"How do you measure a year in the life?" the cast of Rent asks in the song "Seasons of Love." Is it in midnights, in sunsets or cups of coffee? No, ultimately it's measured in love, which is the essence of this imperishable musical. It ran for 12 years on Broadway, making it the eighth-longest-running Broadway show. Broadway Under the Stars, in conjunction with City Stage from Wilmington, is bringing Rent to Raleigh for a three-week run at Progress Energy Center. The show was also intended to be mounted for a couple of performances in Raleigh's brand new amphitheater-without-a-title-sponsor, but those plans were abruptly dropped last week. —Belem Destefani