Farewell Rent

Wendy Garofoli | Jan 17, 2008 | 0

The big screen cast of "Rent"

After 12 long, successful years on Broadway, the ground-breaking musical "Rent" will close its doors.

"Rent" tells the story of a group of young, struggling artists in New York City's East Village. Tackling controversial topics such as AIDS, homosexuality and class divisions, the musical turned an otherwise retro Great White Way into a sounding board for the social and political issues of the '90s.

"Rent" will close on June 1, 2008, making it the seventh-longest running show in Broadway history. Its composer, Jonathan Larson, didn't live to see the musical open, succumbing to an undiagnosed heart condition the night before the first performance. The show went on to garner lavish praise from industry critics, winning four Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

"Rent" will be sorely missed. It represents an era mixed with angst and optimism; a time when artists were still artists, and still had the power to make a difference in people's lives. If you haven't already seen "Rent," take it in while you can. Although the '90s have come and gone, the show's message still resonates.

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