Rent Redux

Janet and I are musical theater buffs. We first got to know each other almost ten years ago during a regional band trip to New York City where we saw Les Miserables. Since then, we have seen a number musicals and plays. The most recent musical that we have gotten into is RENT.

We first saw RENT in La Jolla, a suburb of San Diego. Michael Grief, the show's broadway director staged the show in a 500 seat theater. When we found out that RENT was going to be so close to San Francisco, we decided to take a small vacation and see the show. We ended up seeing the show three times on that vacation. When we needed a vacation a few months later, we chose to go to Los Angeles… and surprise, RENT was playing there as well.

When my father wanted us to visit him in Tampa, we could choose any time we wanted to go there. We decided to take the trip while RENT was playing at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center… and as you know from previous posts, when we went to Seattle for my birthday, we caught the show for a sixth time.

A few months ago, they announced the Best of Broadway 1999 season line up. Included was Cabaret, Ragtime and RENT. So, we bought season tickets. Last Friday, individual ticket sales went on sale for RENT. We were able to get front-row balcony tickets for two more shows and first row mezzanine seats for the 10th anniversary of our first date.

People have asked me if it's obsessive to see a show this many times. I always respond: What is your favorite movie and how many times have you seen it? A movie is the same every time you watch it… nothing ever changes. A musical is different every time… different actors… different interpretations… every time there is something new.

So, this March we will see RENT again, and as the curtain goes down, we'll leave for home… singing the songs… and smiling.