How popular is Giacomo Puccini's four-act tearjerker La Bohème? If you've seen even one opera in your life, there's a good chance this was it. If you've seen a Broadway play, it may well have been Rent - a mid-'90s reboot of Puccini's operatic original.

Puccini based La Bohème on an 1851 novel by Henri Murger, hence the French title on an Italian-language opera. Noel Karan, general director of Tacoma Opera, says of Puccini, "His innate talent was tremendous, his works are immensely popular, and his life was both charmed and tragic." The composer followed La Bohème with Tosca and Madama Butterfly to complete an immortal, classical hat trick.

"This is a universal story," said Koran. "This opera has been around since the 1890s and is still current today. (It) speaks to every generation, ever since it premiered." If that claim provokes skepticism, consider: The protagonists of La Bohème are twentysomethings who room together but can't afford heat or rent. They drink too much and eat too little. One has dreams of being a writer. Another, Mimi, floats through life in search of love. They're destitute young idealists who suffer greatly from lack of career options and professional healthcare. They feel everything grandly. They fend for themselves and each other in a world that offers few ready answers. Sound familiar?

Karan characterizes Tacoma Opera's staging, directed by Linda Kitchen, as "a very traditional production. We don't want it set on Mars ... We're not trying, with the set, to re-create the 1850s. That's really not possible for our company. We're leaving the set much more simple and minimalistic - but the costumes are from that period, because the opera is so evocative of the late nineteenth century." Kristin Vogel, veteran of companies across the United States including Di Capo Opera in New York, makes her Gritty City debut as Mimi. Jon Farmer reprises the role of Rodolfo, having performed it for Tacoma Opera four years ago. José Rubio, last seen in Tacoma Opera's Die Fledermaus, plays Marcello. Jessica Noronha, a gang member in last season's Threepenny Opera, portrays Musetta. "She's one of my favorite characters in all of opera," said Koran, "and I can tell you right now, Jessica's doing a great job in the role."

This being the holiday season, Koran added, "We thought it would be a good opportunity to do something for the community and help it out. If (patrons) can bring a nonperishable food item, we can help Northwest Harvest in their mission to help needy families in the area." Northwest Harvest is Washington's statewide hunger-relief agency, with a mission of providing access to nutritious food -without depriving modern-day "bohemians" of their dignity. A donation box will grace the lobby throughout the run of the show. "Hopefully," said Koran, "(this will) help to make someone's Thanksgiving a little brighter."

LA BOHÈME, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and Nov. 4, 2 p.m. Nov. 6, Tacoma Opera, Rialto Theater, 310 S. 9th St., Tacoma, $25-$85, 253.591.5894