Renthead Survey for Term Paper

[FelineofAvenueQ2]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 12:15pm

I'm doing my paper on Rent's impact on it's audience for my theater class and I'm seeing the tour this Sunday and I was going to ask some of the other Rentheads to take a quick survey. But, I thought why not also post the survey here. I can use as much input as possible! So, if you guys dont mind can you take some time to answer these questions! Much LOVE :) seriously haha

I just want you to know I'm not trying to get people to do my paper for me! The paper I want to do, I really want to get a unique angle with other fans perceptives not just my own. :)

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
(If Yes, what did you think?)
Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
What character did you relate to the most?
How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?

[jacobp]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 2:48pm

13
WOW
No
No.
MOST definitely. I became the liason for my school for BC/EFA and raised over 2000 dollars
Mark. Jewish, passionate, compassionate
hmmm Sad but understanding, and how weird it would be not seeing it up on the boards or at the nederlander it was a fixture in NYC

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 2:54pm

Turn on your private messages.

[xbri0432x]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 4:36pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
11 or 12

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
THIS IS AMAZING!!

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
(If Yes, what did you think?)
nope. EDIT: Scratch that. I didn't really read the question, but my answer is yes. yes it did. I still haven't seen it, but I really want to.

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
yes. definitely.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
yup

What character did you relate to the most?
Mark, Maureen, and Squeegee man (just had to put him)

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
broke down sobbing. then I calmed down and just realized how odd the Nederlander would look without the RENT signs. boy, how I miss it... thank god that filmed live on broadway is coming out on dvd soon.

Updated On: 1/21/09 at 04:36 PM

[feline0favenueQ]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 4:55pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
12

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
This is amazing and I must see it over and over!

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
I did look up Musetta's Waltz and I did Wikipedia it...

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
Without a doubt. Changed my views on gays too.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
I always buy BC/EFA stuff, more than I should!

What character did you relate to the most?
Well, I idolize Maureen, but I'm most similar to Act 1 Roger and Act 2 Mark.

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
I sobbed. I still cry, sometimes. I miss it, the Nederlander was home.

[Weez]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 5:14pm

Go on then, let's give it a bash.

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time? 18. The UK tour came whizzing through my town, and I had a lot of online friends who were keen, so I forced my mother to take me.

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it? I was moved, not quite sure if Angel was male or female, a little baffled, but intrigued. I then got the cast recording, and everything just moved from there. :3

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme? Yup! Six years later, I was in a position to do so, so I did. :3

(If Yes, what did you think?) I liked it a great deal, actually. It was my first experience of opera (besides the obligatory Gilbert & Sullivan experiences of my youth) and I was ever so gratified to realise that opera *is* musical theatre, just with a whole different style of music.

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS? I never really had a way of looking at people with AIDS before Rent. So I suppose you could say "yes", if only for the fact it drew my attention to them. But as I didn't have a viewpoint in the first place, it's a bit of a stretch to suggest there was a "change" involved.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist? Activist is possibly extreme, but I have donated generously to BC/EFA, and I wear my red ribbon on World AIDS Day. If I ever got involved in charity work, an AIDS charity would be my first human-based port of call.

What character did you relate to the most? Mark. I used t want to be a film-maker, and he always struck me as very introverted, emotionally disconnected, and disappointed with himself for being so. Which was - and still is, I guess - me to a tee.

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing? Not as sad as I would have expected, actually. Somewhat shocked, as it was the second super long-runner to go within a matter a matter of months, and grateful I'd seen it, but closing is a natural part of a show's life, so I was fairly accepting.

Updated On: 1/21/09 at 05:14 PM

[Jade]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 5:34pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
It was the day after my 18th birthday

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
This might surprise some people... I hated it. I thought it was too loud and I had absolutely no idea what was going on. (It eventually grew on me, but after I saw it that first time.)

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
Yes

(If Yes, what did you think?)
I enjoyed it, but only because of the Rent connection.

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
Only in that it did make me think more about what it might be like to have to live with AIDS.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
No

What character did you relate to the most?
Mark - the geeky outsider.

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
I assume you mean the Broadway show? By that time it'd already closed four times in London so I was sort of used to it. I was quite sad on the actual day, though, knowing the original production was no longer there.
Updated On: 1/21/09 at 05:34 PM

[dg22894]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 5:52pm

13
Amazing, a lot of great music
Yes but did not get around to seeing it
No
Mark-the geeky film maker who has a overbearing mother
I felt like it was its time but still sad. Happy that they recorded it though.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 7:09pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
april of my freshman year in high school

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
well, I knew the words because i had the album but I didn't know the costumes. So when angel came out, I thought he would be in Sequins, Sequins, and Sequins...not a santa outfit. lol

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
Yes

(If Yes, what did you think?)
havn't gotten to it yet :)

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
yes

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
to an extint

What character did you relate to the most?
Mark and Angel

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
well, I had seen it once a year since the first time, and I knew i had to get one more in, so in July (after they extended) I went to the city, and saw it once last time...that is, until I saw it last week :)

[Manny2]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 7:27pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
-14

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
-The first time I saw it live I was blown away. I had always been one of those people who didn't think that musical theatre could have an impact on anyone, or be profoundly moving, but this show proved me wrong. It was a spectacle; I remember thinking how "cool" it was to have music blare out of the speakers like at a concert and how enthralling the entire experience was. In short: I was moved.

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
(If Yes, what did you think?)
-Not exactly. I knew that RENT was based on La Boheme, but it was a thought that was in the back of my head. When I finally got to see La Boheme, it wasn't till the end that I remembered RENT. I loved La Boheme, it was just as moving as RENT but in a more patrician way.

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
-No, but I will say this: one of the things that has never really settled well with me is how during various parts of the show I felt like AIDS was being glorified. Like during 'La Vie Boheme', in reflection I remember thinking how ridiculous it was (to me, at least) that this show could have the characters singing this cathartic song about losing your dignity one minute, and then dancing on tables and singing about how fun life is...it just didn't make sence to me.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
-Not particularly. As I said before, the show seemed to glorify it for me, so on some level I didn't feel the need to become an "activist." I've also been active in various other charities and causes for a great deal of time (most of which hit close to home), and I didn't see that I "belonged there", if you get what I mean.

What character did you relate to the most?
-I saw a little bit of myself in most of the characters. I'd have to say that I related the most to Maureen, Joanne and Angel though. I could relate to how caring and thoughtful Angel was, Maureen's exhibitionism yet at the same time Joanne's pragmatic and "stiff" way of being (contradictory, I know).

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
-I remember I read it in a bulletin posted by a friend of mine who loved RENT more than life itself saying that it wasn't just a show and that noone could tell her to stop crying unless they knew what the show meant to her. She never said RENT, but I knew then. There was this odd wave of calm that came over me. I wasn't sure how to react. I felt as thought I should be crying, and I should be pulling my hair out; but I wasn't. I was oddly calm and collected and was actually happy to see it go the way it did. Come to think of it, I've never dealt with losses...

[alliez92092]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 7:34pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
-11

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
-It was beautiful and moving and very inspiring. It wasn't until my second viewing thought that it fully hit me.

Did seeing Rent get you interested in seeing La Boheme? (If Yes, what did you think?)
-It did, but I still have yet to see it.

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
-Sadly, I didn't know much about AIDS before I saw the show. No one talked about it around me. So I guess what it did was open me up to it.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
-I definitely started to make an effort to do charity stuff, like lots of donating to BCEFA but nothing big.

What character did you relate to the most?
Mark. He buries himself in his work so he doesn't have to always feel pain, and I do that with my acting.

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
I was very sad, but I knew it was time for it to close. It has had its impact and created a new generation on Broadway and now it's time to step off. It still means so much to me, but I accepted the closing pretty easily.

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 8:23pm

I am OLD!
It was a Mother's Day gift from my children when it first opened In May of 1996.

I enjoyed it because I always loved La Boheme, one of the first operas I saw as a child at the old Metropolitan Opera House, long gone.

No, it did not change the way I view people who are either HIV positive or have AIDS. They have always had my support and concern.

I was already teaching children about the facts of HIV, AIDS and prevention. I was already donating to causes to find a cure or to help people who are suffering from the diseases AIDS brings.

Angel was my favorite character.

Rent played a long time.

[KathyGriffinLovesYou]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 8:32pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
12
What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
Holy crap that was horrible. I saw a high school production.
Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
(If Yes, what did you think?)
Absoloutely. It was SPECTACULAR.
Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
Absoloutely. AIDS is kind of my sensitive spot.
Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
.......
What character did you relate to the most?
Maureen. She was always bold, dramatic, and insane
How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
I cried and told every single person I ran into that it was closing for a month.

[Mattt]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 9:51pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
I was 13 but had been a fan for about a year before. My parents surprised me with tickets at the box office summer '05.

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
I had been a fan before I saw the show live so being able to witness one of my favorite cast albums come alive right before my eyes was pretty incredible. Never before had I truly cried during a piece of entertainment due to my OWN personal relation. I usually cry for the character and/or their situation. But Rent was different. In Rent, it's like a huge slap in the face, saying, "Take a look at your life - Who do you love and who loves you?"

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
(If Yes, what did you think?)
I never saw La Boheme after but because of Rent I did go out and buy a La Boheme medley for the piano.

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
Rent made me aware of how deeply AIDS affects the lives of some people.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
Not completely, but now I always try to slip a few bucks into the BCEFA buckets whenever they collect at a Broadway show (something that I probably wouldn't think about doing not having known Rent)

What character did you relate to the most?
Mark. I feel like I am always the narrator, just watching life pass on around me.

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
Bittersweat. I am happy and blessed with my memories of seeing the show 10 times, number 10 being the closing night performance. It is slightly upsetting to realize that I can no longer go into the city and easily get cheap tickets to my favorite show, but I couldn't be more happy that the final performance was preserved in a beautiful film that I can share with all of my friends who will never get the chance to see the show live.

[dancnqn5]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 10:18pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
15, I think

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
I had been waiting to see if for a long time, so I was so excited to finally see it.

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
(If Yes, what did you think?)
Yes. I actually saw it my sr year in HS for a lit/opera field trip. And unfortunately, at the time, I wsa bored out of my mind (to be fair, I don't think I knew what I was in for)

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
It didn't really change the way I looked at them. It just solidified what I believed.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
It didn't particularly inspire me, but I am an activist thanks to the entire theatrical community.

What character did you relate to the most?
I think I probably relate to Mark the most, although I always wanted to be Mimi.

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
It's funny, I was sad, but at the same time I wasn't devestated. I think I outgrew my hardcore Rent addiction, but it made me a little nostalgic. I knew that it was time though.

[bailey_borchardt]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 10:27pm

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time? 14
What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it? I was completely moved from the moment it started till the moment it ended. I know this is what everyone says, but it really changed my life and gave me a dream.
Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
I had actually seen La Boheme before, which led me to see Rent.
Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS? Absolutely.
Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist? Yes.
What character did you relate to the most? Mark.
How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing? I was devastated. It was a complete shock. I thought the day would never come, but that was just me being naive.

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 1:33am

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
17th birthday! lol

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
amazing.

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
(If Yes, what did you think?)
it interests me but i still have not seen La Boheme

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
without a doubt.

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
yes

What character did you relate to the most?
mark definitly.

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
sad. but it had a great run. larson would be proud to have seen it go on for as long as it did at the neder.

[LyTeMyCanDyI]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 1:42am

How old where you when you saw Rent for the first time?
12

What was your reaction of the show the first time you saw it?
I liked itm but it wasn't until I went home and listened to the music again that I fell in love. I saw it another 6 times over 8 years.

Did seeing Rent get you intrested in seeing La Boheme?
(If Yes, what did you think?)
It did get me interested in La Boheme. I finally saw in a year ago, 7 years after I'd seen RENT. It was fun to notice similarities in the music, as well as the obvious plot correlations. I actually wrote a paper on it for my opera history class.

Did Rent change the way you look at people suffering with AIDS?
Yes

Did it inspire you to become a AIDS prevention activist?
No

What character did you relate to the most?
Maureen...I'm a drama queen! Also bits of Mark, the looking for love/lonely aspect.

How did you feel when you heard Rent was closing?
I hung up the phone, walked silently to my best friends bed, curled in the corner and cried. I'd been having a bad day already so that made me go over the top. (My poor friend thought it ws something he'd done.)