I'm pretty sure that she is the only Mimi in the history of the show that could actually pull off the, "I'm 19 but I'm old for my age" line. She looks 19.
I'm pretty sure it's cause on the other performances she tried to take it but it looked really awkward if you look closely in other videos. Either that, or she forgot that night, but on every other show she took it, or at least she tried.
David Thaler well it's what bothers me the most as it takes away the whole purpose of the scene/interaction and it fails to portray some traits of mimi's character.
She's honestly not THAT bad. You've got to remember that she initially was trained for pop music; Broadway is something different altogether. She just needs a bit more work. And of course, paired w Aaron, she's not gonna look as good. I don't think she was bad. She just needed more training. If she had done this role today, she'd be fantastic.
+Bobbi W It's like how Joe Jonas played Marius at the O2 in England for Les Miserables. He wasn't bad in all reality. He looked more nervous than anything,
Finding this in 2019. Just wanna mention how incredible Aaron is in this. He stays in key even though Vanessa is having a hard time, which is very difficult!
Honestly the problem was never about her singing, she can clearly sing. But musicals are just a different animal. Its acting and singing altogether; theres a certain way you hold your voice and range to breathe life into the character you're in. Vanessa is the cute girl next door by nature whereas Mimi is a seasoned ballsy sexual goddess. She tried tho. Everybodys gotta start somewhere.
Same here. I don't mind Aaron, but Vanessa just murdered this song, and not in the good way. I too need Renee and Will to cleanse this god awfulness out of my head.
soli gonzalez thank god i thought i was the only one who noticed that. at least i know i'm not the only one who has seen it so many times that i notice little stuff like that lol!
And the irony is that Vanessa did a much better job than 99% of the people commenting on here criticizing her would've. As for her not taking the stash/touching his butt, well, that's probably not on her. Neil Patrick Harris directed this so how about calling him out on his choice?
But in her performances on other nights, she does take the stash. So it's more likely in the heat of the moment she forgot, I'm not hating on her, but I do believe it was her mistake. That being said, everyone makes mistakes, and the fact she tried at this role is something I can admire, even if I didn't necessarily think it was the best I've seen.
The difference between the vocal skill of these two people is just incredible. This is what you get when you put a Hollywood "actress" on Broadway, even just for a specialty production. Aaron deserved better than this, what a shame.
This wasn't very good. Vanessa Hudgens should never ever play Mimi. Her movements where awkward and her voice wasn't the best. Aaron was great though. Though I still like the film Roger. Anyway. Glad I could watch this and compare it to other better versions.
Yeah, um Vaness Hudgens!?! This wasn't the right role for her if this was supposed to be taken seriously by the audience. And, yeah, she forgot to take the stash and was flat. Aaron, on the other hand, was good as always. However, it's interesting to see him as rocker boy Roger- he's so preppy in real life! I like this look on him! Don't get me wrong, he's beautiful either way...
Here she was fresh out of High School Musical. So of course she wasn’t the best. Now she has about 8 extra years of training I’m looking forward to see her as Maureen
I don't get why everyone is hating her. She is occasionally flat, but mimi is supposed to be an inexperienced, childish character. I think it kinda fits
I don't know, I really like this interpretation of "Light my candle". I mean, one of the interesting yet sad parts about Rent is the fact that Mimi is very young, she's barely nineteen, yet her life is really a mess! In my opinion, Vanessa does very well portraying that youthful, slightly naive yet tortured and experienced spirit of Mimi. So I really like her portrayal of Light My Candle, although I admit Rosario's interpretation of songs such as Goodbye Love or Out Tonight are more of my taste.
This is basicly Disney Channel Presents "Rent". She can't even cut it as Mimi, how is she going to cut it as Maureen in Fox's version of "Rent" next year?
LAB-Lil' Angry B!tch have u seen Grease Live? I gotta admit Vanessa was terrible as Mimi, but she OWNED Grease:Live. She greatly improved, even more so when you realize she had just heard that her father died mere hours before the show started. At moments she even outshined Julianne Hough who played Sandy there. I have high hopes for her as Maureen.
You know I watched this to see if I was right in thinking Vanessa wasn't as bad as people were saying and I stand by that. She's not great but she doesn't ruin it; there's glimmers of good in there, but bits suffer from a case of Disney voice...
Aaron played and sang the part of Roger so well. His vocal range is amazing. I love how his voice can do so much. He can do operatic pieces such as Les Mis. Rent and Next to Normal had a Rock element to them. CMIYC was 60's and almost like jazz. Long story short Aaron Tveit is perfect. Vanessa Hudgens is... I'll stay out of it seeing as though I only have 140 characters remaining to discuss every flawher voice has.
I only noticed Aaron Tveit at first XD I don't even see the words Vanessa Hudgens until halfway through the video when I was like "hey that girl sounds like Vanessa"
I miss Idina and Adam. Perfect together in Chess In Concert, and in this. I love aaron as an actor (see him in wicked with Kerry Ellis or in Les Miserables), but the chemistry was just off
Who knew she would be playing Maureen in Rent 2019 she is so so much better now then when she played Mimi back then i think its because she's more confident and knows the story i love her so much
The broadway set is also small but the stage is quite bare, not counting the structure at the back. This stage has has too many props on it & during light my candle on broadway there was a table with some stuff on it, a few chairs fold out & a steel bin on stage. But yeah they can't move stuff some around because it's an open curtain show.
Am I the only one who really liked both Aaron and Vanessa in this version? I liked the different spin Vanessa put on Mimi and thought it really worked.
She truly isn't bad at singing. We just have to remember that she isn't the original Mimi. She can't sing perfect, no one can. Considering her circumstances, she did extremely well. Of course there were some pitchy parts. But, she played the part very well. And sang it well also. Let's enjoy it, criticism later.
OMFG......I couldn't stand to watch this for more than 15 seconds......so foul was the stench of her performance that it came through my screen and stank up my living room. I hope Tveit got combat pay for this.
![AARON TVEIT I´m Alive - NXT TO NORMAL [PRE-BDWY]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/sKMfYmzgJck/mqdefault.jpg)
looks like Rizzo and Danny have a history
they certainly did :3
+trash-chan mhmm
It would seem they do
steph garcia Ironically they actually do 😂
steph garcia why did I laugh
I'm pretty sure that she is the only Mimi in the history of the show that could actually pull off the, "I'm 19 but I'm old for my age" line. She looks 19.
Definitely. Tinashe is a close second though, then Rosario.
The fact that she didn´t take the stash bothers me so much
I know that bothers me!
I just noticed that( because before I could not watch the whole thing ) and it bugs the crap out of me.!
I'm pretty sure it's cause on the other performances she tried to take it but it looked really awkward if you look closely in other videos. Either that, or she forgot that night, but on every other show she took it, or at least she tried.
THAT'S all that bothered you? There are so many things wrong with her performance that I can't even begin to separate them!!!!!
David Thaler well it's what bothers me the most as it takes away the whole purpose of the scene/interaction and it fails to portray some traits of mimi's character.
"duh yew go to tha caht scretch clahb"
"YAES."
im laughing so fucking hard oh my god
IM CRYING
ha true
I CANT BREATHE HELP😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Here after rent live and she is 10x better as Maureen
She's honestly not THAT bad. You've got to remember that she initially was trained for pop music; Broadway is something different altogether. She just needs a bit more work. And of course, paired w Aaron, she's not gonna look as good.
I don't think she was bad. She just needed more training. If she had done this role today, she'd be fantastic.
I completely agree, she already made so much progress as Gigi- she just needed some more experience
+Bobbi W It's like how Joe Jonas played Marius at the O2 in England for Les Miserables. He wasn't bad in all reality. He looked more nervous than anything,
+Bobbi W she's gotten so much better with live stuff, did u watch grease live?
Side note: Wasn't that Nick Jonas? xD
Anne van Bruggen Side note: Didn't Nick Jonus suck?
I think she confuses portraying a heroine addict with an alcohol addict.
His little dance at "I once was born to be bad" is the best thing in this whole video. Absolutely adorable.
I would kill to see Vanessa Hudgens perform Mimi now 😭
She played a great Maureen in Fox version of Rent in 2019.
Finding this in 2019. Just wanna mention how incredible Aaron is in this. He stays in key even though Vanessa is having a hard time, which is very difficult!
Honestly the problem was never about her singing, she can clearly sing. But musicals are just a different animal. Its acting and singing altogether; theres a certain way you hold your voice and range to breathe life into the character you're in. Vanessa is the cute girl next door by nature whereas Mimi is a seasoned ballsy sexual goddess.
She tried tho. Everybodys gotta start somewhere.
Vanessa has come a long way since this... Honestly she sounds horrible in this, but tbh she did an amazing job as Rizzo :)
Totally agree
Danni Alcantara
agreed
She did awesome as Maureen!
Audrey Penington well I think she did awesome to be honest it just wasn’t as good as the original
She sounded like shit so she was shit. Its a musical you cant sing bad and still be good in it. Bitch has no body too so its weird they picked her.
Vanessa Hudgens in Rent is about the equivalent to Nick Jonas in the 25th Anniversary Les Miserables...I don't know who was worse.....
She was
+HannahMarie954 both were pretty bad
y'all fucking stuipd
definitely Vanessa....
Except Nick got his start on Broadway! There wouldnt be a JoBro band without Nick being on Bway!
I think part of why it's not great is the instrumental is a little too slow. Just by a tiny bit, but it makes a difference. It's awkwardly slow.
Completely agree with you!
Totally agree.
I need to go watch Renee and Will now to cleanse my ears
hahahahha same the Renee and Will version is my fave
I agree yes
Same, I clicked on this thinking it was going to be decent, but I was unfortunately wrong..... I need Renee & Will.
Same here. I don't mind Aaron, but Vanessa just murdered this song, and not in the good way. I too need Renee and Will to cleanse this god awfulness out of my head.
Same, but Adam and Daphne.
Vanessa's voice doesn't at all compare to Renee Elise Goldsberry or even Rosario Dawson.
tinashe is great too
Yeah I saw her in GiGi, I don’t really understand the hype
@bicth !!!!!!!! You can say that again
@bicth !!!!!!!! FACTS
aaron had to carry this entire performance
Am In the only one who noticed she forgot to slip the stash out of his pocket in the end before she walked off? lol!
oh my gosh no I noticed also lol
soli gonzalez thank god i thought i was the only one who noticed that. at least i know i'm not the only one who has seen it so many times that i notice little stuff like that lol!
haha right I love rent
OH. MY GOD
i literally just saw your tweet and came to watch this again
^ I did the same thing
I love that you commented on this!
Why? Just... Why?
This sounds like a high school musical (pun intended) And Not in a good way.
Legend has it that Aaron still has physical therapy on his back from carrying this performance.
She sounds a bit like Miranda Sings at the start I'm dying!😂😂
Omfg ur right hahaha I just rewatched it and I'm dying
TheatreKidKate ahahhaha
And the irony is that Vanessa did a much better job than 99% of the people commenting on here criticizing her would've.
As for her not taking the stash/touching his butt, well, that's probably not on her. Neil Patrick Harris directed this so how about calling him out on his choice?
But in her performances on other nights, she does take the stash. So it's more likely in the heat of the moment she forgot, I'm not hating on her, but I do believe it was her mistake. That being said, everyone makes mistakes, and the fact she tried at this role is something I can admire, even if I didn't necessarily think it was the best I've seen.
....."Do you wanna dance?"
(doesn't dance or steal drugs back)
I love how they spend the whole musical complaining about how they're freezing and roger is just wearing a sleeveless t-shirt
The difference between the vocal skill of these two people is just incredible. This is what you get when you put a Hollywood "actress" on Broadway, even just for a specialty production. Aaron deserved better than this, what a shame.
She didn't even take the coke, that is my only problem with this version
the only? I like Vanessa, and she´s a great singer but she doesn't match with Mimi personality, my opinion.
i though it was heroin. thats why i assume they all have HIV, because of the sharing of needles.
It is heroin.
lmao she just forgot shit like that happens on stage all the time and with the best actors too
This wasn't very good. Vanessa Hudgens should never ever play Mimi. Her movements where awkward and her voice wasn't the best. Aaron was great though. Though I still like the film Roger. Anyway. Glad I could watch this and compare it to other better versions.
Angel Eliza love the film version
Angel Eliza Film Roger is the original Roger.
"her movements where awkward and her voice wasn't the best" is very fitting descroption for the original mimi on broadway so
Angel Eliza *mmmMmmmmMmMMMMMM IS THAT SOME HEATHERS I SEE*
- MusicalArtGeek - Yas it is!!!!
WHY DID THEY PUT HER WITH AARON? HE IS WAY TOO TALENTED FOR HER.
Tru
Yeah, um Vaness Hudgens!?! This wasn't the right role for her if this was supposed to be taken seriously by the audience. And, yeah, she forgot to take the stash and was flat. Aaron, on the other hand, was good as always. However, it's interesting to see him as rocker boy Roger- he's so preppy in real life! I like this look on him! Don't get me wrong, he's beautiful either way...
she forgot to take the stash....
AARON IS SO TALENTED
Vanessa completely ruined this.
It took her a minute to warm up, but she did a decent job. People are so rude
Carman Myrick yeah so. She's a professional. You don't see the people on broadway say "oh yeah I wasn't good because I was warming up"
FocusFireMusic Well...
That's my spot. SHE'S IN MY SPOT!
Here she was fresh out of High School Musical. So of course she wasn’t the best. Now she has about 8 extra years of training I’m looking forward to see her as Maureen
oh to be young again. vanessa is great in this
"Oh well, Good night." loooove that part.
Is It Wrong That At 2:32 When Aaron Makes The Handcuff Mimic I Imagined Aaron With Actual Handcuffs!?!
nope. not wrong. not wrong at all.
Amy Soria OK Nice To Know I'm Not Alone On This, LOL
this is my favorite thing ever.
ugh i just love aaron so much.
by far the worst performance of light my candle to ever see the stage. Vanessa absolutely butchered this song.
Maggy Jenkins
Shes Better as Rizzo tbh
Aw I really liked this version!
Gabriella!!!! What happened to college and Troy?!?!!!
She changed it for drugs, dancing and the worst singing ever xD
BWAY FAN drugs? lmaoo you wish
I don't get why everyone is hating her. She is occasionally flat, but mimi is supposed to be an inexperienced, childish character. I think it kinda fits
occasionally?
I don't know, I really like this interpretation of "Light my candle". I mean, one of the interesting yet sad parts about Rent is the fact that Mimi is very young, she's barely nineteen, yet her life is really a mess! In my opinion, Vanessa does very well portraying that youthful, slightly naive yet tortured and experienced spirit of Mimi. So I really like her portrayal of Light My Candle, although I admit Rosario's interpretation of songs such as Goodbye Love or Out Tonight are more of my taste.
I like Vanessa but she doesn't match Mimi's personality!
Nikka Riabov how about Maureen’s
Jesus this is horrendous - bless Aaron for making it through this hahah
aaron wouldnt have been my first choice for roger, but he's good. casting vanessa was a huge mistake. plus, the music is a LOT slower. idk.
2019 and she just played Maureen in RENT live on FOX
The only good part of this to me was when she sang "oh what'd you do to my candle?!" Other than that it's just cringe.
so true!
LOVE Aaron Tveit. :)
This is exactly why I wondered why she keeps getting roles on Broadway? I mean I like her as a movie actress but Broadway?
+Jedtavius Trash Lover And high. lol.
Because she's pretty and she's "famous" kinda? She's improved, I'll give her that. But it's not enough to justify casting her in starring roles.
In show Buisness it's not what you know, or what you do, it's who you know and who you do.
This is basicly Disney Channel Presents "Rent". She can't even cut it as Mimi, how is she going to cut it as Maureen in Fox's version of "Rent" next year?
LAB-Lil' Angry B!tch have u seen Grease Live? I gotta admit Vanessa was terrible as Mimi, but she OWNED Grease:Live. She greatly improved, even more so when you realize she had just heard that her father died mere hours before the show started. At moments she even outshined Julianne Hough who played Sandy there. I have high hopes for her as Maureen.
Vanessa and Aaron too much hotness, I can't deal!
Oh it looks like I need to rewatch this.......
I love Aaron in this, but Vanessa I don't think is right for this role..
i feel like she has potential... she just hasn't gotten enough vocal training and she needs to work on being subtlety sexy.
"I once was born to be bad" I love Aaron's move.
I love Vanessa Hudgens and Aaron Tviet.
Was not expecting this omg
Ok but can we all at least agree Aaron Tveit is incredibly attractive as Roger
I mean he's always attractive but damn
Why is it so slow? It seems like they're doing this at rehearsal speed.
the point of the last section of the song was for her to get her stash, why didnt she get it????
Am I the only one anxious because she didn't grab the "stash"?
You know I watched this to see if I was right in thinking Vanessa wasn't as bad as people were saying and I stand by that. She's not great but she doesn't ruin it; there's glimmers of good in there, but bits suffer from a case of Disney voice...
Aaron played and sang the part of Roger so well. His vocal range is amazing. I love how his voice can do so much. He can do operatic pieces such as Les Mis. Rent and Next to Normal had a Rock element to them. CMIYC was 60's and almost like jazz. Long story short Aaron Tveit is perfect. Vanessa Hudgens is... I'll stay out of it seeing as though I only have 140 characters remaining to discuss every flawher voice has.
I seriously can't tell if she's trying to be bad or not.... But she sounds like Miranda Sings
Seriously?! They paired up Aaron Tveit with Vanessa Hudgens? How unbalanced is that...
I love it
Oh shit! Its Aaron Tveit!
I only noticed Aaron Tveit at first XD I don't even see the words Vanessa Hudgens until halfway through the video when I was like "hey that girl sounds like Vanessa"
this never stops being funny.
Aaron is so talented
I love Aaron!
Not Mimi material... NOT BROADWAY MATERIAL
Vanessa was amazing in The Frozen Ground and Gimme Shelter. She received really good reviews for these movies! She has talent (these films prove it)
she pulled off a phenomenal maureen and that's all that matters
Aaron💚
YAAAS AARON YAAAAS!
Forget her voice (flat), VH conveys so little in this scene. I'm very aware that I'm watching VH in a play instead of Mimi when I watch this.
I miss Idina and Adam. Perfect together in Chess In Concert, and in this.
I love aaron as an actor (see him in wicked with Kerry Ellis or in Les Miserables), but the chemistry was just off
dude idk but when he says "i'm Roger" i DIE
HIM IN THIS OUTFIT>>>>>>>
Love
I don't like her as Mimi tbh
Phans Child same
Looking through the NPH rent comments, pretty much nobody does
Phans Child Nah I don't either, her voice is not very broadway-ish, and... ehh
i like this! yal be trippin there both good!!
Grease LIVE!
Who knew she would be playing Maureen in Rent 2019 she is so so much better now then when she played Mimi back then i think its because she's more confident and knows the story i love her so much
screaming bc i'm just imagining samantha barks in vanessa's place BVEIT FEELS
The broadway set is also small but the stage is quite bare, not counting the structure at the back. This stage has has too many props on it & during light my candle on broadway there was a table with some stuff on it, a few chairs fold out & a steel bin on stage. But yeah they can't move stuff some around because it's an open curtain show.
"you look like you're 16" you got that right, though
I've shipped danny and riz idk why, but anyway there so talented and did do well in grease live
Am I the only one who really liked both Aaron and Vanessa in this version? I liked the different spin Vanessa put on Mimi and thought it really worked.
She's shakey at the beginning, but after 1:20 aprox, she's great.
I liked it ...
VANESSA IS AMAZING ARE YOU KIDDING ME THIS IS GREAT❤️
i'm anxious to see her as maureen, i feel like it will fit her a lot better
She truly isn't bad at singing. We just have to remember that she isn't the original Mimi. She can't sing perfect, no one can. Considering her circumstances, she did extremely well. Of course there were some pitchy parts. But, she played the part very well. And sang it well also. Let's enjoy it, criticism later.
Yes.
OMFG......I couldn't stand to watch this for more than 15 seconds......so foul was the stench of her performance that it came through my screen and stank up my living room. I hope Tveit got combat pay for this.
Why is there a handicap ramp in his apartment?