RENT News: Post from "Who's Your Favorite RENThead" Finalist Zuri
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| Wilson Jermaine Heredia with "Who's Your Favorite RENThead" Finalist Zuri |
Hey fellow RENTbloggers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm Zuri. I'm 14 from Bronx, New York (though I spend most of my days in Manhattan as a student of the Dalton School) and as a New Yorker, I must say that RENT has opened up so many doors for me. Let me give you guys a bit of a background story. Be prepared; I tend to talk a lot when it comes to RENT. RENT has been in my life for about 2 years now (seeing as I was 4 going on 5 when the OBC was on Broadway). I loved that show from the moment I first heard it. I remember vividly that I was in my aunt's car with my twin cousins and my aunt was sitting up front. We were waiting for someone so while we were waiting she put some music on. I heard something interesting that sounded like it had to be Broadway and I continued listening to it until "RENT" came on. I myself am an actress and singer so this musical (as I naively called it then) caused me to think: "Wow! This must be Broadway, but it sounds so different from anything I've ever heard." I enjoyed it so much that I imported it to my computer and listened to it non-stop for months until my parents decided to take me to see it for my birthday finally and perhaps stop the madness and obsession that had been quickly growing on me. This futile plan did not stop the madness, only stoked the fire more and let it burn. The themes, messages, and just about everything about RENT entered my heart and soul and caused new doors to be open unto me. I bought a shirt, the Book, and I intend to buy more paraphernalia in the future to get them signed. Fast forward to mid July when I got home from camp. Beforehand I had heard rumors of the movie and had started right away looking for contests or locations for glimpses of a premiere. One day I checked and there it was... The "Today Show" contest. It was about 3 o'clock in the morning and my mother was asleep but I started literally HYPERVENTALATING. Seriously folks, if I had been a serious asthmatic, I would have had to be hospitalized. So for the next month or so, I prepared for it. I got some of my stuff signed and even got one of the those cool posters that they only had ten of. When I met Amy and the others and was filmed, I couldn't keep my cool and basically just bounced around (as I'm sure you all saw). Afterwards I also went to the Bryant Park concert (FIGHT AIDS!) where I got more stuff signed. You all know about the voting so... Fast forward to premiere night. I'm with my father (because alas I am underage so...) and we watch the red carpet stuff for a minute before we get our tickets and head inside. The tickets were beautiful too and I still have them. They weren't normal paper like other tickets and the after party tickets had pictures of characters on them. Now let me tell you (for those who don't already know, the Ziegfeld is a beautiful theater. Huge screen covered by a beautiful gold curtain. I felt like I was actually at a theater just watching the 6 OBC + 2 put on the rock opera show. I met Kyle and Sandy who were sitting in the front left next to each other with their friends. I was with my father in the middle 2nd row. I didn't think we would get such good seats!!! Here's my two second thing commemorating Kyle (and his mother) for the "RENThead" LIVESTRONG bracelets they made for us and for documenting everything that happened at the after party on film (which he'll send me later). You were one of my favorite people that night and you helped so much and you are such a wannabe Mark (and I mean that in the kindest way because I am a wannabe Angel/Joanne, seriously... I'm making costumes). Which reminds me, we should make this into a Rocky Horror cult thing. But that, my comrades, is another blog for another time. So at the beginning of the film, guess what folks? HYPERVENTILATION!!!!!!!!!! The movie unfolded so much the same as the stage production yet so different since we could see where things took place. I won't compare them because I can't. When Angel died I was sobbing my heart out and the final segment of the movie I was bawling and started singing with the credits. Collins and Angel forever I also mooed. Come on... You know you did it too. MOO WITH ME! Tracie and Rosario were amazing. After the movie I actually saw Rosario's mother and thanked her for giving birth to her child. I must have said something that struck her in our conversation (which included my father) because she gave me her email address and I'm now trying to contact her. I also spoke to Rosario briefly then and took pictures she had to leave really early so I didn't get anything signed by her. But I know I will one day. I know I'll meet them/you all again because I have very good luck with RENT related things. Tracie had said to me that she voted for me a lot, which surprised me. She said that she wanted to meet me and let me get this great chance that I was able to have. I love you Tracie and hope I can find some way to keep in contact with you. I watched "Wonderfalls" and realized it was you by the way. And I thank you Tracie and the others who voted for me for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity. I didn't even eat that night because I was so excited. I saw Jai Rodriguez and got him to sign my book and Chris Columbus was sweet to me. My dad made friends with everyone like he knew them for years. I met everyone except for Idina. Anthony, Jesse, and Wilson are just about the sweetest things EVER! They were very obliging and signed everything I asked them to. Anthony was very cool with everything and congratulated us on winning, Jesse was very kind to me and even signed my poster "I'll ALWAYS cover you," and Wilson... O Wilson... I at first couldn't cope with seeing him because his character just died on screen and it was too much. He said to me: "It's alright, I'm right here." I just hugged him and thanked him (as well as the others) for giving others and myself this movie. Fredi was there too! One last two-second shout out and then... the CONCLUSION! (exciting, no?) To my utmost happiness, I saw Justin Johnston there. I hope your reading this. He is currently playing Angel on Broadway and he was the first Angel I'd seen and I told him so. I had felt a really cool connection with him out of all the rest of the amazing cast. He thought it was really sweet of me to want to always talk to him and that he was my first (Angel that is... don't get any bad ideas). I've seen him after shows, at Bryant Park and I always take pictures with him. One day I'll get a picture with you and Wilson and I'll have my very own Angels with me on my computer desktop. I plan on seeing you mucho más veces en el futuro y entonces yo quiero tu email porque me siento un conneción contigo. I'd like to keep in contact with you even after your eventual (but sad) departure from the show if I may. Sorry if my control of the Spanish language is a little shaky! I tried. All in all, the night was a blast and my wishes for this movie were fulfilled. This movie strengthened my need and aspiration to participate and be in the stage production. Sadly I had school the next day. I hope to see them all again and boo to all the critics that put it down. They don't know the real effort Jonathan Larson put into this for nearly 15 years. I am currently trying to get my school to do a production of RENT in the near future so wish me luck and as a reminder: Measure your life in LOVE.
All my love and best wishes to you all, |
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Comments
That's such a sweet blog entry and thanks for telling us all about your once-in-a-lifetime experience. I got to (briefly) meet a few members of the cast when they were at Symphony Space last week and they seem like genuinely amazing people... Tracie & Anthony & Wilson have so much heart and seem happy to have this dedicated fan base. I especially liked Tracie's comment to you :)
Congrats & thanks for blogging about the Premier!
Posted by: T on 11/29/05 at 02:56 PM
Congrats! That sounds... AMAZING FANTASTIC THE BEST!! I am soo jealous! Rent is my life! (since 1996) *I am obsessed and have no problem admitting it!* lol!
I would have hyperventilated too!
*i hyperventilate in my dreams* (but that was TOO MUCH INFO- wasn`t it??) CONGRATS again! and never forget! RENT=LOVE!
Measure your life in love- VIVA LA VIE BOHEME!!
Posted by: Melissa on 11/29/05 at 02:56 PM
LOVED YOUR BLOG Zuri, and by the way what a cooool name! I love it! I'm so glad you got to meet OBC/Tracie/Rosario. It's SOOO awesome that you got her mom's email! wow i think i would have been hyperventilating also if i was there!!! I hyperventilate when i think about being there!!! oh my gosh...I'm so glad you had a good time and that everyone was so nice to you!
Much Love
Khalehla
Posted by: Khalehla on 11/29/05 at 02:58 PM
A million congrats on being able to attend... you've lived a dream for a lot of us ^_^ And many good wishes on your future performances :P
Posted by: Nagako on 11/29/05 at 03:11 PM
Ooh I'm so glad you got to have that experience! You deserved it! Haha, I would have been freaking out too, like 'Didn't you just die?!!' Sorry you didn't meet Idina, she's one of my faves!
xoxo
Skylar
Posted by: Skylar on 11/29/05 at 03:16 PM
Wow!! I am glad you had such a good time. I love hearing the stories about how it felt to meet Anthony, Wilson, Jesse and all the others. It adds so much respect to what we already feel to hear how wonderful they are to the fans. I know we all wish we could meet them and talk to them, but like I said to the other winner, I know you represented us well.
Congratulations!
Today for you...tomorrow for me,
Natalie
Posted by: Natalie on 11/29/05 at 03:23 PM
*faints*
Posted by: E on 11/29/05 at 03:24 PM
I voted for you! I'm so happy that you got to go, it sounds like you had an amazing time!!
Posted by: Amanda on 11/29/05 at 03:44 PM
Oh, how AWESOME it would be if a school could do RENT. But the rights aren't available yet... and the material's a little too strong for a school.
We're doing "Seasons Of Love", though, as an act in our variety show next semester. That'll be fun. :D
Posted by: Mack on 11/29/05 at 03:46 PM
*is painfully jealous* I'd have given my left arm to meet Rosario! And my right arm AND leg to meet Wilson! *starts crying* I wish I'd been able to go to the premire!
~No Day But Today~
Mimi
Posted by: Mimi on 11/29/05 at 03:46 PM
Hey Zuri, I am so glad that you got to go to the premier. I was with you all the way and i tried to vote for you as many times as I could. It is so cool that you got to meet a bunch of the cast members, I would die for that chance. Well I'm glad to hear such great things about your time at the show. Maybe e-mail me sometime and we can talk about our experiences with RENT and how much we LOVE THE SHOW!!! Bye
- Kyle D
Posted by: Kyle D on 11/29/05 at 03:50 PM
OMG......I am beyond jealous. I saw Justin Johnston too. He was my first Angel as well. He was amazing. And you met WILSON! OMG you are so lucky. Wilson is my love......Wilson, if you are reading this......I love you (words can't describe). I can't believe that you go this amazing chance. I am so happy for you. Thanks for writing about your expierince for those of us who weren't so lucky. I guess we should be lucky......we ahve all these amazing people reading what wrote to them. But you are so lucky. Congrats!
<3 steph
Posted by: Steph on 11/29/05 at 03:51 PM
Um yeah...you deserved to go to this premiere. It is so obvioius that Rent has impacted your life in such a dramatic way, and I"m glad you had such a blast (I was getting mad jealous reading that entry by the way!!). I wasn't acquainted with Rent until the Seasons of Love trailer, and was only a fan of the song when The Today Show came on, so unfortunately I didn't even get the chance to go. It's probably for the best though since I would have had a heart attack if I got to go but anyway, I absolutely loooooved reading that entry, it sounded like an unforgettable night!
Posted by: Nick on 11/29/05 at 03:55 PM
OMG! CONGRATS! You sound like yolu had an awesome time! Sooo lucky! It seems like everyone is soo down to earth, which is phenomenal.
Posted by: Mandy on 11/29/05 at 03:57 PM
Girl! A "Rocky Horror" style Rent has already been talked about down here in Florida by my Rocky Horror cast. It hasn't happened yet of course, but it will be done by someone, I assure you!
Congrats :)
Posted by: Kelly on 11/29/05 at 03:59 PM
Zuri That was Sooooooo Cute! I am Totaly With you on all of that! Haha Im 14 too and I Totaly feeeel like sad when people are like ur Not a REAL RentHead because you've only known the play for 4 years! Urg It just makes me really Mad! BUT IM IN LOVE WITH IT TOOO! And I Def. give you mad Props for being able to be interveiwed I Would have Totaly Blanked out! Haha!
But I Voted for You! And I Hope You had an Amazing time! Its Sorta depressing That You didnt get to See Idina Because I LOVE her tooo Death But Oooo well! lol
Ok! Xoxo - Annie
Posted by: Annie on 11/29/05 at 04:04 PM
Zuri,
That is so amazing! I so so so wish I was there (I also wish I lived in NYC, but you know). I also have the book! I read it like every night, while I'm listening to the CD. (We RENTheads are such nerds, but thats okay, because at least we're not like Harry Potter nerds! LOL) I want to get mine sighned sooooo bad!!!!! I hope we can talk about RENT and keep in contact. We RENTheads have to stick together! I'm around your age (13) so we have a lot to talk about. I wish you luck in your RENTing! Congrats on the winning!
X's and O's,
Fellow RENThead Maya
Posted by: Maya on 11/29/05 at 04:06 PM
OH. MY. GOD. You are, most definitally the luckiest person alive! Meeting Wilson??? That is like, beyond amazing. And i'll always cover you?? Really, you did live a dream for all of us. Or me at least. Rent is amazing. I just got back from getting nail polish that was the closest to matching Wilons as I could find. Good luck on being in the show, and getting your school to produce one.
NO OTHER DAY
Posted by: Rebecca on 11/29/05 at 04:10 PM
I'm so jealous!!!! I want to meet the Rent cast!! But I'm also glad you had fun. I saw the movie too and it was A - M - A - Z - I - N- G - ! - ! - ! - ! - ! I L - O - V - E - D it!!!! I hope you do meet them again some day because then you would have another amazing story and I would be soooo jealous once again! Thanks for posting!!!
Posted by: Veronica on 11/29/05 at 04:23 PM
I'm so jealous :o
I want to hug Wilson! (again :P)
I<3YouWilson,
Natalie.
Posted by: Natalie on 11/29/05 at 04:25 PM
Congrats!!! Thanks for sharing your magical night with us.
Posted by: Crystal on 11/29/05 at 04:39 PM
Ooooh yes, for all of you who read this, i am Zuri's friend/fellow Renthead to the max. My extreme dissapointment/jealousy at not being able to attend the premiere with her was quickly replaced with my extreme excitement/happiness at recieving the CD case she had signed for me by Jesse, Adam, and Wilson. I actually almost cried when she gave it to me. But Zuri, i am SO HAPPY you got to go to the priemere because i know no one would have enjoyed it more than you.
-We are on a mission to put Rent on at our school and would looooooove support from all of you!
much love,
genny
Posted by: Genny on 11/29/05 at 04:44 PM
What about Adam? You didn't say anything about him!
Posted by: Becca on 11/29/05 at 04:57 PM
awwww I <3 YOU!!! I didn't think I'd have that reaction to someone other than a cast member lol, but you sound really cool and SO MUCH like me! Down to the hyperventilating. = P And I made an Angel Santa coat for opening day.
I also live in the Bronx (Riverdale) and go to Hunter HS, in Manhattan. Ya know, it's possible I might've seen you on the street one day and not even known it...
Anyway, I'm so so happy for you. Yeah, Anthony is really cool and amazing to his fans, and Wilson is adorable and so sweet. I can't even imagine what it would be like seeing him in person right after the movie. He hugged you, AWWWW! Were you (still) crying from the movie then? lol I know I cried like 5 minutes after it was over.
My comment is getting almost as long as your blog lol so basically, I'm very happy for you and thanks for posting it for all of us to share your experience in some way.
Posted by: Sylvia on 11/29/05 at 04:59 PM
i love seening it nyc and the movie is great
every one is great
Posted by: valerie on 11/29/05 at 05:09 PM
Awwww!! Zuri, you are too cute, I voted for you =D Glad you had fun!! <33 I hope I get as close to Wilson as you did, hehe.
- Annie
Yonkers, NY
Posted by: Annie on 11/29/05 at 05:24 PM
Thanks for sharing your experience with the rest of us.
I'm glad that you enjoyed yourself.
pineapple
today 4 you
tomorrow for me
Posted by: Connie Pina aka Pineapple on 11/29/05 at 05:24 PM
Adam was amazing as well. Just had a spaz attack when I wrote this blog so sorry. If your reading this I do love you as well, Adam; you're a sweetheart and Civilian is a great CD! I'm listening to it right now.
-Zuri
Posted by: Zuri on 11/29/05 at 05:27 PM
Aww you're so adorable and I'm so excited for you that you got to experience such a great thing. I'm obviously jealous (who wouldn't be?!) but it sounds like you definitely deserved it!
You're a pretty good writer, too, hon! <3!
Posted by: Alli on 11/29/05 at 05:37 PM
you are sooo lucky!!! meeting eveyone would be a dream come true!
i didn't even know about rent until the movie, but now i am OBSESSED!!!
i actually didn't even know what it was about until like a week before i saw it. i just HAD to see it because of jessie, or as he's known in my house, Detective Green. when i saw the previews i was like, omgosh he can sing!
and man, he was amazing! in the beginning when he got beat up i was like "heyyy you can't assault a police officer!" lol.
i loved him and wilson too. their chemistry was amazing. today 4 u cracked me up! and i loved his other songs too. heck, i loved every song! wilson looks so sweet!
needless to say i LOVED everyone else too! i cant even use words to describe it! i LOVED adam! anthony too! and rosario! indina and tracie! and benny..what's his name?!?! yay! everyone was great! they look like such nice people for real too. i seriously want to hug them all and just talk to them.
you guys were AMAZING!!! (did i make that clear?)i listen to the soundtrack like nonstop. my friends think im a loser but oh well! i can not get over this movie!!!! i can't wait to see it again! i love you guys!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: kelsey on 11/29/05 at 05:46 PM
so jealous grl! u are so lucky to get that oppurtunity, im a year older then u and didn't even get the chance to go to the city! let alone stand in front of that camera and profess my obsession with rent! and i totally agree with your rocky horror cult idea! o and i voted for u actaully everyone i voted for was in the final 3. how cool is that? lol. well u are very lucky! and the cast sounds amazing!
congrats!
Posted by: morgan on 11/29/05 at 05:55 PM
YEA!!! I was actually watching tv one night and saw a preview for rent (it was last week) and I started to hyperventallate too!!! You are SO lucky!!!! I'm glad you liked it!! I saw it twice and cried my eyes out! It was so beautiful!!!!! Thanks for posting this entry, Zuri! It really means a lot to us!
Becks
Posted by: Rebecca on 11/29/05 at 05:57 PM
YAY ZURI! You are so sweet and I love your dad! Tell him I say hello! It was so wonderful spending the evening with you. I'll never forget you! I'm glad you had an amazing time.
Posted by: sandy on 11/29/05 at 06:16 PM
:) love RENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: kels on 11/29/05 at 06:18 PM
Wonderful, you deserved it so much! Although I am a bit jealous I am sooo very happy for you :)
-Kelsey
Posted by: Kelsey on 11/29/05 at 06:23 PM
You are so lucky and so deserving. I'm glad you had a good time.
Posted by: Grace on 11/29/05 at 06:38 PM
You lucky dog Zuri. I wish I got to meet the cast of rent...
Posted by: Ashley on 11/29/05 at 06:54 PM
Zuri! First of all, I really love your name--it's unique and if I'm pronouncing it right it sounds beautiful. So yay for names.
My friend Maggie goes to this school called Interlochen--it's an art school--and I'm pretty sure Anthony Rapp went there--because he visited and gave some tips and workshopped with the INterlocheners.
maggie's always been really into theater, and RENT. The first time I listened to the soundtrack was when my just-come-out-of-the-'closet' jr. high drama teacher loaned it to me. And I wasn't really sure at all what I was listening to but it was pretty enjoyable, and so I listened. But the movie is something entirely different--I'm a cynic by nature and so I always change my mind about everything--but this movie makes me laugh, makes me cry, allows me to watch gay couples holding hands in a movie theater, and speaks the truth, not just about the bohemians.
All I can say is---you MET them? you have to write more...tell me everything (which you started doing, but not in nearly as much detail as I wanted). You're obviously an amazing person. And the cast is pretty amazing too.
wow. maybe everything's just amazing.
Posted by: Stephanie on 11/29/05 at 07:13 PM
I <3 Zuri!
btw, your Rent week idea=awesomeness!
Posted by: Allison on 11/29/05 at 07:49 PM
glad to hear u had a great time zuri!
no idina :(
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
RENT IS #1 TOP ALBUM ON ITUNES!!! EEEEEEEEEEEK!
Posted by: Mickey on 11/29/05 at 09:07 PM
I agree. We really should make it into a cult movie like Rocky. That would be awesome. My friends and I already have aplan for it and everything.
Posted by: Hayley on 11/29/05 at 09:22 PM
Congratulations, Zuri. Your post was so happy to read! You helped me feel like I was there, too. Thanks for your authentic enthusiasm and willingness to share your experience with us!
Posted by: Jeanette on 11/29/05 at 10:54 PM
awwwww! i'm so glad you had a great time. (:
Posted by: Jessie on 11/29/05 at 11:22 PM
That was a great blog entry! You are very lucky and also quite brave to have gone and talked to everyone. I'm pretty sure I would have just died, and there would have been no meeting. So, CONGRATULATIONS! Also, yeah, if they don't set up some Rocky-Horror style sing-alongs here in Chicago, I'm going to have to get a bunch of my friends together and start initiating them myself. How could anyone not want to sing along?
Posted by: Melissa on 11/30/05 at 12:59 AM
You really are extremely lucky and it's cool that you're so thankful. So, thanks to you for writing this entry for people like us who didn't get the chance to go with you. It's great that you had so much fun and I'm glad you got to meet the cast. It's so cool that Tracie said she voted for you so much! I'm seventeen and I had no idea you were so young. I didn't think someone almost my age would even be considered for this competition, let alone win. Congratulations and you really did deserve it.
Posted by: Krista on 11/30/05 at 01:01 AM
You are like... the coolest person ever.
- Audrey
Posted by: Audrey on 11/30/05 at 01:03 AM
How fortunate you are Zuri! Thank you for sharing your once in a lifetime experience with all of us, i feel like i went with you.
Posted by: Lauryn on 11/30/05 at 03:40 AM
That was very cute!
Posted by: Thomas on 11/30/05 at 06:33 AM
Zuri, your night sounds AWESOME!! Congrads and best of luck!
Posted by: Tiffany P on 11/30/05 at 07:53 AM
Zuri, yay for you, you lucky girl! I just had to say a great big ditto on the Rocky Horror idea. We already have a plan to have a party and watch it with a projector and a large screen at the theatre at my university when it comes out on DVD. Singing and dancing WILL be required... It's a new revolution!
Viva La Vie Boheme!
Posted by: melissa on 11/30/05 at 08:06 AM
Hey chica, Thank you so much for your blog. It gave us who weren't there a chance to get a glimpse to what you experienced. Kept those things and the memories that's embedded in every item.
~Ashley~
Posted by: Ashely on 11/30/05 at 08:43 AM
Hey Girl -
As you might suspect, we are all immensely envious of you. However, it is obvious that you deserved to be there. That night we all lived vicariously through you! CONGRATS!!! CONGRATS!!!
Good luck with everything.
"No Day But Today"
Posted by: sheryll, los angeles on 11/30/05 at 09:03 AM
I am so glad you had such a great time..and that Kyle and his mom made bracelets is adorable! He didnt tell me about that!!!
Posted by: Caitie on 11/30/05 at 10:43 AM
Congrats on winning, by the way. Thats really awesome! I'm jealous, but glad that you and the other winners got to go and had a fabulous time.
Posted by: Ariel on 11/30/05 at 11:42 AM
I'm so incredibly jealous!!! But that's amazing that you got to experience that!! Congratulations!!!
Best wishes!!
-Jamie
Posted by: jamie on 11/30/05 at 12:08 PM
Awesome entry Zuri! :D
I voted for you as much as I could!! Every hour from every computer I could get in touch with!! I'm so glad you got to have the experience!!! :D <3
Posted by: Matthew on 11/30/05 at 12:56 PM
Hey Zuri..I can produly say that I am a newly transformed RENThead!! I saw the show only a few weeks ago and the movie really made me in love with RENT. Congrats on your win..write as much as you can about RENT for us newcomers!!!
-much love
ilana
Posted by: Ilana on 11/30/05 at 12:57 PM
"Wilson... O Wilson... I at first couldn't cope with seeing him because his character just died on screen and it was too much. He said to me: "It's alright, I'm right here." I just hugged him "
That must be one of the cutest things I've ever heard. <3
Congrats on EVERYthing! =)
Posted by: Jennifer on 11/30/05 at 02:10 PM
I AM SO JEALOUS!!! You got a picture with one of the sexiest men alive and got to speak with another one. Wilson and Anthony are incredibly SEXY and if I were a little older and had been at the premiere I would have been all over them. You did a good job with your report and I'm glad you had fun and a great time.
Posted by: missourikid on 11/30/05 at 02:18 PM
omg, reading this makes my heart skip beats!! i'm sooo happy for you! thats amazing!!! oooh man, what i wouldn't give to meet the cast!! especially wilson!!! i'm sooo obsessed with him after this movie! lol. but, man, i'd like to say i'm jealous, cause i am, but not in that negative way!! i really am sooo happy for you! i just wish i could do the same! lol. but, really, congrats!! that is soooo amazing!! i bet you had the time of your life that night =)
Posted by: Arielle on 11/30/05 at 02:35 PM
Hey ya'll. Thanks for all the great responses!!!!!!!!!!! I want to marry all of you! Your all really sweet. Us RENT heads have got to stick together. If anyone is interested in the goings on I have been dressing as characters from RENT all week (today I was Joanne). It's been amazingly awesome and I am the most freaky RENT nerd ever!! One day me a bunch of friends are dressing up and going to tour RENT locations and have dinner at the Life Cafe then see the movie or something in the Village which should be fun... Love you all!!!!!!!!
-zuri
Posted by: Zuri on 11/30/05 at 03:00 PM
holy moly! i so envy u and i wish i was u!!!!! u lucky girl!!!
Stefie<3
Posted by: Stefanie on 11/30/05 at 03:20 PM
Zuri i must say u are so sweet and cool!!! i would have died if i saw Wilson!!!
WILSON!!!!I HEART HIM SO MUCH!!!
Stefie<3
Posted by: Stefanie on 11/30/05 at 03:24 PM
Wow, you're too lucky. It sounds like you had an amazing time and deserved every minute of it.
I really hope one day I get to meet the cast too, especially Wilson Jermaine Heredia! Love him!!
Paulina <3
Posted by: Paulina on 11/30/05 at 04:00 PM
hey zuri!
that is so cool that you got this once in a lifetime experience, and your explanations of it made me feel like i was actually there with you! you really deserved it, so i'm glad you had such a fabulous time. i was ecstatic when anthony and tracie sat next to my sister and i at the midnight showing at the ziegfeld, so i could only imagine what it would be like to be with them during the premiere. thanks for posting!
-Jenn
Bronx, NY
Posted by: Jenn on 11/30/05 at 04:55 PM
OHHHH MY!! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU MET EVERYBODY BUT IDINA!! That would've absolutely killed me.
Posted by: Grace Chiang on 11/30/05 at 06:46 PM
"have dinner at the Life Cafe then see the movie"
yay that's what me and a bunch of RENTheads I met at the premiere (but on the other side of the fan fence lol) are doing on Friday! = )
Posted by: Sylvia on 11/30/05 at 09:40 PM
I'm so jealous! :-)
Posted by: Rachel on 12/01/05 at 12:43 PM
so im pretty sure i really want to be you..
THATS AMAZING THAT YOU MET ROSARIO
shes my idol
but thats upsetting that you didnt get to meet idina shes amazing aswell
well you deffinately deserved that experience
haha my dream is your reality
I LOVE YOUUUU
Posted by: Hayley on 12/01/05 at 06:54 PM
Wow! congrats to you! You're soo lucky! I am honestly going to say, that I am jealous you got to talk to Wilson.....lol We had to answer a question in my psychology class "Who would you live to have dinner with and spend one night to talk to, anyone, dead or alive?" and I put him, and you actually got to!!! wow...i'm so happy for you
-bales
Posted by: Bailey Schroepfer on 12/01/05 at 11:45 PM
WoW can you say lucky? Im in LOVE with this movie. I can't stop playing the soundtrack. Can't wait for the dvd to come out :D :D My faav is Angel :p tehe and your in a pic with him! Sooo jelous!! I can't get over it i kept crying during the film. It's rlly emotional and the message is strong. Anyways congrats and stuff :)
Posted by: Stephanie on 12/03/05 at 10:06 AM
Zuri,
I might not be technically considered a RENThead since I just discovered the movie, but ever since i saw it, ive been in love!!! Youre so lucky you got to meet everyone and they do seem like genuinely nice people. The night sounded amazing!Congratulations!
~Steph
Posted by: Stephanie on 12/03/05 at 10:44 AM
zuri, i'm so glad you had the chance to experience your dream come true, and then share it all with us. you are a true RENThead and seem like such an awesome, alive person.
much love, xoxoxox
Posted by: jackie on 12/03/05 at 01:24 PM
Wow...so lucky. You got to meet the cast. I've met them all...in my dreams. The ongoing joke in my school right now is 'Christina would sell her left leg and liver to meet the RENT cast'...and I would.
You got to meet Wilson...which makes me insanely jealous of you. Wilson, if you read this...I love you!!
It must have been awesome...you really are living a dream for so many people here. It's sad that you didn't get to meet Idina, though. I love her so much (same to you, Idina...if you read this I think you are so amazing in everything you do. You are the most amazing actress to ever make it to Broadway, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so).
Congratulations!!
Much love to the whole cast! (I try not to make it seem like I only love Wilson and Idina...I love you all really. You are so amazing.)
Posted by: Christina on 12/03/05 at 04:55 PM
-is so very jealous-
Your entry is wonderful; I feel like I was there. I voted for you a few times. I'm glad you had so much fun.
Megan
Posted by: Megan on 12/03/05 at 05:37 PM
Oh my gosh. You are the luckiest girl alive!! I, too, am 14 and have a major obsession with RENT. I never got to see the play (every time I've gone to new york, I've been to young to see it), but once when I was in New York I did see the original cast sing live on the Today Show. Ever since, I've felt this odd connection with the movie. It really opens your eyes and makes you think. Of course, I immediately fell in love with the character of Angel (my cat's name is Angel haha), and I would have died to meet Wilson. Well, congratulations girl! That truly was an opportunity of a lifetime!
No Day But Today,
Alexandra
Posted by: Alexandra on 12/03/05 at 07:30 PM
Oh my god - you guys don't realise just how lucky you are. I live in London and still have to wait 2 months before I can see the movie. I have seen Rent so many times in the West End and used to hang out at the stage door to meet the london cast (who, by the way, were fantastic!). I also managed to see it in New York when I visited 5 years ago. If I had the money I'd be in New York now seeing the film. I can't contain my excitement and am visiting the Sony website almost daily to watch the clips and trailers!!! I'm just hoping that I might find a way to get to the London premier in February.
- Sarah xxx
Posted by: Sarah on 12/04/05 at 02:01 PM
OMG i totally agree this should definitely be a rocky horror cult thing! it should come complete with costumes and mooing lol! that would be awesome im thinking of doing just that, like buying out an entire theatre getting all my friends to dressup and stand up and sing and dance to all the songs it would be amazing!
MOOOOO!
Posted by: Ariana on 12/04/05 at 03:00 PM
That was the coolest thing ever!! Zuri, you're so awesome and sweet and you COMPLETELY-etly deserved to be a winner. I'm sooooooo happy for you that you got to meet the cast and everything. I can bet you were excited...oh man, definitley once-in-a-lifetime.
We'll all be RENT nerds together =P
Much love,
~Alex
Posted by: Alex on 12/04/05 at 05:11 PM
Hi I don't know you but you are soooo lucky! I wish I could meet them...Did you meet Adam Pascal? I'm in LOVE with him!(well i really love the whole entire cast) I think I would die if I got to meet them. I'm in complete love with RENT! Would you mind e-mailing me any other information or just anything about RENT? Thanks a bunch!
<3 Marisa
Posted by: Marisa on 12/04/05 at 08:02 PM
I have enjoyed RENT since my first viewing right after it opened. I have seen it several times since. The movie is an asset to the RENT "Franchise." Although I admit to being intrigued by Stage Productions, the movie was like watching the finishing touches being put onto a painting. Bravo!! I, too, believe that this should become a cult movie (al la Tommy or Rocky Horror. My friend Mindy just knited me a scarf like Roger's. Thanks for all the wonderful music, memories and a true celebration of life.
Posted by: Palmer on 12/05/05 at 08:23 AM
Zuri- youre my hero!!!! ooooooh my gosh i would give ANYTHING to have had a night like the one you had! i've seen the movie 4 times, and i have listened to the soundtrack NONSTOP since before i even saw it! and when i read your blog, i though, "huh, this girl sounds exactly like me!!!!" i mean, i HYPERVENTILATED when i saw the movie. sadly enough, the actual play hasn't come to chicago yet....but i heard it is this summer, im crossing my fingers!!! your awesome obsessiveness definitely reminds me of my own with the musical 'wicked' as well, because i listened to the soundtrack forever, and my family finally took me because i was BEYOND obsessed....and im only bringing wicked up because- dont worry!- it relates! idina menzel was in the OBC of wicked, and i have listened to her sing waaaaay too many times. it kind of sucks that you didn't get to meet her.... that would have made me personally really sad, because honestly idina is absolutely my hero in life, and i would give ANYTHING to meet her....shes phenomenal. but anyway- RENT- that sounds soooo fantastic, you sound like you deserve to have been the winner, so im glad it was you! im definitely currently beyond obsessed with RENT, so email me back! hope to hear from you!!! ~Mary *viva la vie boheme*
Posted by: Mary on 12/05/05 at 04:59 PM
CONGRATULATIONS ZURI!!!!! I envy and admire you so much. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us fellow RENTheads. Take care. RENT ROCKS!
XOXOXOXO,
Ashley M.
Posted by: Ashley on 12/05/05 at 07:33 PM
hey rent fansi love rent i love rent so much i love the moive and i love willson you plyed angel soo well i want to know if would like to help me ??? i have this thing where my mucles and i have pain everyday and nights i love beacuse it about love and fighting disease but please help me if you can if you can i just want to met the cast roger,angel.tom,benny murran,joanna,mark ,meme please help please
Posted by: samantha binstock on 12/05/05 at 08:01 PM
Wow you really are a lucky girl, my name is Angel and in real life i live the life of Angel in ReNt, and i only wanted to congradulate you on winning the grand prize, you truly are a lucky girl, he will grant u the best wishes if you keep it up, dont change becuase for a great reason you won this great prize. Enjoy !
Truly,
Angel
Posted by: Angel on 12/05/05 at 09:43 PM
i love you all. angel who responded you sound so cool!!!!!!!! I'd love to email you all but how am i supposed when it's illegal to put my email address on here??????? i want to talk to people!!!!!!!!!!! I have a myspace. check it out!!!!
Love Zuri
Posted by: Zuri on 12/06/05 at 03:48 PM
zuri i love you and Im SOOO jealous... hey tell me if you read this, because taht would be reaally cool
Posted by: Amelia on 01/12/06 at 08:23 PM
