8 pm: Theater

“Rent,” Jonathan Larson’s award-winning smash hit rock musical about young artists’ lives and loves in New York makes a return national tour visit. See Review, Page 48.

* “Rent,” Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Today-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m. $22-$53.50. (714) 556-ARTS, (714) 740-7878, (213) 365-3500.

8 pm: Jazz

Living legend? That’s not too strong a description of Earl Palmer, whose influence as an R&B; and jazz drummer has been noted far and wide. He showcases his jazz leanings every Thursday night at Charlie O’s in the San Fernando Valley.

* Earl Palmer, Charlie O’s, 13725 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, 8 p.m. No cover charge. (818) 994-3058.

10 pm: Pop Music

Issac Delgado, the brightest of the new breed of Cuban soneros, has stepped away from the timba style he put on the map with his former band NG La Banda and in his solo career. His new album, “La Formula,” places the singer in an array of tropical pop formats.

* Issac Delgado, Conga Room, 5364 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 10 p.m. $22 and $50. (323) 938-1696.

9 pm: Pop Music

Macy Gray’s year began with a Grammy nomination for best new artist and built up to a headlining summer tour of theaters and amphitheaters, and a position with Keith Richards, Patti Smith, Chuck Berry and other icons on the cover of Vanity Fair’s recent music issue. The singer caps the year with a return to a relatively intimate nightclub setting.

* Macy Gray, House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 9 p.m. Sold out. (323) 848-5100.

*

Freebie: Illustrations by Beatrix Potter, Paul Galdone, Hans Rey and others are featured in “Picture Perfect: Selections From the Gladys English Collection,” continuing at the Central Library Main Galleries, 630 W. 5th St., downtown L.A., through May 27. (213) 228-7500.