John Larson's death
John Larson's death
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#0John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 8:58pmWhat caused his death? Was it AIDS? And also, didnt he die the day previews for the show began? If so, its terrbily upsetting he never saw the show performed in front of an audience. Im sure hes very proud of the show. His work on it was ground-breaking and truly phenomenal.
basketcase
Featured Actor Joined: 4/19/04
#1re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 9:02pmHe died of an aortic aneurysm a couple of weeks before the show opened at the NYTW.
aspiringguy715
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/04
#2re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 9:02pmEDIT: Thanks basketcase, got there before me. Updated On: 8/11/04 at 09:02 PM
bwguyhottie
Featured Actor Joined: 10/23/03
#3re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 9:03pm
No, it was not AIDS...nor was he gay (not implying that AIDS is a gay disease....I hate it when people think that...but there is a common misconception that Mr. Larson himself was a homosexual)
if you go to siteforrent.com there is a good deal about it
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#5re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 9:37pm
in the words of my RENT 'Bible' (does anyone else own the big black book?)
That evening Jonathan ate dinner at a local diner. then he returned to rehersals.he sat next to Michael as they started singing some songs from the 2nd act. He stood up to go to the back of the house, and on his way he was struck with a very sharp pain in his chest and his breathing became difficult. So he staggered the last couple of steps in to the lobby, he said "'you better call 911; i think i'm having a heart attack" He went back inside and laid himself on the ground. he told me in the ER 'they were doing 'what you own' and theres a key change from living in america to dying in america, it sounded good, like the show's coming together, the sounds finally mixed properly. But i cant believe i'm lying here feeling like i'm dying, and i'm hearing 'dying in america'
larson was taken to Cabrini Medical center
After running some tests they diagnosed the condition as food poisoning, pumped his stomache, and sent him home. on jan 23 he called in sick saying he thought he had the flu. that night he had chest pain again and went to St. Vincets Hospital. he was diagnosed with the flu.
the nest day was the final dress rehersal, despite the chest pain, larson got dressed and went to the theatre, the rehersal got a standing ovation. That was his last moment with us and with rent.
Nicola, Greif, larson and others were suppoed to meet after the rehersal but an interview lasted longer than expected, so they agreed to talk the next morning and sent jon home in a cab
Jon came home to an empty appartment and a note from brian carmody congratulating him on the show and inviting him out for a drink
what we guess happened is this: jonathan must have gotten hom about 12 and put on some water for tea, there in the kitchen his aorta opened up, as it had been weakening for days. He probably felt another shapr pain. As blood was pouring into his chest he probably fell unconcious w/in the 1st 15 seconds, then dies within 5 minutes
yea that was way more than you wanted or needed to know, but as ive said before, i'm out of work and have no life right now so you can chose to read this or not 
aspiringguy715
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/04
#6re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 9:40pm
That's very sad...wow even after he was misdiagnosed all those times they failed to see it.
Imagine what he would have done today...such a loss. 
Edited for spelling.
Updated On: 8/11/04 at 09:40 PM
SammyGal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/04
#7re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 9:54pm
I knew what happened but hearing that made me really sad
Poor Jonathan. RIP.
On a clear day I can see myself for miles ~Taboo
insomniak
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
#8re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 9:58pm
Jon died unexpectedly of an anyeruesm (sp?) a few hours after Rent's final dress rehersal. The world of theatre lost and gained so much by his death.
"It's not how long you're here, it's what you do with the time you're given." -Jonathan.
Rest in Peace.
CurtainUp
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/9/04
#9re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:12pmRIP to Mr. Larson
Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on."
- from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#10re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:16pm
What a sad story! Wherever he is, he should be very proud of his masterful work, a show that had a great infuence of this generation. RENT is one of the best shows ever and the book and the score are impecable.
Rest in peace, Johnathan...
Viva La Vie Boheme!
#11re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:21pm
o just realized i misspelled a ton of stuff in my other post. please dont go all anal on me but i am too tired to fix it, seeing as i am operating on less than an hour's worth of sleep. if you dont like my spelling, dont read my posts
~amanda
#12re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:40pmI own the big black book. And, I do hold it more sacred than the actual bible... well, let ye among us without sin be the first to condemn....
insomniak
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
#13re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:41pmI do to. It is sitting right by me, I love all the details it gives on the writing process and the pictures. A very good use of forty bucks.
#14re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:45pm
---I own the big black book. And, I do hold it more sacred than the actual bible... well, let ye among us without sin be the first to condemn.... ---
amen to that
#15re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:48pmNoDayButToday - thanks so much for your post regarding the death of Jon Larson! I'm most ahsmaed to say that I just got into the music from Rent (I was in some sort of college BD cultural vortex when the show opened!)and I'm loving this soundtrack. I'm definetly going to see the show in the next few weeks, and I'm really grateful to Larson for composing this amazing music/take on the beauty of being human.
"What could a computer do with a lifetime supply of chocolate? I am now telling the computer exactly what it can do with a lifetime supply of chocolate!"
insomniak
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
#17re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:55pmthis whole cast recording / soundtrack thing is gonna start a war....
#18re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 10:57pmI too own the Rent bible and it's an incredible thing! This was an tremendous loss. Can you imagine what else he would have produced were he able to continue with his work and his passion. RIP Jonathan.
#19re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 11:31pm
---this whole cast recording / soundtrack thing is gonna start a war.... ---
yea i agree... whats next? are people gonna paint over the signs at music stores that say 'SOUNDTRACKS'???
---NoDayButToday - thanks so much for your post regarding the death of Jon Larson! I'm most ahsmaed to say that I just got into the music from Rent (I was in some sort of college BD cultural vortex when the show opened!)and I'm loving this soundtrack. I'm definetly going to see the show in the next few weeks, and I'm really grateful to Larson for composing this amazing music/take on the beauty of being human. ---
eh dont be ashamed... the point is you seem to like it now.. do you have the 2 CD set or the highlights??? if you have the highlights, sell it and get the 2 cds... you will get soo much more out of it- christmas bells , halloween, your eyes, you'll see, happy new year, all the voice mails etc are just a few of what is dropped in the highlights. the i hope you enjoy rent when you see it.. i know you will there are just some songs that mrean so much more when you see them live- for me 'la vie boheme' was just some weird random song before i saw it but now its one of my favorites
o yea just a question to those who have the book:
on the page of the libretto where it says 'YOUR OWN BLOOD CELLS BETRAY' in huge letters on the right page, in the picture next to it it looks like pascal is wearing nail polish (on his thumb at least) any comments on that? just wondering if there was some sort of explanation or if i was seeing things
insomniak
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
#20re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 11:41pm
Yup. You can see it in several pictures.
Speaking of costume differences, I noticed something about Mimi's. In the LVB pic on the far right on the last page of act one, Mimi has these wierd blue glovish things on her hands that I have never seen in a performance. They are on her in a few other pictures, I believe, but not in most. Why are they only in the book but not the show?
Yes, I do need to find a new hobby.
#21re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 11:43pm
woah thats so weird.. not that he wears nail pollish, but that i, being the RENThead i am, have never noticed that before...
i learn something new every day i guess
Becky
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#22re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 11:47pm
You can visit the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation site at the link below to read about him - and Marfan Syndrome (what they believe caused his death).
Jonathan Larson
#23re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 11:47pm
Speaking of costume differences, I noticed something about Mimi's. In the LVB pic on the far right on the last page of act one, Mimi has these wierd blue glovish things on her hands that I have never seen in a performance. They are on her in a few other pictures, I believe, but not in most. Why are they only in the book but not the show?
woah thats weird... i like them though... they do the pants some justice in making them sort of match...
not that it matters if they match or not...
this is random, but ive always wanted to get a costume like the ensemble member that wears the fuzzy hot pink bra looking thing
that thing is without a doubt one of my my favorite costumes in rent with agel coming in a close 2nd place with any of the drag outfits
insomniak
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
#24re: John Larson's death
Posted: 8/11/04 at 11:49pmYes, but why do the gloves only appear in that pic? This has been bothering me for months... sad, I know.
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