'Rent
heads' line up for cheap seats
|
||
by Wendy Case |
Korina St. John is in a remarkably good mood for someone who's been up since 4 in the morning. That's when the 19-year-old left Owosso with her boyfriend, Steve Rodgers, and his brother, Joe. They wanted to be first in line. They are waiting for tickets -- not for Beck or Janet Jackson but for the hit musical Rent at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. The trio has been camped out in the hall of the Fisher Building since the doors opened at 6 a.m. "When we first got here, we were sleeping," says St. John, perched cross-legged on one of the cushions they brought from Steve's couch. "But when people started coming into the building, the security guard made us sit up." St. John and the Rodgers brothers have joined a growing faction of young people across the country who make a ritual of camping out, often overnight, for bargain-priced Rent tickets to the best seats in the house. Called "Rent Heads," these diligent fans wait in line until two hours before show time, when $20 tickets go on sale. Regular tickets range from $24 to $59. In keeping with the play's theme (about struggling young creative types in New York City), the show's producers reserve seats in the first two rows in every town for those willing to wait for the tickets. Neither St. John nor the brothers have seen the musical before, but surrounded by blankets and coolers, it's obvious they're hip to the tip. "We learned about it through friends," St. John says. "We decided to make an adventure out of it." The friends have achieved their goal of being first in line, and by 2 they've been joined by more than 20 teen-agers hunkered down behind the velvet ropes that lead to the theater's box office. Soon enough, people will be in line to buy out the 28 pairs of bargain tickets, but the teens will still have to wait until 6 p.m. to purchase them. That doesn't bother Jennifer Kernick as she plays cards with her friend, Melanie Bolen. The Southgate 17-year-olds, along with their pal, Aaron Moul, 18, have been in line since 10 a.m. "We know the whole play by heart!" Kernick says. "It's so great. This is our second time seeing it, but I know we'll be back again." Besides the deck of cards, they have brought board games and music to amuse themselves. "We've even been doing homework!" Kernick says. It's a beautiful day outside, and "Senior Skip Day" seems to be the popular excuse for begging-off school on a Friday. But one gets the impression the Rent Heads would rather be here than anywhere else. A stern-looking security guard passes the campers regularly -- making sure they're sitting up straight with their legs behind the ropes. Occasionally, a curious passer-by will ask the kids what they are waiting for, but mostly the patient fans just talk among themselves, sharing sandwiches and chatting quietly. "I guess if I were 25 and something spoke to me like Rent does to these kids, I'd do it, too," says Amy Yokin,the Fisher Theatre's director of group sales. "It's not your grandmother's show. It's a rock 'n' roll opera." Yokin visits with the campers regularly, occasionally handing out promotional items for the show. "When there's a change in cast members, you'll see a lot of kids with cards and bouquets. You also see a lot more people from out of town. They either want to welcome them here (to the show) or see them off" when they leave the tour. She knows of a young woman from Clawson who's seen it 44 times. "It's a real grass-roots movement," Yokin says. "They make friends in the lines in other towns and exchange stories about their collections (many have scrapbooks and photo albums) and their experiences." Dubbed the Hair of the '90s, it's no surprise Rent is spawning a new generation of theater-goers. The musical zeros in on issues faced by young people today, issues that make some folks uncomfortable. "I know a friend of a friend who walked out on it," Moul says. "It's about people living alternative lifestyles, and it addresses AIDS. A lot of people are afraid of that." One person who isn't afraid is Ricky Eubanks. The 18-year-old Royal Oak resident has seen the play three times, the first time in New York. This is his third "camping trip" to the Fisher Theatre. "It's a great stage for this particular show," says Eubanks, who was recently accepted to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City as a musical theater major. "It's smaller and more complex. The show fits well here." When asked to name his favorite character, a smile spreads across Eubanks' face. His friends begin to laugh. It's obvious they've heard way too much on the subject. "Collins," answers Eubanks. "He's really smart, and he's really bubbly." Soon Eubanks will be living in New York and one day he hopes to audition for the role of Collins, a young, HIV-positive teacher. "I can really relate to his character," he says, still smiling. "He's a 'free-will' person." What is 'Rent'?Described as a pop culture phenomenon, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent follows the struggles and successes of a group of young artists living in New York City's East Village. New York playwright Jonathan Larson, who wrote and scored Rent, never got to see his play on stage. At age 35, he died of an aortic aneurysm (broken heart vessel) the day before it debuted in January 1996. How to survive the waitSome tips for Rent camping: Don't go too early; hanging around outside before the sun rises might not be safe. "The doors don't open until 6 a.m.," says the Fisher Theatre's Amy Yokin. "I suppose kids could be showing up earlier and waiting outside, but I hope not." Bring something comfortable and compact to sit on. Pillows and short folding stools are good. Pack a small cooler with food and beverages for the day. "We made extra sandwiches just in case anybody else wanted one," says Melanie Bolen. The cooler also provides a handy place to sit. Bring games that allow you to interact with others. You'll be spending a lot of time with new faces and it's a great way to get to know folks who share your interests. This is the perfect opportunity to take care of those tasks you've been putting off -- resumes, school applications, bills, homework. Take an hour or two and wipe them all out in one sitting. You'll be glad you did. On Stage 'Rent'
|
|