A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent, believed he was the future of the American Musical and wanted to create “the Hair for the 90’s.” He felt the theatre should be transcendent, with the power to change lives and was convinced he could marry the MTV generation with theatre. I believe he accomplished his goal.
Jonathan Larson grew up your average kid from the suburbs of Westchester during the 60’s and 70’s. He performed in school plays, played piano, rode his bike with friends and saw Broadway shows with his family from time to time. He went to Adelphi University for acting and decided to pursue a career as a composer.
Jonathan was drawn to current political and sociological events and no matter how hard times were living the bohemian lifestyle of the starving artist who waited tables, he always kept his NY Times subscription. His best friend called him a pop sociologist. The AIDS epidemic greatly influenced Jonathan’s life as it seemed to have affected so many of his friends, especially in the East Village artist community. The need for community and genuine connection particularly in the face of adversity was one of the most important messages in Jonathan’s life and writing.
Rent was Jonathan’s answer to all that he believed, loved, celebrated and feared. On January 24, 1996 Rent received a standing ovation at the final dress rehearsal before it was scheduled to go into previews for its Off-Broadway debut. Jonathan Larson never saw opening night. He went home after the dress rehearsal and, after making a cup of tea, died from an aortic aneurism. Rent opened three weeks later, quickly moved to Broadway and enjoyed a 12 year run, receiving a Tony Award for Best Musical, a Pulitzer Prize, among many other awards. Although Jonathan never lived to see his dream become a reality, I believe that his spirit is alive and well on the contemporary Broadway stage, as few can dispute the contribution that this one man, together with the community he created, made to impact the American Musical forever.
This theatre experience has been the most moving and rewarding of my life. Although not quite your stereotypical “Renthead,” I am drawn to this story because it relates to us all, regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, nationality, gender, religion, etc... “What binds the fabric together when the raging, shifting winds of change keep ripping away” is the common thread that runs through everyone; the need for love, community, individualism and the celebration of life, especially in the face of our unique challenges. If we can enlighten just one person to this message, then this production will have succeeded on a whole different level. “The opposite of war isn’t peace; it’s creation” (Jonathan Larson.) I believe with all my heart that Jonathan Larson is smiling down upon the community that has been created here at CM, both on and offstage.
–Bernadette Mescall Rodriguez
