Neil Patrick Harris to Direct RENT at the Hollywood Bowl

[jacobtsf]

According to BWW

Today, BroadwayWorld.com initial reporting was confirmed that directing the production will be none other than RENT alumnus and star of stage and screen, Neil Patrick Harris. Harris himself starred in RENT, playing Mark Cohen for the Los Angeles production / 2nd National Tour of the musical. His performance in RENT earned him a Drama League Award in 1997.

This will mark Patrick Harris' directorial debut of a musical. Tim Weil, the original Musical Supervisor and Conductor for Rent on Broadway, and Musical Supervisor for the 2009 US Tour of Rent, is confirmed as Musical Director of the Hollywood Bowl's fully staged production. Weil also served as Musical Director for Shrek The Musical on Broadway, which received 8 Tony Award nominations.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Its_Official_Neil_Patrick_Harris_to_Direct_RENT_at_the_Hollywood_Bowl_96_98_20100226

[TheatreDiva90016]

While picking Neal Patrick as a director may be a great choice, I still can't figure out why they picked RENT to do at the Bowl. The whole idea of staging these musicals was to hear them with a full orchestra.

It's going to be wasted on RENT.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

^^ I've been thinking the same thing. Rent (at least the stage version) is what, a six-piece band?

[best12bars]

Maybe this will be "Symphonic Rent."

LOL

[steven22]

anyone know who will be cast?

[TheatreFan4]

Menzel or Espinosa as Maureen is pretty much a sure thing.

[steven22]

I vote Menzel....

[darquegk]

If we're lucky, this will mean it's being done with the expanded film orchestrations to justify the use of the Bowl.

[sgv123]

delete

[Brave Sir Robin2]

The Bowl is gonna be rocking! Idina should do it, and since there's not much staging can we get rockers in on it? I really would love Adam Lambert as Roger, but I doubt he could take the time to do it.

[orangeskittles]

Good for NPH. Hopefully he'll take advantage of the opportunity and break away from the Grief model.

I think Rent will work fine at the Hollywood Bowl. Rock concerts are done in outdoor amphitheatres all the time with only six-piece bands and people still complain it's too loud.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

How on earth is he qualified for this?

Because he gave a mediocre performance as Mark over 10 years ago?
Big ****ing deal

Nick DeGruccio should be directing this. Or the original broadway director....gimme a break

[TheatreDiva90016]

"I think Rent will work fine at the Hollywood Bowl. Rock concerts are done in outdoor amphitheatres all the time with only six-piece bands and people still complain it's too loud."

It's not about rocking it. It's about wasting and entire symphonic orchestra for a rock show.

And yes, Nick should be directing it.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Nick really really should
too bad

I can understand cast members directing this. But how about someone who has been more heavily involved in the show. Anthony Rapp would have been a FAR wiser choice.
This whole TWITTER cast seems insane to me. Neil needs to get over it.

Sorry, it just really bothers me

[Mildred Plotka]

I say get Pascal and Rapp. They really haven't had many chances to play those roles again.

[Jordan Catalano]

I'd love to see Brent Barrett as Mark, Roger Rees as Roger (obviously) and Ute Lemper as Mimi

[luvtheEmcee]

I'm glad to see them bringing in someone different, and perhaps unexpected. Thumbs up.

[MTVMANN]

I don't have twitter so if you like my choices...tweet them for me!

Lea Michelle= Maureen
Elijah Wood= Mark

[orangeskittles]

This whole TWITTER cast seems insane to me.

I don't think he's remotely serious...

[romgitsean]

Hmm. Interesting candidate.

Pascal and Rapp won't play it again after the tour. I talked to the manager of the Durham Performing Arts Center after they did their tour there, and he said they planned on ending their contracts with Rent after their tour, which has since ended.

I'm thinking Esponosia will play it out of logics; Menzel has an awful history of repeating the same roles every chance she can, hopefully she can branch out.

[Kad]

"This whole TWITTER cast seems insane to me. Neil needs to get over it.

Sorry, it just really bothers me"

I don't think NPH is the one who has to get over anything.

[Edna Turnblad]

I really think that Neil could do a really good job. He is acquainted with the work, and could also bring a newer perspective to it. I'm just sayin'.
That said, if Adam Lambert steps anywhere near the Bowl's stage, I may actually throw up. And, also, I doubt he would do it. When he first got on American Idol I believe he told someone that he hoped there wasn't a musical week because he didn't want to be known for that. And he can't sing. I'm just sayin'
And, can we get a completely new cast? No repeat offenders? Now, I'm not saying that they wouldn't do it justice, but I think it's time to give over the roles. Also, Idina, as far as I can tell, hasn't repeated many of her roles. Elphaba for London and Maureen for the movie. Am I missing one?

[Borstalboy]

Why do the former cast members of this show keep from letting it die? Enough already!

[LizzieCurry]

I'm expecting the cast announcement to evoke as many YAYs as UGHs (no, I don't know anything). And that I'll probably go.

[BroomstickBoy]

This makes me think of a production of RENT here in Atl. The director played Mark in the National Tour and ended up casting himself as Mark and his music director as Collins.

Maybe NPH will cast himself as Mark.