How Rent Contributed to the Survival of Musical Theater

It is no great secret that there has been a large decline in musical interest concerning the younger generation (my children's generation). Many of them would rather claw their own eyes out when faced with the prospect of going to see a Broadway show. It is all sports and rap concerts with these kids. Or at least it used to be. A change has happened recently, one that has continued to grow by significant proportions. The younger generation has begun to take a larger interest in musical theater. So why the sudden change, when they were so ready to become the generation that killed theater? Many people attribute the revival to the success of a Broadway show called Rent.

Rent is a show written in recent years as a modern day version of a classic opera written in the 1800's. It features the triumphant joys and despairing sorrows of a group of friends living in New York City during the peak of the AIDS epidemic. They struggle to pay their Rent and come together in friendship and love for one another. The show is noted for it's controversial topics, such as living with AIDS, homosexuality and same sex relationships, the living conditions of the homeless in New York City, and the corruption in the higher classes of society. It has proved to be very popular amongst the younger generations of today.

While the musical is very popular among younger generations, it has raised a great deal of resentment as well. Older generations criticize Rent for not following the standard format for musicals, which was made the status quo by the popular Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. My choir director, a lover and strong supporter of this format, states bluntly that Rent is a terrible show and should not even fall in the category of musical theater. He says the show only has one "real" song in it and even that is nothing special. Rent has also gained much criticism for its controversial topics. Many people feel that the subjects of AIDS infection and homosexuality should not form the core of a musical, especially one in which younger people love.

The success of Rent has led to other shows and movies in the musical format that are designed to specifically target younger audiences. The incredibly popular High School Musical series follows this rule, as does the less successful Camp Rock. There are plans in place to duplicate their success as well. All of these shows can trace back at least some of their features to Rent.

Even if Rent did rekindle human interest in musical theater, some wonder if it is worth the cost. No age old format of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals is gradually being replaced by formats similar to Rent. The older generation is not happy about it. I say it's better to have a different format of musical theater than to give it up altogether.

No sources were used in this article except prior knowledge