How long do you think Rent will stay on Broadway? Longer than Cats?

[Swiftynifty15]

Well what I mean is do you think Rent will pas the 18 year mark on Broadway.

It is popular now and then with the movie coming out is could stay open for a very long time.

[marvin2]

At least RENT has a plot.

[NYC_or_Bust]

I hardly think it will last that long. The thing about CATS was that anyone in the world could come and see this show. They were AMAZING singers, but even so, it really didn't matter what they said (sang) it was more about the eye popping sets, special effects, lighting, and DANCING! not to mention the costumes. A housewife from Uganda could enjoy it just as much as the lawyer from Topeka.

Rent is more complex.

Shows that last longer are usually the ones that can appeal to ANYONE. i.e. Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia, CATS, Phantom.

[bernadette88]

Very well said!

I do think that RENT won't be going anywhere in the next year. Once the movie comes out people will want to know what all the buzz is about. The musical will then most likely pick up in ticket sales. Similar to the way Chicago did, but as we all know, ticket sales for that show have dropped. Will just have to wait and see. There is no way it would close before the movie came out though. I would love to see it pass Cats, but I highly doubt it will!

[Thenardier]

No, Phantom is.

[pab]

"Is Rent the New Cats?"

No. Rent is good.

[MyDreamsRecurring]

When was Cats ever a quality show?

[loganp37]

No, Rent is enjoyable.

[NYC_or_Bust]

I'll just add my OTHER 2 cents.

I honestly don't know what everyone's deal with CATS is all about. I'm sorry but I think the show is great, and I can see why it lasted as long as it did. When I saw it, the singers gave me chills! The dancing was great. The sets, the lighting, costumes, they were just amazing. Everything that a broadway show should be. Okay, provided there wasn't an actual PLOT...FORGIVE THEM...this is show biz guys...they don't call them Scripticals...they call them Musicals...it really is the music that ties everything together...plot or not, the score is what can take the most unlikey of things (people acting like cats for 2 and a half hours) and make the show something beautiful.

Some people can argue that Joseph and the Amazing...isn't a great show because there is no SCRIPT, but still...doesn't the show work? It's told through the music.

It's hard to have a FULL plot when it comes to cats...i mean think about it...cats are by nature very odd creatures. One minute you think you have them figured out and you're loving on them, and then the next minute, they want nothing to do with you...Its hard to have a great show with a plot about a creature who is a little "off" anyway. lol.

But please don't just follow the leader when it comes to this show....breakaway! if you like CATS, then like CATS..who cares what anyone else says!

Some people don't like WICKED (me) and some people don't like Phantom, or Les Miz...But don't stop liking a show just because it's a trend...


..... i'm up to 4 cents

[ljay889]

RENT will never last that long.

Personally - I think and predict CHICAGO will outlast Rent.

[Pinguin]

RENT won't last that long; part of the problem is that it's going to feel real dated real soon, and it's not exactly the kind of show parents can bring their 7 year olds to see.

It still has some box office life left, but not 18 years worth. Phantom will meet the mark.

[Katecab99]

I don't think RENT is going anywhere anytime soon.

[EverythingIsRENT]

RENT will never g oaway because the issues in it aren't going away. Chicago will be long gone before RENT.

[thesparklingdiamond]

god I hope rent isn't the new cats, those are two shows that shoudn't even be compared in one sentence. unless of course the sentence is something of the nature "rent has a plot, great music and doesn't feature more than one person in a cat suit...unlike the horrid 80s-born ALW musical garbage called cats." or something to that effect...
but as far as the real meaning of this topic, I do think rent stands a chance to last quite a long time on broadway, so technically what your saying is possible but I'd say phantom is more likely to surpass cats.

[NYC_or_Bust]

EverythingisRENT...i beg to differ...


Rent deals with issues, I wont deny that.

But look at the content of CHICAGO....its making a mock of the American Press....I mean think about it....Terrorists attack NYC, Broadway closes down.....what goes on? The News...

I love chicago because it really is one of those shows that makes you kinda laugh at our country for always wanting the bigger better story...and isn't that was the press is all about? Selling the biggest news for THAT particular moment?

I'm not saying that issues like AIDS or trannys are gonna end, but think about it...even if the AIDS crisis is solved...what's going to go on? The American Press....always the press...

I don't think Chicago is going anywhere...

[EverythingIsRENT]

Oh, I don't dissagree that Chicago is extreamly relevent today and is great satire...I just adore RENT more than Chicago, so, there you have it =P

[NYC_or_Bust]

i figured! hehe

[TheatreDiva90016]

Chicago has already out lived Rent. I know that Rent deals with some very heavy issues, but it is already a 'period piece'.

People aren't relying on their pagers to tell them when to take their meds.

They aren't dealing with the same issues that are so prevalent in Rent.

The area of New York, that the show is set in, is completely different now, and much less like the ‘enemy’ that was the ‘problem’ in the show.

The fact is that Rent was sent in a very small space in the course of history. At the time, it seemed like the world was coming to an end and that ‘This was it!’

It’s not. True, I lost….many, many, MANY friends during that time, but things have changed. Things have gotten better.

And besides, I don’t know anyone who goes a full year without paying rent.

[ljay889]

EVERYTHING. You obviously aren't familiar with the producers of CHICAGO. Fran & Barry Weissler. They are going to try to keep this show going as long as they can. The show made back all it's money in the 90's. It cost very little to run it. And plus they bring in stars every now and then, which improves the grosses even more.

CHICAGO's grosses, and attendance have been much higher than Rent's for a while now.

[Pinguin]

Totally, TheatreDiva, has anyone seen the East Village lately?

[LoudIrishGirl]

Plus, no matter how much I love RENT, the movie Chicago is one of my FAVORITE movies in a large part because it was phenominally well made (I'm a film production major, by the way). And it deserved all the accolades (sp?) it got.

The movie also was full of A-listers and got the musical's name out to the non-theatre going public in a very good way.

RENT is full of A-list THEATRE actors. They won't sell the same way that the A-list movie stars did. They will mostly appeal to the already theatre-aware public.

So basically Chicago has a better chance of going longer.

[EverythingIsRENT]

wel, RENT made back all it's money by like, 1996 and is also cheap to run, and I was under the impression that Chicago and RENT were at about the same attendance...but heck, i'm just a totally delirious RENThead who will never see any flaw in the show and would keep it running for all time if I could, so I should probably stop discussing this

[NYSinger1]

I have been hesitant to comment on this thread, as a admitidly former rent-head.

As much as I'd like to see Rent play for 18+ years on broadway, I am not sure if it will have the sustaining power.

A few variables will infuence how much longer it will last.
a) The success of Rent, the movie. I personally know I am going to love it, but will the general public have the same reaction to Rent as they did Chicago. If that does happen, Rent will continue to putter along, like Chicago has been for the past few years. I personally think the producers have been keeping Rent open because of the upcomming movie version of it. I think they would have closed it otherwise.

b) A friend of mine from out of town saw Rent for the first time this year. He thought it felt dated, already. Cats really wasn't "time-sensitive". Chicago is set long enough in the past, that it is nostalgic, same for Phantom.

I agree with EverythingIsRent, that Rent is a relatively inexpensive production, but it is still a Broadway show, and has to adhere to Equity contracts. So, it is a significant cost keep it running.

Also, does Rent attract the type of tourists that Phantom or Chicago does? As much as I don't like to admit it, NY Tourists is what keeps shows running for decades, not New Yorkers.


EverythingIsRent, I agree with you that the issues in Rent will not go away, but I am not sure having relevent issues can sustain a Broadway show alone. There have been many broadway flops about relevant issues.


I hope Rent can last as long as possible, but I don't think it can last another 10 years.

[LuvBroadwayHugs]

If Rent were the new Cat's I wouldn't be seeing it again. It's shocking to most people that Cat's was my first Broadway experience and I manage to get past to love it so much. I think Rent will be alive for a little longer...18 years? No, I don't think so.

[Thenardier]

Just because you like something more doesn't mean it will last longer.

Chicago is much more of a tourist attraction anyway.

The fact that it is a revival and has lasted almost 10 years - and will probably keep going, just shows that it will be around.