Rent: Closing Night

[cubanpab]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:20pm

Alright,

So I didnt get to bed till about 4am last night so its taken me a while to write up my review and post the photos I wanted to share. Please remember that at some point in the next day or so BWW should be posting all my photos of the red carpet arrivals as well as my photos of the after-party. There are TONS of photos of those events, so you'll see lots of good stuff.

The Arrivals:
I got to the theater at around 5:30PM and there were already several hundred people lined up across the street behind barricades waiting to see their favorite rent stars. Folks started to arrive around 6-ish. Almost the entire original cast was there, with the exception of Idina, Taye and Adam. Lots of former cast members showed up as well, Frenchie was sitting a few seats down from me. Cant wait for you to all see the arrival photos.

The Show:
The show went off without a hitch! There were no major glitches that I noticed aside from the occasional microphone not working, and maybe one or two flubbed lines. Everyone was in full-energy mode. I would say the standout cast members were definitely Will Chase, Eden Espinosa and Tracie Thoms. They really nailed their performances and knocked every song out of the park.

The theater was packed, and you could tell it was full of past cast members because they were cheering, hooting, standing up after every song.. it was great. A real sense of love for the show.

One of the most emotional things that happened during the show, and something I had never experienced any of the other times I saw it, was that everyone at last nights show seemed to be bawling after Angel's death. You could hear the whole crowd sniffling, crying. This was a crowd that really loved this show.

The original cast did not take part during any segment of the show until the very end. At the end of the show the current cast sang "Seasons Of Love" to a HUGE standing ovation. When the song was done they quietly walked off stage at which point the original cast (minus the three mentioned above) walked out and took center stage. The audience went nuts for them. They bowed, they thanks everyone, and then they were rejoined on stage by the current cast to sing Seasons of Love again. As the song went on the stage kept filling up more and more with other past members slowly entering the stage. At the end of the song the stage was packed to the brim with cast members from throughout the years, producers, musicians, tech people...

And when the song was done they went crazy and started running around hugging each other. Jumping up and down, it was a real celebration.

I dont have much else to say as far as a "review" goes. I am a terrible reviewer, but I am here to answer any and all questions you all have.

Funny little story, on my way out the theater we were walking behind Bob Martin, so we tapped him on the shoulder and told him how much we loved The Drowsy Chaperone. He was so friendly! He talked to us a bit and thanked us, and then gushed about Rent and what an emotional night it had been. Really nice guy.


Updated On: 9/8/08 at 03:20 PM

[Broadwaynerd101]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:26pm

Edit!


Thanks!! Updated On: 9/8/08 at 03:26 PM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:29pm

He was there in an official capacity, taking photos for the website.

Updated On: 9/8/08 at 03:29 PM

[cubanpab]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:31pm

they were not illegal for the final performance. they announced at the beginning of the show that photography was OK as long as there was no flash. trust me, there were cameras going of everywhere by the millions by former cast and crew.

i wouldnt have taken them if they hadnt said it was OK

[alfgiotir]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:33pm

awesome pics. thanks!

[MimiLovesBroadway]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:36pm

I love the pictures! I must say my favorite is Jesse picking up (correct me if I'm wrong) Tracie

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:40pm

Thanks for sharing those. Makes me more sorry that I never saw the show on Broadway. I plan to see the tour next year (I saw the 1st tour) and I have a ticket for the screening next week.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:58pm

Great pictures. Where were you sitting?

[musicandtemiror]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 4:21pm

Thanks so much!
Do you have any more that were taken during the show?
You can pm me if you want.

[Broadwaynerd101]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 4:26pm

^ Yeah same here.

I am amazed they said it was ok.

I doubt they'll do the same for Wicked Chicago closing!
Updated On: 9/8/08 at 04:26 PM

[cubanpab]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 4:34pm

i have TONS more. these were just the standouts

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 4:36pm

cubanpab, nothing appears on your closing night headline on the main page.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 4:41pm

since you won lotto, i thought you'd be in the front row orchestra...

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 4:43pm

This is amazing! The photos are gorgeous, I wish I was there!

[heathurr2]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 4:46pm

These pictures are beautiful.
I wish I could have been there.

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 4:58pm

Those are beautiful & I hope you don't mind but I took some and made a banner from them.



I plan on using on WoO with your go ahead.
Updated On: 9/8/08 at 04:58 PM

[alfgiotir]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:01pm

yea pablo u cant see the openning night arrival pictures on you page. nothing comes up.

[stupidbeans]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:03pm

great pics



thanx

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:04pm

Is it okay if I use one as my avatar, credits to you?

[cubanpab]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:21pm

dottie & alf - i didnt post the photos on BWW, i just pass them along to the powers that be and they put it up online. i checked and they work for me... maybe you need to refresh? not sure! weird...

withoutatrace - they gave out 15 pair of lotto seats which i believe were in the front. then they announced another 15 pair and the crowd went crazy. thats when i won. so i was front Left Mezz.

NGD - by all means go ahead. :)

Wickedbeast - same for you! enjoy. thats my favorite photo too.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:25pm

Great photos. I'm so choked up looking at those (while I happen to be listening to the OCR).

[cubanpab]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:27pm

i ddnt really "choke up" till the end when the original cast joined the current cast and they sang seasons of love. many of the performers were emotional as was the audience.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:27pm

Thanks cuban!!!!!!! AMAZING pictures!!! Listening to a final performance bootleg, and I cannot believe it is gone!!!!!

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:32pm

Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you! GORGEOUS pictures!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:56pm

Dean Armstrong is pictured with Maya Days in picture number 32 of the arrivals. Why is he not acknowledged?