City Lights performer goes solo for theater company’s concert series

Singer/songwriter, producer and actor AJ Jaffari has been both on stage and behind the mic for City Lights Theater Company. He’ll be in the former role for a solo concert celebrating his new album, “Stay Awhile,” on Sunday, Aug. 3, as part of the company’s Lights and Music Concert Series, which spotlights local musicians.

The concert also features a special appearance by City Lights actor Bart Perry, who will open for Jaffari. The two performers appeared together in the theater’s 2023 production of the Harvey Fierstein/Cyndi Lauper musical “Kinky Boots.” Both have also performed at City Lights fundraising parties, and at Big Band concerts with the Nineteen ensemble. In addition, Perry played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” last summer.

A veteran podcaster, Jaffari is the regular voice of City Lights’ “Filament” podcast, where he regularly interviews actors and other artists from the company’s mainstage productions. He also co-hosts “Broadway with AJ and Sarah,” which features reviews and discussions of Bay Area theater productions.

Jaffari’s City Lights concert will focus on songs from his new release, as well as others that Jaffari has written and released in the past few years.

“My new album is a collection of songs deeply personal to me, which delve into love in a way I haven’t before,” he said in a release. “I definitely felt more vulnerable with this album. I wrote them all about specific moments in my life over the course of twoish years.”

The concert starts at 7 p.m. at City Lights Theater, 529 S. Second St. in downtown San Jose Tickets are $28-$42, with a $5 discount for City Lights season subscribers, at cltc.org/stay-awhile.