How well do you know *Bye Bye Birdie*? This classic musical comedy, set during the late 1950s, follows a rock-and-roll star's unexpected draft into the army and the chaos that unfolds as fans say their last goodbye. Test your knowledge of the show's colorful characters, memorable songs, and intriguing behind-the-scenes details with these fun trivia facts. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to this beloved production, see how many facts you can recall!
Adaptations
- Fox announced in May 2017 its plans to broadcast a live television production of 'Rent,' which aired on January 27, 2019.
- In 2005, 'Rent' was adapted into a motion picture with six of the eight original principal cast members reprising their roles from the 1996 stage premiere.
International Productions
- 'Revolution Rent' was released on March 13, 2020, documenting the historic premiere of a Broadway musical in Cuba.
- The musical Rent has been performed in 26 different languages worldwide.
- 'Rent' made its UK debut on April 21, 1998, at the West End's Shaftesbury Theatre.
- 'Revolution Rent' is a documentary by Andy Señor Jr. that follows his experience directing the musical in Cuba, the first Broadway musical in the country since the Cold War.
Musical Composition
- A number of the original songs from early workshops, like 'You’re a Fool' and 'Do a Little Business', were either cut or reworked into songs that made it into the final show.
- The musical 'Rent' was inspired by the 1896 opera 'La Bohème' by Giacomo Puccini, with the locale changed from 1800s Paris to New York's East Village in the late 20th century.
- The song 'Will I?' from 'Rent' was inspired by an actual conversation heard by Jonathan Larson at a support meeting, where a man expressed his fear of losing his dignity due to AIDS.
- The bohemian lifestyle of the main characters is celebrated defiantly in the song 'La Vie Bohème', in response to criticism from Benny, a former friend turned antagonist.
- The song 'Seasons of Love' from 'Rent' transcends its theatrical origins to become a popular number often performed at various significant social events like graduations and New Year celebrations.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda cited 'Rent' as a significant inspiration for his work, showcasing the show's lasting influence on contemporary theatre creators.
Notable Tours
- A one-off Rent - The 20th Anniversary Concert was held at the Blackpool Opera house on November 11, 2013.
- Aaron Tveit, now widely recognized for his role in 'Les Miserables', was once an understudy for multiple roles in the national tours of 'Rent'.
- The UK 20th anniversary tour of Rent began at Theatr Clwyd in October 2016 before moving to St James Theatre in London.
- The 2020 revival of Rent at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre was filmed and broadcasted online.
- Layton Williams played Angel and Lucie Jones played Maureen in the UK 20th anniversary tour of Rent.
- Neil Patrick Harris played Mark Cohen in his first musical theatre role during the Benny Tour of 'Rent'.
Production Facts
- The Broadway production of 'Rent' filmed a live performance on September 7, 2008, and incorporated close-up footage shot earlier in August of the same year.
- Neil Patrick Harris directed a production of Rent at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 2010, featuring stars like Vanessa Hudgens and Aaron Tveit.
- The off-Broadway revival of Rent in 2011 marked the first New York revival since the original production closed in 2008.
- 'Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway' was shown in cinemas in the U.S. and Canada from September 24 to 28, 2008, using high definition digital projection systems.
- 'Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway' was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 3, 2009.
- The live TV broadcast of 'Rent' starred Jordan Fisher as Mark, Tinashe as Mimi, and Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen, among others.
- Brennin Hunt, who played Roger in 'Rent: Live,' broke his foot before the final act, resulting in the network airing an earlier dress rehearsal for act 2.
- An immersive production of Rent opened at Frogmore Paper Mill in Apsley in 2018 with Aran Macrae as Roger, Connor Dyer as Mark, and Lizzie Emery as Mimi.
- 'No Day But Today: The Story of Rent' is a documentary by Jeffrey Schwarz that chronicles the journey of the musical from its inception to its cinematic adaptation.
- The documentary 'No Day But Today: The Story of Rent' was included in a two-disc special edition DVD release of the 2005 film adaptation.
- The final performance of 'Rent' on Broadway was filmed and released as 'Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway'.
- Rent's powerful narrative and rock opera format garnered it four Tony Awards in 1996, including Best Musical.
- 'Rent' became the seventh-longest-running Broadway show at its closing in 2008 after 5,123 performances.
- The original Broadway cast of 'Rent' reunited for a one-night performance in 2006, raising over $2,000,000 for charity.
- The production of 'Rent' offered $20 same-day tickets, a strategy that helped attract a younger audience and increase the musical's popularity.
- The original Broadway production of 'Rent' utilized a previously derelict Nederlander Theatre on 41st Street when it moved to Broadway on April 29, 1996.
- Numerous parodies and references in popular culture, such as in 'Team America: World Police' and 'Riverdale', underscore 'Rent's' influence and continued relevance in the entertainment industry.
- 'Rent' fans, known as 'RENT-heads', originally got their name from camping out for hours to purchase discounted theater tickets, highlighting the show’s impact on its audience.
- Life Café, a key location in 'Rent', was a real restaurant located in New York City’s East Village, which closed in 2013.
- The character concepts for 'Rent' evolved significantly during its development. For instance, originally every main character except Mark was envisioned to have AIDS.
- The Broadway production of 'Rent' closed in 2008 after a 12-year run, ranking it as one of the longest-running shows on Broadway at the time, with gross earnings over $280 million.
- 'Rent' was loosely autobiographical; Jonathan Larson incorporated elements of his own life as a struggling artist in New York City into the musical.
- The character of Joanne in 'Rent' is a gender-swapped version of Alcindoro from 'La Bohème', and she also incorporates elements of the character Marcello.
- 'Rent' won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Musical shortly after its Broadway debut.
- Jonathan Larson, the creator of 'Rent', died of an undiagnosed aortic dissection the night before the musical's off-Broadway premiere in 1996.
- 'Rent' replaced the tuberculosis affliction in 'La Bohème' with the modern-day crisis of HIV/AIDS to reflect contemporary issues.
