525,600 Minutes

525,600 minutes. It feels like it has only been that long since Rent closed on Broadway and less than three years later the new Off-Broadway revival opened at New World Stages this past August. When the creative team announced last year that they were mounting the shows first ever revival Off-Broadway I felt I was among the many who sighed and said “Didn’t that close not too long ago?” However, I let it go and went on with life. Then at the end of August, all of New York City was shut down for Hurricane Irene and my friend and I were inside our building for the weekend. Dying to get out and do something that Monday, we remembered that Rent had a night show and we thought we would lotto for tickets that night. Well, we won the tickets and I was eager to see the show. That night I left feeling different, entranced in a way at this incredible show and talented cast. I was hooked and fell in love with the revival of Rent.

Rent tells the story of a group of struggling friends living a bohemian lifestyle in the East Village in New York during the AIDS epidemic in the ‘90’s. Throughout the course of a year they deal with love, loss, struggles, AIDS and paying their rent.

This new production has been rethought and reinvented by the original director Michael Grief whose ideas and vision are very prominent in this production. The sets are new, yet still reminiscent of the original one, the costumes have elements of the original such as Mimi and Joannes’ coats, Rogers leather jacket and Maureen’s leather ensemble. However, the amazing music, touching story and message of “No day but today” is still the same it is just told by a young, different and brilliant cast that brings such a fresh look to this iconic show. Adam Chanler-Berat who strikes a resemblance to book, music and lyrics writer Jonathan Larson brings charm and passion to the role of filmmaker/narrator Mark, Annaleigh Ashford who plays the lovable yet kooky performance artist Maureen gives the best performance of her Broadway career! She is brilliant and gives one of those performances that you come back to see. She looks at the role in a different way bringing out the somewhat ditzy and funny part of Maureen. Her Over the Moon is incredible as she makes it her own! Matt Shingledecker plays rocker Roger who in my mind is one of the best Rogers as he is so connected emotionally to the character. He is really channeling the characters internal pain and conflict which I really enjoy watching. Arianda Fernandez gives the best performance of Mimi that I have seen! Her voice is very different and unique. It’s not too polished, but has a bit of a rough edge to it and that makes her Mimi sound and look so realistic as lets not forget, Mimi is a 19 year-old drug addict and S&M dancer. She is this tiny ball of energy that can dance like you would not believe. She reels you in and she commands the audience’s attention especially during Out Tonight! Clive Barnes Award winner MJ Rodriguez is the fabulous drag queen Angel. He is a younger Angel who brings some depth to the role and his performance alone makes you want to come back. He gives one of those performances that makes an actor a star and he has a Tony win in the bag if they ever take this production to Broadway. Nicholas Christopher plays a loving Collins, Corbin Reid plays a sophisticated Joanne who can really belt and Ephraim Sykes is a quiet Benny. The cast as a whole will blow you away as they are very small company but all so talented, this lets the audience focus in on the characters and their story.

I mentioned above that they show has been rethought and it has. Contact has been retooled and restaged. There have been music cuts and video screens are now used throughout the show, which work beautifully with Over the Moon as well as to capture the cast during the final number. But were the video screens always necessary no, as we do not need to see Santa Fe over Roger and New York over Mark during What You Own. Some numbers and scenes remain exactly the same and they could have used a little bit of reworking. Rent’s new home, New World Stages is the perfect place for this show as it provides a more intimate experience amongst the actors and the audience making you feel connected to the characters.

If you want to have a truly moving and emotional experience at the theatre go to New World Stages and see the Off-Broadway revival of Rent. Whether you think you are done with Rent or want to experience the show live for first or the 100^th time this production will make you fall in love with this beautiful story.