The Broadway Musical Rent is well known and has won many awards. As one of the most moving social commentaries on the difficult situation of the poor and ill living in large cities like New York, Rent has been heralded as a moving musical.

Centering on the lives of a group of 8 friends, Rent tells many different stories at once. The musical focuses on the troubles of gay people in New York. Some of the other major focuses of the musical include drug addiction and the fight against AIDS.

Two of the major characters both suffer from AIDS and struggle to find a normal life while dealing with this disease. Mimi and Roger both have either been or are addicted to drugs and have trouble moving on with a normal life.

Tom and Angel are another couple in the musical, both gay men, Angel being a drag queen. Angel dies of AIDS near the climax of the film. This death acts as a catalyst in the lives of the other characters.

Maureen and Joanne are the other gay couple in the musical. Maureen is a performance artist while Joanne is a successful lawyer. They struggle with having a healthy and monogamous relationship despite their severe class difference.

Mark is the “normal” character in the musical, a struggling filmmaker who narrates the struggles of his closest friends. He is Maureen’s ex-boyfriend and lives with Roger.

The musical is full of memorable and provocative songs. These paint a picture of the underground and tumultuous culture of the inner and dirty city of New York. All of these characters speak to specific social issues.