Rent

I saw Rent today and really liked it. (Full disclosure: I've never seen the stage version.) I understand that the movie features the original Broadway cast, but does anyone know if there were any exceptions to that -- if any of the original Broadway cast members were not in the movie, and if not, why? I'm just curious. Either way, they all impressed the hell outta me. And some of the songs were just gorgeous. My friend Susie has started cancer treatments