by Hieu Tran Phan
Orange County Register
August 6, 1998

Red, sleepless eyes. Tired, aching bodies. Stale doughnuts in their mouths. Sleeping bags and stuffed animals in their hands.

These were the badges of devotion proudly displayed by some 40 "Rentheads," die-hard fans of the Broadway musical "Rent."

They gathered at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, where the show began a 17-day run. Their goal: to snag about 30 front-row tickets for $20 each.

Mostly young, wired through the Internet and connected by their passion for Jonathan Larson's rock-inspired musical, Rentheads are a new kind of audience for musical theater.

"It was no big sacrifice for the love of my life," said Tina Collins, 16, of Irvine, who was up most the night to secure her place in line.

Collins, who has seen "Rent" 55 times, once waited four nights in La Jolla to get her tickets. (The reputed record holder has viewed "Rent" more than 110 times.)

Collins and many in the crowd of teens and 20-somethings arrived Tuesday evening before the special tickets went on sale. But venue officials stuck by their rule: No lines allowed before 8 a.m.

So the group camped out across the street atthe South Coast Repertory — until they were booted. That led to a car camp-out in front of a nearby Sav-on drugstore, where many ate cereal for dinner. Then came a night of little dozing but lots of waiting, waiting, waiting.

Rentheads have driven, hitchhiked or flown their way to "Rent" performances worldwide: Arizona, New York, Ohio, Texas, Canada, London. They work extra jobs, do chores or beg their parents for ticket money. When not on the road, they talk about all things "Rent" over the Internet. In short, they have become a "Rent" touring group unto their own.

What spurs such reverence? Infatuation? Insanity?

"Until you attend the musical, there's no way to explain it. You're not watching a show, you're watching your life unfold on stage," said Jack Kempskey of Placentia, a 16-show veteran. "I've seen 11 other Broadway musicals, and nothing speaks to me like this one. The characters in 'Rent' ... they express my identity through their tears, song and dance."

Kempskey — a senior at California State University, Long Beach — said he empathizes with the musical's message.

At its simplest, "Rent" is a rock musical rooted in the meaning of the Latin phrase carpe diem, the battle cry to seize every day as it if were the final chance to love, create and exult in life.

Touching many of today's hot-button social issues, "Rent's" young bohemian characters abide by the show's theme, "no day but today." They are artists, musicians — one character is a transvestite — who help each other through AIDS, poverty, social rejection and, ultimately, death.

Kempskey, 23, knows such a life too well.

Two of his friends have died of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and he has contracted HIV. His favorite character in "Rent" is Roger Davis, an HIV-positive musician who hopes to write one last meaningful song before he dies.

"The entire cast, particularly Roger, inspires me to dig deeper for meaning despite my suffering," said Kempskey, a musician who wears a "Rent" tattoo on his left shoulder.

"I still cry during every performance. It's so liberating to be affirmed publicly."

Larson, the creator of "Rent," also identified with his characters. The struggling writer died January 25, 1996, the night before his musical's preview. Larson had asked that discount seats be reserved for all "Rent" performances — so both rich and poor could experience the show.

What he probably didn't anticipate is the bonding that grew among Rentheads.

"The musical has built a haven where we're free to express ourselves," said Stephen Williams, 19, who drove in Tuesday night from Moreno Valley. "I've made friends for life here. We stick up for each other."

To kill the time, Williams and his pals inspected one another's "Rent" memorabilia: souvenir books, autographed tickets, Web site postings, "beanie" hats and stage props they snatched from past performances.

Another fan, who traveled from Atlanta for Wednesday's performance, hoped for an impromptu appearance from a cast member. She was not disappointed; cast members Andy Senor and Julia Santana stopped by to exchange greetings.

"These groupies are not fanatics who squeal or jump around in frenzy. They are intelligent, vibrant people," said Senor, who portrays the transvesite character Angel in "Rent."

"Last Halloween a bunch of them dressed up as the cast," Senor said. "It was hilarious!'

It's not the actors, but the heart-tugging reality that is the source of "Rent's" power, said Santana, who plays Mimi Marquez, a drug-addicted dancer with AIDS.

"When on stage, I'm totally into my character, " she said. "To know that our fans identify with us ... it's so supportive and motivating."

Senor wants "Rent" to remain a phenomenon forever. He identifies with the Rentheads.

"I could imagine myself sleeping overnight and wandering nationwide," he said.

"Hey, I did it for Motley Crue and Aerosmith, why not 'Rent?' "