Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Question about Roger's name in RENT...
ProducersFan
Broadway Star Joined: 7/25/04
#0Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:39am
This is an odd question, but it's been sitting in the back of my mind for a while and I was wondering if anyone knew had a definitive answer...
I know that Jonathan Larson and Roger Bart were friends from way back. I'm assuming that it is just a coincidence that his name should be the same as one of the characters in Mr. Larson's fantastic musical, but does anyone know for sure one way or the other? I know so many of you know the ins and outs of Mr. Larson and RENT. 
Thanks all!
"If you start from a place of joy and charm, you can get away with a lot in the second act. It may be that that's my life. I'm not sure."
~Roger Bart
#1re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:41amWell, Larson adapted Rent from La Boheme, and I've always read that he also adapted the characters names. Roger comes from Rodolfo (I *think* that's his name. I should know!).
ProducersFan
Broadway Star Joined: 7/25/04
#2re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:42amAh! That makes perfect sense. Thank you for such a quick answer too!
"If you start from a place of joy and charm, you can get away with a lot in the second act. It may be that that's my life. I'm not sure."
~Roger Bart
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#3re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:43am
Its based on Rodolfo, a character in La Boheme. Yes, emcee, you are correct.
I don't know if the direct translation from Rodolfo is Roger, but maybe the name Roger stood out because of a friend. I dunno.
#4re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:50am
I think it's the closest name to Rodolfo that's still somewhat mainstream... because we wouldn't really want a pretty boy frontman named "Rudolph."
i grew up 13 miles north of bohemia and 31 miles northeast of hicksville.
Updated On: 12/29/05 at 11:50 AM
#5re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:51amThat would be the best.
greenegirl87
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/11/05
#6re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:55am
A pretty boy frontman named Rudolph would have been absolutely hilarious. I think I would have enjoyed that a lot.
I guess its not very believable though...
"But now the air is filled with confusion. We replace care with illusion."
#7re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:56amI like ROdger better than Rudolph. There is something about the name that reminds me of reindeer.
And.....SCENE!
IsolatingAge
Leading Actor Joined: 12/18/05
#8re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 1:09pm
Tonight at CBGB'S:
Rudolph Davis and the Christmas Raindeers of Rock!!!
You must think I'm still sixteen.
I dropped out of high school for a reason.
And I don't care if you're pretty. I'm not admitting you are right.
My soul is not a stage.
I won't pretend I'm anything I'm not
#9re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 3:31pm"Tell the folks at home what you're doing Rudolph..."
i grew up 13 miles north of bohemia and 31 miles northeast of hicksville.
kas
Broadway Star Joined: 1/8/05
#10re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 4:53pmhe should be named Rolf like that crazy Hitler kid in Sound of Music. :)
#12re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 4:57pmCan you imagine Adam as a Rudolph? heh..funny thought
--Alex--
"They're singing, "Happy Birthday"
You just wanna lay down and cry
Not just another birthday, it's 30/90
Why can't you stay 29
Hell, you still feel like you're 22
Turn 30 in 1990
Bang! You're dead, what can you do?"
--TTB
#13re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 5:01pm'Mimi still loves Rudolph. Is Rudolph really jealous, or afraid that Mimi's weak?'
#14re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 5:05pm
Larson wanted Roger to consider being in Rent, acutally - when Jon was first writing the songs, he and Roger would sing what he had down and record and such. The character was originally named Ralph, but Jonathan changed it during the early creative process...Roger thought it might have been to sway him toward being in the show (which he really wasn't interested in), but he said he also could have misinterpreted that.
Ah, Seth's Chatterbox. Such a useful thing.
Merrily we roll along, roll along...
#15re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 5:12pm
Rudolph
This is your mother
Rudolph, darling
I dont get these postcards..
...
Rudolph where are you?
There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.
kas
Broadway Star Joined: 1/8/05
#16re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 5:53pm
Rudolph and Herbie the dentist = Adam and Anthony
Clarice = Mimi
the Snow monster = Benny
The Misfit toys = Maureen, Angel and Joanne
Santa = Collins (no idea why. just thought he would make a nice santa)
I'm bored. Can you tell?
ProducersFan
Broadway Star Joined: 7/25/04
#17re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:04pmAh QuiteSo - you are fantastic! Thank you much for the information. I need to look into purchasing that Seth's Chatterbox video. I've been meaning to for some time now...
"If you start from a place of joy and charm, you can get away with a lot in the second act. It may be that that's my life. I'm not sure."
~Roger Bart
#18re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:07pm
The random knowledge that people posess around here never ceases to amaze me. I read the thread, thought "oh someone will say that it's based on the names from La Boheme" and moved on with my day. Then I come back and find all this random stuff. Thanks for sharing. 
IsolatingAge
Leading Actor Joined: 12/18/05
#19re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:09pm
"No with my father."
"I'm Rudolph."
"...um thanks for the light...im...gonna go now..."
You must think I'm still sixteen.
I dropped out of high school for a reason.
And I don't care if you're pretty. I'm not admitting you are right.
My soul is not a stage.
I won't pretend I'm anything I'm not
#20re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:28pm
What about Angel's name?
Angel Dumott Schunard.
It almost spells out AIDS. Is this just a coincidence?
#21re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:31pmyeah I always wondered if he was missing a 2nd middle name that would spell AIDS
#22re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:33pmI think Ralph is more amusing than Rudolph for some reason.
#23re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:48pmI NEVER noticed that Angel's name almost spells out AIDS..that's so interesting.
And the other thing about the Phantom Lady was, Bert, she realized, in the city that never sleeps...
What did she realize, Kitten?
That all the songs she'd listened to, all the love songs, that they were only songs.
What's wrong with that?
Nothing, if you don't believe in them. But she did, you see. She believed in enchanted evenings, and she believed that a small cloud passed overhead and cried down on a flower bed, and she even believed there was breakfast to be had...
Where?
On Pluto. The mysterious, icy wastes of Pluto.
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#24re: Question about Roger's name in RENT...
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:48pm
Schunard is the La Boheme character Angel's based on
I don't know if ADS is purposely related to AIDS, but it's an interesting thpught
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