Rent (often stylized as RENT) is a musical written by Jonathan Larson. After workshops in 1993, the musical premiered off-Broadway in 1996 before moving to Broadway that same year.

The musical was adapted to film in 2005 and into a live-television event on Fox in 2019.

References

• In the book Before You Leap, Kermit talks about his early days with the Muppets in New York City, describing their first place together as "RENT meets Friends meets Seinfeld with a dash of Avenue Q."

• The 2005 film was reviewed by Statler and Waldorf in an episode of From the Balcony.

• In the Elmo the Musical segment "Repair Monster the Musical," Elmo tries thinking of a musical subject. He imagines singing tools, including a wrench, who sings a short ditty based on the title song from Rent.

• In a 2019 AMA with Cookie Monster on Reddit, a user question asks, "How's the rent on Sesame Street?" Cookie replies, "Me think you confused.... Rent played on different street, me think Broadway?"

• A poster for "SCENT" (depicting a snuffle) hangs on the wall in the theater found at Sesame Street at SeaWorld.

• A poster in the lobby for performances of Sesame Street: The Musical parodies the musical as "Lament" featuring Bert and the tagline, "Five Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Six Hundred Pigeons."

Connections

• Billy Aronson was credited with original concept and additional lyrics for "Santa Fe" and "La Vie Boheme/I Should Tell You"
• Wayne Brady played Tom in the Hollywood Bowl production in 2010
• James Cranna played a pawnshop dealer in the 2005 film adaptation
• Taye Diggs played Benjamin in the original Broadway cast and the 2005 film adaptation
• Renée Elise Goldsberry played Mimi on Broadway and Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway (2008)
• Neil Patrick Harris played Mark in the San Diego production in 1997 and the 1997-1998 national tour and directed the Hollywood Bowl production in 2010
• Vanessa Hudgens played Maureen in Rent: Live
• Kelly Karbacz was a replacement Maureen on Broadway
• Jesse L. Martin played Tom in the original Broadway cast and the 2005 film adaptation
• Idina Menzel played Maureen in the original Broadway cast and the 2005 film adaptation
• Nicole Scherzinger played Maureen in the Hollywood Bowl production in 2010
• Daphne Rubin-Vega originated the role of Mimi