Thanks to shadesong for the reminder:
December 24th, 9pm. Eastern Standard Time. From here on in I shoot without a script. See if anything comes of it. Instead of my old s&#^.
Tag Archive: rent
DO NOT MISS THIS!!!
It is worth every dollar. Twice if you consider yourself a fan.
My huge thanks to faerievixen2 who offered to watch the little guy.
shimmeringjemmy and I obviously don’t get many date nights. One thing we certainly never do is go to the movies.
I stumbled upon a movie that I had no choice but to take her to.
There will be a limited engagement of “Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway.”
This will run in Seattle from Weds Sept 24, thru Sun, Sept 28 (no show on Friday)
The film is the full 2 hour 45 minute show as played on Broadway for one of it’s final performances. Many of the original cast were on hand and appear in the film.
As it’s H who introduced me to this Musical… I can’t help but bringing her to it.
And I am sorry to not tell everyone first. But… Discretion the better part of valour… Getting a sitter with a potentially popular conflict… Yes.. I guess I prove myself a small bit of a bastard.
Why yes, I’m stuck on a Muscial.
As a director you pick things apart. In a strange way it’s almost like trying to craft the perfect ceremonial ritual. Making sure that every word and phrase is intentional. Finding new life every time you look at a script.
There are times that I wish I had a far better instrument to work with. I consider myself a passable singer, adequate drummer, and overacting ham on stage. I love to be out there, I love to sing along to musicals, and give me a drum circle any night.
But I will honestly not feel like any great shakes out there.
The reason I feel this way is because I have faith in my senses. I often feel that I can spot talent a mile off. One of my dearest and closest friends in college I picked out of a ‘group of extras’ in a children’s production while doing promotional work. She pulled my focus the first time I saw her and she became one of the more memorable actresses the department ever had.
I can see it, I can feel it, and 9 times out of 8 I can pull it out of a performer.
My current obsession (which is now going on several months) is RENT. It amuses me how many people I know who don’t get this show. I’ve heard complaints that too many people are sick in the film. I’ve heard complaints that there’s no compassion for people not willing to pay rent. I just shake my head.
If only this were in open domain I’d snap it up for a production in Seattle. Probably do it solely to raise money for AIDS awareness or SPCC.
So much of my life (as previously mentioned) has mirrored aspects of that show. Even today… there are glimpses.
It is amazing to consider that I am so different from the person I was at 19…. and yet.. so much the core of who I am.
It has been a very long day. I have seen many people audition for a show today. I think I have my choices; but I am only one voice. We shall see how that plays out over time.
“I hear you, I see you, I see it… my film”
ask me about my prequel.
Okay. Sleep now. There is more in my head to put to journal soon.
So… A note.
It has been well over 15 years since I’ve been to New York City. I actually have tonnes of relatives all over 3 of the 5 boroughs. I even have an ol’ college buddy who lives on ‘Da Island.” Not to mention… it’s been over 25 years since I’ve seen a show on Broadway. Hmmn. Some theatre geek I am?
But.. it’s been 15 years. Interestingly my sense of direction kicked in after the jet lag wore off. I remembered how the subways work. I remembered how the city worked.
We went to see if we could get lottery tickets to see Rent. It was decided awhile back that Rent should not be a musical that poorer folks were deprived from seeing. So, the decision was made to take the center section, first two rows and make $20 first come first served seats out of them. People began camping out overnight at the theatre to get the tickets.
Local ordinances and safety eventually prevailed. There’s no longer camping out for the seats. But they now hold a lottery. 2 1/2 hours before a show they have a real-live new yorker (To the point of babbling to people in mixed English/Italian) sitting at a table with blank index cards. You put down your name and then tell them one or two tickets. 2 rows, 17 seats each. 34 tickets
So we both wrote down our names and that we wanted 2 tix. We wandered off to a nearby comic store which had an UNBELIEVABLE amount of grey market video. We only had 30 minutes because at 2 hours before the show they call names. So, they lined us up in front of the theatre. It was very Chorus line, Rent (stage) 2nd act opening.
They called a name and a girl squeaked happily and lined up. Then another name and another person. The third person was of… undetermined gender, but friendly. 4 more names… 7 more names. The person said (my friends already in line… I don’t need ’em), 9… There were only about 40 people standing around and I was doing poker odds. They hit 15 and it wasn’t looking good.
The third person on line looked at us. Do you want our extra pair? It turns out, that while most people forfeit their extras once they have a pair of seats, this person decided to be a true good samaritan. When the two of them both win, they claim all 4 seats and then look for the two people who look like they really wanted to get in and pass them (for cost $20 each). Which in New York absolutely blew my mind.