Rent [Hardcover]

Jonathan Larson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 1997

In these pages, Rent offers what most theater books can't: a chance to step behind the curtain and feel the electricity of a stage phenomenon as it unfolds.

Rent has single-handedly reinvigorated Broadway and taken America by storm. Sweeping all major theater awards, including the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for drama, as well as four 1996 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score for a Musical, Rent captures the heart and spirit of a generation, refleting it onstage through the emotion of its stirring words and music, and the energy of its young cast. Now, for the first time, Rent comes to life on the page -- through vivid color photographs, the full libretto, and an utterly compelling behind-the-scenes oral history of the show's creation. Here is the exclusive and absolutely complete companion to Rent, told in the voices of the extraordinary talent behind its success: the actors, the director, the producers, and the librettist and composer himself, Jonathan Larson, whose sudden death, on the eve of the first performance, has made Rent's life-affirming message all the more poignant.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is by far the must-get theater book of the year. With dazzling punk graphics that will quickly win book industry awards, the volume contains the entire libretto of the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical about love and loyalty among starving AIDS-stricken artists in New York's East Village. But editors Evelyn McDonnell and Katherine Silberger wisely understand that the story of the show's creation is as compelling as the musical itself--so more than half of this volume is devoted to an oral history of the composer/lyricist/librettist Jonathan Larson, who came to New York hoping to revolutionize musical theater--then died of an aortic aneurysm the night of the show's final preview. It's an event book for an event musical.

Review

"Rent is the breakthrough musical for the 90's." -- -- Newsweek

"The most exuberant and original American musical to come along this decade." -- -- Time

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: It Books; 1 edition (May 21, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688154379
• ISBN-13: 978-0688154370
• Product Dimensions: 13.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (116 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #355,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for any sort of RENThead., August 12, 2005

By 

Tobias - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rent (Hardcover)

Let me preface this by saying I am probably biased, as I have seen RENT 10 times (a small number when compared to some fans.)

I found this book to be extremely entertaining and enlightening. You never realize just how much work goes into creating something that you aren't really involved in. This book takes you backstage and behind the scenes for an expansive history of how RENT was conceived, designed, and brought to life on stage.

It also contains the full RENT script and song lyrics. Throughout the book are high-quality, color photographs of just about everything, including shots from the original broadway cast performing the show.

I would definitely reccomend this book - it is definitely worth the rather cheap price - for anyone. Whether you've seen the show once or thirty times, this book is perfect.

37 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Book to the Perfect Show!, May 3, 2000

By 

T. Young - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rent (Hardcover)

Jonathon Larson's musical creation RENT is awesome. It is truly a tragedy that he passed away before the play had it's big opening on Broadway. This book takes you through Jonathon Larson's hard life while he was writing RENT. It follows through the procedures of casting, rehearsing, and the actual productions. It comes with a complete Libretto with on-stage pictures that are truly wonderfully photographed and put together on the page. There are also many cast and crew comments about the show: rehearsals, casting, the production; about the tragic death of Jonathan Larson; and about the man himself.

I have been a (I guess you'd call it a RENThead for a while now and I'm proud of it. I love the beauty of the music, the acting, the very UNshallow storyline, and ultimately, the experience. I absolutely love Jonathan Larson's exquisite creation and I KNOW you will too! Enjoy!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a RENT fan, November 29, 1999

By 

Carrie (Toledo, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rent (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book. If you are a fan of books or a fan of RENT, this is a great buy. Glancing through the pages you will remember your experience of seeing the musical. It is easily relived by leafing through this book. A definite must have for the RENT fan. This is a book well worth the money.