I highly recommend seeing "Rent." The music is fantastic, and the show is incredibly moving. I have seen it more times than I usually admit (I've seen it over 40 times, but that's partly because some friends of mine have been in it).
If you are going to see it in New York, they have a lottery for the first two rows of the theatre before each show. For an 8:00pm show, you have to get there between 5:30 and 6:00 and put your name in. They pick names at 6:00, and you can buy up to two tickets for $20 a piece. For 2:00pm shows, you have to get there between 11:30 and 12:00, and they pick names at 12:00. For 7:00 shows, I believe they pick the names at 5:30, but I'm not positive on that. If you win, it's the best and cheapest way to see the show.
Karen