Rentheads vs Altarholics

The RENThead things seems to be past its prime, though. While there are certainly still full-force RENTheads (as well as lesser ones, I suppose). The Altarholics are at their peak; the show is big, and they have a lot of really hardcore fans. It might be better to compare the way they are now to the way RENTheads were when RENT was still the "it" show.

That said, I'm not into crazy either way, but I'd rather be in a room of RENTheads, simply because I have far stronger feelings for the show, so I think I'd be more forgiving about being subjected to insanity.

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yeah if you went yesterday or today then the Altarholics were in full force due to yesterday being the last day all the boyz performed together and today being Tyler and Daniels last day. I'm sure it's gonna calm down soon with most of the cast leaving.

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I would love to be surrounded by RENTheads... I live in a small town that doesn't have any Broadway geeks like me, so to be around a group of people who love RENT like me, it would be such an awesome feeling!

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I would love have a bunch of RENTheads around me, especially in the theatre when RENT comes out, but I highly doubt that because I don't even know of RENTheads that live in my area.

I must admit that I have never seen Rent, but I have met some of the people who absolutely love it. The ones I know are very intelligent, creative, introspective, forlorn types who see the show as a metaphor for their own lives in many ways. So I know Rentheads but not Rent. Rentheads don't bother me.

Altar Boyz, on the other hand, I have seen 4--going on 5--times, so I am very familiar with it AND the "Altarholics." In sharp contrast to Rentheads, they seem like post-pubescent school girls who have crushes on all the guys in the show. They appear to have no other life outside of Altar Boyz, which is starting to affect my enjoyment of the show. They act like it's THEIR show and they are obsessed with being connected to it in some personal way. They give out fliers on Times Square and organize little pep rallies or something to pump up the audience. They are extremely annoying yet criticize everyone else in the audience who isn't in “the clique.” I'm beginning to feel like I'm stuck in some sort of bizarre time warp reliving the worst years of my life: high school, where I was amazed and embarrassed by the way my gender behaved whenever "a guy" was in the picture. I used to think then "How obvious? Don't they realize how ridiculous they look or that they're only being used?" I think the same thing here. If my daughter grows up to be like one of them, I am going to become a cloistered nun and embarrass her right back.

Altarholics need to get a life. I hear that women my age who like the show are called AltarMomz. Perhaps we can start a wider group that includes AltarDadz and AltarPartnerz...who cares, as long as they're all AltarGROWN-UPz!

Have a nice day!

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Updated On: 7/11/05 at 11:36 PM

I don't know why I am going to even bother responding to this thread considering it seems like it was created to make people feel bad about enjoying a show they love.

Yes, I am an Altarholic. And I am also a Renthead ... and I am kind of curious why the Wicked Fans and many other fan groups who I find to be so much worse weren't included in this thread. I love both shows ... but it just annoyed me that someone said we organizes rallies to hand out flyers. Ever heard of a street team? We do publicity to promote a show we love because we want it to stay open. And if you ever went to the boards for Altar Boyz, you would realize that every person there is welcomed with open arms .... I honestly have not seen a nicer group of people than the Altarholics. I may not agree with everything they do in that theatre but they are really welcoming, never jealous and incredibly nice .... all of them. And I really hope I don't get attacked for this seeing as I think this thread was kind of pointless to being with.


Edited to say: I really dont actually think it was pointless as it was someone expressing their opinion, but I am just frustrated because I find the Altarholics to be so welcoming to any fan of the show they meet and I don't like seeing them attacked.

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Updated On: 7/11/05 at 01:15 AM

I can honestly say that I'm someone who has loved Rent since 1998 and has camped out (and caught killer colds) for more than a few shows (I love my Benny's, what can I say...). I've seen the show 43 times (I know this isn't a lot compared to some, but I live in Texas --- so this is as big a number as I'm likely to get for ANY show), and I wouldn't give up the friends I've made in that show for ANYTHING.

I do love my RENTheads. (And I'm a little sad that I'm no longer a part of that community, since I really only kept a strong bond with the fans I met while the Benny's were going on)

That said, I think the Altarholicz have to win.

RENTheads are a nice bunch, but they hit their stride in about 2000. While there are still a lot of dedicated fans, it'll never be like it was (especially with the movie coming).

Altar Boyz has the nicest, most dedicated group of fans I have ever had the pleasure of being introduced to. I'll fully admitt that we're all a little, uh, enthusiastic about the show, but if you'd take the time to read the Altarholics forum (I'm being serious --- www.boyz-forum.com/eve) you'd see that each and every person that comes out of "lurkdom" or just posts is immediately welcomed with open arms.

I've always found RENTheads to be the possessive ones. Their forums had a tendancy to be very stand-offish and clique-y, but to meet them in real life, you'd realize they were a nice bunch as well (if still OVERLY clique-y).

As for the whole "teen girls will be teen girls" thing, I'd like to point out that most of us are ADULTS. I think there are only like 3 or 4 underage fans. The boyz just bring out the fangirl in us. :)

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Thanks, ColorOfFlame. You took the words right out of my mouth.

I'm all for theater lovers coming out to support their shows by watching them a gazillion times, rallying to save a show, or just spreading the word. Every show needs a fan base. I was just voicing my observations and an experience I had as an audience member.

I just went to the Altar Boyz forum and everyone does appear to be welcoming...as long as the person posting doesn't "disagree" with the Altarholics. When that happens, they all descend en masse like a swarm of bees.

Theater IS for all people and it belongs to EVERYONE. And, as we all know, everyone has an opinion, so let's just chill, let people have their say and allow people to enjoy the show in their own way...or NOT enjoy it if that's the case.

BTW, no one is saying that the Altarholics, the Rentheads, Wicked Fans, or even the elite group of those unfortunate enough to have seen "Home Sweet Homer" are mean, uncaring, unkind, cold or unloving. No one's character is being analyzed or judged. It's just about being able to attend the theater and having as positive an experience as possible (which was near impossible at "Home Sweet Homer"! ) Let's not ruin it for anyone else.

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