When I was an angsty, misunderstood teenager, I wanted few things more than to see Rent on Broadway. It was, after all, a musical for "our generation." I was a sucker for the story, which seemed then like edgy political commentary, and of course I loved the semi-racy, semi-rockin' soundtrack.
Well, apparently I'm no longer hip, and neither are my fellow 20- and 30-somethings who fell hard for Rent the first time around. See, Rent is being remade for British theater — and the producers are calling their show a "contemporary" take on the musical.
Ouch.
This version is "digital production for a digital world — more a pop opera than a rock opera," the director told Variety. He also said that the "grunge-style electric guitar" is all but gone from the soundtrack. Gone the way of flannel, old-school Smashing Pumpkins and the stereotypical Generation X slacker, I suppose.
Granted, Rent is itself a remake of La Boheme, and its story is pegged to a very particular time and place. Parts of the story were feeling dated already when the movie version came out two years ago. But saying Rent needs to be retooled for a younger, cooler generation makes me long for the days when "Seasons of Love" felt deeply meaningful — and maybe even revolutionary.
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Sonia Rykiel
Evisu Eu Ed
This makes me feel really old, too. Some "period pieces" just shouldn't be tampered with and Rent is one of those.
1making it more pop!? thats outrageous. im a teen and i loved the older version when i saw it on DVD and when i downloaded the real broadway version. i think it shouldnt be tampered with!
2What?? How is it not contemporary enough? This is ridiculous! Rent should be left alone.
3
are you kidding me? Rent should be left alone...but the producers will do what they
will do. Maybe they'll give it a different name. Aw, Buzz you shouldn't feel old...just that you're growing and maturing, not old 
.
4I think the show is pretty powerful, but it feels dated to me somehow (and I am no kid, believe me!). I'm curious about this new take.
5Uh... huh?? Are they going to remake the thing every ten years so it's "current"? I mean, how stupid is that.
6They should just leave the show alone! Anyway...my friends and I are going to see it in NY in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited!
7This always happens in theatre, it's not just Rent. Every director out there wants to put their own spin on things, whether making it "more modern" or "more retro" or trying to shock people by doing an all-drag cast (though that's more of-Broadway), etc... Look at the millions of different way people interpret Shakespeare! Just roll with the "artistic" punches, it doesn't mean you're old.
8Wow, I guess I was wrong when I thought Rent was the only musical you can't really update.
9Leave Rent alone!
10this is too bad. i love rent and have ever since it first came to broadway in 1996 - sure theatre does lots of revivals but they don't take the original and change all the music and change the time period.
11You can't mess with Rent!
12POP OPERA?!?!?! Since when did Broadway sell out!? This is way too messed up! Rock operas are the BEST! Rent and Jesus Christ Superstar are frickin' GENUS! How are they gonna go and scRew it up and SELL IT OUT! I'm beyond pissed......
13When I was in high school we did a rendition of Jesus Christ Superstar and it was waaayyy too fun!(i was a diciple) Rent is the same way it should be LEFT as a ROCK OPERA because its meant to be that way
14Sheesh, I felt old when I read that two of the original cast members were returning to the show after 11 years. But this... Wow.
()
15Opps, I meant to include a link to the article about the returning cast members. Here it is:
16http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117969784.html?categoryId=15&cs=1
Oh this is so sad!
17I just hope they rename it. It doesn't seem fair to redo a show however you want and be able to keep using the same name.
18i don't know, i don't think Rent should be revamp for a younger generation. Because it's weird when i was younger i was in love with rent even though i wasn't quite sure what it all meant, and now my little niece who's 13 loves the show and the music.So.. i think rent is kind of timeless in a way because it keeps getting more people to become rentheads. I myself have moved on to spring awakening.
19Not contemporary enough??
20That's completely ridiculous. :/
I think part of what is great about Rent is the fact that it can transcend generations and reach so many different ages. I guess I just don't think it's necessary, but I agree with keli0k that they need to rename it, just out of respect to Jonathan Larsen.
21i've never seen an opera theatre empty before - and i've been to quite a few, so clearly people still go out to see the old classics - why would they do such a thing as this??
22interesting. i dont know why they'd redo it. rent is a classic in its own right.
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