Spring Awakening bo vs. Rent bo in 96

No comparison between the two. Rent was a hit when it opened. It ran at over 100% attendance every week for two and a half years before it dipped just below the 100% mark.

"it" meaning Rent? Yes, as I said, it was a hit from the start. There is no comparison to the beginning of Rent and the beginning of Spring Awakening. None.

I wonder though what Rent's Box Office would have been like had Jonathan Larson not died. I'm not trying to be mean at all in saying that. Just wondering.

Updated On: 1/4/07 at 11:36 PM

shiksa, i think that is great question and i am sure has been discussed at length on this board before. but sa was sold out at the atlantic, it had buzz.

"I wonder thought what Rent's Box Office would have been like had Jonathan Larson not died. I'm not trying to be mean at all in saying that. Just wondering."

I've always been curious about that as well. Rent was a hit before the lights went down on its first preview.

"but sa was sold out at the atlantic, it had buzz."

It had some buzz but not as much as Rent did.

*Edited for response's to other posts.

Updated On: 1/4/07 at 11:39 PM

for those of you who have looked at those numbers for rent in 96, WOW. part of the struggle for spring awakening is the fact that it is, simply, a smarter show. like sweeney tood, true brilliance, even with great reviews is tough. i want to see this thing on letterman, leno, and ROSIE help///let's see it on the view.

part of the struggle for spring awakening is the fact that it is, simply, a smarter show.

Smarter than...?

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The timing of RENT's opening played a role as well. I saw it during previews, mere days after it won the Pulitzer prize, and by the time it opened it was hitting the covers of newsmagazines and shortly thereafter picked up award after award.

I suppose Spring Awakening could pick up some of the same accolades, but it's long-term box office picture is unlikely to match Rent's.

"I wonder though what Rent's Box Office would have been like had Jonathan Larson not died. I'm not trying to be mean at all in saying that. Just wondering."

Jonathan Larson died early morning the day of Rent's 1st Off-Broadway preview, hours after the final dress rehearsal the day before. When you consider what Rent is about ("No Day But Today") and the timing of his death, his death (and therefore the show) became a huge press story in 1996 that transcended the boundaries of traditional theatre press.

When performances began and people realized just how good it was, the story grew and became nationwide. And then the reviews came out, and they were raves. Not only was there a real-life story attached to the show that was ABOUT the show as well, but the music and message were perfect for the times.

By the time Rent moved to Broadway, only weeks after ending Off-Broadway, it was a pre-sold hit, and the story became about the pre-mature loss of Larson, and about what could have been (again, back to "No Day But Today"). It is quite possible that Rent would have been a huge hit without Larson's untimely death, and I think it ultimately would be an even better musical. (I mean, he never even got to complete the creative process, clean things up, etc.)

Spring Awakening, by contrast, had to wait months after it's Off=Broadway run before beginning on Broadway. It had no press stories of personal interest other than it's own qualities as a musical to propel press coverage - indeed, the producers have to work hard to get press and to make sure they know what the show is about. Still, many hits have been built - Avenue Q is probably more the model here.

Yes SDav, we were posting almost simultaneously.

But to be clear, I don't think the production set out to exploit Jonathan Larson's death - in everything I've seen and heard they truly mean to pay tribute to him. It's just that the timing of his death created a story that had a life of its own.

And for the record, I think that Rent continues to run on its merits, including a wonderful score.

More context: 1996 was also the season of Victor/Victoria and Big - two "old-fashioned" musicals that not many people cared for. And there was "Bring On the Noise, Bring On the Funk," which was considered hot, new and modern. Rent stood out for it's quality but also for being fresh and new (Like SA). The Tony nominating committee that year (which included mostly not-for-profit types) refused to nominate either Victor/Victoria or Big, opting for a Johnny Mercer revue that flopped, and the closed, not-for-profit "Chronicles of a Death Foretold."

how can spring awakening tap into the audience, i worry that there is limited time to make value of the reviews, they should be on a radio and tv media blitz with the release of the album. the tony will help, but they need to be open in june!

I just about to post that, Caroline. I think all the broadway shows now should drop down to 1996 prices! :)

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