NYC RENT and HAIR 8.20.11

Hayley, Kristin, and I went to see RENT revival(?) off Broadway at its new home at the New World Stages. I was excited to see RENT, as it closed after a 12 year run on Broadway in 2008. I was a little apprehensive though, because of the changes to the show: modernization, costume changes, technology, etc. I was MORE than happy with the changes! The costumes, though Mark's trademark scarf was gone and Maureen wore a skirt instead of jeans, and Angel was much more masculine,(and not comic relief anymore! I hated when they made her comic relief!) worked well. Mark's old video camera was replaced with a slightly more modern (albeit still old!) camera. The technology was added to include more video footage(including live footage at the end) and it snowed every time they sand "And it's beginning to snow." The cast was very talented, and young. The set was incredible, and modern.

Some people may miss the charm and the simplicity of the old RENT, but as a RENThead for at least 15 years now, I can't stop singing it's praises!

I am not going to include a synopsis, as I am sure I have done that already previously!

Cast:
Mark Cohen: Adam Chanler-Berat
Roger Davis: Matt Shingledecker
Mrs Cohen, Coat Vendor, Others: Morgan Weed
Tom Collins: Nicholas Christopher
Benjamin Coffin III: Ephraim Sykes
Joanne Jefferson: Corbin Reid
The Man, Mr Grey, Others: Ben Thompson
Angel Dumott Schunard: MJ Rodriguez
Mimi Marquez: Arianda Fernandez
Maureen Johnson: Annaleigh Ashford
Mr Jefferson, Paul, Others: Marcus Paul James
Mrs Jefferson, Homeless Woman, Others: Tamika Sonja Lawrence
Gordon, Waiter, Others: Michael Wartella
Alexi Darling, Mrs Davis, Others: Margot Bingham

Then, Kristin went to see Death Takes A Holiday, and Hayley and I went to try for the Hair lottery. We lost, but we got seats 3 rows from the front for $37 student rush! Can't beat that!

Hair was as fantastic as it was 3 weeks earlier! This time we had much more interaction because of our seats, and we got to go up on stage and dance with the cast after! Such a fun time! Fell a little more in love with Hair!

Cast:
Dionne: Phyre Hawkins
Berger: Steel Burkhardt
Woof: Matt DeAngelis
Hud: Darius Nichols
Claude: Paris Remillard
Sheila: Caryn Lyn Tackett
Jeanie: Kacie Sheik
Crissy: Kaitlin Kiyan
Mother: Allison Guinn
Dad: Tripp Fountain(This show)
Principal: Lee Zarrett
Margaret Mead: Tripp Fountain(This show)
Hubert: Lee Zarrett
Abraham Lincoln: Lulu Fall
John Wilkes Booth: Lee Zarrett
Buddhadalirama: Allison Guinn
Tribe Members: Shaleah Adkisson, Nicholas Belton, Marshal Kennedy Carolan, Mike Evariste, Lulu Fall, Nkrumah Gatling, Allison Guinn, Sara King, Josh Lamon, John Moauro, Christine Nolan, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Arbender Robinson, Cailan Rose, Jen Sese, Lee Zarrett