The song is currently charted on Billboard's "Hot 100" singles at #68, marking a "hot shot debut" for the tune, which also appears on the music magazine's "Pop 100" charts at #41.
"Seasons of Love," as performed by the company of the upcoming Chris Columbus-directed film, was released in Apple's iTunes Music Store Aug. 2 and at press time was among the most downloaded "Today's Top Songs" (at #23 as well as "Today's Top Songs" in the soundtrack genre at #2).
The long-awaited Rent film will open in limited release on Nov. 11. The motion picture will then hit screens across the country Nov. 23, according to a spokesperson for the movie musical. The soundtrack from Warner Bros. Records will be released in the fall on iTunes and in retail stores. iTunes users will also be able to download bonus materials.
"Rent," based on Jonathan Larson's award-winning musical of the same name, filmed in New York and San Francisco under the direction of Chris Columbus.
The director recently wrote on the website, "I have time to actually make my first official written entry into the 'Rent' Blog. It's been a long and an amazing road making this film. I've had some of the best experiences of my cinematic career. Every day coming to work has been a real joy, because I'm working with eight cast members who are incredibly enthusiastic and committed to their performances. I can honestly say that in over 20 years of making films, I have never seen a situation like this, where actors who aren't shooting on a particular day, show up on the set, staying for three or four hours, to support their fellow performers. I'll be shooting a scene with Idina and Tracie, and Adam and Anthony may come by the set, even though they are not working. That is real devotion to a project. All of this somehow translates to film. Each frame is filled with emotion and dedication." The motion picture boasts many of the stars of the original Broadway production. Those reprising their roles for the film, which features a screenplay by director Columbus and Stephen Chbosky, include Taye Diggs (as Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (as Angel Schunard), Jesse L. Martin (as Thomas B. "Thom" Collins), Idina Menzel (as Maureen Johnson), Adam Pascal (as Roger Davis) and Anthony Rapp (as Mark Cohen). Newcomers include Rosario Dawson as Mimi with Tracie Thoms as Joanne Jefferson. The roles of Mimi and Joanne were created on Broadway by, respectively, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Fredi Walker.
The "Rent" film is being produced for Revolution Studios by Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal and 1492 Pictures' Columbus, Mark Radcliffe and Michael Barnathan. Executive producers include Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and Lata Ryan, who produced the Broadway mounting. Julie Larson, the sister of the late Rent composer, is co-producer of the film.
Rent updates Puccini's La Boheme to the East Village of the late 1990's, with artists and lovers struggling to connect in a world that is chaotic, shallow and tinged with disease. The late Jonathan Larson wrote Rent's book, music and lyrics. The 1996 Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical continues at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City.
To view the "Rent" website, which features the trailer, blog and more, visit www.sony.com/rent.
