Arts Briefs: ‘Rent’ actors in Amherst, Grunge Brunch at Iron Horse, and more

“Permelia F. Knopp” by Amy Johnquest, part of the group show “Locals No. 1” at Pulp Holyoke, which runs through Sunday, Jan. 12.

“Permelia F. Knopp” by Amy Johnquest, part of the group show “Locals No. 1” at Pulp Holyoke, which runs through Sunday, Jan. 12. COURTESY AMY JOHNQUEST

The metal and hardcore bands Skinlab, Dead By Wednesday, One Ton Tommy Gun, Infinite Cruelty, Skud and Eleveninchstormtrooper will play an all-ages show at CitySpace in Easthampton on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.

The metal and hardcore bands Skinlab, Dead By Wednesday, One Ton Tommy Gun, Infinite Cruelty, Skud and Eleveninchstormtrooper will play an all-ages show at CitySpace in Easthampton on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. CONTRIBUTED

PanOpera will present excerpts from two different operas — Act III of “La bohème” and Act III of “Les contesd'Hoffmann” — at the Northampton Center for the Arts on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m.

PanOpera will present excerpts from two different operas — Act III of “La bohème” and Act III of “Les contesd'Hoffmann” — at the Northampton Center for the Arts on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. CONTRIBUTED

Rentheads, rejoice! Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (who played Roger and Mark, respectively, in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical) will perform together at UMass Amherst’s Bowker Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m.

Rentheads, rejoice! Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (who played Roger and Mark, respectively, in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical) will perform together at UMass Amherst’s Bowker Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. CONTRIBUTED

The local band Recent History will perform grunge hits by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, and the like at the all-ages Grunge Brunch at the Iron Horse on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 10:30 a.m.

The local band Recent History will perform grunge hits by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, and the like at the all-ages Grunge Brunch at the Iron Horse on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 10:30 a.m. CONTRIBUTED

As part of Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares, violinist Jenny Scheinman will perform in support of her new album “All Species Parade” at Community Music School of Springfield on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m.

As part of Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares, violinist Jenny Scheinman will perform in support of her new album “All Species Parade” at Community Music School of Springfield on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. COURTESY KEVIN CALABRO

Published: 01-08-2025 1:39 PM

A ‘Rent’ reunion

Rentheads, rejoice! Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (who played Roger and Mark, respectively, in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical) will perform together at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Bowker Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m.

The show, “Adam Pascal And Anthony Rapp: Celebrating 30 Years Of Friendship And Music,” will feature “songs from throughout their careers, including some iconic hits from RENT, as well as music that has influenced and inspired Pascal and Rapp on stage and in life,” according to the event description.

Not including fees, tickets start at $15 for Five College students and children 17 and under, and $40 for all others. They’re available at fac.umass.edu.

Grunge Brunch

And speaking of music from the 90s: the local band Recent History will perform grunge hits by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins and the like at the all-ages Grunge Brunch at the Iron Horse on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 10:30 a.m.

The menu will include pancakes, veggie wraps, home fries, scrambled eggs, and smoked bacon. Drinks on offer will include mimosas, coffee, drafts, and craft cocktails.

In a press release, band member Glen Fant said, “Bringing the show to the Iron Horse in our hometown of Northampton has been a dream come true. It was very challenging to find a restaurant that can host a brunch service and can handle live entertainment. The Iron Horse is a world-class venue and we’re really lucky to get the opportunity to perform there.”

Fant also noted that brunchgoers often enjoy coming to the shows in “grunge cosplay” —  flannel shirts, ripped jeans, etc.

Advance tickets are $20.40 for adults and $11.60 for kids at ironhorse.org. They include food, but not drinks.

Two heartbreaking opera scenes

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PanOpera will present excerpts from two different operas — Act III of “La bohème” and Act III of “Les contes d'Hoffmann” — at the Northampton Center for the Arts on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m.

Both excerpts are about heartbreak, and they’re being presented back-to-back to allow guests to compare the two composers’ different styles – namely, “the realism of Puccini” versus “the dazzling imagination of E.T.A. Hoffman and Jacques Offenbach.”

Tickets are pay-what-you-can at eventbrite.com/e/a-dual-odyssey-of-heartbreak-tickets-1034957615087 (and will not be available at the door), but the suggested donation is $20.

‘All Species Parade’ jazz concert

As part of Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares, violinist Jenny Scheinman will perform in support of her new album “All Species Parade” at Community Music School of Springfield today, Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m.

The album was inspired by the biodiversity of Humboldt County, California, where Scheinman was raised.

A 2012 New York Times review of her album “Mischief & Mayhem” praised the “distinctive vision of American music, suffused with plainspoken beauty and fortified by country, gospel, and melting-pot folk, along with jazz and the blues” that Scheinman shares with her longtime collaborator, guitarist Bill Frisell.

Scheinman was also part of the original Broadway cast recording of the musical “Hadestown.”

Tickets are $15.38 via jazzshares.org/calendar.

Group show with 15 local artists

The group show “Locals No. 1” at Pulp Holyoke features, true to its name, 15 artists from western Massachusetts and the surrounding area presenting pottery, watercolor paintings, wood sculptures, and more in what a press release calls “a big messy awesome show of small and large works.”

Featured work includes painted cabinet cards by Amy Johnquest, abstract paintings by Kelly Popoff, and oil paintings by Joanne Holtje.

The full list of participating artists includes Hannah Brookman, Binda Colebrook, Larry Daniels, Maricela Garcia, Sean Greene, Joanne Holtje, Amy Johnquest, Tekla Mcinerney, David Moriarty, Kelly Popoff, Kim Reinhardt, Sean Sawicki, Cara Taylor, Angela Zammarelli and Andrew Zarou.

Admission is free, but the show is only open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. It runs through Sunday, Jan. 12.

To preview the show or purchase works from it online, visit pulpholyoke.com. Interested buyers can also purchase art in the gallery with cash, check, or credit card.

All-ages metal show

The metal and hardcore bands Skinlab, Dead By Wednesday, One Ton Tommy Gun, Infinite Cruelty, Skud and Eleveninchstormtrooper will play an all-ages show at City-Space in Easthampton on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $22.69 (including fees) at brownpapertickets.com/event/6487436.