The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘Rent’s magical anniversary tour comes to city
The Tony and Pulitzer Prizewinning musical “Rent” still has young legs, even though it’s based on a 19thcentury Puccini opera (“La Boheme”) and even though this “20th Anniversary Tour” is arriving at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven for the second time in three years Nov. 2224.
Say what?
Well, the 20th anniversary of the Jonathan Larson landmark rock musical was in 2016, when the tour began. And that 20th tour continues, possibly until it can be crowned the 25th anniversary tour.
There will be five performances Friday through Sunday, Nov. 24, at the College Street theater, which last paid and played the “Rent” in 2017.
Shubert official Anthony Lupinacci says the touring show’s longevity is interesting and that “people who saw the show when it first came out in 1996 — and were very young and this was the first show to include subject matter that was very relevant to the time — are now bringing their children to see the show.”
If you’re one of those who hasn’t seen it, “Rent” follows a momentous year in the lives of seven bohemian artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. There’s a message of joy and hope in the face of fear, a celebration of friendship and the idea (in song) that we should measure our lives with the only thing that
⏩ Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven. Friday, Nov. 22, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 23, 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 24, 1 and 6:30 p.m. $44-$114. 203-5625666. Shubert.com
truly matters — love. “How about love,” goes the top tune “Seasons of Love.”
Adds Lupinacci, “I also always liked the fact that this ‘new’ musical is based on an ‘old’ opera and that the themes from the opera are still relevant today – especially today with inclusion being so important.”
There are, it should be noted since it’s been a tradition with this show since early on, a limited number of $24 rush tickets available, two to a person and two hours before each show.