Rent - is it winding down?

[dapapabear2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 7:49pm

I went to get tix for December at Ticketmaster and they are only selling them through the end of November. Most other shows I looked at were selling well past that. I haven't much been paying attention to what's happening on Broadway right now, so can anyone clue me in. Is it closing, or are they contemplating that. Thanks, DAve

PS sorry if this has been covered. I looked through about 400 threads and didn't see it.

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:03pm

It was 85.2% full this week so I doubt it.

[Patronus]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:08pm

A lot of shows just recently got blocks of tickets beyond November. This only means that tickets beyond that date aren't yet on sale.

Rent in still typically performaning very well and makes money on a weekly basis. I suspect that I'd need to dip into less than 50% occupancy on consistant basis before it's closing is an issue.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:09pm

Nope. They aren't planning to close it. The rumors would be rampant since it just celebrated it's 10th anniversary and has such a huge number of die-hard fans who know everything about anyone who plays/has played the roles and get info on the show almost immediately from inside sources, ect... and nothing has been said Plus, as DramaDork925 pointed out, it is constantly in the 80-90% capacity range. Still VERY successful... even more so in recent months becasue of the excellent movie version.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:12pm

Before the movie it was usually in the 50's/60's/70's percentage for attendance.

The movie helped. Who knows how long the boost will last though.

[Patronus]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:13pm

even more so in recent months becasue of the excellent movie version.

Where can I find the excellent version? I only knew about the Chris Columbus version.

[littlelotte64]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:18pm

[ even more so in recent months becasue of the excellent movie version.

Where can I find the excellent version? I only knew about the Chris Columbus version. ]

omg that made me laugh so much. =]

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:28pm

It certainly isn't winding down. The cast is the strongest I've ever seen (search for my review from the other day's performance.) The thing with tickets is that they're only sold in certain date blocks. December tickets will go on sale probably closer to that date.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:39pm

eponineamneris, you're exaggerating more than a bit with your figures. It's nowhere near "constantly in the 80-90 capacity range". It's occasionally been over 80 in the past two months, maybe two or three times, mostly in the 60's and 70's. Before that it was consistantly in the 50's and 60's through most of the winter months.

Rumors of its closing seem to crop up every month or so. Fact is, no one knows when it will close. As long as it is a bit over break even, chances are it will last a while longer. The tour is very successful and is booking cities well into 2007 so it's doubtful that the Broadway cast will be out of work anytime soon.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:40pm

Even if Rent capacity was in the 60's it couls still run because producition cost's aren't high.

[dapapabear2]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 4:55am

Thanks to all who answered. It didn't make sense to me given the stats and the low production costs that it would be closing. Patronus, thanks for the laugh!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 4:59am

"Even if Rent capacity was in the 60's it couls still run because producition cost's aren't high".

Very True.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:09am

I feel like Rent's demise is predicted every six months or so.

I think it will be a around a while longer. It just celebrated its 10th Anniversary. Will it be open to celebrate 15 years? I doubt it, but who knows.

I think it has at least another couple of years in it. They can always go back to stunt casting...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:37am

I wish it would wind down...I really want to go to the Nederlander Theatre again (but I've already seen Rent too many times and won't see it again). I like to think of the Nederlander as the shrine of Raggedy Ann...just like I always think of the Virginia/August Wilson Theatre as the shrine of Carrie.

Edit: I just realized how crazy that last statement sounded. I should be committed.
Updated On: 7/24/06 at 11:37 AM

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:58am

Even if Rent capacity was in the 60's it couls still run because producition cost's aren't high

True -- in fact, the show might still stay afloat if the capacity was constantly in the 50s -- but I'd hope that the producers would know to call it quits before it became an embarassment. I'd rather see it go out on (somewhat of) a high note rather than to see a show milking its audiences for every last penny. Then again, maybe I'm giving the producers too much credit.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:09pm

"Rent - is it winding down?"

Yes. It's already dated.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:17pm

I just saw it on Saturday, and the line to get in was longer than any I've seen. I definitely don't think it's going anywhere -- at least not for a little bit longer.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:42pm

The operating costs for that show havd to be so minimal. Barely a set, a bunch of newbies on stage hungry for work (= low pay), new popularity due to the film/DVD. I don't think this will close any time soon. The only time they have to up the $ is for stunt casting and I bet even then, the producers get the stars (i.e Drew Lachey) at a deal.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 1:02pm

I'd rather see it go out on (somewhat of) a high note rather than to see a show milking its audiences for every last penny.

Exactly. And a few stuntcasts here and there is one thing, but I'd hate for it to reach the point of Chicago, where they *have* to have some unqualified, washed-up star in there just to stay open.