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How did you become a RentHEAD?
<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 07.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
ashley0139
Broadway Legend
joined:1/3/05
joined:1/3/05
Broadway Legend
joined:
1/3/05
joined:
1/3/05
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
My story is a bit of a weird one. My parents forbid me from seeing the show until I was almost seventeen; the first time I saw it was December of 2001. I knew very little about the story, maybe just that it dealt with AIDS and drugs, and that was why my parents were the way they were about it. I had only heard Seasons of Love, so I almost went into the show cold. It seems rare that people do that anymore. And I also bipassed the stage of seeing the show at 13 or 14 and being "teenybopperish" about it.
The first time, knowing nothing, a lot got past me, plot-wise. I missed a lot of the little nuances. Because of that, it took me until the middle of the show to really fall in love; but the moment the cast walked out to since Seasons of Love was the exact moment at which that happened. I bought the Best Of RENT CD that week, and became hooked, but only gradually. I remember wanting to buy a poster at the theatre, and being asked if I prefered current cast or original. I truly had no idea WHO the original cast was, even though I had been a mild fan of Adam's through AIDA. (I picked current.) When I got the CD, I immediately recognized that voice, so unmistakable. I did fall in love with what it was I "got" from the show, and saw it again about six months later. That day, I picked up the double-disk and truly started to get engrossed in the whole Renthead... thing - starting to feel a strong connection to the show's material, etc.
It's still all been a gradual process, I guess. Over the past year or so, a lot of things have happened to make that all even stronger, and to put me where I am now in terms about how I feel the show - you all know how. I introduced myself to Tick, Tick... BOOM! last winter, though I had known brief tidbits about Jonathan's story before that. It stole my heart, as did the brilliance of its leading man. Now, finally, over the past year - I've been to where this all took place (in reality or with artistic liberties), I've come along some ultimately bizarre connections with members of that once-mysterious to me original cast; I've seen almost all of them perform at one time or another, I own a copy of the RENT Bible, and have come to understand what a powerhouse that all was, at least as best I can, having missed it myself. I think having missed it the first time, it makes the journey I'm taking with the movie one of even more emotional investment. Since the first time, I've seen the show four more times; and every time, it means so much more. Let's just say that things have happened that - when I first stepped into that theatre - I never, ever expected.
(yay for emotional spillage - and it's not even nine in the morning!)
The first time, knowing nothing, a lot got past me, plot-wise. I missed a lot of the little nuances. Because of that, it took me until the middle of the show to really fall in love; but the moment the cast walked out to since Seasons of Love was the exact moment at which that happened. I bought the Best Of RENT CD that week, and became hooked, but only gradually. I remember wanting to buy a poster at the theatre, and being asked if I prefered current cast or original. I truly had no idea WHO the original cast was, even though I had been a mild fan of Adam's through AIDA. (I picked current.) When I got the CD, I immediately recognized that voice, so unmistakable. I did fall in love with what it was I "got" from the show, and saw it again about six months later. That day, I picked up the double-disk and truly started to get engrossed in the whole Renthead... thing - starting to feel a strong connection to the show's material, etc.
It's still all been a gradual process, I guess. Over the past year or so, a lot of things have happened to make that all even stronger, and to put me where I am now in terms about how I feel the show - you all know how. I introduced myself to Tick, Tick... BOOM! last winter, though I had known brief tidbits about Jonathan's story before that. It stole my heart, as did the brilliance of its leading man. Now, finally, over the past year - I've been to where this all took place (in reality or with artistic liberties), I've come along some ultimately bizarre connections with members of that once-mysterious to me original cast; I've seen almost all of them perform at one time or another, I own a copy of the RENT Bible, and have come to understand what a powerhouse that all was, at least as best I can, having missed it myself. I think having missed it the first time, it makes the journey I'm taking with the movie one of even more emotional investment. Since the first time, I've seen the show four more times; and every time, it means so much more. Let's just say that things have happened that - when I first stepped into that theatre - I never, ever expected.
(yay for emotional spillage - and it's not even nine in the morning!)
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be enbered with your old nonsense. ~ Emerson
AndiV
Stand-by
joined:2/8/05
joined:2/8/05
Stand-by
joined:
2/8/05
joined:
2/8/05
So long status quo/
I think I just let go/
You make me want to be/
BRAVE
My sister saw the Benny tour back in 1998 and would NOT shut up abou the show, so I decided to "borrow" her cd, and from then on, there was no turning back
Sunchips: Best Kept Secret in the chip aisle!!
My Renthead story is very long, drawn out, personal and a bit cheesy so bear with me and bless you if you actually bothered reading it all. 
In 1996, my vocal coach and very good friend took me to New York for the first time to see my favorite show at the time, Les Miserables. Back then, I was listening almost exclusively to more "traditional" musicals. Les Miz, Phantom etc. I wasn't so much into the rock operas.
On a Wednesday evening in December of 1996, my theatre dream was going to come true. I was going to see Les Miserables. There was only one small obstacle before I could see Marius, Eponine and the gang. I had to sit through a show that afternoon that my friend wanted to see. This new show that made some noise and did well at the Tony awards. Rent.
I have to admit that I didn't really care if I saw it or if I didn't, but it was important to Ken, so I decided to go.
Three years earlier Ken had a bone marrow transplant and was doing fairly well after his treatment from leukemia. The "No Day But Today” message applied to him very clearly. I enjoyed the show, but I didn't immediately fall in love with it.
In fact, it wasn't until about 4 hours after we got out of Rent, where I was sitting in Les Miz thinking about Collins, Angel and Mimi's pants (I was 18, afterall) before I realized that it had more of an impact on me than I originally thought.
I bought the CD and it went into heavy rotation for the next few months.
Fast forward to April of 1997...
We were going back to New York in April with some friends and one of the things that we wanted to see was Rent for a 2nd time.
Just before the trip, Ken went to the doctor for some routine tests regarding his transplant and he was told that he shouldn't fly because the cabin pressure would cause problems with his immune system.
So...we went to NY without him.
Literally an hour before we went to the show I called to check on Ken and let him know that we were heading to the theatre and I found out he has been admitted to the hospital and wasn't doing very well.
That night Rent touched me in a way that I can't explain in words. The message hit home in every conceivable way. Angel's death as the "light" of the group really tore me up because Ken was a similar light for our group and as cheesy as it sounds, I formed a bond with the show that April night and I will never forget that particular show no matter how many times I see it. (Currently, I am at 51)
One week later when I was back home in Georgia, Ken's condition worsened and his body rejected the bone marrow transplant and he died. Rent automatically became my support group and helped me get through this experience.
It had found a huge place in my life.
Now...fast forward to December of 1997.
By this time I had formed many relationships with people online who had a similar passion for the show as I did.
When the Benny tour opened with Neil Patrick Harris and Wilson Cruz I knew that i had to see that company so I planned a trip to Los Angeles.
I didn't have a ton of money so I arranged to stay with one of the "LA Rentheads" who I had talked to a lot. When she picked me up at the airport it was like one of those really cavity-inducing movie moments where something just clicked and it felt right. We hit it off very well and I dare say it was love at first site. (Hell, isn't that the formula of most musicals?)
We spent the most amazing week together hanging out and seeing Rent, but both of us were a bit saddened because in the back of our minds we knew that this wonderful week was drawing closer and closer to an end.
When my plane finally left on Dec 23, 1997 from LAX airport, both myself and the girl was devestated and in love.
I spent the next week at home in Georgia an absolute wreck and decided that I was a hyprocrit if I didn't live true to the message that I constantly walked around singing - "No Day But Today".
So, on Dec 29, 1997 (after talking to her about it of course) I was on a Greyhound bus bound for Los Angeles with all of my belongings to come live with the girl.
As I type this on Aug 12, 2005 she and I are happily married and have been for nearly 5 years. We have lived together from that day and she is my best friend. We both feel that we were brought together because of the message of the show.
For all of use back in late 90s, it wasn't just about the show. It was about the friendships that were formed as a result of the experience of "the rent line." A group of people who didn't always feel that they fit in individually, but worked as a cohesive unit that had one love in common.
I realize this story is a bit "fairy tale" and "cheesy" but it's real and true. I have lost a great friend and gained a wonderful companion and all the time Rent was playing somewhere in the background.
Updated On: 1/18/08 at 10:40 AMIn 1996, my vocal coach and very good friend took me to New York for the first time to see my favorite show at the time, Les Miserables. Back then, I was listening almost exclusively to more "traditional" musicals. Les Miz, Phantom etc. I wasn't so much into the rock operas.
On a Wednesday evening in December of 1996, my theatre dream was going to come true. I was going to see Les Miserables. There was only one small obstacle before I could see Marius, Eponine and the gang. I had to sit through a show that afternoon that my friend wanted to see. This new show that made some noise and did well at the Tony awards. Rent.
I have to admit that I didn't really care if I saw it or if I didn't, but it was important to Ken, so I decided to go.
Three years earlier Ken had a bone marrow transplant and was doing fairly well after his treatment from leukemia. The "No Day But Today” message applied to him very clearly. I enjoyed the show, but I didn't immediately fall in love with it.
In fact, it wasn't until about 4 hours after we got out of Rent, where I was sitting in Les Miz thinking about Collins, Angel and Mimi's pants (I was 18, afterall) before I realized that it had more of an impact on me than I originally thought.
I bought the CD and it went into heavy rotation for the next few months.
Fast forward to April of 1997...
We were going back to New York in April with some friends and one of the things that we wanted to see was Rent for a 2nd time.
Just before the trip, Ken went to the doctor for some routine tests regarding his transplant and he was told that he shouldn't fly because the cabin pressure would cause problems with his immune system.
So...we went to NY without him.
Literally an hour before we went to the show I called to check on Ken and let him know that we were heading to the theatre and I found out he has been admitted to the hospital and wasn't doing very well.
That night Rent touched me in a way that I can't explain in words. The message hit home in every conceivable way. Angel's death as the "light" of the group really tore me up because Ken was a similar light for our group and as cheesy as it sounds, I formed a bond with the show that April night and I will never forget that particular show no matter how many times I see it. (Currently, I am at 51)
One week later when I was back home in Georgia, Ken's condition worsened and his body rejected the bone marrow transplant and he died. Rent automatically became my support group and helped me get through this experience.
It had found a huge place in my life.
Now...fast forward to December of 1997.
By this time I had formed many relationships with people online who had a similar passion for the show as I did.
When the Benny tour opened with Neil Patrick Harris and Wilson Cruz I knew that i had to see that company so I planned a trip to Los Angeles.
I didn't have a ton of money so I arranged to stay with one of the "LA Rentheads" who I had talked to a lot. When she picked me up at the airport it was like one of those really cavity-inducing movie moments where something just clicked and it felt right. We hit it off very well and I dare say it was love at first site. (Hell, isn't that the formula of most musicals?)
We spent the most amazing week together hanging out and seeing Rent, but both of us were a bit saddened because in the back of our minds we knew that this wonderful week was drawing closer and closer to an end.
When my plane finally left on Dec 23, 1997 from LAX airport, both myself and the girl was devestated and in love.
I spent the next week at home in Georgia an absolute wreck and decided that I was a hyprocrit if I didn't live true to the message that I constantly walked around singing - "No Day But Today".
So, on Dec 29, 1997 (after talking to her about it of course) I was on a Greyhound bus bound for Los Angeles with all of my belongings to come live with the girl.
As I type this on Aug 12, 2005 she and I are happily married and have been for nearly 5 years. We have lived together from that day and she is my best friend. We both feel that we were brought together because of the message of the show.
For all of use back in late 90s, it wasn't just about the show. It was about the friendships that were formed as a result of the experience of "the rent line." A group of people who didn't always feel that they fit in individually, but worked as a cohesive unit that had one love in common.
I realize this story is a bit "fairy tale" and "cheesy" but it's real and true. I have lost a great friend and gained a wonderful companion and all the time Rent was playing somewhere in the background.
"You wanna prowl? Be my night owl, well take my hand were gonna howlll...OUT TONIGHT!"-Daphne Rubin Vega the BEST Mimi ever!
joined:12/29/04
joined:
12/29/04
Posted: 8/11/05 at 11:48pm