Moviefone Editorial

Tag: rent

  • Fox’s Not-Quite-Live ‘Rent’ Ratings Mark Live Musical Low

    Fox’s Not-Quite-Live ‘Rent’ Ratings Mark Live Musical Low

    Fox

    Fox’s live “Rent” turned out to be not-quite-live — and perhaps as a result, its ratings ranked the lowest among live musical television productions.

    After lead actor Brennin Hunt, who plays Roger, broke his foot near the end of Saturday’s dress rehearsal, Fox decided to use pre-filmed footage from that rehearsal on Sunday night’s broadcast. Only a short segment at the end was actually live, with Hunt performing from a wheelchair.

    In overnight ratings, “Rent” averaged 2.4 millions viewers and a 1.4 rating in adults 18-49. That sets a new record low, falling behind Fox’s “A Christmas Story Live,” which drew 4.5 million viewers and a 1.5 rating. And it’s very far below the most highly rated live musical, NBC’s 2013 version of “The Sound of Music,” which drew 18.6 million viewers and a 4.6 rating.

    Fox’s choice to use pre-taped footage left the final broadcast feeling disjointed. Many of the actors were “saving” their voices for the Sunday show, which made their performances seem lackluster. The sound mixing was also off.

    The production did not have understudies, so Hunt could not be replaced. However, in the theater where the show was taped, a live audience did get to see the cast perform, including Hunt in a wheelchair. At the end of the broadcast, Fox switched from the pre-taped footage to live footage, with the cast joined by the original Broadway cast of “Rent” on stage to sing “Seasons of Love.”

    On Twitter, fans were shaking their heads at Fox’s decision to air the pre-taped footage, as well as the lack of understudies:

  • Fox Reveals All-Star ‘Rent Live’ Cast, Featuring Vanessa Hudgens, Tinashe

    Fox Reveals All-Star ‘Rent Live’ Cast, Featuring Vanessa Hudgens, Tinashe

    Fox

    Fox’s upcoming live staging of the Tony-winning musical “Rent” will feature an all-star ensemble, with the network unveiling the full cast on Monday.

    The eclectic group includes a mix of pop stars, Broadway vets, and television favorites, and features several faces already familiar to fans of the recent live musical TV trend. Here’s a breakdown of who’s who in the cast, per The Hollywood Reporter:

    • Vanessa Hudgens will play Maureen Johnson, the outgoing performance artist who’s not afraid to take on the establishment.
    • Kiersey Clemons (“Dope”) will play Joanne Jefferson, Maureen’s girlfriend and an Ivy League-educated lawyer.
    • Brandon Victor Dixon (“Hamilton”) is set as Tom Collins, the computer scientist who returns to New York after being expelled from MIT.
    • Valentina (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”) will play Angel Dumont Schunard, a young drag queen and street percussionist who embraces life and lives it to its fullest.
    • Jordan Fisher (“Hamilton”) is the central character of Mark Cohen, an aspiring filmmaker, who serves as the show’s narrator, while filming the lives of his friends.
    • Brennin Hunt (“Nashville”) plays Roger Davis, a struggling musician and Mark’s roommate and best friend.
    • Singer Tinashe will portray Mimi Marquez, the dancer who struggles with addiction.
    • R&B star Mario will take on the role of Benjamin Coffin III, Mark and Roger’s former roommate-turned-landlord, who is after their rent.
    • Keala Settle (breakout star of “The Greatest Showman“) will be part of the ensemble, and perform the solo to the show’s most famous tune, “Seasons of Love.”

    We’re happy Hudgens will be returning to the Fox live musical fold, after her excellent performance in “Grease: Live.” And we’re especially excited that Fisher, another “Grease: Live” alum, will be getting such a major role this time, after his scene- (and heart-) stealing turn in that show.

    Thankfully, we won’t have to wait 525,600 minutes for “Rent: Live” — it’s set to debut on Fox on January 27.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]

  • Lin-Manuel Miranda to Make Directorial Debut With ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’

    Walt Disney Studios

    Singer-writer-actor Lin-Manuel Miranda is about to add another hyphenate: Director.

    After dabbling in Disney with work on films like “Moana” and “Mary Poppins Returns,” Miranda is returning to his Broadway roots, making his feature directorial debut on an adaptation of musical “Tick, Tick…Boom!” Deadline reports that in addition to helming the flick, Miranda will also produce, alongside Hollywood bigwigs Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.

    “Tick, Tick…Boom!” is the debut autobiographical musical of the late “Rent” creator Jonathan Larson. Here’s a breakdown of the show’s plot, per Deadline:

    Set in 1990, Tick, Tick…Boom! tells the story of Jon, an aspiring theater composer who is waiting tables in New York City while writing Superbia – which he hopes will be the next great American musical and finally give him his big break. Jon is also feeling pressure from his girlfriend Susan, who is tired of continuing to put her life on hold for Jon’s career aspirations. Meanwhile, his best friend and roommate Michael, has given up on his creative aspirations for a high paying advertising job on Madison Avenue and is about to move out. As Jon approaches his 30th birthday, he is overcome with anxiety – wondering if his dream is worth the cost.

    In addition to Miranda, Howard, and Grazer, Larson’s sister, Julie will also produce the movie. And the impressive creative team doesn’t end there: Steven Levenson, who penned the Tony-winning book to recent smash “Dear Evan Hanson,” will be writing the screenplay.

    Miranda, who once starred in an Off-Broadway production of “Tick, Tick…Boom!,” said in a statement to Deadline that the show “solidified that drive in me to hone my own voice as a playwright.”

    His statement continued:

    “On stage, playing the role of ‘Jon’ in 2014 was one of my most honored achievements. To now have the opportunity to make my film directorial debut, in collaboration with the Larson Family and this incredible creative team, and to adapt a work I love so deeply, is a humbling privilege. Together, we aim to honor Jonathan’s legacy and continue to position his work to inspire the next generation of storytellers.”

    No word yet on when “Tick, Tick…Boom!” night hit theaters. Next up for Miranda is another project close to his Broadway beginnings: A big screen adaptation of his debut musical, “In the Heights.”

    [via: Deadline]