Rent 1996 Opening Night-Light My Candle

[upstart555]

Daphne has one of the most coolest and interesting voices on the planet. Her voice has so many effects that the others don't. Rosario is so vanilla and one way. Listen to the Broadway recording to really hear it. Jonathan picked her for a reason. He loved her voice and wanted someone unique and not just the same old thing.

[twilliger123]

I agree you can really tell who only watched the movie and didn't see the show. They have no idea what good theatre is. Rosario couldn't sing live worth shit, they just put her in there for "star" power and the only reason Daphne wasn't in the movie was because she was pregnant, no other reason!!!!!

[twilliger123]

Rosario sucked and she's the reason I hated the movie. Daphne is the original and best Mimi. I've seen the show (which was a MILLION times better than the movie) and Daphne portrays Mimi with the street smarts she's supposed to have, not innocence. And the person who said she looks like a lille old mexican maid is a racist piece of shit!

[MagiKungen]

Renee and Will made this song seem as if it was improved, they made it seem like an actual conversation was taking place, instead of just reading lines of a paper.

I also prefer Renee's portrayal of Mimi, but that's just my personal preference.

But I think that the cast that closed the broadway-run made this scene much more realistic as it would happend in real life.

[denissegiron]

Rosario is the only other portrayal of Mimi....I think it's clear who's theatre people and who only watched the movie.

[13annabelle131]

I like Rosario and Renee better when it came to being Mimi. They focused more on being flirty and witty rather than being rough.

[pollypunht]

I don't know why but I think Daphne is the most junkie-stripper-ish Mimi, other Mimis are sexy but they just don't have the kind of roughness.

[calso13]

its sooo differant to watch this after watching the last performance on broadway! of how it has changed!! i love rent!!

-childrenfrom1996-

[minus1letter]

I love how the audience genuinely laughs at all the jokes made in this song. Normally when you go to see rent the audience is filled with RENTHEADS who know all the jokes. It's just sweet

P.s. Daphne=Mimi

[SongsJerome]

I love Adam Pascal's clothes!

[l28l28]

@musthave210

I was born that year so i know how you feel

Plus im in australia and there are so many less musicals here than in other countries so i doubt they'll do one here again :(

[time4tacos]

Can't beat the original. I do love Rene's portrayl of mimi though :)

[BlazedHearts]

Daphne just IS Mimi. Tamyra, Renee and Rosario are all amazing in their own rights as well. Theyre all beautiful Mimi's.

But Daphne, shes had the most original portrayal of Mimi I've seen. I cant even explain it.

[14ocie]

I respect Daphne because I know she was chosen for a reason and she can sing, but her portrayal of Mimi kind of makes Mimi seem like a little old mexican maid...sorry but I like Rosario's portrayal better.

[defygravity141]

@14ocie um no. mimi is supposed to be a screwed up teenage junkie. while i agree rosario's performance was wonderful, daphne accurately portrayed the roughness that goes along with that lifestyle...rosario was too pretty and smooth. but thats just my opinion...feel free to disagree

[swprincessyo]

@defygravity141 I agree, but I like rosario dawson the best personally, because she brings a lot of innocence. And when you think about it, she's only 19. I feel like it's the most appropriate for her to have a lot of innocence because even after everything, she's still only a teen.

[twilliger123]

@14ocie Could you be any more racist saying bullshit like that????? SHEESH!

[TeamCullen96]

@raybabiieex3 This was the year I was born! I sooooo wish it was happening like now and I could get my mom to take me to see it. Instead of me being like...a month old when this happened.

[bluebirde67]

The famous question that shall never be answered: Did Roger really run out of matches?

[raybabiieex3]

"I didn't regconize you without the handcuffs." Lol. Oh, Roger. (:

I wish I could've seen this, on it's opening night. Too bad, I was barely one years old when this was going on.

[swiminthissilense]

@raybabiieex3 lmfaooo!! me tooo we must be the same agee! ohh wells there reopening it in august 2011 soo hopefully ill be there for that opening night! ; D

[TheNegativeAlchemist]

@raybabiieex3 :) I wasn't even born until the next year. It would've been nice to see it premiere along with everyone else.

[musthave210]

@TheNegativeAlchemist i wasnt born until the next year either:(

[MystikRose86]

I so HEART Adam

OMG he is totally roger and no-one can take that role from him

he is awesome

I prefer the movie cast... 100%

[someone481]

What was the point of giving Adam long hair in the film haha. He looks so badass with short hair

[monica367]

@someone481 :P i think that thy gave him long hair because like that he looks a bit more mature, like roger needs to be, u c in the movie when he was younger he appears with short hair and then in present time with long hair.

[kitara251]

I love Daphne's raw voice!

[dancydancer1019]

does anyone else really like adam's pants? :)

[yobsterrish]

@harrypotterwicked The only problem is that Rosario's voice lacked a lot of the depth most of the Broadway Mimi's have. It's too light for Mimi. I am one of the few that LOVES Daphne. Her roughness just makes Mimi seem more real and gritty. (=

[deanriam]

I like how Adam Pascal looks in here rather than the film.

[yubeta]

what a great thing to capture this moment in time

[livemusicrox]

I love raspy female voices!!! It gives you a sense of real life in a way.

[VoiceOfAnAngel1]

I'm not too familiar with Rent (sadly), but I decided to take a peek after watching Puccini's La Bohème (the opera off of which Rent is based, lol). I like the parallels, and the songs are damn catchy. : )

[kEnExPeAcE]

I really wish I could've seen the original cast perform, but I wasn't born yet. They were just a couple months early.They did a great job with the replacement for Mimi. Daphne and Rosario sound very similar! I can't choose who I like more. This is my absolute favorite song from the play! My second favorite is La Vie Boheme.

[AventuraLuver]

I would have given anything to watch the original cast perform, unfortunatey I was only two.

[ChickWithNoName]

@AventuraLuver haha I was just thinking the same thing. I would honestly give anything to watch RENT the way Johnathan Larson imagined it.

[xkutekitten94x]

*love

[xkutekitten94x]

I live this Mimi, she plays her perfectly, she has a sort of innocent way about her.

But I'm sorry to say her voice just hits me the wrong way, it's a bit like nails on a chalk board, and I doubt it has anything to do with her, just me :) Thank you for putting this up

[TheEric0009]

Her voice is so weird

[Marionbabi321]

its sad, that this is the orginal mimi. and shes the mimi that i dont like. lol

[pianostix]

Two different kinds of actors. Rosario is a film actor. Daphne is a theatre actor. Both portrayed Mimi amazingly. Oh, and Daphne's a great singer--clean your ears, people!

[superpeeplz]

I'm sorry, but Addam should really stop cutting his hair. He is SOO much hotter with long hair ;)

[PatsSuckkXColtsRockk]

God, Adam is so sexy. Am I the only one who totally wants to jump his bones watching this video? XD

[heartscombined2]

wow, they ARE mimi and roger--i mean, they act the parts so well! adam acts like roger probably would, and daphne acts like the 19-yr-old junkie. they ARE mimi and roger

[charmedluver2]

Not my fave MiMi... srry...But she did do good no doubt.

[kajatheecho]

Love Daphne! She is too cute! And I don't care what anyone says, I adore her voice.

[pentra1962]

This Mimi can sing but she sounds like a baby :/

[iAsian92]

Adam sounds sexy.

[gpedraza93]

its so cool that you have this

[Inuyasha4901]

to be honest i like Renée Goldsberry better than the original i think she portrays mimi much better and has a better voice in my opinion

[andwhoareyouagain]

Thank you soo much for uploading these. They are just breathtaking. What I would give to go back to 1999 when I saw it at the Nederlander and take it all in again......changed my life.

[bwaybaby022]

GAH DAPHNE SOUNDS SO LITTLE AND CUTE HERE!! i love that girl

[phanfinger]

anyone else annoyed/bothered by Roger's outfit? i feel like its so unRogerish.

[ionaRAWR]

@phanfinger I think it's completley Rodger (:

It's kinda punk/ rockish and I heard they designed the trousers to look like PJ bottoms. Remember he hasn't left his apartment for a year, so he is meant to look casual and everything

xx

[Ugotmyheart]

I liked him but not her I really love Mimi from the movie

[LadyC43]

i dont rlly like this Mimis voice

i respect she was picked by jonathan larson

but i think roasrios is better

it sounds better

even if it is fakee

this chicks sounds weird..mayeb she has an accent

idk

i absolutleyy love rent<3333No Day But Today

[KittyOnTehTube]

I happen to enjoy Rosario's raspy voice. It shows her realism and feminine beauty. If you are so closed-minded that you can't even consider why they chose her for her unique voice then stop critisizing without facts.

[hehehe277]

Thank youu for posting these!!

i love love looveee the original cast

and would do anything to have seen them !!

[daisukefan92]

God, this is just ABSO-FUCKING-LOUTLY fantastic!!!

[reader1001]

RENT is such a powerful, amazingg musical. Here's to the RENTheads! =) Nothing beats the original cast.

[dancer50411]

@reader1001 meant to hit the thumbs up sorry

[TheBelda1]

I don't like it...at all...I mean ...I like how the actor who plays roger , plays his part he is good but I dont like this Mimi...she is some kind of aggresive....I think rosario was much better!she was much more feminine and real

[marilynnadine]

the most awkward flirting scene in history and it's amazing.

And I like both Daphne and Rosario's portrayal of Mimi. Granted, neither of them really look 19 but oh well.

[godluven44]

Rene was great 2!! Broadway is almost always good with their casts.

[LizSmiles1]

@godluven44 I know Renee is my favorite Mimi

[queenkaryl]

The chemistry is undeniable!!!

[nellabeth24]

When you watch Daphne you can tell what an amazing Mimi she is! There's some aura about her, especially in this video, that makes her a perfect Mimi. I don't know how I can describe what her voice sounds like here...sweet maybe? Plus, she sounds even better live than on the recording. Most of the people who hate Daphne have probably never seen her live and just judge her based on the perfect editing of the movie.

I have such a soft spot for these two as Roger and Mimi! ;)

[kibakiss123]

this just goes to show that the originals are the best :)

[siry90]

she has a particular voice but i like it!

[WaffleTelevision]

The cast recording makes her sound way too nasal.

[wgarrison92]

I like them both. They both bring a different voice to the character of Mimi. Daphne looked too old to play a 19-year old (in my opinion, so does Rosario) and she was pregnant when they were filming, which is why she wasn't cast.

[CostaIsSexy]

Adam pascal is simply gorgeous and his voice is too!! YAY! I'm seeing him and the rest of the cast tonight preforming RENT!! Sooo estatic

[xJordanxox]

was the performance good?

[horselover1086]

I heart Adam Pascal :))

[littlelarson20]

Ok well i personally like Rosario more because that was who i saw singing this first so im more adjusted to her voice, but i mean if Daphne was on Broadway the person who cast her must've thought she was a good singer right?

[amazeedayzee]

At first, I liked Rosario a lot better 'cause to me she sounded to me more "normal". But now I see that Daphne just IS Mimi ^^

[ConverseAreAmazing]

@amazeedayzee same here. after watching daphane, it's clear

[namaste14]

daphne, the best, the only mimi for ever!!!

[babybob300]

i like rosario MUCH better

[bunnster16]

OMG I LOVE THIS!!! Wish I could have seen this... too bad I was like 6!! I'm in love with Adam and Rent now!! TOTAL RENTHEAD!!

[itsabitironic963]

i wish i couldve seen this opened... Adam Pascal and Daphne Ruben-Vega will ALWAYS be the best Roger and Mimi!!

[singergirl08]

i was one when this opened....i wish i could have seen it :(

[Kignak25]

She delivered "It's a living." perfectly. Lol

[idinasfavefanzel]

Favorite comment EVER posted on one of my videos!

[PuNcHxBuGgYx3]

@idinasfavefanzel aw sad but true =/

[Iluvutubers]

watch: Rosario Dawson - Casting RENT The Movie

she can sing!!!!!!

[BroadwayKidNamedJosh]

That is exactly where I noticed she couldn't sing lol.

[torisbelle]

she can sing, but not very well. in fact, her regular voice suits mimi more then the digital on in the movie.

[freelancetada]

That's your opinion of her singing. If you think Daphne's a good singer and Rosario a bad singer, you need your hearing checked.

[shangrilasfan2006]

@BroadwayKidNamedJosh exactly. I like Rosario as an actress but if she did it on broadway like Tracie Thoms(who ROCKED that house with EDEN), she'd be my fav but my fav is Renee.

[GiselleKan]

@BroadwayKidNamedJosh of course rosario know she is not a singer, but I disagree with you completely. She can sing, she actually has a nice voice (I also heard the audition clip). She did a very good acting job there, I really liked her as Mimi, it was so real and natural.

[JoJoluvseggo]

@BroadwayKidNamedJosh SHe can sing have you seen her audition clip

! she is awesome you must be def

[JoJoluvseggo]

@BroadwayKidNamedJosh  PLUS this mimi sounds like a stupid BABY

[BroadwayKidNamedJosh]

@JoJoluvseggo I never said I liked this mimi, my favorite is lexi Lawson and whoever the girl is who closed it on Bway. I don't like Rosario as a singer, get over it. I'm not getting into a stupid youtube debate over Rosario Dawson especially over a comment I posted almost a year ago.

[kajatheecho]

@BroadwayKidNamedJosh YESS. Thank you.

[chaceecraw]

I like Rosario and Daphne and I also like Renée (the girl who played Mimi in the last shows). They are great Mimis, all of them. I think Daphne and Renee are the best ones, but Orsario is really good. I didn't know she could sing till I saw the movie. The three of them are great Mimis. But, of course, Daphne was the very first Mimi so that kinda giver her back the edge.

[thoamsxxman]

Daphne sounds really...sweet.

[eriberri425]

OMG rosario is so much better! Daphne is a horrible singer

[carolinep201]

No way she isn't! Ros has a good voice, but really How could you say that?? Daphne's the original.. Her voice is great for her role. SHE'S great for her role!! She's got a great voice. I mean, I saw Rent the movie first (so I really liked Rosario's portrayal) but then I saw the production on my birthday. I definately like them both, but I mean Daphne had to be best...

[eriberri425]

IDK i guess i'm a little biased cuz i saw the movie with rosario and i love her voice i just think that ros has a stronger voice cuz daphne just sounds breathy and stuff but i haven't seen the actual musical

[MeOhMilo]

Have you listened to Out Tonight? I think that kinda proves Daphne has a stronger/better voice

[eriberri425]

yeah i just like rosario better

[torisbelle]

if rosario was singing live, she would probably sound breathy too. but her voice was recorded in a studio where she got to stand perfectly still, and then her voice was digitally enhanced. hence why her voice sounds basically perfect. i think rosario was a good choice for the movie though because she is a film actor, and she has the subtlety needed for film.

[calliesaiyan]

ok, here's the thing. Daphne started smoking so she doesn't sound as good anymore. the other thing is, though Rosario sounds sweeter, Daphne sounds like a druggie stripper, which is what Mimi is. They're both great, let's leave it at that.

[eriberri425]

i actually can agrree to that rosario is more suited for the movie but i like daphne for like broadway, not to mention i think rosario's voice got restored and everything so like shes still wicked good but like its not her actual live voice so ur right

[kurtisandlara101]

to me, Daphne has a bit of a baby-ish voice, but I like it

best Mimi that will be played in Rent (in my opinion)

[Spaceplatypus]

Because I'm so used to Daphne, I have a hard time listening to any other Mimi

[MeOhMilo]

Me too!

[baileyGirl166]

i think daphne is a great singer. At first i didnt like her but i know the reason why. Because i had just come out of listening to rosario who has a competely different toned voice than daphne so once i stopping thinking that the sound of rosario's voice is the only sound mimi should have i reallly understood why they put daphne in the show. . she rulz. I think pplz who say she can't sing r just envious of the talent she has. Come pplz she has been on broadway what do that tell ya.

Go Daphne

[mrsralbinopumpkinhea]

i can't stop watching this. i really love daphne, i don't care if people think she's a horrible singer. to me she's brilliant.

[MeOhMilo]

WORD!

[GlindaTheGood09]

i love this! its amazing to watch the very first performance and then watch the final performance. thnx so much for posting this!!

[kellymette]

The beautiful, classic light my candle! i love it <3

Thanks for posting :D

[idinasfavefanzel]

No problem, glad you liked it :))