Jai in RENT
Jai in RENT
#0Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 8:50pmJai is starting again in RENT tonight. If anyone goes tell us about it :)
#1re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 8:51pmI want to see him as Angel. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah. In fact, I just want to see RENT on broadway for once. Waaaaaaaaaaah. In fact, I just want to see any show no broadway. Waaaaaaaaaaah.
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#3re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 8:53pmwhat? He was Angel before he was famous as the culture guy in QUEER EYE. And Angel is one of the greatest musical theatre characters ever.
#4re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 8:53pm
I was just going to post something like that, Alix... entitled "Jai's back!!!!" but you beat me to it!
TheGirlInTheFrock is there right now... I'll make her post about it. I saw Jai as Angel not last December, but the previous one... *before* he was famous. He was WONDERFUL. Hopefully he still has that same adorable charisma.
Yeaaaa Jai!
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#6re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 8:54pmopinion noted.
Musetta1957
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
#7re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 8:55pm
Might want to click this link in a few hours...
http://www.compulsivebowlers.com/boards/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2
TorontoBoy
Featured Actor Joined: 6/24/04
#8re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 8:57pm
I saw him perform a few times in Rent, as he was Angel in the Canadian cast.
He was a great Angel then, I'm sure not much has changed.
BWayBoy88
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/04
#9re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:02pmHe was the understudy for Angel a few years ago when I saw the show. He went on the night I saw it. He was very good.
#10re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:06pmYeah I saw him as Angel a few years ago and he was great! I don't think he is "sinking" to a low level at all. It isn't like this is a permanent job, first of all. He's probably just going back for 2 weeks because he likes being in RENT. I am really glad he is back in the show...I'm sure he doesn't need to be!
#11re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:07pm
Jai is my absolute favorite Angel. I saw him back in December '02, and he was fantastic! Out of all the Angels I saw (and I saw quite a few), he WAS Angel, not just playing it.
I'm glad he's back!
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#12re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:14pm
"the broadway production of Rent is a disgrace"
Hasn't it been since....not too long after the original cast was gone?
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#13re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:18pm
Of the three casts that I've seen, Jai's Angel is my favorite. He completely stole the show from Joey Fatone 
#14re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:22pmNot too hard to steal the show from Joey but yes, he did :)
Toon
Stand-by Joined: 7/14/03
#15re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 11:46pmbroadwayguy2 we all know how you feel about Rent. You pop into every Rent thread to let us know. Not everyone shares your opinion and believe it or not you aren't the authority on the show or its level of quality. Jai coming back to fill in for Andy is not sinking to any level. Rejoining a role he loves is hardly a step down and had he refused to come back because of his new found fame people would have criticized that too. It makes perfect sense to have someone who has done the role previously to step in for a vacationing lead, and if they happen to be someone people are gaining mainstream familiarity with? All the better.
#16re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 11:47pm
When I saw Rent, Rodriguez was out and I saw Justin Johnson. I thought he was terrific.
#17re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/5/04 at 11:50pmwell...jai's great...i'm just glad it's not andy for a change. his angel makes me want to cry. and not happy tears. i'm sad that it's only for two weeks tho. the state that this show has been in for the past 2 years or so is a disgrace.
TheGirlinTheFrock
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/26/04
#18re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/6/04 at 2:12am
Just got back from seeing Jai in RENT. Well not JUST got back. But i saw him tonight. He was great! The best word i could use to describe him is adorable. This is the 3rd Angel I saw and by far he was the best. His voice is amazing. The one thing i liked about his performance is that he put so much personality in it. At times he would go into a deep man-ly voice and was hilarious, yet didnt do it to much that it got old. When Collins annoucned him before Today For You, he got such a great applause. He is a great dancer i'll tell you that. He did get a little winded during Today for You, but both other ones i saw did the same. That is really my only complaint (if you can call it that). Overall he just looked so happy to be back on stage performing.
After the show I went to the stage door. I figured he would be a little bit before coming out so i went and talked to most of the rest of the cast. Everyone was so nice - Matt Caplan was a little spacey, ill assume he had something on his mind. So while i was running around my sister stayed by the barricades to keep a spot infront. He and Mel B. came out together and recieved such an applause. He was SO shocked that so many people were there for him and cheering for him. It was very indeering. He is one of the sweetest people. Took the time to sign everything everyone had and take pictures with everyone. The people waiting were a little over anxious and pusing in on us. I think i broke/sprained/bruised something trying to get out of the mob. When i finally DID get out he was still there signing and posing for pictures. I am sure he was there for a good half hour after i left.
Side note - MELB is getting better. I saw her in April and there is a def. improvement. She was also very nice at the stage door. Signing everything ppl had - and some brought many things (CDs, programs, pictures). She does get my respect in those aspects.
All in all, i LOVED jai's portrayel of Angel. I want to go back and see it again!!
SammyGal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/04
#19re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/6/04 at 2:23ami'm going tomorrow! I hope he's great. I heard he was gracious enough to stay and sign autograph after autograph. aww!
TheGirlinTheFrock
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/26/04
#20re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/6/04 at 3:07amhe was VERY gracious. i have to go back!
Sunfish
Broadway Star Joined: 6/11/03
#21re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/6/04 at 3:25am
>>>Signing everything ppl had - and some brought many things (CDs, programs, pictures). She does get my respect in those aspects. <<<
How many of those will be on e-bay by tomorrow? A lot of people who bring a whole bunch of stuff to have signed aren't fans at all but after the money.
#22re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/6/04 at 9:31am
I saw Jai in Rent a few years ago and he was very good. Sunk to a low level? Isn't Broadway a little more prestigious than him playing in Queer Eye? He really does not much to say in the show. At least in Rent, you can see his talent. 
He is adorable.
#23re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/6/04 at 10:18amI LOVE THAT GUY! So nice for signing everything...I can't wait!
GirlfriendFromCanada
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/7/03
#24re: Jai in RENT
Posted: 7/6/04 at 10:37am
I saw Jai in Rent a few years ago and he was very good. Sunk to a low level? Isn't Broadway a little more prestigious than him playing in Queer Eye? He really does not much to say in the show. At least in Rent, you can see his talent. He is adorable.
You have to remember that a lot of people here think that rejoining a show that has been left in the dust is stupid. Sure, it's pretty likely Jai isn't doing it because he's starving, but I think it's great of him to do it. It'll give the show a boost, and maybe he just wants to.
Sometimes I wonder how many people here have read Making it on Broadway, and if they haven't, they should. Might make them think twice before they say that returning to a show is sinking to a low level.
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