Unique to the musical, which opened Tuesday night and will run through Oct. 15, is that 26 seats are reserved and sold for a reduced price of $20 every place the show tours, said Judy Hurtig, the Hancher assistant director for marketing. The tickets are sold two hours before each performance, but lines to buy them form in the early morning hours.

"I've been here since 6 this morning, but the show's worth it," said Pat Lane, who traveled from Minneapolis and has seen the show more than 20 times. "I've been drawn into it. Everyone can find some connection with the characters because each is so diverse."

The request for the cheap seats was made by the musical's late writer, Jonathan Larson, who died on Jan. 25, 1996, before the show opened. His request has been honored by the touring company.

"Larson wanted to make sure everyone could experience the show, and for those who couldn't afford the price of tickets, they could have the opportunity to purchase them at a lower price," Hurtig said.

This act is representative of the musical, she said. "Rent is about a community of young artists struggling with the soaring hopes and tough realities of today's world."

Lane was first in line Tuesday, followed by Stephanie Beck from Omaha, Neb. They were occupying their time with reading, listening to the radio, talking and sleeping.

Both said they opted to wait in line because they could not afford the regular ticket prices, which range from $32.40 to $55.

"This will be my fourth time seeing the show, and I've waited in line since after my first time," Beck said. "Nothing else is quite like Rent in theaters; it's definitely unique for our generation."

By dealing with the contemporary issues, Hurtig said, the musical speaks to young people.

"The story is set in (New York City's) Lower East Side, and it portrays young people striving for their dreams and going after them with integrity and with poverty," she said.

UI senior Joe Hintzsche, who arrived at 11:30 a.m., decided to wait in line because it's cheaper and he wants to sit in the front row.

"I would go more if I could, but I've got to go to class sometime," he said.

Iowa City resident Danielle Phillips and UI senior Amandine Aspel played cards with Hintzsche to make their time in line more enjoyable.

"We'll probably order pizza later," Hintzsche said.

UI senior Sarah Woolever saw the show Tuesday night after her daylong wait.

"The show fits well in a college town because it's geared to our generation,  which doesn't have a lot of money," she said.

This is the musical's second appearance in Iowa City; the first was two years ago. Hurtig said not so many tickets have been sold this year as last time.

"Sales have not been quite so strong because some people might have already gone to the show when it was here a couple years ago," she said. "In two weeks, Beauty and the Beast will be at Hancher, so some people had to make a choice on which show to see."