Goodbye RENT

The producers of long time running Broadway musical RENT announced today that they will be closing their doors June 1, 2008.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=24337

I can't way I am shocked, but it does hit a certain spot in my heart. The grosses have sucked, casts second rate, etc. But this was the show that turned me onto the love of musicals. I saw it for my 16th birthday and it opened my eyes to so many things. I thought I lead a rebellious life since a smoke cigarettes, drank beer, swore, and was just general "bad ass". Of course this was in suburbia, that didn't register back then. But I saw this show and was exposed to this notion of this disease AIDS. Oh so you aren't supposed to not just have unprotected sex so you didn't get pregnant but now there are diseases. The show itself isn't the greatest thing and is not for everyone. There are major plot holes and cheesy cliches but the underlying themes of strength, love, friendship, and survival still ring true.

I haven't decided if I am going to see it again, having seen it four times this summer. Having seen the emotion in that room the last night of The Return with Adam & Anthony, I don't know if I want to replace that memory. We'll see.

Seeing this does make me sad though:
http://www.siteforrent.com/