Fox’s “Rent: Live” was slightly less than “live” Sunday night after actor Brennin Hunt, who played the role of struggling musician Roger, broke his foot at the end of Saturday night’s dress rehearsal. The production of the Pulitzer Award-winning musical was meant to be performed in front of an audience while being televised live; however, due to Hunt’s injury, the majority of the show consisted of footage from the prior evening’s rehearsal.

Fortunately, a full audience was present for the dress rehearsal recording, which featured in-the-round staging reminiscent of that of fellow sung-through musical “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.”

Nevertheless, the previously-recorded nature of the production did not take away from the musical’s timeless power and resonance.

The show opened with a quote by Jonathan Larson, the writer of “Rent,” who tragically died at the age of 35 in 1996, the night before the musical’s first performance off-Broadway. Jordan Fisher, who played aspiring filmmaker Mark Cohen, started the show off strong, continuing to give an earnest and animated performance with standout vocals throughout the duration of the production.

The set design appeared to be in many ways similar to that of the original production, consisting of New York City scaffolding structures, while still feeling fresh and dynamic, a visual experience heightened by the intimate cinematography and detailed lighting design.

Directed by original director Michael Greif, also known for “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Next to Normal,” the show included powerful imagery of audience members holding lights as the cast performed one of the most simple yet emotional songs of the show, “Will I?”

Though her vocals lacked strength at times throughout the first act, singer and fall 2018 WILD performer Tinashe delivered a solid performance as exotic dancer Mimi, eventually moving audiences with the tragic ballad, “Without You.” Co-star Hunt’s vocals remained strong throughout the show, though his performance often lacked the angst and tension that characterizes the role of Roger.

RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Valentina gave an energetic performance as Angel, though her vocals proved weak, especially in comparison to that of her romantic partner Tom Collins, played by Brandon Victor Dixon, who earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.” Dixon provided one of the most compelling scenes in the production with his vulnerable performance of “I’ll Cover You (Reprise).”

“High School Musical” and Fox’s “Grease: Live” alum Vanessa Hudgens made her first appearance midway through the show with an exciting and refreshing rendition of “Over the Moon.” Hudgens, who had previously played the role of Mimi in the 2010 Hollywood Bowl production of “Rent,” remained strong throughout the show with a vibrant portrayal of performance artist Maureen, complete with an energizing delivery of “Take Me or Leave Me,” along with Kiersey Clemons, who gave an engaging and nuanced performance as Joanne.

Though the lack of live broadcasting did not greatly affect the overall quality of the production, the choice to use previously recorded footage rather than replacing Hunt with an understudy for Sunday’s performance may have prevented actors from give the performances they meant to give. It’s possible that they held back at certain points during the dress rehearsal in order to preserve energy and vocal power for the next evening’s show.

However, each actor, including the stellar ensemble cast, which starred “The Greatest Showman” actor Keala Settle, seemed to give full force and passionate performances. Just as Larson iconically wrote the line, “No day but today,” the cast clearly treated their dress rehearsal performances as if they could have been their last.

Larson continued to remain present throughout the show, which closed with a beautiful tribute to the late playwright, followed by a performance of the musical’s most famous song, “Seasons of Love,” complete with its original cast. This segment was one of the few moments filmed live Sunday night.

Audience members who filled the performance space Sunday night tweeted footage they took on their phones of cast members, including an injured Hunt in a wheelchair, performing a modified version of the show while the pre-recorded version was being broadcasted on television. The question remains whether footage of this performance will be released in any format in the future.

Though the production was riddled with complications, including the obvious consequences of Hunt’s injury as well as the often-overpowering screams and cheers of audience members, “Rent: Live” did an excellent job of staying true to its source material while still proving itself relevant today, as the production reminds viewers that HIV/AIDS continues to take the lives of countless individuals around the world.

Sunday night’s performance was a powerful way to spread Larson’s message of love and friendship to both old and new audiences, who were once again told to measure their lives in love.