NewsHow Many Minutes Have Passed Since Rent's Broadway Opening? We Did the MathThe second-act anthem, "Seasons of Love," in Jonathan Larson's Rent tells of the 525,600 minutes that make up a year in the life of friends.
By
Kenneth Jones
April 21, 2006
It doesn't take a genius to determine that when Rent celebrates the 10th anniversary of its 1996 Broadway opening on April 29, it represents the passage of 5,256,000 minutes since opening night. (We can't figure out the math for the addition of two days in the Leap Years 2004 and 2000 — we are theatre geeks not really to be trusted with math.)
What other facts, figures, stats and trivia have we uncovered about the past 10 years of Rent? Read on.
Numbers are provided by the production and represent statistics up to the April 24 performance, which is a gala benefit concert version of the show featuring members of the original cast and special guests. The official milestone is April 29 — the day of the 1996 Broadway opening at the Nederlander Theatre.
Regular performances of Rent including April 24, 2006, gala, as of April 24? 4,157.
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Number of $20 orchestra seats bought in same-day ticket lottery since the offer began? 141,338. (34 orchestra seats, in first two rows, for each performance.)
Number of actors the Broadway production has employed? 139.
Number of Broadway Rogers? 13.
Number of Broadway Mimis? 10.
The actor who played Roger for the most performances on Broadway? Manley Pope. (He also toured.)
The cast member who has played the most performances? Owen Johnston II.
Number of paper lantern "moons" on the Paul Clay's set since 1996? Two.
Ounces of glitter in Mimi's hair over the decade? 2,080.
Number of Ricola brand herbal cough drops for company members? 123,162.
Actor who has played most roles in Rent? Darius de Haas. (He went on as Benny, Tom, Angel and many ensemble parts.)
Number of company marriages as a result of Rent? Three. Actor Chad Richardson (an ensemble member, a Mark and a Roger) and actress Cristina Fadale (a Maureen) and prop person Billy Wright and assistant stage manager Kathy Haley. Need we mention original cast members Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel, who are now married?
Number of engagements? One. Matt Caplan (a Mark Cohen) and Karen Olivo (an understudy, a Maureen, a Mimi, a swing).
Yards of spandex for Mimi's costume? 106.
Number of hair extensions for Mimi? 103,925.
Number of sound systems used since 1996? Two. (The first one was replaced during the run — this is a rock musical, after all.)
Number of kimonos worn by actresses playing Mimi over the years? One. The same costume has been passed down. (Angela Wendt is the production's costume designer.) Visit www.siteforrent.com.
