, however, with The Lion King emptying its audience onto 41st Street, and Red Lobster and the Hilton nearby, as well as a new boutique hotel right next door, 41st Street is very different from what it was in the past, when the Nederlander was surrounded by adult book stores and transient hotels. I'm hoping that the Nederlander, with its roomy lobby, and single balcony and good sized 1,200 seats will get booked more readily, following a complete renovation, or if the stigma about that house will remain. At any rate, I'm grateful for Rent for saving that very quirky, charming theatre and perhaps bringing it into a potentially brighter future.

Updated On: 9/30/03 at 03:00 PM

[Becky]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:13pm

It could surprise people. Rumors of closing have been debated since '97-'98. I remember threads such as this on the original Graffiti Wall RENT message board in late '97, so who knows. It doesn't have to play at a great capacity to break even, so the low attendance numbers aren't a reason to give up on it yet.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:17pm

As much as I love RENT, I also cannot see it being revived. The sad thing is, I bet the only people that are keeping it alive are the rentheads and the tourists. I will see it for a second time in January.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:22pm

hmmm I thought RENT was actually doing well. I guess its not. RENT seems to be a popular show...

Jessica Beil will be Maureen in Feb

Updated On: 9/30/03 at 03:22 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:24pm

Hmmm...interesting. Once again, it is one of those "can she sing?" questions.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:27pm

"Jessica Beil will be Maureen in Feb "

Is this true?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:29pm

that is a RUMOR

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:31pm

RENT may never ever be revived on Broadway. But you can be sure that every college and perhaps, with the grace of God, high school will produce this musical that will continue to foster a growing acceptance of different sexual preferences and lifestyles. It may not be your cup of tea, but the power this musical has had on a generation of younger theatre-goers is remarkable.

[KarmineFan]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 3:32pm

No my friend. That is true. Cristina Fadale will be leaving February and Ms. Beil will take over. Also to "run" Rent it costs about $315,000 a week. Updated On: 9/30/03 at 03:32 PM

[Cadriel]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 4:17pm

Rent can hang on for a long time, I think; it'll certainly ride out the holidays, even if they posted a closing notice today.

For a quirky, subculture-oriented show that worked its way up from a workshop to basically being on Broadway at exactly the time that Broadway was completely revitalized (the year before, there weren't even four contenders for Best Musical at the Tony Awards), Rent has had a lot of success. I think it was somewhat overrated for a period of time, which caused a backlash and now it's highly underrated; the fact is that it's a musical that young people can identify with and get drawn into theatre as a whole. I think Broadway will be lessened whenever it does close, and I'll be sure to see it again before that happens. It is, after all, what got me into the whole Broadway deal.

-Wayne

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 4:27pm

I think Jennifer Beals will make a great Maureen. What a feeling!

Posted: 9/30/03 at 4:34pm

They could pour water over her doing the moon number

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 4:35pm

acid maybe. water.. no.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 8:11pm

Actually, when 42nd Street closes, Frank Wildhorn's Dracula is supposed to replace it. However, I have been reading that Wildhorn feels that the show isn't ready to open, and needs some reworking. If 42nd Street were to close, I would hope Dracula would be ready, I was really looking forward to seeing Wildhorns take on the story.

Phantom05

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 8:26pm

42nd Street is to close?

[Princess MimiChica]

Posted: 9/30/03 at 8:29pm

dude, why do certain people around here have such a grudge against RENT!?!? RENT is my favorite show of ALL TIME and no other show can compare, in my mind. September is a tough month for Broadway in genral, but even more so for RENT since it's audience is young people and we all have to go back to school...there are "closing rumers" EVERY September, but, RENT still has a great many good years left in it =) It's the most amazing show ive ever seen and to have it close anytime soon would be a crime against musical theatre.
And I don't know why peopel are so quick to say it won't be revived?? with how popular and important this show has been over the years, I'd bet money it will have a nice revival about 10 years after it closes!! But like I said, the show isnt going anywhere anytime soon, thank God =D