Rent Musical is one the most famous rock musicals in the world, written in 1994 by Jonathan Larson, who was inspired by La boheme, one of Giacomo Puccini’s operas. The musical was seen for the first time at the New York Theatre, for only three weeks. The New York Theatre was also the place where the grand opening of Rent Musical was supposed to be held, but unfortunately, the creator of the show, Jonathan Larson, died the night before the premiere. 

Besides being highly awarded, as Rent Musical won a Pulitzer Prize, it is also very popular among citizens of all ages and it has toured all over the world. Astonished by its success, Hollywood producers decided to adapt Rent Musical into a movie, in 2005. The movie follows the life of a bunch of Bohemian artists, who struggle through life, love and AIDS in the East Village of New York. I am sure that the fans of Rent Musical know all about it, and the movie too, but here are some unknown facts, especially for them, so they will find out even more things about their favorite rock opera, Rent Musical.

Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp were all originally casted in the Broadway production of Rent Musical from 1996 and in the movie they are playing their original roles. The New Year’s Eve sequence was actually turned into a party, as the actor’s celebration of the new year became so real that they did not even have to play it. During rehearsals, the actors from Rent Musical were constantly having so much fun that the director became very fond of it so he kept some of their jokes in the movie, like the eyebrow lift and the jacket toss in ‘The Tango Maureen’ scene.

Rent Musical is thus a moralizing story, which reflects the life of the struggling young artists exactly as it is, with the good sides and the bad sides. It has gained many awards and it is even now very beloved by people, who are thrilled with the unique combination between rock music and opera.