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Dear Jonathan,

If it were possible, I would hand-deliver this letter in the hope that I could shake your hand. If it were possible, I would sit with you and ask you about your life, your inspiration, and the lives of Steve, Ali, Pam; all those you dedicated your beautiful musical to. There are so many things I want to ask you about your life and who you are, but since mine are questions many of us have, and none of them will be answered, I will simply tell you all that I want to say in gratitude for your pitch-perfect musical.

When I first heard the music of Rent I was twelve years old. My older sister had promised me that it wasn't like the other musicals I'd heard, and that I would like it. What she didn't tell me was that the people I would meet while i listened to your music would teach me more about myself than I thought possible over the course of a 2-CD soundtrack.

Mark became my favorite character instantly. Geeky, Blonde, slightly bitter and extremely sarcastic, he made me think of myself in a lot of ways. As the play progressed, he taught me that when you're surrounded by sorrow you have to retain your presence of mind and be there for your family, whether they are blood relatives or chosen ones. He taught me the importance of being alive in a dead world, and when he sarcastically sang "Leave your conscience at the tone," I decided that it would be wrong for any real human being to sacrifice who they are and what they believe in favor of society.

Rent made me understand how vital it was for me to stop hiding who I am. I heard the line "There's only now, there's only here / give in to love or live in fear," and thought about how being gay made me feel, and if I really wanted to hide any longer. I thought about how lucky I am to have parents that love me, both of them open-minded and actively supportive of equality. I knew they would be proud of me for being who I am, and so with Rent tunes in my head and a prayer in my heart, I came out to my dad. He says he's never been more proud of me, and he also sends you his thanks for inspiring me with your music.

Today, on your birthday, I hope you can look down from Heaven and see that your life's work has touched thousands upon thousands of people. I hope you've been able to enjoy the success that found you after you left us. Above all I hope that someday, when Rent has been closed for many, many years and I have died, that I can find you -- wherever great people like you are sent -- and shake your hand.

Warmest Thanks.

-- Oran King

(The WORST letter I could ever give!!)

Dear Johnathan Larson-

What can I say, but thanks for Rent. My friend got me into the RENThead craze. I was eleven and my friend showed me the movie. At first, I didn't get it. I never cried at the emotional scenes, (Now, if I never cried, I probably would force my eyes to cry.) or, even understood the whole meaning of the play!! It was kinda sad, now that I think about it, I am really happy a guy like you would come into this world and bring RENT into my life!! The character I relate to most is Mark. Now, I'm somewhat a Collins too, lets just say, Marllins. I am a Mark, because I'm quite, not that much of a people person if I went to a party with people I had no idea who they were. A Collins because, when I finally understood Rent, I watched I'll Cover You Reprise. I then understood the passion Collins had for Angel. He loved her with a passion. And, That's why I am a RENThead, that's why I go onto Wikipedia everyday or IMDb and look at something new on Rent. What can I say?? If there was no La Boheme, there would be no Rent. There would be no Mark, or Maureen or Collins, or Angel or Roger, or Mimi or Joanne or Benny, there would be an empty hole in my heart. I thank you, and bid you good day.

Courtney V.