Sorry I am sooo late for getting to this but y’all know I had to help spread the word that Rent – Filmed Live On Broadway is on DVD and Blu-Ray. Sony Pictures filmed the final performance that took place on September 7th, 2008 and it was shown in a limited theater run in the Autumn of 2008. Sony did a double solid by releasing the momentous occasion on home video.



Basically, Rent is about a year in the life of a group of friends living in NYC. They love, they fight, they hang out, they break up just like most friends do. Set to a pulse pounding soundtrack and interwoven with social issues this is one of the finest musicals Broadway has ever produced. Don’t believe me? Well, with a twelve year run, a super selling soundtrack and a massive army of devoted “Rentheads” I think there’s ample proof that Rent is more than a fad and greater than a spectacle.

And now you can bring the musical home. Nothing against the film adaptation Chris Columbus did in 2006. The film version of Rent had a lot going for it including the original cast and a real-world backdrops. But Rent – Filmed Live On Broadway is the original deal. This is the stage production that has thrilled audiences over and over again. As someone who’s seen the Broadway show five times I can vouch for the validity of this taping. It’s like someone brought in their video camera and just let it roll.



Okay, actually that’s exactly how it is except it wasn’t just one camera filming the action. And don’t think that just because you’ve seen the show means that this DVD / Blu Ray isn’t worth checking out. The show itself is magnified so that little details like the writing on Mark’s hand to Angel’s subtle glance during his grand exit can be easily seen without the aid of binoculars. Call this the “Orchestra Plus” version. And it’s the whole show. Pure, unadulterated, and preserved for all time just the way fans remember it.

This is first time I have gotten weepy over Special Features. First up is a lengthy behind the scenes doc with interviews with past and present cast members, footage of backstage shenanigans, and tributes to the show’s creator Jonathan Larson who tragically lost his life to Marfan Syndrome before Rent’s opening night. Feature# 2 is additional footage of the show’s finale when some original cast members like Jesse L. Martin (Tom Collins) and Daphne Rubin-Vega (Mimi Marquez) join the ensemble for one final song.



Okay, now here’s where it gets bizarre. Feature# 3 shows some visuals of the theater walls that are covered with millions of signatures from past theatergoers. Feature# 4 covers the final “lottery” for $20 orchestra seats for the final performance. The bizarre part is that I got misty eyed over those features, too.

I don’t even have to tell the fans of Rent and musical theater in general to check out this home video because they already have their own copies by now.



This review is for those who have somehow managed to miss the Rent phenomena. Don’t think because it’s taped that the magic is diffused. No way! Not only do you get the best possible views of the award winning show but the special features take you even deeper into the world of Rent. The subtitles will allow for many Rent karaoke parties for years and years.

If you never got the opportunity to see the original NYC show this truly is the next best to being there.