THIS YEAR'S RENT is a new podcast that delves deep into the cultural phenomenon of the 1996 musical RENT. Hosted by LAURA HERTZFELD & ALEX GRADET, two Gen-Xers whose late teens/early-20s were defined by the late-90s New York, THIS YEAR'S RENT takes a candid look at the rock opera - its artistic merits, its cultural impact, and let’s be real, its well-deserved criticisms. THIS YEAR'S RENT is proud to support BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider a donation at donate.broadwaycares.org
After a 525,600 min. hiatus, LAURA AND ALEX are back to wrap it up with one last ep!
In this long-delayed episode (apologies!), LAURA and ALEX sit down with JONATHAN BURKHART, filmmaker, producer, and Jonathan Larson's best friend (no kidding: he's namechecked as one of the roommates in the o.g. version of "Boho Days"). It gets emotional.
LAURA and ALEX talk about the life and death of Stephen Sondheim, his works, his legacy, and the personal impact he's had on each of them. (Also, Alex goes on a long tangent about the perfection of 2019's "Co-Op.") Fair warning: the subject of RENT doesn't come up much.
ALEX and LAURA get a behind-the-curtain look at RENT original line guy, Broadway's first lottery guy and Alex's old roommate JUSTIN PLOWMAN.
Continuing our convo with Adam Shapiro on musicals for non-musical ppl, WAITRESS, and subsequent casts of RENT!
ALEX and LAURA welcome WAITRESS star, and once-(and-future?) Mark, ADAM SHAPIRO.
Spurred by guest MELISSA ANELLI's philosophy of unironic enthusiasm, ALEX changes lanes, which LAURA is good enough not to gloat about.
ALEX and LAURA talk shop with BroadwayCon founder and o.g. Renthead MELISSA ANELLI.
But wait, there's more, with ANTHONY "TWO-TOUCH" VENEZIALE!!!
Hosts LAURA and ALEX dig into it with FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME founding member ANTHONY VENEZIALE!!!
After ALEX bounced off the call, LAURA and O.G. Rent-head DINA FRIEDLER had a little more to discuss.
Hosts LAURA and ALEX welcome theater company manager and O.G. Rent-head DINA FRIEDLER!
Hosts LAURA HERTZFELD and ALEX GRADET dive into the brief life of RENT composer and lyricist JONATHAN LARSON.
Get to know your hosts Laura and Alex, their time in New York, and their history with RENT.