Rent, the seventh-longest running show on Broadway, had its “lease” extended. Instead of closing on June 1 as planned, producers announced this week that overwhelming ticket demand caused them to change their minds and extend the musical until Sept. 7, and ticket holders who bought tickets to the original last performance now have the choice of exchanging their tickets for a later date.
To be exchanged, tickets have to be mailed or taken to the Nederlander Theatre box office no later than May 11. The producers announced, “In consideration of the Rent fans who have purchased tickets for the currently-announced final week, ticket holders wishing to exchange tickets purchased for performances from Monday, May 26, 2008 through Sunday, June 1, 2008 for performances during the extension period are welcome to do so subject to availability.”
Fans with tickets for the original final performance on June 1 may exchange those tickets for the new final performance on Sept. 7 under these conditions: tickets must have been bought before March 15 of this year and the theatergoer must provide verification for proof of purchase. That verification must be in the form of Ticketmaster account information or a credit card receipt or statement. Bringing this verification to the box office with the tickets, or mailing them to the box office with the tickets, will allow the exchange.
Seats for the final performance now taking place on Sept. 7 may be in different locations than for those purchased for the June 1 production. The exchange for new tickets will only be for the face value of the old tickets held.
For theatergoers not already holding tickets, they will be on sale through Sept. 4 for performances in the extended period.
The summer schedule will remain the same with these changes: there will be no performances on July 4, but there will be an added performance on July 2, at 8:00 p.m. There will be no performances on Sept. 1, Labor Day, but there will be added performances on Sept. 3, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
In addition to being the seventh longest-running show on Broadway, Rent is also one of only seven musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It won the Tony Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award as well.
