RENT on the Today Show- Page 11

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 7:55pm

I don't think this was posted yet, but broadway.com has a video up from Bryant Park: http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=516090

[Abikatmom]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 8:00pm

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

[Marlene]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 8:08pm

Actually most of the tourist had no interest in RENT at all. I walked in at around 6:40. I wasn't anywhere near the stage. But I managed to get a really tiny patch of bar space. In the end, I convinced someone hold a ridiculous sign that I would back so he could hold it if he let me move up only during the RENT segment. But...I lucked out, some guy in a green polo let me move up. And I got autographs from the cast. Missing... Taye, Anothony, and Jesse though... :/

[bwayfan3]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 8:10pm

Sweet. Thanks!! This has been like RENT overload day. i have done nothing else since I got home from Bryant Park but post on this board or look for pics on the internet.

[Atrias]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 8:13pm

That video was gorgeous! I'm so glad we got to hear something other than SOL, which is gorgeous, but really getting to be a bit overplayed.

[musicnmath]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 8:24pm

thanks for the link! (and more so, thank you broadway.com!!!) I'm REALLY glad I got to see a bit of TMOLM!

[kas]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 8:26pm

musicnmath - yeah, i remember thinking that justin would be all hip-hoppy and do crazy pop sliding with his voice, etc. he may be a great performer and he is an awesome dancer, but he would suck as roger. i honestly can't think of anotehr actor that could have played the part - but i guess we could say that about all of them.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 9:56pm

To all of you who were thinking of me today, you're all so sweet. Gosh, I had an absolute blast - so, so wonderful to see "The Adam" again in all his glory, and so beautifully surreal to be there for this.

Posted elsewhere, but I'll stick it here, too:

Well. Wow. I arrived at the Today Show in time to hear Adam and Anthony doing a soundcheck for What You Own - thrilling to walk down the block and hear those beautiful voices getting closer and closer. Before embarking upon the block-long line, I stopped for a minute to watch them sing, and let me tell you - the only thing worse than an insane RENThead is the MOTHER of an insane RENThead. This woman gave my friend and I such attitude about being there, because she thought we were cutting the line - we had no intention of doing so, I wanted to see. Way to kill my elated state, lady.

Anyway. I was on the back side of the stage, but very close, so I can't complain much. The performances were beautiful. It was kind of astounding, really - I was too young to experience this all the first time around, so this sort of "second generation" wave of RENT-mania... it's nice to be there for it, even if people aren't totally sane. I mean, crazy people singing La Vie Boheme isn't really what I need at 7 a.m., but whatever, it made them happy. However, there was this one girl who was trying so desperately to get Adam's attention that I thought she was going to tumble over the barricade - hysterical. She was so over-zealous, I just wanted to hide.

Everyone looks incredible (as does the poster art!); they all look so young and happy. Idina, for those concerned, sounds rested and very, very good. I've never truly seen Anthony sing before, save for a few lines on the film set, so this was a great, long-anticipated first. Jesse and Tracie kicked ass on their solos (Wilson did Jesse's in the park, also did very well). And Adam... Adam... looks phenomenal. You all can see the pictures. And, he sounds as great as ever - even at 8:30 in the morning.

The cast signed so many autographs after the performance, and it was extremely kind of them to be so patient. My side of the stage caught Adam and Idina, and you can all imagine how thrilled I was about the former. It was a total pleasure just to get to say hi, which meant a ton after so many months.

Watching the cast together again was incredible; to see that bond that's clearly so integral to the movie, and the fact that it's surely turned out well.

Migrated to Bryant Park, braved the crazy heat. The cast rehearsed a bit for the 100 or so people that were there - it was really sweet and intimate; the crazy fans were there, but at least there weren't a zillion of them. Until today, I've never experienced "true" RENTheads before - I don't think I fully realized how squealy, screaming and... kind of scary they are - I'm so shy, so it sort of catches me off guard. I just stood in my spot to the side of the front section, smiling away, videotaping. I suppose we share a love for the show, but... I just don't really see the point in expressing is *quite* the way they do. I don't particularly want to badmouth, so honestly, whatever floats the proverbial boat. The fans are what keep the show going, so it's probably kind of wrong to disparage the way they express it, even though I do wish more of them acted like they had brains.

The performance gave me chills. By the time they came out, the crowd was big enough to get a "HOLY SH*T!" from Adam, who looked totally stunned. And even amidst the insanity, there was a certain warm, fuzzy feeling about being there - being a part of this. The cast has a way of making the fans feel involved, and important. Once they came out on stage, people swarmed the area right in front of the stage where they weren't supposed to be, but they were pretty out of control. I went to the area where the actors were signing autographs, but the crowd was so deep that it was virtually impossible to get near any of them - eventually it seemed like the security had just had it with this all and got them the hell out of there. A bit disappointing, I guess, since this all is so out of control, but it made me a lot more thankful that I went this morning - got to see who I wanted most to see.

A final note to anyone who is expecting some sort of media from me - a few tecnical glitches came my way. My iPod seems to have overheated, and of course did so in the middle of Seasons of Love. So, I am audio-less. And the iPod is still behaving VERY strangely... I'm so sorry to anyone to whom I promised an audio recording. Hopefully I'll be able to post my photos tomorrow... I'm still experiencing some computer mishaps. I took more at the Today show, though most are at a funny angle. I ran out of space on my camera at Bryant Park, but I'm SURE pictures of that have surfaced absolutely everywhere.

So, yes. All-in-all, a fantastic day, total once-in-a-lifetime experience. Anthony, if you're reading this, thank you to you and the entire cast for being so wonderful and committed, and for giving a truly kick-ass performance today. You all are incredible. This was all absolutely worth waking up at five in the morning, and braving the heat. I was in the Nederlander box office tonight, tagging along with some friends who were picking up tickets. I had one of those odd moments again; it's so... real.

I have about half an hour of video footage, but getting it digitized and computer-ready is still in question.

And Adam's shirt? No comment.

Updated On: 8/5/05 at 09:56 PM

[insomniak]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 10:00pm

Deja vu. Thanks on this thread too, chica.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 10:02pm

I am a cross-posting maven tonight!

I'm sort of on over-load.

[Alix7272]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 10:09pm

it was fun reading that. thanks.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/4/05 at 10:53pm

Great report Emcee!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:28am

Thanks.

I'm still totally reeling; and I watched my tape of the Today Show (the real one, not the one from my videocamera). YAY!

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 10:33am

[kas]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 11:09am

damn, that's a big pic of rosario. emcee - was the cast funny in between performances on today show? and, i sort of thought adam's tshirt was gross. nice visual. but, ah..... he's so pretty. on air, it didn't seem like adam had a lot of screaming girls - idina and jesse seemed to have big fans.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 11:11am

Maybe it's just one of those t-shirts. You know, like those t-shirts that say things that have really dirty connotations, but you're just totally unsuspecting.

I like my rose-colored glass. *shrug*

He definitely wasn't the most popular, but there were the screamers.

Yeah, they were funny - and sweet to the fans.

Updated On: 8/5/05 at 11:11 AM

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 9:05pm

Too many pages for me to check back, but here are some photos from Film Magic:

http://www.filmmagic.com/ItemListing.aspx?cgl=130355&evntI=0

[Chloe]

Posted: 8/5/05 at 11:15pm

Thanks, great pictures! I wish they were bigger though.

Posted: 8/5/05 at 11:26pm

RENT posters at the movie theatre:

I asked my manager today about advertisements inside the movie theatre for the movie... and he said he would probably get things in about 4 weeks.

Just to let you guys now when to start buggin the managers in your area
--korenglish

[Adamaddict]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 12:30pm

Wow ..those pics!

Adam must feel that streching is...very important..

[Katecab99]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 1:18pm

so...i know i'm late on this one, BUT...

i couldn't get out of work on thursday and totally missed all of the events of the day - the today show (my phone was ringing off the hook with friends asking me if i knew it was on), bryant park - everything

BUT, i have to say after reading this thread, i feel a little more caught up and so excited for everyone who was able to be there! the release of this film is going to be an incredible thing, and i'll be so proud to say i was a "renthead" long before this movie was even a thought!

hopefully there will some more fun promotional things that i'll actually get to make it to!

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:08pm

OMG! Someone -- ANYONE! Please post the large version of that stretching pic! :)

[Chloe]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:18pm

I think it's from a site where you have to pay to get the big version. But I know what you mean...

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:31pm

^^ I know. I just thought there might be a kind-hearted soul out there who has access and wouldn't mind posting it. *giggle*