Living ‘La Vie Boheme’

The Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa will engender a “Season of Love” tonight, when a touring production of the rock musical “Rent” — starring some of its original Broadway cast members — debuts for a six-day engagement.

The Daily Pilot spoke to star Adam Pascal, who originated the role of Roger on Broadway and later appeared in the film version of the musical, about the show’s longevity as well as its polarized local reputation.

Daily Pilot: What makes you stick to this role, after so long?

Adam Pascal: We’re forever connected to it and associated with it. It’s an honor to be connected to and part of something like that. The opportunity to sort of go back and revisit the show came back at appropriate times of my life, and it always seemed like the right decision at the right time. It’s just the gift that keeps on giving.

DP: Have attitudes toward the show changed since “Rent” was written?

AP: The response to the show hasn’t changed, interestingly enough, but it’s a testament to the show that it’s able to navigate through different pop culture and cultural changes that sort of go in and out with the mood of the country. So many things affect the mood of the public, and the show has always managed to maintain and gain new audience members through all that. I’m amazed at just how the show keeps finding new fans. That’s just thrilling to me.

A lot of people have come to the show just based on the movie version. I was such a huge fan of musical movies as a kid. I remember what it felt like seeing movies like that. I never got to see those shows live on Broadway. Now these kids are having the same experience, but they can come see the touring company.

DP: What have you learned personally from Roger and the other characters?

AP: It’s sort of hard to verbalize it. I think I’ve grown much more as a person from having children. (laughs) It’s a beautiful message, and you can’t help but be affected by it in some way. A lot of people call it “life-affirming,” and that’s amazing to me, to hear those adjectives thrown around with something I’m involved in.

DP: Have you heard about what happened here at Corona del Mar High School when they tried to stage “Rent?”

AP: It’s amazing. All these years after it came out, the scenes in the show seem so tame to me. What are people getting so upset about? Turn on the television and you will see much more violence, bad language or adult themes, even pertaining to homosexuality or whatever it is that people have an issue with in this show.

DP: Does “Rent” get a different reception from audiences in places like Orange County, as opposed to somewhere like Los Angeles?

AP: It generally doesn’t, because the people who are coming are our fans, or want to become fans. It’s a very receptive, warm audience. We’re lucky that we’ve gotten that wherever we’ve gone, including Japan and Korea. It’s amazing, to me, to see how this show sort of crosses those barriers.

DP: Did you expect so much controversy when you all brought “Rent” to Broadway? What’s it like to be part of such a polarizing show?

AP: Quite frankly, I enjoy being part of something controversial in that way. But again I’ll say, “What’s so controversial?” Back then, there were more pressing issues to worry about, like AIDS. And that sort of forces a dialogue, which I imagine is a good thing. If it forces people to talk, then that’s great.

DP: What was the message that Jonathan Larson was trying to send?

AP: It’s hard to say, because I never heard him talk about what the message of the show is. I can only go by the message the audience takes away from the show, and that’s love, and friendship, and support in the face of crisis, and just all these themes that really seem to affect people.

DP: What are your future plans?

AP: In all honesty, I don’t know what they are. I’m producing a musical for myself. It certainly won’t be my next job; these things take time. I’ve got three records out, and I feel somewhat accomplished with that. I grew up wanting to make records and make music, and I feel like I’ve done that.

It’s not the same type of business that I grew up in. You can’t even make a living selling records anymore. Whatever I do in the future, I’ll never actually physically produce a CD. People don’t buy them, which is a weird thing to think about; everything’s digital. But that’s kind of the way the world is going.

DP: Do you have any regrets about becoming the indelible face and voice of Roger to the world first, instead of developing your rock career?

AP: I think about what my life could have become had I achieved in that way, and I’m glad that it’s not like that. Especially now, given the music industry, I’m glad that my path didn’t go down the path of music. If selling records and being a rock band was my main source of income, I’d be in trouble now. All these years later, I’m so excited that I get to do [rock music] without that added pressure. The smaller-scale level that I do it on is much more rewarding. It’s just so much more fun than it ever was when I was growing up.

DP: What should people who have only heard the rumors know about the show ?

AP: I think they should know that it’s a show that for the most part is a great show that you can take the whole family to. I wouldn’t take a 6-year-old necessarily, because they would lose interest. But it really is a great family show. It deals with mature themes, but nothing that’s inappropriate.

If You Go

What: “Rent: the Broadway Tour

When: Tonight to Sunday

Where: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

Cost: $20 to $70; $20 seats in the first two rows of the orchestra go on sale two hours before each show at the box office.

Information: ocpac.org