RENT

Adam Pascal in Rent.

Anthony Rapp in Rent.

The currnet touring production of Rent.

Anthony Rapp (Mark) and Adam Pascal (Roger) in a scence from Rent.

A week ago Ken and I invited our friends Liz and Kyle to see the musical Rent at the Fox Theater. I have seen the show several times before but this performance was extra special because Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, two of the original cast members, were on tour with this production. Adam and Anthony will forever be known as Roger and Mark. The energy in the theater that night was high and Adam and Anthony were flawless! I have listened to them countless times on the various Rent recordings and have watched the movie numerous times. They were even better live and we had center seats in row G! What an awesome opportunity it was to see these outstanding performers live! The only thing that would have made the show even better is if Idina and her husband Taye had toured as well. Ken and I are big Idina fans and we were lucky enough to see her in concert at the Pageant last summer. Idina and her husband Taye met while performing in the original production of Rent. They also appeared in the movie.

Rent received the Tony award for best musical in 1996. The Pulitzer- and Tony-winning "Rent" was a major cultural touchstone in the mid- '90s, when the rock opera took over Broadway and the West End with its strong score and tragic storyline. And while the musical has its critics, it remains a cultural phenomenon. "Rent" ran for 12 years on Broadway, making it the seventh-most successful show ever.