Birthdays

In the late 1990's I was sitting watching the Tony Awards and highlighted was this show done by contemporay play write Jonathon Larson. There on stage was the ensemble cast singin Seasons of Love and I was in love. For years after this experience I talked about the show Rent and how I wanted to see it. I did not know the story line I did not know what it was completely about. I just heard the song, knew the playwright died before seeing his show on braodway and the show was controversial. Scan forward to June 1999, my thirty birthday and my suprise birthday present. My sister knowing how I love surprises and working in NYC took me to NYC. I did not know what we were doing or where we were going but off to the city we went. First, to dinner at a wonderful italian restaurant, and then I remember walking. Not knowing where we going just walking. As I had been living in Arizona for a year, I will admit I was being a tourist looking around and taking the big bad city in (yes I was a tourist) we walked past this street and I saw the RENT billboard wondered if that was wear we were going. But knowing Kiersten knew the city did not say anything, well after finally hitting Grand Central station we held a taxi and went right where I thought we were going. Yes the taxi pulled up in front of the Broadway theatre where RENT was playing. This is the night my official love affair of this show started. I loved the music, the story line and the stage. It was the first show I had been that allowed the audience to have an imagination and really feel a part of the show. The band on the stage rather then in the pit. Here on stage was simply scaffolding ,tables and oil drums. From this Jonathon Larsen created a whole neighborhood in the alphabet city area on NYC. Here Mark, Roger, Thomas, joanne, mimi, Maureen and Angel created their own family and we the audience are allowed to see a brief time of their lives, for two hours a year of the life of these friends flys by for the audience. Granted the playwright did this with the characters living the alternative lifestyle and drug use. But if one can get past the bluntness and the lifestyles the music, cast will lead you on a journey of love, life, family and friends. After my thirtieth birthday I bought the soundtrack and listened to it till I knew every song in the musical. I also talked about the show and the trip to NYC to see it. I have been able to see the show at least two more times since that night and every time I see something different and my experience is different. Scan forward 10 years to my fortieth birthday. When I learned to my city would be the original actors who played Mark and Roger. I was so excited and was going to go. But when the time came to order the tickets with my Arizona Family I did not have the money for the deposit. We order group tickets early and just had paid for tickets for the lion king. So I planned to go to the theatre and see if there were tickets available the night of the show. However, on Thursday February 26, 2009 I got a call from Jacque (AZ family) stating that I could not make plans on March 21, 2009. My mind starting going because the date sounded familiar and I knew it was around her birthday. So I thought it was something with her birthday as my mind went crazy trying to figure it out. She told me it was my birthday present and did I want to know what it was. Well since I love surprises I said no. But then I guessed and said you got me a ticket to RENT. So last night I got to sit orchestra middle row mid seat and watch Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal reprise their roles as Mark and Roger, with the rest of the ensemble. The audience were all obviously full Rent fans as they were totally invovled in the performance and knew what was coming prior to the scene starting. You could hear the collective excitement as Angel came on stage for the first time or the cheering for Adam and Anthony the first time they showed on stage. Both experiences will be etched in my mind my thirtieth for starting and completely making me fall in love with this show and the fortieth for seeing the original cast members and just being. In both experiences I felt so loved because not only was it something I wanted but also surprises. Which was something others might not love but I do. So to those who will read this and were invovled with the experiences words cannot express my gratitude and joy I felt while experiences this show. To those who were not invovled but will read this go hug someone you love and remember every day could be our last so make sure you let those you love know IT~!