IS Rent a Musical?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:53pm

Or is it a play?

Or is it a play with music?

Or is it an opera?

Or is it the first half of an annoying poster's screenname?

YOU BE THE JUDGE!



Updated On: 6/5/06 at 04:53 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:54pm

It depends. Which poster are you referring to?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:55pm

I'll never tell....cough*RB86*cough.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:09pm

Then yes, I completely agree.

As for your original question, it's complicated. A musical is a play, but a play is not necessarily a musical, and an opera is a form of musical. So technically, it could be all of the above.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:11pm

What's that rule again about squares and rectangles?...

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:12pm

A square is always a rectangle, but a rectange isn't always a square.

[DannyBoy82]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:18pm

I think most people consider it a rock-opera.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:18pm

I've always thought of Rent as a rock opera. Wasn't that what the posters originally said?

[BluCat500]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:19pm

When I go to the playground
And a triangle says "How do you do"
Then comes in a circle
And a rectangle shows up too
Well I play with the triangle
And the circle can join the game
I play with the rectangle
Who cares that we're not all the same
'Cause no matter where I am
No matter where I go

It's hip to be a square (hip, hip, so hip to be)
It's hip to be a square (hip, hip, so hip to be a square)
It's hip to be a square (hip, hip, so hip to be)
So hip to be a square (hip, hip, so hip to be a square)
No matter who I'm with I know

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:21pm

It's a screetch fest.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:22pm

[James885]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:55pm

I've always considered Rent to be a rock opera.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:57pm

It is an opera turned on its head

[AnnaFabulous]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:03pm

See, 'rock opera' immediately popped into my head, but the term really skeeves me out because Andrew Lloyd Webber is supposed to have origanted the style of 'rock opera'. So I prefer to call Rent a 'modern musical', plus there's a scant amount of dialougue so really it's not an opera.......*sigh*

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:05pm

RENT is a Broadway musical based on LA BOHEME, an opera.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:07pm

Musical. It has book / music/lyrics. It CAN be classified as a rock opera, though not a true opera.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:10pm

I think it's a water ballet.

Without the water...or the ballet...or the senior citizens.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:14pm

Aren't rock operas considered musicals anyway? It falls under a big category..all musicals.

[Kringas]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:17pm

Musical. It has book / music/lyric

Some traditional operas have a dialogue scenes.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:31pm

I like the idea of a water ballet...

[elphaba432]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 7:16pm

Rent was written as a rock opera, so it may not be considered as a musical.

[WiiCKED x3]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 7:43pm

It's been written as a rock opera. I think it is considered as a musical, i'm not sure.

[PalaceRent06]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 10:06pm

sorry this is a little off topic but... is it wrong to correct to someone who calls a musical like "gyspy" or like "godspell" a play?

[collins]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 10:08pm

How exactly would you define "rock opera"? How is a rock opera different from another musical??

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 10:14pm

It isn't. Maybe technically speaking there can be a difference, but not in today Broadway's business world.
The Tony's are good examples of experts categorizing stage productions, therefore RENT = Musical! (I didn't see anyone complaining when it won the award : "I'm sorry, we can't accept the Best Musical award for this Rock Opera.." :S )

Updated On: 6/5/06 at 10:14 PM