Rent Tour (Chicago) Oh My!- Page 3

Posted: 4/8/06 at 2:10pm

If they're non-equity how can they perform RENT? How did they get the rights to the show?

[downtowndiva84]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 2:45pm

I knew Jed Resnick back when I was in middle school and I was so excited to hear he was playing Mark. I'm not gonna get to catch the tour as I'm in NYC, but I've been disappointed to hear the bad buzz.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 2:53pm

Well most of the bad buzz is around Mimi and Angel, Jed Resnick did a great job as Mark IMO.

[downtowndiva84]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 4:16pm

Yeah, I meant bad buzz about the production not about Jed. :)

I've heard GREAT things about his Mark and am very happy for him! I only wish I could see it..

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 5:45pm

broadwaylover, there are many shows which launch non-Equity tours. They're professional shows, not amateur. Rent tours have been non-Equity every year since 2001.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:06am

Erin, I am aware of that. This non-equity tour is just not of a quality to be produced and promoted for a major Loop theatre.

A few quotes from the Tribune:

One blame could be the atrocious sound mix . . .

. . . a watered-down touring show won't help sell its place in musical theater history . . .
Updated On: 4/9/06 at 12:06 AM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:30pm

brdlwyr, my comment wasn't to you, it was to broadwaylover2.

[brdlwyr]

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

*needs glasses* broadwaylover, subtract o, a, a, o, v, and e and move l and you have brdlwyr!

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 5:00pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=8832

Here's a good review

[respeck]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:15pm

My goodness. Well she just loved everything about it, didn't she?

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:18pm

I will respectfully disagree with the BWW review.

[jamie3]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:19pm

You kow it just sucks cause Rent is such a great show and then they send out a non-equity tour which could be good but, cast it with a loy of yelling or bad singer and horrible actors.

[Prisoner 24601]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:39pm

I saw the tour Thursday night and pretty much agree with most of what has been said about it. I wouldn't call it watered down snake oil, though. I agree that Arianda and Ano were some of the weakest. I could tell that Ano got sorta winded during Today 4 U. The one I thought was amazing was Altamiece Carolyn Ballard, who played Mrs. Jefferson and was the female soloist in Seasons of Love. She blew me away.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:52pm

The ensemble was very good!

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:16pm

"The one I thought was amazing was Altamiece Carolyn Ballard, who played Mrs. Jefferson and was the female soloist in Seasons of Love. She blew me away."

Really? I wasn't too impressed, I don't think I would have enjoyed her as Joanne. I almost felt as if she was holding back and wished they would just let Chante (who I thought was the best part of the show) do the solo.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:23pm

Altamiece is good but not my favorite of the soloists I've seen. I saw Crystal Monee Hall recently at the Neder and she was excellent. Very few of the ones I've seen in recent years can sing that solo like some of the soloists of old, not sure why that is.

Justchillin, while you might wish that Chante could sing the solo, that obviously isn't going to happen. In the movie, yes; in the show, no.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:31pm

I know that, that's why it was only a wish. Although I do find it pretty pointless to have a whole role dedicated to singing the SOL solo (yes I know the SOL soloists have other roles but I don't get why they don't get one of the main characters to do the solo).

Also I don't need anyone to respond to this to explain how the SOL soloist works, I'm just ranting a little.

[flyingseal]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 4:42pm

Okay, I just saw a stage production of Rent for the first time on Saturday afternoon. Overall, I thought it was very good. Like just about everyone else, I was a little troubled with Mimi's singing and Angel ran out of breath at the end of T4U, but overall, in my opinion it was an excellent presentation. I want to try and see it again on Friday by getting there early to buy the 22 dollar tickets. I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion on how early to get there? Thanks in advance for the help!

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 4:51pm

A bunch of my friends saw the show this weekend. They were totally in love with it, but then again maybe it's because they're only fans of the movie. I was a little dissappointed that I didn't get tickets, but according to the Chicago Tribune on staurday, it was not that good.

[WickedRentLuv]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 7:40pm

I loved the current tour. I thought they were better than the Broadway cast in alot of ways. I guess I'm alone in my opinion.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 10:34pm

flyingseal - is this your first post here at BWW?

[flyingseal]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 10:49pm

It was my first post, yes. Sorry if I did something stupid.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 11:23pm

No, for the Thursday matinee last week - there was no line and everyone got tickets. This week, there could be a line due to some Spring Breaks. At night - I do not know!

[flyingseal]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 11:44pm

Okay, thanks! Do you know how many tickets there are? Is it all of the first two rows or just like 20 tickets or something?

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 11:47pm

I do not know. The first two rows would be at least 40 tickets. Maybe some of these kids who were there for an evening performance can help??