Broadway musical- “Rent” stars reflect on the groundbreaking musical’s 25th anniversary.
“Rent” is one of those groundbreaking musicals that is a phenomenon, shaping a generation of theater lovers.
The following written content by Leigh Scheps
There are only a few groundbreaking Broadway musicals that have forever shaped a generation of theater lovers. “Hamilton” is the most recent phenomenon. But “Hamilton” might never have become what it is if “Rent” hadn’t come first.
“Lin-Manuel Miranda has said to me personally and publicly how much ‘Rent’ changed his life and how much it drove him to do what he’s doing,” original “Rent” cast member Anthony Rapp told CBS News.
“There aren’t that many original shows that stand the test of time like ‘Rent’ does, and has resonated with generation after generation,” said Idina Menzel, who was also part of the original cast and went on to star in “Wicked” and as the voice of Elsa in “Frozen.” “And I’m one who can speak to this.”
When “Rent,” which is now celebrating its 25th anniversary, first debuted back in 1996, the fresh sound of its pop/rock music style show tunes transformed people into “Rent Heads,” a term coined for diehard fans. The credit goes to director Michael Greif and Jonathan Larson, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for the musical.
Tragically, Larson never got to see a single day of “Rent’s” transformative success, including its Tony Award or Pulitzer Prize. He died on January 25, 1996, at the age of 35, of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm (believed to have been from Marfan syndrome). It was the same day the very first off-Broadway performance of “Rent” was scheduled at the New York Theatre Workshop. But as the saying goes, “the show must go on.” So, in tribute to Larson, the stunned cast assembled for a sing-through that night instead of performing the full show as rehearsed. Read more from CBS
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