Milestone ‘Rent’ tour back in Bay Area
“Rent”: It’s been 20plus years since Jonathan Larson adapted “La Boheme” as a rock musical that followed a ramshackle group of young, artsy and poor New Yorkers dealing with drugs, disease, homelessness and love. Larson died suddenly before the play ever opened and one can only imagine how he’d feel seeing his play acknowledged as a game-changer and celebrating its two-decade milestone with a national tour that comes to Broadway San Jose beginning Tuesday.
DETAILS >> Eight shows through Jan. 28; San Jose Center for the Performing Arts; $48-$153; broadwaysanjose.com.
Kenny Washington: Jazz fans and fellow musicians around the country are in love with this Bay Area singer’s outsized talent and commitment to his craft. He can tackle soul and R&B and jazz standards and scat like nobody’s business. On Sunday, you have a chance to catch the New Orleans native in an intimate and lovely setting as he opens the new Jazz at the Chimes season at Oakland’s Chapel of the Chimes.
DETAILS >> 2 p.m.; $15; www.jazzatthechimes.com, www.brownpapertickets.com.
Kenny Broberg: It’s fair to say the 23-year-old pianist has a bright future. Last year, he snagged the silver medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, winning raves for his creative and nuanced performances there. With a new album just released, Broberg heads to San Jose this weekend as a late replacement for Michel Dalberto in a Steinway Society recital. The program includes works by Franck, Bach, Liszt and Debussy.
DETAILS >> 2 p.m. Sunday, Trianon Theatre, San Jose; $40-$60; www.steinwaysociety.com.
“Megabytes the Musical”: This new comedic song and dance revue devoted to the ways technology has enriched and screwed up our lives was created by Morris Bobrow. He’s the guy behind such hits as “Foodies the Musical” and “Shopping the Musical,” which, depending on your tastes in musical comedy, should have you eager to snap up tickets to “Megabytes” or run screaming from the room. If you’re among the first group, know that the