NewzNEW YORK (AP) — Jordan Fisher was in middle school when he first heard it. He was at his first cast party, gathering with fellow performers around his drama teacher’s piano after some community theater. The song everyone was singing was about living life and measuring life, and there were a bunch of weird numbers — like 525,600.
He wouldn’t be the same after hearing it. “I was like, ‘What is this?’” recalls Fisher. I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to put a finger on it other than the fact that it was something that was supposed to happen.” That song was, of course, the barn-burning Act 2 opener “Seasons of Love” from the landmark rock musical “Rent,” now celebrating its 30th anniversary of storming Broadway.
He’s joining an astonishing list of Broadway’s who’s-who to celebrate the milestone Monday with a benefit performance of the show from the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Stars from Broadway and beyond Original cast members returning to their old roles include Tony-winner Idina Menzel, Tony-nominee Adam Pascal, Tony-nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega, Tony-winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Fredi Walker, Taye Diggs and Anthony Rapp. Other “Rent” alumni include Tony-winner Natalie Venetia Belcon, Adam Chanler-Berat, Tony-nominee Nicholas Christopher, Tony-winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tracie Thoms, Jose Llana, Tony-nominee Ephraim Sykes and Tony-winner Aaron Tveit.
Some Broadway celebs scheduled to take part include Tony-winner Neil Patrick Harris, Rachel Zegler, Tony-winner Norbert Leo Butz, Tony-nominee Will Chase, Telly Leung and Christopher J. Fisher jokingly calls it “’Rent’-cella,” after Coachella. Seats have been snapped up, but $30 livestream tickets are available.
The stream will be accessible for 24 hours following the performance and proceeds go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “It’s rare that a show has a life like this and is still exciting and inspirational enough to have a 30th festival, if you will. It’s a really, really special thing,” says Fisher.
‘Rent’ was a phenomenon Jonathan Larson’s tale of free-spirited artists and street people in New York’s gritty drug- and AIDS-plagued East Village of the early 1990s was inspired by Puccini’s “La Boheme” and found a ready-made audience in young people, as it still does. “He believed that going to musical theater didn’t jus… He wouldn't be the same after hearing it.“I was like, ‘What is this?’” recalls Fisher.
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