a really cool coffee house type concert...
So almost 3 weeks later I'm still thinking about the show at Pinkerton.
Stockbridge Theatre - 4/18/2012
Andy encouraged me to go because Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal were performing, and I love Rent...but it seemed a bit weird to go to see a couple of cast members from rent, but I went with it. We didn't have childcare so he stayed home and I was tenative about going by myself...but I did. Students were $10 and non-students were $25. I went up to the ticket booth and presented my credit card..."you're a student right?" uh. no. BUT ZOMG thank you. I graduated 11 years ago.
It was a prety small group of people, probably about a hundred or so, mainly students and a few townsfolk. Adam Pascal came out, and he was exactly what you'd expect a showman to be. He did a great job highlighting some of the showtunes he was in - I very much liked his rendition of 'Joanna' from Sweeney Todd. But I didn't completely love the ways he was arranging things or the screeching.
Anthony Rapp came out and although I liked him dearly in the movie and enjoy his Dazed and Confused performance I had no idea my mind was about to be blown. He had 2 awesome original songs he sang. He also did a few covers - Creep by Radio Head stood out. He explained that "Losing my Religion"was his audition song for Rent and how that has changed his life. I think I like his slight alterations just a bit more than REM. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEg_h9D7yFc
He explained how he was in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and sang "Origins of Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvp8ZuUEAlY I would have loved to see him play Hedwig, he just has such an amazing wit and personality that Rent never really capitalized on. Mark is a good character but it doesn't show his spectrum of talent at all. He sang a few more covers, and told the story of his mother, who was dying of cancer when he was in Rent, and how he flew back and forth to see her in between shows, which is where his book Without You came from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xrAwdLfk70.He then sang "Without You" and I cried. I haven't been on such a personal roller coaster at a show. I know that Rent strongly resonates with me, getting to know the backstory of one incredible actor involved with it from the beginning was a pleasure. More covers, Adam Pascal came out, they sang some Rent songs - it was a good duet.
I waited 20 minutes to meet them after the show. The teenagers ahead of me were EACH taking their picture with the duo, even if they were in a group of 5+, they wanted an individual photo. I could see that these guys were tired but appreciative so I didn't want to take up too much of their time. "Hey guys!" I said as I walked up for my turn, "You look familiar...." Anthony Rapp said to me, and Adam Pascal agreed. The correct answer should have been, "Got a light?" but I wasn't on my toes. Anyway, they thought they had seen me before, and I honestly think it was just because I was a positive person that wasn't only a fangirl. I brought out the Dazed and Confused poster that came with Andy's Criterion and placed it in front of Anthony. He expressed that the poster we had was supposed to be the original cover for the film, but the studio pulled it. He seemed happy to have the blast from the past, and Adam Pascal started getting his marker ready to sign it...."I'm sorry Adam, but you weren't in Dazed and Confused, you can sign my Rent Blu-Ray though." He looked surprised, but there was no way I was going to let that mistake happen. I expressed my gratitude for them coming to our small NH town and came home beaming. I couldn't stop telling Andy every detail - most of which I have forgotten, but I do remember the way that show made me feel. Like I had a chance to live. Really live. And I never take any day for granted, but it really resonated with me after hearing Anthony speak. Sometimes you just need a reminder I guess. It's too bad there aren't itunes versions of these songs so I could get better quality than the youtube video someone obviously took with their cameraphone, but c'est la vie. I hope you enjoyed these clips as much as I enjoyed sharing them.
Stockbridge Theatre - 4/18/2012
Andy encouraged me to go because Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal were performing, and I love Rent...but it seemed a bit weird to go to see a couple of cast members from rent, but I went with it. We didn't have childcare so he stayed home and I was tenative about going by myself...but I did. Students were $10 and non-students were $25. I went up to the ticket booth and presented my credit card..."you're a student right?" uh. no. BUT ZOMG thank you. I graduated 11 years ago.
It was a prety small group of people, probably about a hundred or so, mainly students and a few townsfolk. Adam Pascal came out, and he was exactly what you'd expect a showman to be. He did a great job highlighting some of the showtunes he was in - I very much liked his rendition of 'Joanna' from Sweeney Todd. But I didn't completely love the ways he was arranging things or the screeching.
Anthony Rapp came out and although I liked him dearly in the movie and enjoy his Dazed and Confused performance I had no idea my mind was about to be blown. He had 2 awesome original songs he sang. He also did a few covers - Creep by Radio Head stood out. He explained that "Losing my Religion"was his audition song for Rent and how that has changed his life. I think I like his slight alterations just a bit more than REM. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEg_h9D7yFc
He explained how he was in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and sang "Origins of Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvp8ZuUEAlY I would have loved to see him play Hedwig, he just has such an amazing wit and personality that Rent never really capitalized on. Mark is a good character but it doesn't show his spectrum of talent at all. He sang a few more covers, and told the story of his mother, who was dying of cancer when he was in Rent, and how he flew back and forth to see her in between shows, which is where his book Without You came from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xrAwdLfk70.He then sang "Without You" and I cried. I haven't been on such a personal roller coaster at a show. I know that Rent strongly resonates with me, getting to know the backstory of one incredible actor involved with it from the beginning was a pleasure. More covers, Adam Pascal came out, they sang some Rent songs - it was a good duet.
I waited 20 minutes to meet them after the show. The teenagers ahead of me were EACH taking their picture with the duo, even if they were in a group of 5+, they wanted an individual photo. I could see that these guys were tired but appreciative so I didn't want to take up too much of their time. "Hey guys!" I said as I walked up for my turn, "You look familiar...." Anthony Rapp said to me, and Adam Pascal agreed. The correct answer should have been, "Got a light?" but I wasn't on my toes. Anyway, they thought they had seen me before, and I honestly think it was just because I was a positive person that wasn't only a fangirl. I brought out the Dazed and Confused poster that came with Andy's Criterion and placed it in front of Anthony. He expressed that the poster we had was supposed to be the original cover for the film, but the studio pulled it. He seemed happy to have the blast from the past, and Adam Pascal started getting his marker ready to sign it...."I'm sorry Adam, but you weren't in Dazed and Confused, you can sign my Rent Blu-Ray though." He looked surprised, but there was no way I was going to let that mistake happen. I expressed my gratitude for them coming to our small NH town and came home beaming. I couldn't stop telling Andy every detail - most of which I have forgotten, but I do remember the way that show made me feel. Like I had a chance to live. Really live. And I never take any day for granted, but it really resonated with me after hearing Anthony speak. Sometimes you just need a reminder I guess. It's too bad there aren't itunes versions of these songs so I could get better quality than the youtube video someone obviously took with their cameraphone, but c'est la vie. I hope you enjoyed these clips as much as I enjoyed sharing them.