Rent attendance anecdotes — Page 5

If this gives any idea - I went to the movies at 5:30 to get tickets for the 7:20 show here in suburban Maryland and it was already sold out. That never happens unless it's a big movie (like HP, etc.). But fear not - I will be going to the 10:20 movie instead. I need to see it opening day no matter what!

My mom will be accompanying me, and then I think we'll be returning for another viewing on Friday since my dad wants to see it but doesn't think he can stay awake tonight.
And then of course once I get back to school I'll have to go with all of my roommates to see it again...

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Well, I saw it at the midnight showing at the Ziegfeld last night, and like most people have mentioned the crowd seemed to be teens/early 20's. Actually my friends and I were keeping visual track of anyone who appeared to be older than us as we were suddenly starting to feel very old. I don't think we counted all that many people who could check off another box on the age ranges!

I thought it was fascinating listening to the audience react though. Thankfully no one sang along, as that was the other fear and I didn't mind the mooing and clapping along, surprisingly enough. The audience just seemed so invested in wanting to love the movie before the lights went down that you would be hard pressed not to get caught up in that. You weren't there before the movie started but for the 90+ minutes that we waited in our seats I just saw constant camera flashes going off. It was like being at a rock concert, more than just seeing a movie, it was a once in a lifetime experience for a lot of people, IMO.

I'm more interested in the reaction and audience breakdown when I take my mother this weekend (who is 63). She's never seen the show, nor heard any of the music besides what's been playing on commercials or during television appearances but every single time a commercial comes on, she tears up. Whenever she catches an interview she calls me at work to recap it and inform she DVR-ed it for me. I think she was almost more giddy with anticipation for this movie than I was and I was already at full tilt!

Despite growing up and living in NYC, the outer boroughs don't seem to be carrying it in many theaters so we're going to have to do a bit of traveling and so many pockets of NYC are suburban and closed-minded in nature that it will be interesting to see whether the marketing appealed to the truly jaded New Yorkers, the bridge and tunnel crowd!

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I just came home from seeing the movie again in New Jersey suburbia. Most of the audience was late teens-early twenties, but I saw a good handful of thirtysomething and older adults. The audience reaction was mostly positive. Much tears!

Also, I heard the 7:10 PM screening was sold out. Even so, the 5:50 showing I went to was pretty packed...

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Updated On: 11/23/05 at 08:45 PM

Everyone was crying but there wasn't too much involvement. Not very full theater. Im in a small town.

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I "MOO'D"...for the recourd.

Anyways, i'm happy to see you back and posting Anthony! I did go today, Wensday after noon, and the audience was not as big as it will be this weekend, I know that for sure. Everyone i've talked to in my high school plan to go and see it this Friday and on the weekend.

You guys did a wonderful job on the movie. There were so many points in the movie were i just started to cry. I mean wow! I can't believe i finally got to watch the most of the original cast perform, plus Tracie and Rosario, who were perfect. This day was amazing, super amazing, super-extra-rific-super-duper(huh?)

You guys should all be extremely proud!
I can't wait for tomorrow night...I'M SEEING IT AGAIN!

lOVE,

kaTiee<3

Hi Anthony- I just wanted to tell you how much I loved the movie. I live in a small suburb outside of Boston, where I saw the movie today at a 4:10 showing. The show was sold out, as was the previous showing. The crowd was pretty diverse, mostly teens, but also older people in their 20's, 30's, etc. I could hear many sniffs and sobs during Angel's funeral/ICY Reprise. Everyone seemed really touched and moved at the end of the movie, which I was not expecting (I live in a small town where there seems to be almost NO diversity whatsoever). At the end of the film the reactions from people around me were mostly positive, minus a few comments from people saying that they thought that some parts were "too cheesy" (as other people have said, there were some laughs during Roger's scenes in WYO), but for the most part people seemed to really enjoy it. There was a big applause at the end of the film, which I haven't heard at the last few movies I've seen. Again, I just wanted to tell you how much I loved the movie. You and the rest of the cast were amazing!

Went to the 6:20pm show tonight (Wed) here in White Plains-wasn't sold out but close too it.

White Plains definitely isn't a small town but your line regarding the Scarsdale Jewish Community Center sure got a big round of applause.

Great job Anthony...

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I went to a 12:40 showing in Tallahassee, Fl. There was a total of 27 people in the theater.. i counted. i did go to the less popular theater in town though, so that probably effected the turnout. the people that were in there were great though, minus the fact that a flipping cell phone went off in the middle of angel's funeral. i kind of wanted to hit that person. three people went with me and of the three one likes musical theater, one is so-so, and one can't stand it. i loved the movie, and i'm happy to say that my three friends liked it too. you did a GREAT job anthony!

Mine was at 6:45, at the cinema at the mall. Theatre was packed, though I wouldn't say sold out, as we got seats. The audience was rude during the previews (Cell phone light.) However, they were respectful once the movie came on. There was an obnoxious guy sitting a few seats away from me, who was obnoxious when they did, "... Studios Present..." He said, "Spider Man 2." Luckily, his girlfriend told him to shut up, and there wasn't a distraction for the whole film. And, best of all, during the Funeral, my sister, who HATES musicals, save a few, cried during that scene. I took a photo of her face as we exited the cinema.

Anthony: Thank you so much for doing this film. And, if you get a chance, tell the cast I said thanks for making my sister cry. I'm not a cryer though, but I was still sad. You guys are the best on film. Good luck with your next project, whatever it is.

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Alright, I just got back from seeing it for the first time ever-- at lynnbrook theatre in Long Island at 7PM. It was SOLD OUT! I think there were two girls from BWW sitting behind me cause they started laughing at the cliff. That was probably the best movie experience I ever had. During previews everyone started to shusshh just incase rent was starting next. During SOL we all clapped with the cast, and during over the moon we all moo'ed. Everyone there was wearing some sort of RENT related item (me: clad in my RENT t-shirt -the big one- with white pants to match..ik ik, after labor day, what would angel say??). You could tell EVERYONE loved it. The line before getting in was OUT the door and onto the street--i felt like we were at the bway show. I wishh, i'd definitely stage door haha. The show was amazing. Anthony, you were incredible. An amazing performance, as always. I loved all of your jokes, and i loved the different arrangment of striped shirts--definitely made me smile. I'm in such a shock, I cannot bleieve i just saw the RENT movie!!! All the shows were definitely sold out at the theatre I went to.