FORGET REGRET

By Official RENT Blog contributor Brandon Nichols

RENT asked Brandon: In your Q&A you mentioned that you have seen the movie versions of RENT over 40 times, you've also been in the production, and have seen the stage show. How has the show continued to speak to you after seeing it so many times? Also, with all the advances in Gay Rights and AIDS research, what makes RENT relevant today and not just a period piece?

Let me begin by saying, yes, I have seen the movie over 40 times. I watch it again and again because it never seems to get old. You’d think after so many times a story such as RENT may get boring because you know what to expect. However, for me, neither the storyline nor the music seem to grow old. The story of RENT is a story that most people in today’s society are far too afraid to speak about. The music speaks to every generation regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, etc. There’s something for everyone to relate to in RENT.

For me, RENT continues to speak to me because I see a lot of myself in some of the characters and what they do is what I do. Take Maureen for example, my favorite character. She is a performer, I’m a performer, one reason I relate. She is a “I’ll tell it like it is” kinda girl. I’m a “tell it like it is” kinda guy. You take every character and there’s always something about that character that you can see yourself in. Each characteristic of those characters becomes one person…being me or you. I think that’s why I can relate to the storyline so much. It’s who we are as artist and who we are as friends.

Most people would think of RENT as a period piece, when in reality, it’s anything but. RENT’s music changed the way Broadway saw music. It brought a new form of “beat” to the stage. I think the reason why it’s just as powerful now is because the world around us is changing and the music, since it itself was a massive turning point for the musical theatre world, continues to change with the times, but still remains the same. Does that make sense? The story will never grow old because it’s going to always be a problem and there will always be someone who knows someone suffering with AIDS. The music touches everyone, not just one group of people, hence why it doesn’t really come across as a period piece.

RENT has changed many lives over the years and it’s back to change many more. It’s here for its message to be seen and heard. RENT is love, friendship and peace.

Brandon

RENT fans, let's continue the conversation: What makes RENT relevant to you? Which characters do you identify with and see in yourself?  Tell us about them in the comments below or on RENT's Facebook and Twitter.

Learn more about the current Off-Broadway production of RENT at www.siteforrent.com.

MAUREEN'S WEB

In his introductory post, Official RENT Blog contributor Andrew Milne selected Maureen as his favorite character in RENT.  Andrew is back to give us a breakdown on the allure of Maureen.

The name Maureen can mean “bitter,” “uncertain,” or “popular.” Jonathan Larson definitely knew what he was doing; Maureen is both vitriolic and attractive, spiteful and charming, vinegar and honey at once, and she catches hordes of flies. Mark and Joanne cannot get enough of her; Maureen charms them into her web until they wrap themselves tighter in her grasp, spinning them faster and faster – until she gets bored and moves on. Despite themselves, Joanne and Mark fall under her spell endlessly, and they “yearn and churn and rebound,” because no one can say no to Maureen, not even Maureen herself. Despite (or perhaps because) of her changeable (and often downright mean) moods, they find themselves drawn back to her, no matter how selfish or indifferent she becomes.

Maureen doesn’t do this because she is a bad person; it’s just because she’s an actress. All of her support, reinforcement, and confidence are external. Just as Mimi craves smack, Joanne seeks order, and Benny lusts for money, Maureen has her own addiction: attention. Capricious by trade and by nature, she’s an actress through and through; they project bravado because they don’t want anyone to sense they lack it. She needs applause like Angel needs Collins’ kisses. Not that she needs approbation; positive or negative, she just wants a reaction. This is why she makes a scene with Joanne during “Take Me or Leave Me.” She’s a diva who definitely “needs her stage;” and she sees everyone else in her life as merely players.

Emma Hunton as Maureen and Corbin Reid as Joanne.  Photo by Joan Marcus.

This is why I compare her to Marilyn Monroe, not for any similar looks (for Maureen’s hair is as dark as the effect she has on her lovers’ respective psyches) but because of their shared idiosyncrasies and the similar influence they hold on others. They’re beautiful and magnetic, but unfulfilled and damaged. Marilyn once described herself as “whole superstructure and no foundation,” an affliction the two women share. Maureen has no foundation of self-worth; she draws upon her audience, changing herself for her art, becoming who she needs to be. Unfortunately, she cannot turn off this facet of her personality, and as a result, she never truly knows how talented or wonderful she is. Thus she oscillates between affection, rejection, hyper sexuality, and near-mania. This unpredictability makes her mysterious, an appealing enigma to lovers, but also makes her closed off and impossible to ever really understand. It’s what chases her to cheat – it’s nothing Joanne or Mark do; she’s just running away from her own demons into the arms of others.

Maureen is a spider, manipulative, entrancing, and consuming. She’s not a bad person; her issues just make her intemperate and fiery, and often impulsive and self-destructive. They also make her irresistible to Joanne and Mark, and ceaselessly fascinating to RENTheads everywhere. She’s the most flawed, and also the most relatable and compelling.

Andrew

www.siteforrent.com

CALLING ALL RENTHEADS AROUND THE WORLD!

Exciting news!

RENT is looking for a new group of contributors for our Official Blog. We’re looking for talented individuals with a profound knowledge of RENT and its history, and a passion for its story and message.

Our fantastic new Bloggers will be relied upon to provide us with engaging and unique content on a regularly scheduled basis. We will be asking you to provide informed commentary on the show’s history, its themes, music and lyrics, our new production at New World Stages, and much more. Bloggers will also have the opportunity to interview members of the cast and creative team!

Think you’ve got what it takes to be one of RENT’s Official Bloggers? Now is your chance to show us what you’ve got!



HOW TO ENTER:

RENT is looking for 4 new Bloggers:
“MARK” – a Filmmaker, Writer, or Screenwriter
“MAUREEN” – a Performance Artist or Actress
“ROGER” – a Musician or Songwriter
“MIMI” – a Dancer


To enter, please send us a 140-character summary of what RENT means to you. Send us a 140-character message that highlights your knowledge and your love for our show. Give us a taste of your writing abilities and your unique point of view. Show us what we could look forward to if you are selected as one of our Official Bloggers! RENT will be reviewing all submissions and determine who our character bloggers – Mark, Maureen, Roger, and Mimi – will be.

Submit your entry in ONE of the following ways:

1. Post your 140-character summary as a status update on your Facebook profile inclusive of the tag RENT (4 characters) – you must “like” RENT’s fan page at www.facebook.com/everythingisrent in order to tag the show.


2. Tweet your 140-character summary on Twitter inclusive of the tag @RENTOffBroadway (16 characters).

Limit one entry per person. You must tag RENT in order to qualify. In the event you don’t have a Facebook or Twitter, you can e-mail your 140-character summary to sweepstakes@siteforrent.com, and please write “Official Blog Entry” in the subject line. Submissions exceeding 140 characters in length, regardless of method of entry, will not be eligible for consideration. Entries must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern on Sunday, March 4, 2012. Winners will be contacted soon thereafter.

ENTER NOW!

WIN TICKETS TO ANNALEIGH ASHFORD'S FINAL PERFORMANCE AS MAUREEN

Annaleigh Ashford as Maureen.  Photo by Joan Marcus.

2011 Clive Barnes Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford will play her final performance as Maureen in RENT on Thursday, January 12, 2012. RENT fans, we are giving away a pair of tickets to Annaleigh's final show!  If you can and want to attend, keep reading!

HOW TO ENTER THE TICKET GIVEAWAY:
1. If you're not already, become a fan of RENT on Facebook by clicking the "Like" button.
2. Share the link to this page on your own Facebook profile.
3. Take a screenshot of your Facebook profile that shows you shared this link.
4. Send an e-mail to sweepstakes@siteforrent.com with the subject line: "Only thing to do is jump over the moon" and attach your screenshot. In the body of the e-mail, please include your first and last name and city of residence.  Please confirm you can attend RENT at New World Stages on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Limit one entry per person. Entries are due by 6 PM EST, Tuesday, January 10, 2012.  One winner will be selected at random and contacted via e-mail on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.

Annaleigh Ashford as Maureen and Corbin Reid as Joanne.  Photo by Joan Marcus.

SPOTLIGHT ON ANNALEIGH:
Click here to watch Annaeligh's appearance on "Show People with Paul Wontorek."

Click here to read Playbill.com's DIVA TALK with Annaleigh.

Click here to read Broadway.com's interview with Annaleigh.

SAVE ON TICKETS TO RENT FOR PERFORMANCES THROUGH MAY 27, 2012!

THREE EASY WAYS TO PAY:

1. ONLINE: For tickets to RENT, click here or visit BroadwayOffers.com and enter code RNPITBULL9.

2. BY PHONE: Call 212-947-8844 and mention code RNPITBULL9.

3. IN PERSON: Bring a print-out of this page to the New World Stages Box Office, 340 W. 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, in New York City. Click here for box office hours.

*Terms & conditions: Offer valid for select performances through May 27, 2012. Offer not valid for Saturday evening performances. Other blackout dates may apply. Regular prices $69.50 - $89.50. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Schedule and cast subject to change. Offer subject to availability. Normal service charges apply to online and phone orders. No exchanges or refunds. All sales are final. Cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid for prior purchases. Limit of 10 tickets per order. Offer expires May 27, 2012 but may be revoked at any time.

No purchase necessary to enter or win the ticket giveaway for Annaleigh Ashford's final performance in RENT.

For more information about the Off-Broadway production of RENT, visit www.siteforrent.com.