Rent is celebrated as one of the longest-running musicals ever to hit Broadway, and it even inspired a 2005 film adaptation. While its time on the storied street is over, the production is now on tour for its 20th anniversary. You can catch it here in the Magic City when it comes to the BJCC this month!
Showtime and Venue
Rent’s tour will stop at the BJCC on Monday, February 17. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Seating currently starts at $70, and tickets are available on Ticketmaster. You’ll find the BJCC at 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.
‘Rent’ on Tour
The story is set in Alphabet City in 1990s Manhattan, centered on a group of embattled young artists. The star characters each face their own personal dilemmas, from writer’s block to lost love and illness, all while trying to make their way without selling out their convictions. For the 20th anniversary tour, the sound production has been completely overhauled. A live band supports the cast through each song, bringing an electric energy that the actors can harness for each performance. The musical’s pop-rock spirit wouldn’t be the same without the accompaniment, and the cast has referred to the band as a character in their own right.
The Songs Still Ring True
Fans still find the musical’s characters and themes remarkably relatable, even 20 years after its Broadway debut. In “What You Own,” artists Mark and Roger lament the toll modern living takes on creativity and making a real “connection in an isolating age.” Even before the proliferation of today’s digital distractions, daily demands pile up to make walls between friends and loved ones.
The musical’s deeply emotional lyrics and delivery have stood the test of time, and the instantly recognizable “Seasons of Love” is still a fan favorite. With its famous chorus, “five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes,” the song has been used outside of Rent as a rallying cry for compassion and understanding. Playwright Jonathan Larson passed before Rent ever premiered, but it’s impossible not to hear his soul poured out in “One Song Glory,” where the singer hopes to write a single great song before he’s gone.
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Brannon Honda
Before you drive out to Uptown, we would love for you to come see us at Brannon Honda. If 2020 is the year you get behind the wheel of a new car, we can help you find it within our dynamic collection of new Hondas.
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