The musical RENT didn’t start on Broadway right away. It began in a small workshop at the New York Theater Company in 1994. It never actually hit Broadway until April 26^th,1996. Which was about three months after it’s writer had passed away.

When RENT went on tour, no body figured it would go more than once. Today RENT is celebrating its 10 year anniversary. There are also casts for productions of RENT in numerous countries. A few are Mexico, Norway, London, and Sweden. The original cast even went on tour to all of those spots.

Unfortunately, the show wasn’t as happy and care free as usual one night. Anthony Rapp, one of the cast members, got a call during the intermission. It was to report to him that his mother had died that night from caner. He went to his dressing room and considered not going on with the show. Most of the cast even thought that they would need the understudy because he was so upset. Rapp soon decided against it and went on with the show. The entire cast was present at the funeral and as Rapp stated, “ Jonathan is watching over her now.”

In the year 1996, RENT won the Tony awards for: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. Also, Wilson Jermaine Heredia(Angel) won Best Performance by a Featured Actor. Adam Pascal, Daphnie Rubin-Vega, and Idina Menzel ( Rodger, Mimi, and Maureen) were nominated for: Leading Actor, Adam Pascal, Leading Actress, Daphnie- Rubin-Vega, and Featured Actress, Idina Menzel. All together RENT had 10 Tony nominations, and won 4 awards that night.

RENT was and is said to be one of the best musicals  ever written. It has sold out soundtracks nation wide and was said to have the best sound track in 20 years!  Often tickets need to be bought months in advance just to get a balcony seat if you’re not a season ticket holder. RENT has become just a popular as Phantom of The Opera and Wicked, and is sure to grow farther.

Even though RENT has received thunderous applause at nearly every show, there are still those who do not applaud. Simply because of the fact that it mentions homosexuality and drug usage. There are those who will stand outside of the theater and protest RENT when it performs there. They are truly against it but what escapes them is the true meaning of RENT. They are only a foot note on RENTS huge success. And there is more still to come.