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Jonathan Larson
Jonathan Larson wrote the book, music, and the lyrics for the musical RENT. He was a constant presence in all of the cast's lives. That is, until he died of an aeortic aneurysm the night before RENT's first media preview. Larson said that RENT was about his friends, real people, not characters, and only his beautiful writing and the talented cast members were able to make that seem a reality. Nowhere else on the stage does one see such a realistic and powerful portrayal of the human spirit and the lust for life than in Jonathan's RENT. His condition was treatable, and easily cured, and there is no reason Jonathan shouldn't be here with us even now, to share in the love the nation has for his work, and to realize his dream, except for a few incompetant doctors who sent him home with heartburn. Jonathan, if vengeance was your thing, which I doubt, the love the world has adopted for you, your work, and your life is quite enough. You've shown them all anything you ever needed to show. This show, this beautiful celebration of humanity, is the crowning achievement of your life, and you will always be remembered. You will never die. Thank you, Jonathan. You will always be loved.
Anthony Rapp: His death was a galvanizing force and a moment of truth. It seems like he knew whereof he spoke when he wrote "No Day But Today." We were left with what he's created, and we have only now to do it, because we're not going to get a chance to work with him again, we're not going to get a chance to hear his music again, we're not going to get a chance to know what else he might have created. We have this to do for as long as we can now, and we have to do it as best we can.
Michael Greif: Jonathan was so clear about what he wanted: he would want his work to be heard. The best way to be with him and honor his memory was to be with his music and lyrics. I was concerned that Jonathan's truest gift would get lost in costume changes and messed-up lighting and other changes we hadn't time to perfect. I don't think that really happened.
