elizalavelle | (no subject)

So today is my 9 year RENT anniversary (9 years from the first time I saw the show) so I'm going to ramble about that a little bit, but not much as I figure the much longer ramble will come next year.

The fact that this was 9 years ago now is making me feel so old. I can still remember lining up for this show and hearing people talk about camping overnight in line and thinking they were all nuts, who on earth would camp outside on the streets of TO for a show?! ... and then 4 months later I was one of the people who started the 5 night 5 day line up for the last show. Oops.

While I wouldn't count myself a RENThead anymore, I have no desire to see the show right now, I'd go for certain cast members I'm sure and eventually I'll want to go again, but not soon. However I still feel so glad that I found this show because it has done a lot for me. The line taught me a lot more self confidence and was something that made me realize I could meet strangers and by the end of the day part as friends. Nice feeling that.

The show itself teaches you humanity and hope and while that's something I couldn't articulate at the time when people would ask why I kept going back I think that's it. Just the humanity that pours from that show into the audience every night, the connection is amazing! Also throw into that I truely think that most, if not all, RENTheads have obsessive personalities (clearly I'm more than an example of that) so we get hooked easily :)

And of course this year has been such a full circle year for me what with being able to go and see Tamara Podemski sing again, going from being nervous to even show up to a gig to being welcomed at them has just made my year that much brighter :)

So yes, 9 years, much music, many trips to NYC, and I still have some fantastic friends who I met because of this show. That's pretty powerful for one musical!