Welcome, Anthony Rapp!- Page 27

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 3:31pm

A Memoradum ~ Everyone please read:

This isn't directed at anyone in particular, but nonetheless it needs to be said.

I seriously think it's about time that we stop threadjacking here. Most of it has been in good fun, and I've been the instigator in many of off-topic nonsense that's been going on, but:

1) We've already got a thread on the off-topic board that spawned from here, and even though there's been a substantial amount of negativity there, that wasn't its original purpose. Now that everything's been said and done on there, I think it would be better utilized for threadjacks such as the ones that have been going on here.

2) This thread should be used to discuss Anthony, his work, his life, whatever discussions he brings up, things of that nature. Only. I don't know whether or not he minds the randomness on here, but I have a feeling it's confusing and tedious as hell to weed through all of the pages of off-topic stuff that I, admittedly, and other people have put on here that are not related to him.

3) By keeping this thread strictly on topic, it will leave less room for said negativity that has arisen as of late. While I would hardly consider myself the instigator, I have to acknowledge I was apparently a factor in some of this, which as not my intent or desire, and for that, I am sorry to anyone not involved who had to put up with that. (This goes for the other thread as well.) I'm sure we put up with a lot of bullSH*T in our "normal" lives without having to put up with snarkiness from individuals in cyberland as well. Some of this was due to misunderstandings. Some of this was due to personality issues. Either way, if it can't be resolved and we can't be friendly, at least we can be civil with each other. Downright nastiness, on this thread and others, should not, and will not, be tolerated.

4) Even though Anthony is a normal human being who eats and takes a SH*T like the rest of us (btw - and I'm sure it smells like roses, because he's Anthony Freakin' Rapp!~kidding), let's face it, he did us a favor by coming on here. It wasn't his obligation, and without him posting, we would have our panties in a twist thinking J. Lo was playing Maureen and Harvey Fierstein was playing Roger. [insert relieved shudder here] In light of this, there's no reason to involve him (or, really, anyone) in our flaming, because he doesn't know, and doesn't need to know, the context in which any previous remarks were made. POINT IS - he didn't sign up to watch us twist each other's nipples, so any bashing that needs to be done can be done via Private Messaging or the threadjack thread, if it absolutely must be made public. (And there's no reason it should have been made public.)


In conclusion, let's leave this thread alone unless we're discussing something in a positive light, and directly relevant to Anthony. If we ix-nayed the fangirling and the rudeness that a lot of people have had to tolerate, this thread and other Rent-related threads would be much more pleasant. I've been told by one individual that some of my earlier remarks were misconstrued as "bitching", instead of my attempt at sarcasm that most people seem to "get". The mood on this thread was lighthearted and I initially interpreted it as such. Anything less than civility on here reflects badly on Rent fans and BroadwayWorld members.

And if you've made it to the end of this post, I'll give you a cookie.

Updated On: 11/6/04 at 03:31 PM

[Whiteboy Spice]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 3:47pm

Thanks, Tiff, for that.

We could make a tv movie about this: When Threadjacking Goes Wrong.

Or something.

[Whiteboy Spice]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 3:48pm

And here, in an effort to get back on topic, is another batch of answers...

Sorry, I didn't get the name of the person who asked me this:

"You've said you preferred stage to screen, I think somewhere in this or the other Rent Discussion forum: Do you see big differences in both of these communities? Do you prefer theatre in the communal aspect? (From a third person perspective it seems the nature of theatre and how these live arts are created and performed each night has created a more open community atmosphere, but maybe that's just me...)"

I was actually just talking to my friend about this the other day, that I have maintained more and closer contact with actors I've worked with in theatre than in film, with only a couple of exceptions. I'm not sure why that is, because the amount of intense bonding time on a film set can be comparable to the amount of intense bonding time in a theatre gig. Both are certainly transient media, so that's not the only explanation. I guess it must be the fact that theatre has a tighter community of people, or is more of a brotherhood, or something. I'm not sure.

That's one of the many reasons I'm so happy that my friends will be making the Rent movie with me, and I with them.

"(And have you ever wanted to direct?)"

Yes, absolutely. I directed a couple of very small productions (off-off-Broadway) or plays in the early '90's, not long after I got to town: The Bald Soprano by Ionesco, and Marco Polo Sings a Solo by John Guare. I would love to do more directing, but happily I've been working so much as an actor that it's been hard to find the time to make something like that happen. I also went to NYU film school for one semester, and wound up being very disappointed in the program, so I left, but I would still love to make films.

The question that has been developing for me as I've gotten older, though, is what kind of material I would want to do. It has to feel like a really good fit, since directing takes so much energy and time and commitment, and I wouldn't want to organize my life around something that didn't really call to me.

From Ad_Libbing --

"On the tackysappy note. I was wondering if you, as a kid, had an idea of yourself as an adult and, if so, is your inner-kid happy?"

I knew I wanted to be a performer from the age of six, and I have been a performer since the age of six, so yeah, I guess my inner-kid is happy.

"On a similar idea, where do you want to take yourself in the next few years?"

I've always wondered on some level if I needed to be more goal-oriented in terms of having very specific, measurable goals, but I've always just aspired to be a part of meaningful, exciting projects with good people involved. And that's no different now.

I would certainly love to expand my audience that listens to my music and comes to my gigs. I would love to put out at least one or two more cds in the next few years. I'm writing a book about the experience of losing my mom to cancer while I was in Rent on Broadway, and that should be out in about a year or a little more. I would love to keep working with my brother as often as possible. And of course, the Rent movie may very well have a big impact on what kinds of new projects come my way. But you never know, and I don't like to plan as much for a specific hypothetical project because it seems like the unknown ones are often the best; a case in point is Rent. I would have had no idea that a rock opera about artists living in the East Village would change my life so profoundly, and yet it did.

So I am very much open to whatever may come down the road.

More soon...

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 3:59pm

First off, thanks to Tiff. We (especially me) needed to hear that.

Anthony, thank you for being gracious through all of this. And I'm sorry to hear that about your mother. Does your book have a title yet?

My question: Have you ever considered writing a play or a musical, and if so, what would it be about? Updated On: 11/6/04 at 03:59 PM

[FOCI]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 5:58pm

Hey everyone, I'm a late-joiner in the discussion/ interview but 6 hour rehearsals have been kicking my butt for the last 2 weeks-erggh..I think if we have to rehearse Act 3 anymore I might just shoot myself. Anway, hello Anthony and Tiff and all you other discourse-loving posters.
A little about myself:
I'm from SF, 17 yrs old, trying to juggle everything in life-closing of a show,beginning rehearsals for a new show, school, partying, friends etc.

Anthony-
When you guys are in SF for the shooting/rehearsing of the movie(or you for the Little Shop tour coming through next week, no?) I'd be happy to act as tour guide and point you in the direction of all the cool stuff in SF/Bay Area.... I know when I have to go out of town for stuff it's always cool to know people in the area who know what's going on, so whatever's going on I'd be happy to assist. And actually that goes to any of you who are coming to the area. Ok, so that's my shpiel(sp?) but I suppose a post in this thread is not complete without the asking of a question so mine would be:
What is your favorite type of moment on stage-lots of laughs @ a joke/ gasps and stillness during a drmatic scene, or something like a standing ovation @ curtain call?

Updated On: 11/6/04 at 05:58 PM

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:09pm

Hey Anthony,
I know I asked you some questions already but here's something that sparked my curiousity
What are your views on Wicked and what was it like seeing your "sister" and "ex-girlfriend" in the show?

[camerangel]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 8:13pm

I just wanted to say thank you Tiff for your well put post.. I agree that although it can be amusing to threadjack and get off topic, it is important to be respectful of each other. Negativity begets more negativity, that just makes people hostile and it's counter productive. We dont have to agree with each other or like each other for that matter, but we should be able to play nice in public.. If for no other reason than the fact that Anthony has been kind enough to take the time to talk with us and graciously answer our questions. We obviously all have something in common otherwise we wouldn't be here.. I dont have a problem with anyone here, and I'm just putting in my .02 cents. I would just like to see the laughs come of nicer things.

With that said. I'm going to step off my perverbial soap box and exit stage left..

And thank you Anthony, for continuing to visit and answer questions.

Shibby

[greenifyed]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 12:06am

*dives through Anthony Rapp's screen*

Have I told you latelyyyyy that I love you???

-- Clearly, the vicodin has set in. Again.

[camerangel]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 12:40am

Anthony, has there been talk of any of Jonathans other songs being added to the RENT movie there fore hopefully making it a contender for best original song? Curiousity arose on another thread about that..

[camerangel]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 10:57am

Bump.. back to first page

[timote316]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 12:29pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think using Mr Larson's songs would make it eligible for best original song.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 2:01pm

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it would need to be a song written specifically for the movie (a la "You Must Love Me" from Evita, etc.)

[nextstopRENT]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 2:10pm

hi anthony! ok, this is a question about RENT, i have been told before that there are multible meanings to 'rent' in the show. It was been driving me crazy trying to figure this out, Do you know what they are? thanx!

~*~aly~*~

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 2:15pm

I've heard that, too - I guess Anthony can attest to the validity of its actual use in the show, but I think if you look "rent" up in the dictionary, there's a definition that has something to do with being torn apart. I always thought that was a really neat thing.

[marikkita]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 2:41pm

according to dictionary.reference.com:
rent (2)    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (rnt)
v. A past tense and a past participle of rend.

n. 1. An opening made by rending; a rip.
2. A breach of relations between persons or groups; a rift.

thought this might be useful

[thespian geek]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:00pm

"2. A breach of relations between persons or groups; a rift."

That certainly makes you think.

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:05pm

...and certainly makes sense in the context of "everything is rent." Which I always took to mean, everything is broken/wrecked/ripped apart. Both literally and figuratively. I mean, why pay the rent when everything is rent? And if everything is rent (physically) then everything is rent (emotionally/metaphysically.)

:) Smart man, the late great Larson.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:06pm

Exactly. That's what I love about it - I always loved the song, but when I realized the double meanings it could have, it makes you think so much more...

How do you leave the past behind when it keeps finding ways to get to your heart. It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out, 'til you're torn apart... RENT...

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:14pm

Rent can also mean 'torn apart'. I've only heard it used that way once, though. The title works on multiple levels, because of the other definitions, but it is mostly associated with paying for the roof over your head.

And now back to topic.

[VivaBohemia]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 6:40pm

Well this puts a new spin on things.

[Chloe]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 6:49pm

I have a question for Anthony: Did any of you OBC members do screen tests with the new people? For instance, did you test with any Joanne's, or did Adam test with any potential Mimi's?

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 7:04pm

Adding on to Chloe's questions: Anthony, have you met Rosario Dawson? Are you excited to have her on-board? Like Chloe said, did she screen test with Adam?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 7:05pm

Can I just say that I sincerely hope so? Hm... *ponders*

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 6:26am

*bump*

My train of thought: If Rent is R rated, I won't be able to get in. Wait...it's coming out next holiday season. I'll be 17 by then. SCARY!

[NessaroseHeredia]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 12:20pm

First post on this thread. Hi all! NotThatGirl especially! My opinions since I missed all previous posts: If they cast Wilson as Angel i'll just melt b/c i love him so damn much and what are ppl's thoughts on Melanie Brown as Mimi? I didnt see her but a friend posed the idea
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