How long do you think Rent will stay on Broadway? Longer than Cats?

When was Cats ever a quality show?

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I'll just add my OTHER 2 cents.

I honestly don't know what everyone's deal with CATS is all about. I'm sorry but I think the show is great, and I can see why it lasted as long as it did. When I saw it, the singers gave me chills! The dancing was great. The sets, the lighting, costumes, they were just amazing. Everything that a broadway show should be. Okay, provided there wasn't an actual PLOT...FORGIVE THEM...this is show biz guys...they don't call them Scripticals...they call them Musicals...it really is the music that ties everything together...plot or not, the score is what can take the most unlikey of things (people acting like cats for 2 and a half hours) and make the show something beautiful.

Some people can argue that Joseph and the Amazing...isn't a great show because there is no SCRIPT, but still...doesn't the show work? It's told through the music.

It's hard to have a FULL plot when it comes to cats...i mean think about it...cats are by nature very odd creatures. One minute you think you have them figured out and you're loving on them, and then the next minute, they want nothing to do with you...Its hard to have a great show with a plot about a creature who is a little "off" anyway. lol.

But please don't just follow the leader when it comes to this show....breakaway! if you like CATS, then like CATS..who cares what anyone else says!

Some people don't like WICKED (me) and some people don't like Phantom, or Les Miz...But don't stop liking a show just because it's a trend...


..... i'm up to 4 cents

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Updated On: 8/7/05 at 03:55 PM

RENT won't last that long; part of the problem is that it's going to feel real dated real soon, and it's not exactly the kind of show parents can bring their 7 year olds to see.

It still has some box office life left, but not 18 years worth. Phantom will meet the mark.

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RENT will never g oaway because the issues in it aren't going away. Chicago will be long gone before RENT.

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EverythingisRENT...i beg to differ...


Rent deals with issues, I wont deny that.

But look at the content of CHICAGO....its making a mock of the American Press....I mean think about it....Terrorists attack NYC, Broadway closes down.....what goes on? The News...

I love chicago because it really is one of those shows that makes you kinda laugh at our country for always wanting the bigger better story...and isn't that was the press is all about? Selling the biggest news for THAT particular moment?

I'm not saying that issues like AIDS or trannys are gonna end, but think about it...even if the AIDS crisis is solved...what's going to go on? The American Press....always the press...

I don't think Chicago is going anywhere...

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i figured! hehe

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EVERYTHING. You obviously aren't familiar with the producers of CHICAGO. Fran & Barry Weissler. They are going to try to keep this show going as long as they can. The show made back all it's money in the 90's. It cost very little to run it. And plus they bring in stars every now and then, which improves the grosses even more.

CHICAGO's grosses, and attendance have been much higher than Rent's for a while now.

Plus, no matter how much I love RENT, the movie Chicago is one of my FAVORITE movies in a large part because it was phenominally well made (I'm a film production major, by the way). And it deserved all the accolades (sp?) it got.

The movie also was full of A-listers and got the musical's name out to the non-theatre going public in a very good way.

RENT is full of A-list THEATRE actors. They won't sell the same way that the A-list movie stars did. They will mostly appeal to the already theatre-aware public.

So basically Chicago has a better chance of going longer.

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I have been hesitant to comment on this thread, as a admitidly former rent-head.

As much as I'd like to see Rent play for 18+ years on broadway, I am not sure if it will have the sustaining power.

A few variables will infuence how much longer it will last.
a) The success of Rent, the movie. I personally know I am going to love it, but will the general public have the same reaction to Rent as they did Chicago. If that does happen, Rent will continue to putter along, like Chicago has been for the past few years. I personally think the producers have been keeping Rent open because of the upcomming movie version of it. I think they would have closed it otherwise.

b) A friend of mine from out of town saw Rent for the first time this year. He thought it felt dated, already. Cats really wasn't "time-sensitive". Chicago is set long enough in the past, that it is nostalgic, same for Phantom.

I agree with EverythingIsRent, that Rent is a relatively inexpensive production, but it is still a Broadway show, and has to adhere to Equity contracts. So, it is a significant cost keep it running.

Also, does Rent attract the type of tourists that Phantom or Chicago does? As much as I don't like to admit it, NY Tourists is what keeps shows running for decades, not New Yorkers.


EverythingIsRent, I agree with you that the issues in Rent will not go away, but I am not sure having relevent issues can sustain a Broadway show alone. There have been many broadway flops about relevant issues.


I hope Rent can last as long as possible, but I don't think it can last another 10 years.

Just because you like something more doesn't mean it will last longer.

Chicago is much more of a tourist attraction anyway.

The fact that it is a revival and has lasted almost 10 years - and will probably keep going, just shows that it will be around.

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