RENT 10th Anniversary Concert to DVD, a la LES MISERABLES?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:41pm

I believe RENT has had as much impact on Broadway as LES MISERABLES has had. LES MISERABLES' 10th Anniversary Concert was released onto DVD and CD and was broadcast on PBS.

Are there plans to do the same with RENT's 10th Anniversary Concert?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:43pm

Sure, if Cameron Mackintosh had been involved.

(And yes, I know he was, with the Aussie cast.)

[Patronus]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:43pm

I doubt it. Since the film just came out and essentially flopped with most of those actors I don't know that there would be much of a commercial market for it.

Plus, Les Miserables was able to bring in a dream cast for the anniversary concert. A virtual Who's Who of musical theatre. Rent doesn't have that same luxury.

Ah yes, Cameron in your corner doesn't hurt either. Updated On: 1/4/06 at 09:43 PM

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:44pm

I don't think so, but wouldn't that be WONDERFUL ????

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:51pm

I mean, if there is someone out there willing to put in the money to do it as a passion project, that'd be great.

It's marketable to us theatregoers. LES MISERABLES wasn't any more marketable. RENT even has a different advantage in that the film came out, so there many be non-Broadway folk out there who loved the movie and would want this, too.

One of LES MISERABLES' advantages, other than Mackintosh, was it being one of the first mega-musicals.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:57pm

I agree that they are both marketable mainly to theatregoers. The only difference is that the LES MIS Concert was first broadcasted in British TV, which means that they probably got a good financial deal to begin with. If a big U.S television channel shows an interest for RENT, no doubt it can happen !

[opiv]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:57pm

i really hope it is

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:58pm

Whether released or not, is this something that would be taped for the Lincoln Center library?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:58pm

"LES MISERABLES wasn't any more marketable."

Of course it was. It ran FOREVER all over the world. RENT didn't travel so well outside of the US.

[zzprincesskatt]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:04pm

I definitely hope that it comes to DVD but I doubt it. The 5 year anniversary concert isn't on DVD is it?

[Patronus]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:06pm

Not legally.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:07pm

LES MIS was marketable for different reasons than how RENT is marketable today. True, LES MIS had the international aspect, as it was also released in other region formats (China (or Japan) and the UK).

However, with the release of the RENT film, RENT now also has an international advantage. The stage show may not have done as well as LES MIS around the globe, but with stage and screen buzz combined, I believe the RENT concert would sell just as many units as the LES MIS DVD did.

[ihearttheatre]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:08pm

I doubt this will happen, but I'd buy it if it did

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:10pm

Didn't this happen? isn't it called RENT: the Motion Picture?

Akiva

[bwayfan3]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:13pm

Oh how I wish it would be. In fact, (and I did like the movie) one of the recurring thoughts in my head as I watched the movie was how much I wished that they would have a recording of that concert.

[Patronus]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:15pm

I really don't think it would sell nearly as well as Les Miserables.

The film probably didn't do a lot of favors to the "buzz."

Sure, all the theatre fans would buy it, but I don't think a lot of the new fans as a result of the movie would really be into it.

There is absolutely no boost from a "dream cast" in Rent so I just can't see it outselling Les Mis as a commercial release.

Now, if BCEFA or Friends in Deed want to get involved and they can film the concert and sell itwith 100% of the proceeds going to charity in the spirit of Rent, then I could see it moving more units a'la the "impact, impulse buy" like the Carols for a Cure CD.


Updated On: 1/4/06 at 10:15 PM

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:19pm

I'm sure SOMEONE will tape it. Hopefully it's better than the 5th Anniversary.

[zzprincesskatt]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:21pm

The soundtrack sells very well though, they might take that into consideration. I wonder though, if they do release it on DVD, would they wait until Rent closes to sell it? I know they aren't actually doing the play, but I wonder if they would release it right away or wait.

[Patronus]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:23pm

I assume if they were going to sell it, they'd do it right away.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:24pm

It would be a really great thing for them to sell for the charities involved. There are plenty of Rent fans who will not be able to make this, and who will be more than willing to buy one. Obviously that includes the people actualy going as well.

I think it'd be a smart thing to do.

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:32pm

maybe if they see there'd be the market (maybe not for a MASS production but something buyable at least in the NY region) they'd do it...

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:33pm

I'd prefer going to this concert than going to the show or seeing the tour.

In the book MAKING IT ON BROADWAY Colm Wilkinson said doing the LES MIS concert was much better and more powerful than the current Broadway show because it had been running for so long, the replacements, etc.

*Crosses my fingers a DVD will be available*

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:37pm

I think almost anyone would rather see this thing than the current Broadway show. It's the original cast, which, especially for Rent, is cherished by many of the fans. There's always talk about what the original actors did with this piece, and frankly I think they were the best, and I'd love to see them live.

And no, the film doesn't count. It's NOT the same thing, and it's not the complete original cast.

Honestly, I think if the DVD were made, it would sell ENOUGH. It wouldn't be the biggest thing around, but I can't see them making a DVD of this and it NOT being decently successful.

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 10:52pm

The best thing, actually, to do would be to make the DVD and have the profits go to Friends in Deed, NYTW, and the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Fund. Because it would be going to charity, videographers and those who produce the films may be willing to either donate their time/goods or at least do it at a discount... because there would be less costs to make up for as a result, it wouldn't be about selling millions of DVDs but instead AS MUCH as possible and people outside of the normal RENT demographic may be willing to buy because it would be going to charitable organizations.

All three of the organizations that are benefitting from the concert are great, and I'm sure that many people would be happy to contribute to them. I - along with many others - physically can't give $1000 to them, but hell, I'd give $25 for the DVD even if most DVDs nowadays are $20. And then those organizations would receive additional money.

I don't know, I think it's a good idea and would be something that would be great for any of those orgs to look into. That's just my opinion though.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 11:01pm

I agree. The money should definitely go to those three organizations. Hell, I'd pay $100 for the DVD.

However, splitting the profits between three organizations? I don't think that would be significant enough for them to do it, would it?