Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008)

Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. "Measuring their lives in love,"... See full summary »

Director:

Michael John Warren

Writer:

Jonathan Larson (book)

Stars:

Will Chase, Adam Kantor, Michael McElroy

Cast

Credited cast:
Will Chase	...	Roger Davis
Adam Kantor	...	Mark Cohen
Michael McElroy	...	Tom Collins
Rodney Hicks	...	Benjamin Coffin III
Tracie Thoms	...	Joanne Jefferson
Justin Johnston	...	Angel Schunard
Renée Elise Goldsberry	...	Mimi Marquez
Eden Espinosa	...	Maureen Johnson
Marcus Paul James	...	Christmas Caroler / Mr. Jefferson / Pastor / Ensemble
Gwen Stewart	...	Mrs. Jefferson / Woman with Bags / Ensemble
Jay Wilkison	...	Gordon / The Man / Mr. Grey / Ensemble
Telly Leung	...	Steve / Man with Squeegee / Waiter / Ensemble
Shaun Earl	...	Paul / Cop / Ensemble
Andrea Goss	...	Alexi Darling / Roger's Mom / Ensemble
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tracy McDowell	...	Mark's Mom / Others

Storyline

Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. "Measuring their lives in love," these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic.

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Plot Keywords:

filmed performance | gay | dancer | musician | filmmaker | 

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Taglines:

No Day But Today

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The characters of Ali, Gordon, Pam, and Sue in the Life Support meeting are named after HIV-positive friends of writer Jonathan Larson. The real "Ali" was Alison Gertz, a young woman who contracted HIV in the early 1980s and became well-known later in the decade as an AIDS activist. A TV movie about her life, Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story (1992), starred Molly Ringwald as Ali.

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Goofs

When Collins is holding the long note towards the end of the musical "I'll Cover You (Reprise)," he stops short while the voice track continues on.

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Connections

References It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

User Reviews

Captures the power and emotion of being in the theater

Every decade, it seems, Broadway produces a transcendent musical. In the 1970's, it was A CHORUS LINE, in the 1980's, it was LES MISERABLES. Jump to the 2000's, you have WICKED and, of course, the 2010's brought us HAMILTON.

The 1990's brought us a "rock musical" that focused on a global pandemic set against the backdrop of social protesting and racial injustices (sound familiar), this musical is Jonathan Larson's RENT.

Following (loosely) the plot of the 1896 opera LA BOHEME, RENT tells the tale of disaffected artists trying to live and love (and make rent) while living their lives the way they wish to live it. Writer Jonathan Larson (who passed, suddenly, the day before previews began) created a powerful, rock driven, story that is poignant, sad and hopeful all at the same time. The original Broadway production Iwhich I am bragging that I saw 2x with the original cast) brought such talent as Jesse L. Martin, Anthony Rapp, Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel to the forefront.

But...skip the film version of this musical (starring most of the original cast) that came out in 2005. It is purfunctuary and lifeless. Instead, seek out the 2008 RENT: FILMED LIVE ON BROADWAY. Like Hamilton, this is a filmed version of the stage show and is able to capture the power and emotion that only live theater can provide.

The cast in this production is outstanding - with the standout being (no surprise) a young Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schulyer in Hamilton) who shines brightly as Mimi.

Like Hamilton, Rent showcases the power - and purpose - of live theater. A place that I cannot wait to go to again in 2021.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 September 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway

Filming Locations:

Nederlander Theatre - 208 West 41st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RadicalMedia

Technical Specs

Color:

Color