June 3, 1998
Seattle Sidewalk

No rock musical has attracted the attention — and adoration — of critics and audiences like Jonathan Larson's "Rent." Truly an ensemble piece (there have never been any "star" names in the cast), "Rent" is one of those rare downtown New York alternative productions that transferred comfortably to Broadway, where it continues to play and play and play.

This skintight Broadway production squats in Seattle starting in September.

It will have a generous run in Seattle: 10 whole weeks. But just you watch those tickets fly. "Rent" touches heartstrings and libidos, and word-of-mouth is going to sell this show quickly, never mind the awards: 1996 Tony for Best Musical, Best Musical citations from the New York Drama Critics Circle, the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle, plus a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for the show's creator, Jonathan Larson.

The East Coast megahype and wide acclaim sends tremors even up our opposite shores — witness the phenomenon for yourself when "Rent" puts down stakes in Seattle.