Adam Pascal of 'Rent' sings at Tilles

When "Rent" hit Broadway in the spring of 1996, the show didn't just open, it exploded like a firecracker. The emotional musical, based on Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Bohème," shocked the theater crowd by taking on controversial subjects like homosexuality, extreme poverty and AIDS. It also promoted artistic freedom, friendship over family and love in any form.

Adding more drama to its legend, "Rent" creator Jonathan Larson died at age 35 the day of its Off-Broadway premiere in January 1996.

"We knew we were doing something incredibly special that people were moved by," says Adam Pascal, the show's original Roger Davis, who'll perform songs from "Rent" and other Broadway shows when he plays Tilles Center Friday. "I think it inspired a lot of people to pursue their dreams."

Fans of the show were more like groupies catching multiple performances and hanging out at the stage door to connect with the actors.

"Every time there was a death in my family or I was going through a breakup, I would go to see 'Rent' to feel better," says Rori Nogee, 29, of East Meadow, who has seen the show more than 80 times. "It was a way of healing for me."

CHARACTER ADDICTION

The story focuses on a group of 20-something friends in Greenwich Village and how they love, fight and protect each other while chasing their artistic dreams and coping with drugs, disease and death.

"There's something about the show where people get sucked into this world that they want to be part of," says Pascal, 42. "They wish they could be friends with this group of people."

"I was living in each one of the characters like that was my life and my friends," admits Nogee. "I grew up in an affluent Long Island community; therefore, the East Village bohemian life was intriguing to me."

A lottery was held every morning for $20 rush seats in the front row that "Rent" fanatics would clamor for.

"We were called Rentheads," says John Martin, 27, of Wantagh, who stopped counting after seeing the show 125 times. "It was a score day when you got a matinee and an evening ticket."

MUSICAL'S MESSAGES

The show has several messages, including hope in the face of adversity. The anthem "No Day but Today" expresses why life should not be taken for granted. Larson's death underlined that statement.

"Tell those who you love that you love them," says Martin. "When you take a breath, appreciate that breath because you don't know what is going to happen."

Another hard-driven message is one of love, whether it's between a man and a woman, two men or two women. " 'Rent' teaches you to accept people for who they are," says Courtney Pincus, 23, of Oceanside, who's seen the show more than 50 times, portrayed Mimi at SUNY New Paltz and even had "No Day but Today" tattooed on her right foot. "Love is what matters the most in the end."

Rentheads would also gather at the now-closed Life Café in Greenwich Village, which was the inspiration for the restaurant where the showstopper "La Vie Bohème" takes place.

"It was amazing sitting in the booth where Jonathan Larson used to sit," says Joe Marmer, 32, of Commack, who's seen "Rent" more than 100 times. "Everybody who visited used to sign these thick books playing tribute to 'Rent' and how it touched their lives."

CURTAIN CALL

When "Rent" closed on Sept. 7, 2008, the end of its nearly 13-year run was heavily mourned.

"There's been nothing to replace it," says Nogee, who commemorated the show closing by getting a "One Song Glory" tattoo on her lower back to match the "No Day but Today" tattoo on her stomach. "It wasn't just a show for me. It was a big part of my life."

Pascal is still blown away by the show's powerful legacy. "It was an incredible time for all of us," says Pascal. " 'Rent' opened me up to a whole new world of people. It was a life-changing experience."