Read and discuss the books that inspired Broadway musicals, enriching understanding and enjoyment of both!
People in Trouble, written by novelist and playwright Sarah Schulman and first published in 1990, explores how artist Kate tries to balance her relationship to her husband Peter and an affair with younger lesbian Molly, set among the devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic in late 1980s Manhattan. The trio's political and romantic entanglements are challenged and invigorated as they learn more about themselves and the changing city they live in. Sarah Schulman alleges in her 1998 book Stagestruck that Rent used character and plot from People in Trouble for much of the musical Rent without credit or attribution, and explores other works being adapted without credit from LGBTQ artists in ways that shift away from their original themes.
Rent premiered on Broadway in April of 1996. The musical was written and composed by Jonathan Larson, who passed away the night before the its off-Broadway debut a few months earlier. Much of the plot of Rent is adapted from the opera La Boheme, with its non-La Boheme pieces alleged to be adapted from People in Trouble. It follows the lives of friends living in the East village of Manhattan over the course of a year in the late 1980s as they struggle with the effects of HIV, gentrification, on their friend group and romances. It was renowned for its rock-infused musical score, representation of LGBT people and people living with HIV/AIDS. It won the 1996 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The original Broadway Production ran for 12 years and 5,123 performances, currently the 11th longest running Broadway show of all time.
We typically meet the fourth Thursday of the month at the Northeast Neighborhood Library at 6:30pm in the Mezzanine Conference Room. This month, we will meet May 23, 2024. Please click "Register" or email Jeff at jeffrey.gluckman@dc.gov if you are planning to attend!
People in Trouble is only available digitally at DCPL, but please ask Jeff for access to a physical copy! Holds for the digital edition on Overdrive and Libby can be made here!
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