BAYSTAGES | 2011.06 - June

JUNE 2011 | Celebrating Live Performing Arts in SF and Beyond!

[THE PERFORMERS]

NANCY DUSSAULT = Rrazz Room

SANDRA BERNHARD

= Marines’ Memorial Theatre

[THE SHOWS]

TITUS ANDRONICUS = California Shakespeare Theater

ASSASSINS

= Ray of Light Theatre

AVENUE Q = The Stage

[THE LATEST]

ROYAL DANISH BALLET ETHNIC DANCE FESTIVAL

+

[THE COVER]

Anna Deavere Smith

LET ME DOWN EASY = BERKELEY REP

QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL THE RING CYCLE ALSO: MOONLIGHT & MAGNOLIAS | THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP | HARMONY FESTIVAL

the

room At H o t e l N i k k o S f

SAN frANciSco’S Premier NigHtclub

June 3 & 24

June 5

THE aNiTa CoCKTaiL HoUr

leGenDARy stAR of the cBs tv soAp opeRA “As the WoRlD tuRns”

EiLEEN FULToN

honky tonk hootenAnny

June 6 & 7

SHaroN McNiGHT

BlAme it on my youth

June 13

June 10 & 11

JuDy GARlAnD –

lAte-niGht comeDy pioneeR seRies @ the RRAZZ pResents:

MarK CUrrY

oRiGinAl RRiot GRRl!

An eveninG With

the fiRst 30 yeARs fRom moose hAll to cARneGie hAll

comeDy foR the lAte-niGht cRoWD, in conJunction With 100 BlAck men of the BAy AReA, inc.

CoNNiE CHaMPaGNE

June 20

June 25

June 27 & 28

With the tom shAW tRio All sinGinG, All DAncinG, All DeAD!

enteRtAinment foR the lAteniGht cRoWD.

i’m in love AGAin

MaTTHEW MarTiN

JoNaTHaN PorETZ

June 2-4

NaNCY dUSSaULT

June 8-12

2011 GRAmmy WinneR!

AWARD-WinninG sinGeR, DAnceR, AnD stAR of the silveR scReen ...

WoRlD RenoWneD GuitARist

RetuRns to the stAGe ! noRtheRn cAlifoRniA exclusive enGAGement! vincent fAlcone, musicAl DiRectoR

LarrY CarLToN

June 11 & 12

Pia Zadora

June 14-July 17

AcADemy AWARD WinneR

she put A spell on me...

AnD JeffRey hAyDen in “love letteRs”

sinGs ninA simone five-Week ResiDency!!!

EVa MariE SaiNT

222 mason Street, San francisco, cA 94102

KiM NaLLEY

Grand Piano courtesy of Baldwin

800-380-3095 • www.TheRrazzRoom.com

editor ROBERT SOKOL editor@baystages.com publisher RON WILLIS publisher@baystages.com design VIA MEDIA design@viamedia.net

MAMMA MIA! June 7 to 12 San Jose Center for the Performing Arts 255 Almaden Blvd., SJ $20 to $69 | 408.792.4111 broadwaysanjose.com Kaye Tuckerman

contributing writers nic alea GRIER COOPER NICOLE DIAL STEVE MURRAY WILL SCHMID JASON VICTOR SERINUS JAMES J. SIEGEL ROBERT SOKOL jim van buskirk Writers may submit resumes and samples to editor@baystages.com for consideration.

contributing photographers ROBERT SOKOL STEVEN UNDERHILL cover image anna deavere smith image: mary ellen mark

All other photos are provided by the artists or venues and credits are noted where provided.

THE STAGES COMEDY | Sandra Bernhard........................................................ 5 CABARET | Nancy Dussault......................................................... 7 BALLET | Royal Danish Ballet....................................................... 9 SOLO | Let Me Down Easy..........................................................11 FESTIVAL | Harmony Festival....................................................13

distribution JUAN RAMIREZ

MUSICAL | Assassins.................................................................23

If you need additional copies or would like to become a distribution point for BAY STAGES please call our office.

PDF copies of individual articles are available upon request. Press releases and promotional materials may be sent to:

FARCE | The Mystery of Irma Vep..............................................25

thisjustin@baystages.com

PARODY | Much Ado About Lebowski......................................27

or mailed to:

QUEER | National Queer Arts Festival.......................................15 COMEDY | Moonlight & Magnolias...........................................17 DANCE | Ethnic Dance Festival..................................................21

OPERA | Der Ring des Nibelungen............................................29 MUSICAL | Avenue Q.................................................................33 TRAGEDY | Titus Andronicus.....................................................35 BACK | Behind the Scenes with image: joan marcus

advertising sales THOM WARD RON WILLIS 415.552.8040 advertise@baystages.com

.............................36

BAY STAGES 780 sutter street SF, ca 94109 p: 415.552.8040 f: 415.869.3700

Copyright Š 2011 by Caselli Partners LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in California.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without written permission is prohibited.

BAY STAGES is published monthly by VIA MEDIA, a division of Caselli Partners LLC. All content not attributed to an author is compiled by BAY STAGES staff from press releases and other sources. No guarantee is given for the validity of this data.

Information is subject to change without notice.

JUNE 2011 |

|1

dians Come the Castro! y l d n e ri of Gay F Heart Gay & In The

y l k e We

PM

9 AY @ D S E TU EVERY

uests each week!

Featuring Ronn Vigh & special g

* 1 Drink Minimum 路 Full bar & menu available during the show For the Weekly schedule & More Info: become a fan of "Harveys Funny Tuesdays" on Facebook!

HarveysSF.com

500 Castro St, (@ 18th) 路 415431.HARV

view from the editor It’s the time of the year to shift from Johnny Mercer and Gene DePaul’s “Spring, Spring, Spring” from Seven Brides For Seven Brothers to “June Is Busting Out All Over” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic Carousel and then settle into a little “Summertime” courtesy of Porgy and Bess

by George and Ira Gershwin, written with DuBose Heyward. If that seems like a lot of factoids loaded into one sentence it’s because I’m a firm believer in giving credits where credits are due. The devil - and not just the one in a blue dress, courtesy of Walter Mosely - is in the details and we look to applaud the contributions across the spectrum of creative effort from the photographers behind some of the amazing images we get to run in this magazine to performers, designers, directors, composers, writers and all the other people who are “putting it together...bit by bit,” as Stephen Sondheim wrote.

We’re busy putting it together too. Every month our writers research the latest happenings, pitch story ideas, conduct interviews and write articles to help you make an informed decision about where you might spend your valuable entertainment dollars.

Even further behind the scenes, in that matrix called the internet, we’ve been connecting the dots to provide you with even more resources. By the time you read this our new event database should be up and running on our website. We’ve designed it with the arts patron in mind. If you’re looking for standup comedy or modern dance, you should be able

to find just that without wading through walking tours, basket weaving classes or networking mixers. Even more radical is the concept that this information is reviewed and edited to be concise and understandable. That’s our goal - accurate, factbased data that tells you what you need to know about an event or performance.

It’s a huge undertaking and we’re learning as we go. There are innumerable happenings every day in the Bay Area. We won’t get them all, but we’ll do our best to bring you the broadest possible range of theatre, music, dance and other performance disciplines and related gatherings that we can.

To paraphrase our Secretary of State, it takes a village to build a database and we invite you to join us and all the singers, producers, actors, publicists, directors, dancers and other creative folks out there to keep the information flowing. Our website has an event submission page that anyone can use and you can always send photos or press releases to thisjustin@baystages.com for our Calendar Editor to review. As always, we welcome your suggestions on what will make BAYSTAGES media - in print and online - more useful to you.

ROBERT SOKOL, editor

image: steven underhill

Soila Hughes, Jessica Coker, Carmen Milagros, Matthew Martin, Carly Ozard, Sharon McNight, Maureen McVerry, Valarie Pettiford, Connie Champagne, Felicia Curtis, Lisa Vroman, Jacqueline McBride, Chayla Smith, and La Toya London kicked off a very merry month of May with the Divas & Dames benefit at the Marines’ Memorial Theatre.

JUNE 2011 |

|3

CLOSING SHOWS

DAILY The following listings are compiled from press releases and venue websites. Data is subject to change without notice. Please verify performance times and dates before making your ticket purchases. Shows with multiple performances are listed in DAILY STAGES as of their first performance. CLOSING SHOWS are listed in the featured columns to the left and right with the date of the final scheduled performance noted next to the title. ONGOING SHOWS that offer regularly scheduled performances throughout the month are listed separately. Closing and Ongoing shows are not included in the daily listings that follow. A select list of Music Clubs and Comedy & Improv venues that offer rapidly changing schedules are listed in side columns at the end of this section.

4 | Candide of California Gough Street Playhouse | SF

$28 | 510.207.5774 custommade.org

Brian Katz’ modern adaptation of Voltaire’s satirical masterpiece full of sarcasm and dark comedy.

4 | Loveland Marsh | San Francisco

Ann Randolph’s one-woman show is both comedic & touching, full of loss, laughs and human encounters.

4 | Mack and Mabel Saratoga Civic Theater

$23-$30 | 408.266.4734 southbaymt.com

Jerry Herman’s endearing, romantic tale of the silent film era about a director & his greatest star.

4 | Much Ado About Nothing Theatre on San Pedro Square | SJ

$15-$25 | 800.838.3006 arclightrep.org

This witty,romantic comedy of mistaken identity and redemption is set in Mission San Jose in 1847.

Boy meets girl, meets thousands of years of cultural tradition and religious doctrine. (Ends 7/1) 1 | Avenue Q San Jose Stage Company | SJ $16.50-$50 | 408.283.7142 thestage.org

Hilarious and irreverent Tony winner for Best Musical about real life in New York City. (Ends 7/3) 1 | Buffalo Springfield Fox Theater | Oakland $85-$199.50 | 800.745.3000 apeconcerts.com

Legendary band reunites for this tour.

Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, together again. (Ends 6/2) 1 | Iron & Wine Warfield | SF $29 | 800.745.3000 thewarfieldtheatre.com

Concert in support of I&W’s new album, “Kiss Each Other Clean.” With The Head And The Heart.

1 | Laugh Lounge Improv Comedy Club | San Jose $10 | 408.280.7475 improv.com

This show features some of the funniest people from the Bay Area performing their best material.

5 | Love in American Times San Jose Repertory Theatre

$34-$75 | 408.367.7255 sjrep.com

A contemporary twist on the age-old tradition of matchmaking.

4|

| JUNE 2011

1 | Much Ado About Lebowski CellSpace | SF $20 | 800.838.3006 sfindie.com

The Big Lebowski as writ by Wm. Shakespeare. An adaptation of an adaptation of a parody of a farce.

(Ends 6/30)

1 | Titus Andronicus Bruns Memorial Amphitheater | Orinda $43-$66 | 510.548.9666 calshakes.org

One of the Bard’s earliest plays.

Revenge tragedy speaks of a society’s drift from order to chaos. (Ends 6/26) 1 | Words First CounterPULSE | SF $15 | 800.838.3006 counterpulse.org

CounterPULSE’s line-up of four short pieces, written and performed by the solo artists themselves.

2 | Arj Barker Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $18.50-$22.50 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

From HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, Barker shares the comedy stage with Jimeoin and Tony Camin. (Ends 6/5) 2 | Assassins Eureka Theatre | SF $30-$36 roltheatre.com

Ray of Light Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim’s thoughtprovoking and controversial musical.

(Ends 6/25) 2 | Bobby Lee Punch Line San Francisco | SF $22-$25 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

San Diego-native and MADtv co-star brings his comedy act to the Punch Line. (Ends 6/4) 2 | Gary Owen Tommy T’s | Pleasanton $20-$30 | 925.227.1800 tommyts.com/pleasanton

Gary Owen has been entertaining America for over a decade including The Laugh Factory. (Ends 6/5)

images: jay yamada (candide of california - caitlin dissinger, matt gunnison), kevin berne (love in american times - rosina reynolds)

$20-$50 | 800.838.3006 themarsh.org

1 | All Atheists are Muslim Stage Werx | SF $20-$30 | 800.838.3006 zahracomedy.com

speaking her mind...as usual by will schmid The only rule that applies to Sandra Bernhard is that there really are no rules.

She first started playing comedy clubs in the ‘70s and built enough of a following to get cast on The Richard Pryor Show. She segued to film in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy in 1983 and there’s really been no form of entertainment in which she’s not dipped her lean, manicured hand.

COMEDY

SANDRA BERNHARD

Bernhard’s last San Francisco appearance - at the Castro in October 2010 - was recorded and is now available on a CD called “I Love Being Me, Don’t You?” She’s bringing her trademark brand of existential rant to the Marines’ Memorial Theatre for two nights later this month, and will be making appearances at the San Francisco Pride celebration and other events.

She demurs when asked if her style of standup is a form of public therapy. “It ends up being that, but that’s not what I set out to have it be.

I’m an entertainer, so I’m not there to purge my emotional state onto the audience. I do think part of what’s engaging is talking about your inner workings, your emotions of the moment. That certainly keeps things interesting.”

There’s not much that’s off limits in the pursuit of keeping things interesting. On the CD she rips quite a few public figures a new one. “If I can defend it, I’ll probably go to just about anyplace,” she says, “as long as I can back it up.”

Bernhard says her comedy does not necessarily have to be angry, but it does need a certain energy.

“It has to be fueled by what you find outrageous. I’m not interested in people who are like ‘do ya notice that socks get lost in the dryer....’ I want somebody who’s fired up.”

image: william baker

She has no gag writers and anything can be her muse. “It’s all very random. It’s no one certain type of thing. Sometimes I even like to have fun. I don’t necessarily have to be outraged. I can just be silly.

Whatever it is, it just has to be engaging.”

SANDRA BERNHARD June 24 & 25 | 7:00 pm Marines’ Memorial Theatre 609 Sutter Street, SF $45 to $75 | 415.771.6900 marinesmemorialtheatre.com JUNE 2011 |

|5

CLOSING SHOWS

DAILY 2 | Hiromi: The Trio Project Yoshi’s | SF $20-$26 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com

Japanese-pianist Hiromi accompanied

by Anthony Jackson on bass and Simon Phillips on drums. (Ends 6/5) 2 | Jimmy Dore Rooster T. Feathers | Sunnyvale $12-$18 | 408.736.0921 roostertfeathers.com

5 | SF Follies Theater 39 | San Francisco

$35 | 800.838.3006 sffollies.com

SF Follies takes a wicked wink at SF’s past, present and future.

6 | The Tavern Foothill College (Lohman) | Los Altos Hills George M. Cohan’s comic melodrama set in a lonely tavern on a wild, stormy night.

11 | Curtains Morgan Hill Community Playhouse

$18 | At the Door svct.org

Kander and Ebb musical whodunit set in Boston in 1959. A theaterloving detective must solve a crime

2 | Larry Carlton Rrazz Room | SF $47.50 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Nineteen-time Grammy nominee, four-time Grammy winner and guitar great plays in SF for one weekend.

(Ends 6/4) 2 | The Edenites Exit Stage Left | SF $12-$25 | 800.838.3006 theexit.org

A new play about San Francisco by Stuart Bousel. A meditative mix of funny and sad. (Ends 6/25) 3 | Around the World in 80 Days Sunnyvale Community Theatre $10-$25 | 408.720.0873 ctcinc.org

California Theatre Center. Jules Verne’s tale of Phileas Fogg. In rep w/3 other plays until 7/24. (Ends 7/22) 3 | Blackfield Great American Music Hall | SF $26 | 415.885.0750 gamh.com

Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson and Israeli Aviv Geffen, together a third time.

11 | Disassembly La Val’s Subterranean Theatre | Berkeley

$12-$20 | 510.224.5744 impacttheatre.com

Evan is what you would call accident-prone. He’s now been stabbed in the shoulder.

6|

| JUNE 2011

3 | Colin Mahan Mike Spiegelman Stage Werx | SF $10 | At the Door stagewerx.org

Presenting Garble Team-Up! it’s like seeing two comedy routines on stage in one sitting.

In a small town store in West Texas, the Disciples of James Dean gather for their 20th reunion. (Ends 6/26) 3 | Concert for Japan Le Petit Trianon | San Jose $25-$50 trianontheatre.com

Part of 12th Annual International Russian Music Piano Competition, proceeds benefit Japan relief.

3 | Ethnic Dance Festival Opening Ceremony San Francisco City Hall | SF Free worldartswest.org

Honoring the Costanoan Rumsen Ohlone Tribe and featuring tribal song and dance under the Rotunda.

3 | Godspell TVRT Studio Theatre | Livermore $20-$25 | 925.462.2121 trivalleyrep.org

Stephen Schwartz’s joyous musical based on St. Matthew’s Gospel features the hit song “Day by Day”.

(Ends 6/26) 3 | Left Coast Chamber Ensemble Old First Church | SF $17 | 415.474.1608 oldfirstconcerts.org

New works by Kurt Rohde. Special guests Genevieve Feiwen Lee, piano, & Axel Strauss, violin.

3 | Moonlight & Magnolias Altarena Playhouse | Alameda $22 | 510.523.1553 altarena.org

A backstage dramedy about the chaotic rewriting of the script for the film Gone With the Wind. (Ends 7/3) 3 | Mystery of Irma Vep 6th Street Playhouse | Santa Rosa $25-$32 | 707.523.4185 6thstreetplayhouse.com

Charles Ludlam’s Obie-winning farce is a quick-change marathon in which 2 actors play all the roles. (Ends 6/26)

images: cheshire isaacs (disassembly - kathryn dzan, nick trengove), all others - courtesy photos (sf follies - jenna davi)

$16 | 650.949.7360 foothill.edutheatre

Jimmy’s political comedy was featured in a one hour special on Comedy Central’s Citizen Jimmy.

(Ends 6/5)

3 | Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Pacifica Spindrift Theatre $18-$21 | 650.359.8002 pacificaspindriftplayers.com

never too close for comfort by robert sokol

There are many sides to Nancy Dussault. For some she is the star of such ‘60s Broadway shows as Bajour with Chita Rivera, or Do Re Mi with Phil Silvers and Nancy Walker, both of which netted her Tony nominations. She returned to Broadway in the ‘70s for the Sondheim revue Side By Side and again in the ‘80s for a spellbinding turn as the Witch in Sondheim’s Into the Woods.

Then there’s Nancy Dussault, television star. For three years she played Carol Davis on The New Dick Van Dyke Show and for seven years she was “married” to Ted Knight in the hit series Too Close For Comfort. In between she spent two years paired with David Hartman as one of the hosts of Good Morning America on ABC.

She’s calling the show I’m In Love...Again, both as a nod to the Porter tune - “Which I’m planning to sing,” she promises - and in honor of her 25th wedding anniversary with husband, director Valentine Mayer.

NANCY DUSSAULT June 27 & 28 | 8:00 pm Rrazz Room 222 Mason Street, SF $35 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

image: courtesy photo

There’s also “Professor” Dussault, graduate of Northwestern University and head of the Ray Bolger School of Musical Performance at UCLA where she taught for six years, initiating their musical theatre program. That’s, of course in addition to Nancy Dussault the cabaret artist who will be making her Rrazz Room debut just days before celebrating her 75th birthday.

“We might as well call it my San Francisco cabaret debut,” says Dussault. “I remember singing one night at the Plush Room when the Cabaret Convention was there. It was open to the public, but it most mostly filled with other performers who were appearing there. This one feels like a grown up job!”

cabaret

NANCY DUSSAULT

JUNE 2011 |

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CLOSING SHOWS

DAILY 3 | Norm MacDonald Improv Comedy Club | San Jose $25 | 408.280.7475 improv.com

Perhaps best known for his offbeat delivery of “the fake news” on Saturday Night Live. (Ends 6/5)

4 | [title of show] Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts | Mountain View $19-$56 | 650.903.6000 theatreworks.org

A backstage comedy about five young theatre geeks writing a musical about young musical writers. (Ends 6/26)

3 | Odd Couple Mel Mello Center for the Arts | Half Moon Bay $15-$30 | 650.569.3266 coastalrep.com

4 | Metal Tributes Club Fox | Redwood City $12-$14 | 650.369.7770 clubfoxrwc.com

3 | Steve Tyrell Herbst Theatre | SF $25-$60 | 866.920.5299 stevetyrell.com 11 | Reborning SF Playhouse | SF

Vocalist and musical director Tyrell straddles the pop, Songbook, jazz and R&B genres. SFJAZZ act.

4 | Adam Carolla Palace of Fine Arts Theater | SF $34.50-$49.50 | 800.745.3000 palaceoffinearts.org

A young artist who crafts dolls begins to suspect that a client may be the mother who abandoned her.

3 | Suicide Barrier: Secure In Our Illusion ODC Theater | SF $15-$18 | 415.863.9834 odctheater.org

4 | Adele Greek Theatre | Berkeley $45-$65 | 800.745.3000 myspace.comadelelondon

Neil Simon’s classic comedy offers a tale of ordinary men who are extraordinarily irreconcilable. (Ends 6/25)

$30-$50 | 415.677.9596 sfplayhouse.org

12 | Dixie Swim Club Chanticleers Theatre | Castro Valley

$13-$18 | 510.733.5483 chanticleers.org

Free from husbands, kids and jobs, five meet every year for 35 years at the same beach cottage.

12 | Rabbit Hole Ross Valley Players | Ross

$25 | 415.456.9555 rossvalleyplayers.com

12 | Rogers & Hart A Celebration Douglas Morrisson Theatre | Hayward

$28 | 510.881.6777 dmtonline.org

The first act sets the stage for romance, the second act is comprised of more satiric gems.

12 | Shirley Valentine Cinnabar Theater | Petaluma

$25 | 707.763.8920 cinnabartheater.org

Disillusioned housewife Shirley Valentine has to go to Greece to finally discover who she really is.

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| JUNE 2011

3 | Super Diamond Uptown Theatre | Napa $25 | 800.745.3000 uptowntheatrenapa.com

Neil Diamond Tribute Band. With guest Brian Fitzpatrick.

3 | T:here Southside Theatre | SF $12-$25 | 800.838.3006 sfiaf.org

World premiere. Dance based upon encounters with Palestinian people in the Middle East. (Ends 6/4) 3 | The Drowsy Chaperone Wells Fargo Center for the Arts | Santa Rosa $16-$26 | 800.838.3006 wellsfargocenterarts.org

Roustabout Theater presents this 2006 winner of five Tony awards.

(Ends 6/12) 3 | The Wombats Rickshaw Stop | SF $15 | 415.861.2011 rickshawstop.com

Liverpool band is joined by Wild Party, The Tender Box, and DJ Aaron Axelsen.

Featuring such bits as “What Can’t Adam Complain About” and “Why I Hate LA.”

English soul and jazz singer.

4 | Comedy Brains Marsh | Berkeley $15-$50 | 415.641.0235 themarsh.org

Colleen Watson, Candy Churilla and Joe Tobin 4 | Earth, Wind & Fire Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | SF $49.50-$99.50 | 800.745.3000 earthwindandfire.com

In four decades they have earned 8 Grammys and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

4 | Femme Fatale Firehouse Arts Center | Pleasanton $12-$30 | 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org

Laura Ellis’ multi-media stage show combining song, dance and vintage Film Noir clips.

4 | Robin Flower & Libby McLaren Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $22.50-$24.50 | 510.644.2020 thefreight.org

Celtic-Americana folk duo accompanied by a band of three other musicians.

image: jessica palopoli (reborning - alexander alioto, lauren english)

The Corbetts appear to have everything, until an accident shatters their lives. Pulitzer winner.

Ledoh and video artist Perry Hallinan explore our relationship to nature and one another. (Ends 6/5)

Powerage-AC/DC Tribute; Speak of the Devil-Black Sabbath/OZZY Tribute; Destroyer-KISS Tribute.

a welcome return

by grier cooper

ballet

ROYAL DANISH BALLET

Ulrik Birkkjaer

Intricate footwork, softly rounded arms, storytelling presented with a distinct, buoyant style; these are the characteristics that have defined the Royal Danish Ballet since it was founded in 1748 by August Bournonville. Their signature style was created during Bournonville’s 47-year tenure and has been carried through its lineage to the present day.

image: henrik stenberg

The Danes return to the Bay Area for the first time in 50 years, bringing a repertory that celebrates the company’s heritage while keeping a keen eye on its future. From La Sylphide, Bournonville’s full-length classic ethereal tragedy, to Jorma Uotinen’s Earth, a modern masculine tour-de-force showcasing 14 male dancers, (set to music by Metallica and Apocolypta), the Royal Danish Ballet aims to show audiences exactly what it can do.

The tour will be divided into two contrasting programs, with the iconic classics La Sylphide and Flemming Flindt’s La Lesson in Program A, and a lineup of four modern works by Nordic choreographers in Program B. These include Bournonville Variations (2010), arranged by Thomas Lund and Nikolaj Hübbe, Lost on Slow (2008) choreographed by Jorma Elo and set to music by Vivaldi, and Alumnus (2011) a new work by dancer Johan Kobborg, who performed with the company for 11 years.

“I am looking forward to dancing our Nordic Choreographers’ program,” says Charles Andersen, who joined Royal Danish Ballet in 2008. “It’s a good blend - Bournonville in the early part of the evening, then rolling on the floor to Metallica music later. It’s a challenge to show these two different techniques in one evening, and Johan Kobborg’s piece is fun to dance and adds a great bit of humor to the program. I love hearing the audience laugh.”

The Royal Danish Ballet has a reputation for producing some of the most acclaimed male dancers in the world, including Flemming Flindt, Peter Martins and Nikolaj Hübbe, who assumed directorship of the company in 2008. Says Andersen, “With Nikolaj as our director, we have refined our classical technique.

We have worked very hard to come together and make some really beautiful ballets.”

Royal Danish Ballet Through June 4, 2011 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley $38 to $100 | 510.642.9988 calperformances.org

JUNE 2011 |

|9

CLOSING SHOWS 16 | Not a Genuine Black Man Marsh | Berkeley

$25-$50 | 800.838.3006 themarsh.org

Brian Copeland’s monologue about race and more is both funny and poignant.

18 | Chicago Campbell Theatre | Martinez

$20-$30 | 925.798.1300 willowstheatre.com

Kander and Ebb’s long-running, Tony-winning musical about murder and celebrity in the Roaring 20s.

18 | Don Reed – East 14th Marsh | Berkeley

$20-$35 | 800.838.3006 east14th.com.

“Tales of a Reluctant Player” a Godfearing church boy, he wanted to be just like his dear old dad.

DAILY 4 | Sonoma County Pride Comedy Night Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $19-$35 | 707.546.3600 wellsfargocenterarts.org

A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender celebration with comedians Ali Mafi and Julie Goldman, 4 | Spices, Bandoneon and Italy California Theatre | San Jose $37-$73 | 408.286.2600 symphonysiliconvalley.org

Symphony Silicon Valley presents Israeli composer Avner Dorman’s double percussion concerto. (Ends 6/5) 4 | Tony Lindsay George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $15-$20 | 800.380.3095 tonylindsay.com

Grammy Award winner and lead vocalist for Santana, Lindsay makes his debut at George’s.

4 | Twelfth Night Town Hall Theatre | Lafayette $22.50-$29.50 | 925.283.1557 thtc.org

Shakespeare’s beloved comedy of two twins separated at sea and their madcap journey to be reunited. (Ends 6/26)

Colleen Watson, Candy Churilla and Joe Tobin in The Marsh’s Comedy Brains program.

18 | Moon over Buffalo Bus Barn Theater | Los Altos Hills

$24-$30 | 650.941.0551 busbarn.org

5 | AJ Swearingen & Jonathan Beedle Slim’s | SF $20-$25 | 888.233.0449 slims-sf.com

Over-the-hill repertory thespians are touring the backwaters in ‘53 when Frank Capra is in the house

Simon & Garfunkel tribute band with 10+ years’ experience performing to sold out audiences.

19 | Blue Man Group Golden Gate Theatre | SF

5 | Ariodante Marines’ Memorial Theatre | SF $20-$37 | 415.771.6900 marinesmemorialtheatre.com

$50-$200 | 888.746.1799 shnsf.com

The internationally famous multimedia show.

19 | Distracted City Lights Theater | San Jose

$25-$35 | 408.295.4200 cltc.org

Poignant comedy about a mother who dives into research mode fearful that her son may have A.D.D.

10 |

| JUNE 2011

Modified from Shakespeare, Handel’s tale of love and villainy in a Medieval castle. (Ends 7/5) 5 | ASWAT Palace of Fine Arts Theater | SF $20-$100 | 800.838.3006 palaceoffinearts.org

Arab arts and music ensemble presents folkloric and traditional Palestinian village songs and more.

Mill Valley-based cabaret/jazz singer is joined by Art Khu on piano and Sam Bevan on bass.

5 | Daniel Glover Old First Church | SF $17 | 415.474.1608 oldfirstconcerts.org

Pianist Glover’s program will focus on Hungarian and Russian composers of the 19th & 20th Centuries.

5 | Desert Dreams Belly Dancing Club Fox | Redwood City $10 | 650.369.7770 clubfoxrwc.com

Bay Area belly dance troupe, The Red Desert Dance Company, is vibrant, diverse and unconventional.

5 | Eileen Fulton Rrazz Room | SF $30 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Soap Opera Hall of Famer Eileen Fulton performs her one-woman musical memoir for one Sunday only.

5 | Frets & Strings Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $20.50-$22.50 | 510.644.2020 thefreight.org

Guitarists: Teja Gerken, Steve Baughman, Matthew Montfort, Patrick Landeza, Pete Madsen, Jon Mendle.

5 | Lee Ritenour Herbst Theatre | SF $25-$60 | 866.920.5299 leeritenour.com

Guitarist Ritenour is joined by pianist Dave Grusin, bassist Melvin Davis and drummer Sonny Emory.

5 | Linkin Park Shoreline Amphitheatre | Mountain View $39.50-$73.90 | 800.745.3000 live105.radio.com

With Snoop Dogg, The Strokes, Cage the Elephant and Bad Religion.

5 | Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums Dance Palace Community Center | Point Reyes Station FREE | 415.663.1075 dancepalace.org

Called “instant crowd favorites” by the San Francisco Blues Festival.

image: joyce goldschmid (moon over buffalo - judith long, emelynhicks, manuel canari, louis schilling)

4 | Watson, Churilla and Tobin Marsh | Berkeley $15-$50 | 800.838.3006 themarsh.org

5 | Cory Jamison 142 Throckmorton Theatre | Mill Valley $25 | 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org

by robert sokol Any performance by Anna Deavere Smith is special, but attending her one-woman shows is an exceptional opportunity to see a gifted artist at work. Smith’s specialty, which produced Twilight: Los Angeles and the current tour of Let Me Down Easy, is a style some have called documentary theatre. She interviews a broad range of people on her given subject, culls a series of monologues from the interviews and creates a dramatic arc that she performs solo, brilliantly portraying each character. It’s a process that has not really changed for her over the years.

“Compared to when I started - that was the late ‘70s - if there’s any difference now it’s that people assume they are going to be in the public eye somehow. We live in the age of reality TV. People are more comfortable now when you put a tape recorder or even a video camera in front of them.“ Smith’s interviews tend to run an hour or more.

“It’s a pretty uptight person who can maintain that uptightness for that long,” she chuckles.

Part of her research for Let Me Down Easy was done in Rwanda and Uganda. Smith says that even through barriers of language and unfamiliar technology people were eager to tell their stories.

“One of the things I loved about the process was the profound desire people had to talk to me, even through translators. That’s the main thing that is required for my work and now that I’ve been doing it for so many years I’m even clearer about that. It doesn’t do me any good to talk to a resistant person. I’m looking for people who have a strong will to communicate and will go to a mountain top to scream the story.”

“Everyone has something to say. Each of the 20 people in this version have given me a story that is about a moment in their lives. They all demand the same attention to the details of their language and behavior through whatever acting skills I can muster up. It’s also important to say that most of the people in my plays are famous within their communities. This just has a bigger community.”

solo

LET ME DOWN EASY

anna deavere smith’s major communication

Smith says the play is about the power and vulnerability that we each experience as part of our humanity, and specifically in how that is realized through our bodies. It is also about the lyricism of language.

“I’m hyper aware of language and so often people aren’t even aware of what they are saying. ‘Let me go grab her for you’ is currently one of my least favorite phrases. Grab her? Really? The fact is, we each have this organic ability to be highly communicative, with vigorous images, beautiful language and beautiful rhythms. When I sit with someone for an hour I’m waiting for them to do that. I’m waiting for them to start singing. These 20 people, out of over 300, are all singing and are all poetic.”

LET ME DOWN EASY Through July 10 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley $29 to $73 | 510.647.2949 berkeleyrep.org

image: joan marcus

The stories here are of public figures like cyclist Lance Armstrong or model Lauren Hutton, and lesser known individuals like a bull rider from Montana or an altruistic doctor. Smith feels equally responsibility to all of her interview subjects.

JUNE 2011 |

| 11

CLOSING SHOWS

DAILY 5 | Suzanna Smith & Carol Luckenbach Rrazz Room | SF $30 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Presenting their show Life, Love and This Wonderful World.

5 | THIEVES Southside Theatre | SF $12 | 800.838.3006 sfiaf.org

Presented by Dance Elixir and Iraqi Bodies, dancers and musicians on stage together. SFIAF event.

6 | David Lowery Café Du Nord | SF $22-$24 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com

19 | Care of Trees Ashby Stage | Berkeley

$17-$26 | 510.841.6500 shotgunplayers.org

What it’s like to care for something fragile and spectacular without understanding the rules.

19 | Hairspray Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre | Mill Valley

415.383.1100 mountainplay.org

The Mountain Play presents the winner of the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical, set in 60s Baltimore.

19 | Teatro ZinZanni: Too Caliente To Handle Teatro ZinZanni | SF

$117-$186 | 415.438.2668 love.zinzanni.org

A busy evening of European cabaret and cirque performers served up with a gourmet five-course meal.

$30 | 800.838.3006 dragonproductions.net

6 | Götterdämmerung War Memorial Opera House | SF $25-$295 | 415.864.3330 sfopera.com

The transcendent climax of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. In repertoire with the full Cycle. (Ends 7/3) 6 | Sharon McNight Rrazz Room | SF $30 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Cabaret legend presents The First 30 Years... From Moose Hall To Carnegie Hall. (Ends 6/7) 6 | The Picklewater Clown Cabaret Stage Werx | SF $10-$15 | 800.838.3006 stagewerx.org

Circus-themed entertainment by Picklewater Indiustries and the San Francisco Circus Center. (Ends 11/7) 6 | Winter’s Bone the Score Great American Music Hall | SF $18-$20 | 415.885.0750 gamh.com

Ellen McLaughlin’s play about Maxine, a search-and-rescue pilot on a mission to find a missing girl.

The original Ozarks musicians from the Winter’s Bone film, playing their authentic Americana music.

19 | Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter Marion E. Greene Theatre | Oakland

7 | Ancient Future Yoshi’s | SF $16-$20 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com

$25-$30 | 510.436.5085 theatrefirst.com

After losing a leg in Iraq, combat vet Sutter returns home with a sense that she doesn’t belong.

12 |

| JUNE 2011

This is Ancient Future’s first reunion show in 15 years. One night only performance. World jazz.

ABBA-based musical ingeniously woven into an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. (Ends 6/12) 7 | Tiny Alice Marin Theatre Company | Mill Valley $33-$53 | 415.388.5208 marintheatre.org

Edward Albee’s infamous 1964 play, rarely staged, poses questions about God, love, money & power. (Ends 6/26) 8 | Bruno Mars & Janelle Monae Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | SF $37.50 | 800.745.3000 brunomars.com

Bruno Mars & Janelle Monae bring their Hooligans in Wondaland Tour to the Bill Graham Civic.

8 | Loni Love Punch Line San Francisco | SF $15-$21 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

A regular guest on Chelsea Lately, Detroit-native Love brings her comedy to the Punch Line stage.

(Ends 6/11) 8 | Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt Mountain Winery | Saratoga $35-$95 | 800.745.3000 mountainwinery.com

An acoustic evening with two legends.

8 | Pia Zadora Rrazz Room | SF $40-$45 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

This is a NorCal exclusive with Pia Zadora, a Broadway star, Golden Globe Winner and Grammy Nominee.

(Ends 6/12)

9 | Brian McKnight Montalvo Arts Center | Saratoga $59-$98 | 408.961.5858 montalvoarts.org

McKnight brings his Just Me Tour to Saratoga.

9 | Company Hastings Studio Theatre at A.C.T. | SF $10 | 415.749.2228 act-sf.org

Sondheim’s sophisticated, Tonywinning musical about marriage and relationships in New York. (Ends 6/12)

image: pak han (care of trees - liz sklar, patrick russell)

19 | Tongue of a Bird Dragon Theatre | Palo Alto

Singer songwriter and guitarist from the bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven.

7 | Mamma Mia! San Jose Center for the Performing Arts | San Jose $20-$88 | 408.792.4111 broadwaysanjose.com

three days of music and messages by james j. siegel

Most music festivals are defined by their headliners, and the Harmony Festival has some big names for its 33rd annual event, such as Michael Franti & Spearhead, Flaming Lips and Primus. But Howard “Bo” Sapper, CEO of the festival, said the three days in Santa Rosa are “edu-tainment.”

Over 40 different musicians will take over the fairgrounds. Many of those artists will appear in the 17,000-capacity main stage area or in the Goddess Grove, which spotlights female musicians. The Techno-Tribal Dance area will feature top DJs along with aerial stunts, and the Eco Rally Stage will offer extreme sports and skateboarding.

On the education side, the Eco Village provides information on everything from spirituality to green living. Speakers and lectures are part of the Wisdom Stage. Big names for that stage include Mariel Hemingway and Will Durst. Also, the Well-Being Pavilion offers seminars on yoga, nutrition and healthy living.

Over the past 30 years, the festival has ballooned from a one-day event to a three-day festival. Campgrounds are available for those who want to experience the entire three days.

Sapper said that people who came to the event three decades ago are now returning, but they are coming back because their children have discovered the festival.

The Harmony Festival was named one of the top 30 festivals by the New York Times. This is because “we are the only ones crazy enough to do what we do,” said Sapper.

Harmony Festival June 10 to 12 Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa $45 to $340 harmonyfestival.com

image: kim sallaway

It’s this educational focus that launched the Harmony Festival. Sapper said that the festival started with the goal of informing people about healthy alternatives. Adding bands was a way to create more energy around that message.

“Northern California has always been at the forefront of what was coming next,” said Sapper. This includes being a leader in green energy, fitness and spirituality.

festival

HARMONY FESTIVAL

JUNE 2011 |

| 13

CLOSING SHOWS

DAILY 9 | Dave Foley Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $18.50-$22.50 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

Kids in the Hall alum Foley brings his irreverent comedy to Cobb’s. (Ends 6/11) 9 | Death Cab for Cutie Fillmore | SF $35 | 800.745.3000 deathcabforcutie.com

Alt-rockers take the stage at the Fillmore.

25 | A Streetcar Named Desire Actors Theatre of San Francisco

$38 | 415.345.1287 actorstheatresf.org

Tennessee Williams’ classic melodrama of the unwinding of Blanche Dubois.

25 | The Stops New Conservatory Theatre Center | SF

$24-$40 | 415.861.8972 nctcsf.org

Three lady organists take their act on the road but discover that their favorite organist is gay!

9 | Jim Jeffries Improv Comedy Club | San Jose $20 | 408.280.7475 improv.com

Australian born Jim Jeffries was featured in his own HBO special, as well as on Comedy Central. (Ends 6/12) 9 | John Henton Rooster T. Feathers | Sunnyvale $12-$18 | 408.736.0921 roostertfeathers.com

From Fox’s Living Single to BET’s Comic View, Henton brings his standup show to the South Bay. (Ends 6/12) 9 | Juno en Victoria Stage Werx | SF $24 | 000.000.0000 wilywestproductions.com

Inspired by Austen, Forster and others, a new tragicomedy about the secret lives of Victorian Women.

(Ends 7/2) 9 | Krishna Das Regency Ballroom | SF $35 | 800.745.3000 krishnadas.com

25 | Blues in the Night Lesher Center | Walnut Creek

$38-$45 | 925.943.7469 centerrep.org

9 | Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt Marin Center | San Rafael $49.75-$89.75 | 800.745.3000 rbpconcerts.com

26 | Little Shop ºof Horrors Boxcar Playhouse | San Francisco

9 | The Experience of Flight in Dreams ODC Theater | SF $24-$30 | 415.863.9834 odctheater.org

Center Rep presents 26 torchy songs from the ‘20s and ‘30s by Ellington, Goodman, Smith and more.

$20-$50 | 415.776.1747 boxcartheatre.org

Boxcar puts the “Skid Row” Back into Little Shop. Based on the 1960 movie of the same name.

14 |

| JUNE 2011

An acoustic evening with two musical legends.

Garrett + Moulton Productions’ new work that explores images, metaphors and sensations of flight.

(Ends 6/12)

Innovative satire is produced in Hindi with English supertitles. (Ends 6/19) 10 | Buzzcocks Slim’s | SF $35 | 888.233.0449 slims-sf.com

Presented by KUSF in Exile. With Images.

10 | Carlos Varela Great American Music Hall | SF $25 | 415.885.0750 gamh.com

Cuban singer-songwriter brings his passion for his homeland to his music.

10 | Chanticleer Lesher Center | Walnut Creek $20-$44 | 925.943.7469 chanticleer.org

Presenting Romantic Chanticleer.

This is the Grammy Award-winning ensemble’s 33rd Season.

10 | Detroit Cobras Independent | SF $15 | 800.745.3000 detroitcobras.org

Rachel Nagy provides the soulful vocals for this Motor City band. With guests Girl in a Coma.

10 | Guitarist Elliott Sharp Meridian Gallery | SF $12 | 415.398.7229 meridiangallery.org

Performing Octal, a collection of pieces for the Koll 8-string guitarbass built exclusively for him.

10 | Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams Bankhead Theater | Livermore $12-$40 | 925.373.6800 livermoreperformingarts.org

Honky tonk band. Steel guitar, snare drum, bass and electric guitar accompany Wofford’s vocals.

10 | Harmony Music Festival Sonoma County Fairgrounds | Santa Rosa $45-$340 | 000.000.0000 harmonyfestival.com

33rd annual event, featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead, Flaming Lips and Primus. (Ends 6/12)

images: courtesy photos (a streetcar named desire, blues in the night)

One of the best-selling chant artists, layering traditional Hindu kirtan with modern melodies.

10 | 8 Ghante Theatre on San Pedro Square | SJ $16-$25 | 408.905.6831 naatak.com

sustainability through queer culture by nic alea

The National Queer Arts Festival is at it again and this year’s line up has many queer folk revved up and inspired. Each year since 1998 the festival serves some of the finest queer-charged music, poetry, performance, and workshops, along with many other types of entertainment and activities.

This year focuses on the concept of sustainability, but not just sustainable in the green sense but what it means to be sustainable as a queer person.

“We wanted to bring to the fore queer ecological movements but we also wanted to look at the ways that queers sustain ourselves: what things sustain us, keep us going when we might drop; what things feed us so that we can continue?” says the Festival’s Artistic Director, Pamela S. Peniston.

All events this year have the idea of sustainability shining within them in ways to promote thought about our own strengths and what keeps us inspired and moving.

Performance art is especially prominent in the festival and one of the big performances can be found at the LGBT Community Center on June 11 where Rene Capone will be conducting a live reading of his graphic novel, The Legend of Hedgehog Boy. Along side Capone will be

various queer performance artists, including Flower Diamond, to act out the action in this whimsical, hopeful tale of bravery. With visuals from the book projected on screen, the cast will bring the audience into a world where unicorns and magic exist and hero, Hedgehog Boy, must face challenges of good and evil in order to find his kidnapped boyfriend.

QUEER

NATIONAL QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL

The festival has events every day, all month, at venues all over San Francisco. The range and diversity of the performances, from Dirtstar and Sean Dorsey Dance to Annie Sprinkle, Marga Gomez, Alicia Ohs and Vagina Jenkins, will leave you with very little free time on your cultural calendar.

NAtIONAl QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL June 1 to July 2 Various Venues, San Francisco Free to $100 | 415.251.9935 queerculturalcenter.org

image: michael johnstone

Flower Diamond and Rene Capone from The Legend of Hedgehog Boy.

JUNE 2011 |

| 15

ONGOING SHOWS Beach Blanet Babylon Club Fugazi | San Francisco

$25-$130 | 415.421.4222 beachblanketbabylon.com Long-running revue that skewers news an pop culture with songs, dances and outrageously big hats.

Big City Improv Shelton Theater | SF

$20 | 866.468.3399 sheltontheater.com

DAILY 10 | Inga Swearingen Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $20.50-$22.50 | 510.644.2020 thefreight.org

Her bluesy jazz & down-home folk are complemented on stage by Round Mountain’s grittier folk style.

10 | Mark Curry Rrazz Room | SF $26 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

4 years running - every scene is based upon the suggestions shouted out by the audience.

Comedian and personality Mark Curry will perform comedy for two nights only at the Rrazz Room. (Ends 6/11)

Secret Improv Society Shelton Theater | SF

10 | OZMA OF OZ Exit on Taylor | SF $0-$20 | 800.838.3006 theexit.org

$15 | 866.468.3399 sheltontheater.com

Creating characters, stories, scenes, and songs on the spot based on audience suggestions.

Cutting Ball’s Experimental Plays presents trip-hop fantasy based upon L. Frank Baum’s classic. (Ends 6/11)

Shopping! The Musical Shelton Theater | SF

10 | Peter Gabriel Greek Theatre | Berkeley $49.50-$250 | 800.745.3000 petergabriel.com

$27-$29 | 800.838.3006 sheltontheater.com

An original musical revue written and directed by Morris Bobrow about everyone’s favorite pastime.

The Business Dark Room | San Francisco

$5 | At the Door thebusinesscomedy. blogspot.com

Alternative show featuring acts from Comedy Central and SXSW. Marga’s Funny Mondays Marsh | Berkeley

$10 | 415.641.0235 themarsh.org

Comedy and variety showcase featuring a changing line-up of jokesters, hosted by Marga Gomez.

(Ends 7/4) Tales of the City American Conservatory Theater | SF

With The New Blood Orchestra.

Featuring classics hits, reinterpreted for orchestral accompaniment.

10 | Petty Theft George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $15-$20 | 800.380.3095 pettytheftrocks.com

Tribute band pays homage to the legend of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.

10 | Si*Sé Café Du Nord | SF $22 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com

Blending vocal melodies and electronic textures, with dub and understated hip-hop beats.

10 | Sommore Tommy T’s Comedy | Pleasanton $25-$40 | 925.227.1800 tommyts.compleasanton

$35-$120 | 415.749.2228 act-sf.org

She’s appeared in Def Comedy Jam, Showtime at the Apollo, Comicview, and BET’s Live from L.A. (Ends 6/12)

The Pride New Conservatory Theatre Center | SF

10 | Steam Train Comin’ Dance Palace Community Center | Point Reyes Station $8-$10 | 800.380.3095 dancepalace.org

World premiere musical based on Armistead Maupin’s beloved San Francisco stories. (Ends 7/10)

$24-$29 | 415.861.8972 nctcsf.org

Oliver, Philip, and Sylvia are caught in a kind of erotic time warp, between 1958 and today. (Ends 7/3)

16 |

| JUNE 2011

Theatre Lunatico bring you all the ardent absurdity and plaintive pathos of the silent movies. (Ends 6/12)

10 | Tainted Love Uptown Theatre | Napa $25 | 800.745.3000 uptowntheatrenapa.com

1980’s pop cover band. With guest Private Idaho.

10 | The Yellowjackets Yoshi’s | SF $26 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com

Robben Ford is their special guest (and a founding band member) on the 10th. (Ends 6/11) 10 | Tommy Emmanuel Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $25-$35 | 707.226.7372 tommyemmanuel.com

Native Australian and two-time Grammy nominee Emmanuel brings his mastery of the guitar to Napa.

11 | An Evening with the Tubes Montalvo Arts Center | Saratoga $49-$86 | 408.961.5858 montalvoarts.org

Featuring Fee Waybill - bringing back their Underground Rock Show.

11 | Blithe Spirit Lucie Stern Theater | Palo Alto $20-$31 | 650.329.0891 paplayers.org

Noel Coward’s supernaturally delicious comedy of two wives and a happy medium. (Ends 6/26) 11 | Chanticleer Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $20-$44 | 707.226.7372 chanticleer.org

Presenting Romantic Chanticleer-a program about love with music by Whitacre, Mahler, Strauss & more.

11 | Comedy Brains Marsh | Berkeley $15-$50 | 415.641.0235 themarsh.org

Berkeley Gay Comedy Festival with Ali Mafi and Marga Gomez.

11 | Elliott Sharp and Guests Meridian Gallery | SF $12 | 415.398.7229 meridiangallery.org

Guitarist Sharp is joined by percussionists William Winant and Mark E. Miller.

giving a damn about making a movie by nicole dial

Based on a true story, Ron Hutchinson’s play Moonlight and Magnolias takes the audience behind the scenes of one of the greatest movies of all time and into the office of David O. Selznick as he wrestles with the Herculean task of rewriting the entire script of Gone with the Wind in less than a week.

When Selznick realized the script was going to be a flop, he enlisted the help of Ben Hecht, a newspaperman and a well-known script doctor of the day, along with director Victor Fleming, then in the middle of filming The Wizard of Oz. He locked three of them and his secretary in his office for five days living on nothing but peanuts and bananas.

“It’s a comedy but like a lot of good comedies it’s based on reality,” said Stewart Lyle, director of the play. “It’s about four people under enormous pressure to create a piece of artwork, and how they pulled it off. The anger, anguish, and frustration appealed to me as an artist.”

scenes from the book. As they struggle with artistic differences, the audience is given a glimpse into the creative journey and nuances of filmmaking on a grand scale.

Lyle sees the play as something everyone can relate to, especially those in the creative fields. “In creative process there’s a lot is squishy stuff. Art is very squishy. You can’t just have a formula like x, y, z and turn the handle and out comes brilliance.” That assessment carries to the play where, between arguments and compromises, the men are able to create the epic movie that we know today.

comedy

MOONLIGHT & MAGNOLIAS

Moonlight & magnolias June 3 to July 3 Altarena Playhouse 1409 High Street, Alameda $19 to $22 | 510.523.1553 altarena.org

image: patrick kenney - cairdea design & marketing

While attempting to capture the emotional appeal and romance of Margaret Mitchell’s expansive novel, the three men run up against several big problems: Hecht never read the book and Fleming had only skimmed it. In order to familiarize them with the story, Selznick and the others must act out

JUNE 2011 |

| 17

DAILY 11 | Ethic Dance Festival Zellerbach Hall | Berkeley $28-$58 | 510.642.9988 worldartswest.org

Featuring Balinese, Middle Eastern, West African, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Spanish dance & more.

(Ends 6/12) 11 | Eva Marie Saint & Jeffrey Hayden Rrazz Room | SF $40 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

steven underhill | .com

415.370.7152 PHOTOGRAPHY

Love Letters. Oscar-winning actress and TV/movie director’s take on an intimate love story. (Ends 6/12) 11 | Gay Comedy Mafi & Gomez Marsh | Berkeley $15-$50 | 800.838.3006 themarsh.org

Ali Mafi and Marga Gomez share the stage in this installment of The Marsh’s Comedy Brains series.

11 | June Showcase Evergreen Valley Performing Arts Center | San Jose $15-$20 | 800.838.3006 dtidance.com

Dance Theater International and San Jose Youth Ballet present this June Showcase. (Ends 6/12) 11 | Karrin Allyson Yoshi’s | Oakland $18-$22 | 510.238.9200 karrinallyson.com

Grammy-nominated singer-pianist Allyson with her Jazz Quartet, featuring Bruce Barth on piano. (Ends 6/12) 11 | Night at the Improv Front Row Theater | San Ramon $10 | At the Door sanramonperformingarts.com

Join San Ramon Improv U for an interactive evening of comedy.

11 | The Mission Project The Kings Academy Theater | Sunnyvale $15 gracedanceacademy.com

A dance and video celebration of various missions efforts around the world by Grace Dance Academy.

(Ends 6/12)

18 |

| JUNE 2011

11 | Tim McGraw Shoreline Amphitheatre | Mountain View $75-$89 | 800.745.3000 timmcgraw.com

Bringing his Emotional Traffic Tour to the South Bay, with guests Luke Bryan and The Band Perry.

11 | Top Shelf Firehouse Arts Center | Pleasanton $15-$25 | 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org

Presenting Motown Madness, with 70’s, R&B, Funk, Doo-Wap, and even a little Country and Pop. 11 | Tributes to U2 & Tom Petty Club Fox | Redwood City $15 | 650.369.7770 clubfoxrwc.com

Zoo Station-U2 tribute band, joined onstage by Petty Theft-tribute to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.

12 | Brendan Perry & Robin Guthrie Bimbo’s 365 Club | SF $25 | 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com

Dead Can Dance’s Perry and Cocteau Twins’ Guthrie share the stage at Bimbo’s.

12 | Bridgette Bailey Bayview Opera House | SF Free bayviewoperahouse.org

Gospel singer and native San Franciscan on stage at the newly registered National Historic Monument.

12 | John Santos Sextet Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $20.50-$22.50 | 510.644.2020 thefreight.org

Blending musical traditions of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Afro-Caribbean diaspora with jazz improv.

12 | Le Voci Divine in Concert Old First Church | SF $17 | 415.474.1608 oldfirstconcerts.org

The SF Bay Opera Company’s inaugural performance concert of beloved women’s arias, duets & trios.

12 | Springtime Novelettes Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center $20 | 800.838.3006 bayerballetacademy.com

An unusual recital comprised of diverse pieces from classical and neoclassical ballet.

13 | Connie Champagne Rrazz Room | SF $32.50 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Connie will be rocking Judy Garland classics as well as modern songs Garland might sing today.

13 | Deftones Warfield | SF $33-$42.50 | 800.745.3000 thewarfieldtheatre.com

With The Dillinger Escape Plan and Le Butcherettes.

13 | Hats off to Tabard!

Theatre on San Pedro Square | SJ $30-$50 | 800.838.3006 tabardtheatre.org

An evening of song and dance by dozens of local favorite performers.

Benefit for Tabard Theatre.

13 | Maria Schneider Orchestra Zellerbach Hall | Berkeley $50-$68 | 510.642.9988 calperformances.org

Grammy Award-winning composer, arranger, and conductor. With her 21-piece jazz orchestra.

13 | The Importance of Being Earnest Brava Theatre | SF $20-$25 | 800.380.3095 brava.org

Brava!’s Kitchen Series - theatre plus free food. Wilde’s classic comedy of unexpected revelations.

14 | Complete World of Sports (Abridged) San Jose Repertory Theatre | SJ $29-$50 | 408.367.7255 sjrep.com

Reduced Shakespeare Company’s physical theatre show, just in time for Father’s Day. (Ends 6/19) 14 | Das Rheingold War Memorial Opera House | SF $40-$385 | 415.864.3330 sfopera.com

SF Opera presents the opening section of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. In repertoire with the full Cycle. (Ends 6/28)

14 | Dawn Upshaw Zellerbach Hall | Berkeley $72-$88 | 510.642.9988 calperformances.org

MacArthur “genius” grant awardee, with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

14 | Jethro Tull Mountain Winery | Saratoga $49.50-$125 | 800.745.3000 mountainwinery.com

Iconic rockers bring their Aqualung 40th Anniversary Tour to Saratoga.

14 | Kim Nalley Rrazz Room | SF $30-$37.50 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Nalley presents She Put A Spell On Me: The Songs of Nina Simone. (Ends 7/17) 14 | Maraca Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $25-$30 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org

Direct from Cuba, presenting rhythms of salsa, mambo, cha cha cha, and Afro-Cuban jazz.

14 | Mark Lanegan Great American Music Hall | SF $25 | 415.885.0750 gamh.com

Lanegan presents an all acoustic performance. With Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss.

14 | Times New Viking Rickshaw Stop | SF $12-$14 | 415.861.2011 rickshawstop.com

Joined onstage by King Tuff, and Spencey Dude & The Doodles.

14 | Willie K Club Fox | Redwood City $18-$20 | 650.369.7770 clubfoxrwc.com

Hawaiian guitarist brings his Warehouse Blues Tour to Club Fox. 15 | Die Walküre War Memorial Opera House | SF $40-$385 | 415.864.3330 sfopera.com

SF Opera presents the second section of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. In repertoire with the full Cycle. (Ends 6/29) 15 | Mötley Crüe Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | SF $69 | 800.745.3000 motley.com

Veteran rockers, including Tommy Lee on drums, share the stage with Poison & New York Dolls.

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SPOTLIGHTS

DAILY 15 | Stephen Marley Fillmore | SF $26 | 800.745.3000 stephenmarleymusic.com

Five-time Grammy winner and son of Bob and Rita Marley.

15 | Geraldine Walther Herbst Theatre | SF $34-$44 | 415.392.4400 chambermusicsf.org

tiny alice June 2 to 26 Marin Theatre Company 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley $32 to $53 | 415.388.5208 marintheatre.org

16 | 4GIVENESS: In a Family Way Royce Gallery | SF $20 | 800.838.3006 brownpapertickets.com

16 | Thomas Mapfumo Club Fox | Redwood City $16-$20 | 650.369.7770 clubfoxrwc.com

Political satirist is joined by guests Sandy Stec and Lynn Ruth Miller.

(Ends 6/18)

Four new short plays by Susan Jackson. A Southern soap opera where everyone is related & dogs rule. (Ends 6/25)

16 | Butch Whacks & the Glass Packs Bimbo’s 365 Club | SF $45-$50 | 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com

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Either it’s “A Bawdy Blow to Wagner” or “A Wagnerian Burleske-Operette” in this cabaret send-up. (Ends 6/30) 16 | Metamorphosis Aurora Theatre | Berkeley $38-$55 | 510.843.4822 auroratheatre.org

Aries Spears brings his comedy chops to the Tri-Valley area. (Ends 6/19)

Franz Kafka’s tale of transformation is both shockingly horrifying and utterly absurd. Adapted by David Farr and Gísli Örn Gardarsson, and directed by Mark Jackson, who returns to Aurora to put his own spin on this landmark work of existential literature. The story of a traveling salesman’s bizarre transformation from man to man-sized insect, and the effect his change has on his family.

16 | Merry Nibelungs Shelton Theater | SF $30 | 800.838.3006 merrynibelungs.org

15 | Will Durst Punch Line San Francisco | SF $15-$21 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

16 | Aries Spears Tommy T’s Comedy | Pleasanton $15-$30 | 925.227.1800 tommyts.compleasanton

metamorphosis June 7 to July 17 Aurora Theatre Company 2081 Addison Street, Berkeley $10 to $55 | 510.843.4822 auroratheatre.org

Husband and wife progressive country team.

Bringing their 40th anniversary show, and annual farewell performance, to Bimbo’s. (Ends 6/18) 16 | Darwin in Malibu Old First Church | SF $20 | 408.288.7820 northsidetheatre.com

Malibu. Today. With Charles Darwin, Thomas Huxley and the Bishop of Oxford in debate. (Ends 7/10) 16 | Jim Breuer Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $23.50-$25.50 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

SNL alum and star of Half Baked, Breuer brings his blend of humor and rock to the stage. (Ends 6/18)

Kafka’s masterful tale of horror and absurdity about a traveling salesman’s bizarre transformation.

(Ends 7/17)

Zimbabwe-native Mapfumo brings his band The Blacks Unlimited to Club Fox. 16 | Yuja Wang - Pianist Davies Symphony Hall | SF $15-$140 | 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org

23-year-old pianist joins MTT and the SF Symphony Orchestra in Bartók’s Second Piano Concerto. (Ends 6/19) 17 | Diana Krall Mountain Winery | Saratoga $59.50-$129.50 | 800.745.3000 mountainwinery.com

Showcasing her latest Brazilianinfluenced stylings from her current album.

17 | Hootenanny!

Morgan Auditorium | SF $15-$40 | 415.865.2787 sfgmc.org

SF Gay Men’s Chorus presents an evening of country-inspired music, cowboy boots and all. (Ends 6/18)

17 | Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Great American Music Hall | SF $16 | 415.885.0750 gamh.com

Folks band shares the stage with Maria Taylor and Doc Dailey.

images: kevin berne (tiny alice - carrie paff, andrew hurteau), david allen (metamorphosis - madeline h.d. brown, megan trout, allen mckelvey)

Edward Albee’s Tiny Alice is his most controversial work. When Brother Julian is ordered to visit Miss Alice, the Church’s mysterious benefactor, in her gothic mansion, he discovers that he is a pawn trapped in her labyrinthine world of aggressive consorts, manipulative games and seething passions. This is the first Bay Area production of this play, which explores faith, love, money and power, in nearly 40 years.

Chamber Music SF presents awardwinning violist Walther & friends performing Bach, Schumann, Faure & more.

16 | Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison Café Du Nord | SF $20 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com

local dance with a global reach by grier cooper

The 33rd San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival has gathered more than 50 Northern California dance companies representing cultures around the world in venues spanning the Bay from San Francisco to Berkeley. The festival opens in San Francisco City Hall’s Rotunda with a ceremony featuring the Rumsen Ohlone Tribe, and continues for five weeks.

This year’s festival promises two dozen debuts and premieres, with an unparalleled level of diversity in dance performances from a lineup that includes Gadung Kasturi Balinese Dance and Music (Bali), Ballet Folklórico Mexico Danza (Mexico), Emesè: Messengers of the African Diaspora, Bal Anat (Egypt), and Kyoungil Ong (Korea).

Ms. Ong’s choreography is a unique blend of East and West, with a solid foundation in traditional Korean dance. She was a principal dancer for the National Dance Company of Korea before coming to the United States, where she served as artistic director to the San Francisco Korean Culture Center and Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

Julie Mushet, the Festival’s Executive Director says, “Our artists and our audiences wanted more depth and more involvement with each other, so this year we have added participatory events to augment our ‘classic’ Festival program.” These events include Poetry in Motion, an afternoon of dance interspersed with Rumi’s poetry, California Indian Big Time Gathering, a day of performances, ceremonies and crafts honoring the Ohlone, and Pasión, a sultry evening of dance from Peru, Spain and Argentina.

33rd San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival June 3 to July 3 Various Venues $18 to $58 415.474.3914 sfethnicdancefestival.org

image: rj muna

In 2004, she founded OngDance Company with the mission to “push the boundaries of ethnic dance forward into the 21st Century.” The company works not only to promote the cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of Korean artistry, but also to connect individuals and communities to their own cultural backgrounds. Ms. Ong has performed on prestigious stages worldwide, including the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta,

the 1998 World Cup in France, and venues worldwide, including San Francisco’s own Asian Art Museum.

DANCE

ETHNIC DANCE FESTIVAL

Kyoungil Ong

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SPOTLIGHTS

DAILY 17 | John Vanderslice Herbst Theatre | SF $20-$55 | 800.745.3000 johnvanderslice.com

Joined by Minna Choi and the Magik*Magik Orchestra. Indie meets classically trained musicians.

17 | Julian Lage Group Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $22.50-$24.50 | 510.644.2020 thefreight.org

Eclectic guitar virtuoso leads his band in their singular pan-American chamber jazz approach.

17 | Sonic Dance Theater ODC Theater | SF $16-$20 | 415.863.9834 odctheater.org

Featuring three new works by choreographer and director Kim Epifano. (Ends 6/19) 17 | Soul Asylum Montalvo Arts Center | Saratoga $49-$86 | 408.961.5858 montalvoarts.org

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER June 19 | 7:30 pm Uptown Theatre | Napa $40-$50 | 800.745.3000 uptowntheatrenapa.com

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| JUNE 2011

Berkeley Gay Comedy Festival with Janine Brito, David Hawkins, Ronn Vigh.

18 | Go, Dog, Go! Children’s Fairyland | Oakland $15 | 510.296.4433 bactheatre.org

Bay Area Children’s Theatre - The zany excitement of the story for preschoolers comes to life. (Ends 7/17) 18 | Peppino D’Agostino 142 Throckmorton Theatre | Mill Valley $20-$30 | 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org

Composer, arranger and guitarist D’Agostino shares the stage with harpist/violinist Carlos Reyes.

18 | Rock’n’Women show George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $20-$25 | 800.380.3095 rocknwomen.org

In concert in Saratoga with dada.

Featuring Kathi McDonald, Diana Mangano, Linda Imperial, Mari Mack.

17 | Imaginary Invalid Historic Hoover Theatre | San Jose $16-$20 | 408.264.3479 shadyshakes.org

18 | Sandra Bernhard Uptown Theatre | Napa $40 | 800.745.3000 uptowntheatrenapa.com

In Shady Shakespeare’s production of Moliere’s last play, baroque meets glam rock. (Ends 7/2) 17 | The Texas Tornados Slim’s | SF $25 | 888.233.0449 slims-sf.com

Blending early rock & roll, Mexican folk music, R&B, blues, and more.

With Red Meat.

17 | Youssou N’Dour & Angelique Kidjo Paramount Theatre | Oakland $$25-$$80 | 866.920.5299 sfjazz.org

Two Grammy-winning world artists perform together (part of the 12th Annual SFJAZZ Spring Festival).

18 | Assisted Living Imperial Palace | SF $79.50-$99.50 | 866.811.4111 assistedlivingthemusical.com

A ride through the pleasures and perils of later life served up with a dim sum banquet dinner. (Ends 7/31) 18 | Britney Spears HP Pavilion | San Jose $29.50-$350 | 800.745.3000 hppsj.com

No holds barred comedienne brings her show to Napa.

18 | Sony Holland Quintet Oshman Family Jewish Community Center | Palo Alto $22-$25 | 650.223.8664 paloaltojcc.org

A rare Bay Area appearance by vocalist Sony Holland.

18 | The Sorcerer Montgomery Theatre | San Jose $10-$35 | 408.792.4111 lyrictheatre.org

See this beloved Gilbert and Sullivan operetta with a new twist: Bollywood style meets Victoriana. (Ends 6/26) 18 | Tuck & Patti Yoshi’s | Oakland $18-$26 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com

Patti Cathcart blends her jazz vocals with Tuck Andress’ guitar. Father’s Day weekend concerts. (Ends 6/19) 18 | Whoopi Goldberg San Jose Civic | San Jose $40-$75 | 866.449.8118 uniquelives.com

Talking about her years in entertainment.

image: russ harrington (mary chapin carpenter)

June 21 | 7:30 pm Mountain Winery | Saratoga $35-$75 | 800.745.3000 mountainwinery.com Soulful, reflective and passionate, Carpenter blurs the boundaries between genre such as folk, country, rock and blues. Winner of five Grammy Awards (out of 15 nominations) and with four #1 singles, Carpenter was recently honored with The Americana Association’s esteemed “Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music Award”, which recognizes artists who have used their work to raise awareness and promote free speech. Past recipients include Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Judy Collins and Joan Baez, among others. Her concerts will include selections from her latest album, The Age of Miracles, which she calls a personal exploration of regret and resilience

18 | Comedy Brains Marsh | Berkeley $15-$50 | 415.641.0235 themarsh.org

by robert sokol In one of the stranger concepts ever imagined for musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman created a lyrical limbo to gather and tell the stories of Assassins. Squeaky Fromme, John Wilkes Booth, and Lee Harvey Oswald are only a few of the characters, all of whom have attempted to assassinate or succeeded in assassinating a sitting President of the United States.

First presented Off-Broadway in 1990 and revived on Broadway in 2004, the dark musical is the newest presentation by Ray of Light Theatre in San Francisco, whose most recent production was the West Coast premiere of Jerry Springer: The Opera.

Assassins was supposed to be the “small” show to close out their season, but director Jason Hoover soon discovered there’s nothing small about the scope of Assassins. “Springer went really well,” he says, “so we thought we would try to up the ante a little and do a ‘medium-sized’ show as a follow up.

The more we progress with rehearsals, the more we discover and the less ‘medium’ it seems.”

It’s Hoover’s first time directing Sondheim - he once acted in a production of Into the Woods - and he is quick to share credit for how well things are going with rehearsals. “We have a really talented musical director in Dave Möschler. He’s very smart.

He knows what he’s looking for and he makes my job infinitely easier., as does Alex Kirshner, our Assistant Director.”

Probably the biggest surprises for Hoover in digging into the piece have been moments of identification

with some of the characters and their circumstances. “It’s kind of creepy when you start to empathize with some of the emotions and feelings these assassins had. Some were coming from a place of being in their late 20s and not quite knowing what to do with their lives. That’s certainly something I can recognize. I just don’t react to that by shooting at someone. I think the characters are relatable and they just didn’t have the social skills to deal with their issues.”

MUSICAL

ASSASSINS

uncovering killer instincts with ray of light

Despite the moments of empathy and the fact that it is, after all, a musical, Hoover says the production will not shy away from the hard edges of the material. “It will be gritty. Our set will show a very torn-down, dark world. We’re using firing guns because I think hearing the sound and seeing the flash makes it very real. The script says it takes place in limbo, which is completely vague and really great because it’s a chance to create something of your own. I really like the dark, dirty moments in shows. It’s something I seem to naturally gravitate toward.”

ASSASSINS June 2 to 25 Eureka Theatre 215 Jackson Street, SF $20 to $36 | 415.690.7658 roltheatre.com

image: jeff mcclure

Lisa-Marie Newton as Sara Jane Moore, Joel Roster as Leon Czolgosz and Danny Cozart as Samuel Byck.

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SPOTLIGHTS

DAILY 19 | Ethic Dance Festival YBCA (Forum Theatre) | SF $24 | 415.978.2787 worldartswest.org

20 | Matthew Martin Rrazz Room | SF $30 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

19 | Marc Broussard Independent | SF $20 | 800.745.3000 marcbroussard.com

21 | Elmo’s Healthy Heroes HP Pavilion | San Jose $15-$35 | 800.745.3000 hppsj.com

19 | Mary Chapin Carpenter Uptown Theatre | Napa $40-$50 | 800.745.3000 uptowntheatrenapa.com

21 | Mahatma Moses Comedy Tour Punch Line San Francisco | SF $15 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

Poetry in Motion ― An afternoon of dance interspersed with readings of Rumi, Iikyu, and others.

Young vocalist with a growing following. With guests Matt Hires and Chic Gamine.

Five-time Grammy-winner brings her soulful stylings to the Uptown.

19 | Pablo Cruise Rancho Nicasio | Nicasio $32-$35 | 415.662.2219 ranchonicasio.com

PINK MARTINI June 30 - July 1 | 8:00 pm Davies Symphony Hall | SF $20-$115 | 415.8646000 uptowntheatrenapa.com

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19 | Sony Holland Duo Café Divine | SF Free | 415.986.3414 cafedivinesf.com

Dine at Divine with musical entertainment by Sony and Jerry Holland.

19 | Tech N9ne Regency Ballroom | SF $30 | 800.745.3000 therealtechn9ne.com

With Jay Rock, Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, Big Scoob, Mayday, Steve Stone, and Kung Fu Vampire.

19 | Wynton Marsalis Davies Symphony Hall | SF $30-$95 | 866.920.5299 wyntonmarsalis.org

SFJAZZ presents Marsalis on stage with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

20 | 42nd Street Moon Benefit Concert Alcazar Theatre | SF 415.255.8207 42ndstmoon.org

Scandals, Follies & A Bowl of Cherries - Celebrating The Great Broadway Revue.

When Super Grover loses his superness, Sesame Street needs a hero. Enter Elmo.

An evening of cross-cultural comedy starring Dhaya Lakshminarayanan, Joe Nguyen and Samson Koletkar.

21 | Mary Chapin Carpenter Mountain Winery | Saratoga $35-$75 | 800.745.3000 mountainwinery.com

Combining folk, country, acoustic, rock and blues, Carpenter brings her unique style to Saratoga.

21 | Shepley Metcalf Rrazz Room | SF $20 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Join Metcalf & pianist Mike Greensill in discovering some of the best of Fran Landesman’s canon.

21 | The Wailin’ Jennys Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $34.50-$36.50 | 510.644.2020 thefreight.org

Award-winning world roots music trio known for their three-part harmonies. (Ends 6/22) 21 | Tigers Be Still SF Playhouse | SF $30-$50 | 415.677.9596 sfplayhouse.org

A young woman expects the perfect career and life to fall into place upon earning her masters. (Ends 7/30) 22 | Face To Face Regency Ballroom | SF $25 | 800.745.3000 facetofacemusic.com

With Strung Out, Blitzkid, and The Darlings.

image: autumn de wilde (thomas lauderdale)

Eclectic” can’t even begin to describe the genre-busting musical style of Pink Martini.

Thomas Lauderdale, founder of the group, says that the band “draws inspiration from the romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s or ‘50s … with a more global perspective. We write a lot of songs … but we also champion songs like Ernesto Lecuona’s “Andalucia”or “Amado mio”from the Rita Hayworth film Gilda or “Kikuchiyo to mohshimasu (My name is Kikuchiyo)”made famous in the 1960s by the great Japanese group Hiroshi Wada & His Mahina Stars. In that sense we’re a bit like musical archeologists, digging through recordings and scores of years past and rediscovering beautiful songs.” Lauderdale and musical co-conspirator China Forbes, who is also the band’s lead vocalist, both hail from multicultural families, and they are naturally inclined to find beauty in blending diverse forms into a cohesive performance.

Celebrate Father’s Day with BBQ on the lawn as Pablo Cruise offer their classic laid back stylings.

All Singing, All Dancing, All Dead! - a musical revue to kick off Pride Week.

it was a dark and stormy night... by steve murray

If you’re looking for a comic evening of tongue-incheek melodrama, Charles Ludlam’s Obie-winning farce should more than satisfy your itch. The Mystery of Irma Vep satirizes everything from Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca and Victorian melodrama to The Mummy’s Curse.

costume changes. This production features 6th Street Playhouse’s Artistic Director Craig A. Miller as Lady Enid (and others) and Ryan Schabach as Lord Edgar Hillcrest, Jane Twisden and The Intruder.

The original production bowed in 1984 at Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theater Company in New York and featured the author and his partner Everett Quinton in a script that takes both a swipe at and a cue from the Brontë sisters, Oscar Wilde and William Shakespeare among others.

Usually played in high camp style, Ludlam - who died in 1987 - once said his slant “was actually to take things very seriously, especially focusing on those things held in low esteem by society and revaluing them, giving them new meaning, new worth, by changing their context.” Irma Vep does this with gusto.

It’s a two-hander and actors play roles of both sexes that include a sympathetic werewolf, a vampire and an Egyptian princess brought to life when her tomb is opened. In order to ensure the cross-dressing, rights to perform the play include a stipulation that the actors cast in each production must be of the same gender.

the mysterY of irma vep June 3 to 26 6th Street Playhouse 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa $15 to $32 | 707.523.4185 6thstreetplayhouse.com

farce

THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP

The show also requires a large number of sound cues, props, special effects, and lightning-quick

image: eric chazankin

Craig A. Miller

JUNE 2011 |

| 25

SPOTLIGHTS

DAILY 22 | John Mulaney Punch Line San Francisco | SF $15-$22.50 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

23 | Red Molly Club Fox | Redwood City $16-$18 | 650.369.7770 clubfoxrwc.com

22 | Panic! at the Disco Warfield | SF $25-$28 | 800.745.3000 thewarfieldtheatre.com

23 | Shawn & Marlon Wayans Tommy T’s Comedy | Pleasanton $25-$40 | 925.227.1800 tommyts.compleasanton

SNL writer and stand-up comedian is joined onstage by Joe Mande and Emily Heller. (Ends 6/25)

[title of show] June 1 to 26 Mountain View Center 500 Castro Street, Mountain View $24 to $42 | 650.463.1960 theatreworks.org

Imagine a funny new musical by a pair of terrifically talented writers about a pair of terrifically talented writers writing a funny new musical.

A love letter to musical theatre, this hit Broadway comedy chronicles four theatre geeks struggling to escape a run-down rehearsal hall and scale the heights of the Great White Way.

With fun. and Funeral Party.

22 | Wiz Khalifa Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | SF $35 | 800.745.3000 wizkhalifa.com

Hip-hop artist who began his career in 2006. With guests Big Sean, Chevy Woods, and DJ Bonics.

23 | Anjelah Johnson Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $30.50-$32.50 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

MADtv alum and star of her own Comedy Central Special, San Jose-native brings her act to Cobb’s. (Ends 6/26)

Comedian and actor of both the big and small screens, brings his standup to the South Bay. (Ends 6/26) 23 | Hugh Masekela Yoshi’s | Oakland $28 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com

SHARON McNIGHT June 6 & 7 | 8:00 pm Rrazz Room 222 Mason Street, SF $30 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy Tony Nominated singer & master entertainer Sharon McNight at her quintessential best for a new show that will feature her beloved tour-de-force scene in Oz from “The Wizard of Oz,” doing all the voices-wide-eyed Judy Garland, sugary sweet Billy Burke, deliciously evil Margaret Hamilton & various distinctive munchkins-in all the dialogue & Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs “Come Out,” “Ding, Dong, the Witch Is Dead,” & “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.”

Joan Edgar tickles the ivories.

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| JUNE 2011

South African-native Masekela brings his trumpet artistry to Yoshi’s.

(Ends 6/24) 23 | Meklit Hadero Independent | SF $18-$20 | 800.745.3000 meklithadero.com

Hadero was born in Ethiopia, raised in the U.S. and nurtured by San Francisco’s arts scene.

23 | MTT conducts Missa solemnis Davies Symphony Hall | SF $35-$140 | 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org

SF Symphony presents Beethoven’s Missa with 4 soloists, including soprano Christine Brewer. (Ends 6/26)

The two youngest of the famous siblings have accomplished a lot in their relatively short lives. (Ends 6/26) 23 | Spencer Day Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $25-$30 | 707.226.7372 spencerday.com

Vocalist, songwriter and pianist Spencer Day has already released three albums.

23 | Teatro ZinZanni: Maestro’s Enchantment Teatro ZinZanni | SF $117-$186 | 415.438.2668 love.zinzanni.org

Joan Baez returns. European cabaret and cirque performers served up with a gourmet five-course meal. (Ends 7/31) 24 | A Raisin in the Sun Pear Avenue Theatre | Mountain View $15-$30 | 800.380.3095 thepear.org

Lorraine Hansberry’s masterpiece about an African-American family claiming the American Dream. (Ends 7/10) 24 | Duncan Sheik Slim’s | SF $25 | 888.233.0449 slims-sf.com

Performing tracks from his Covers 80s album. With The Watson Twins.

24 | Elmo’s Healthy Heroes Oracle Arena | Oakland $15-$35 | 800.745.3000 coliseum.com

When Super Grover loses his superness, Sesame Street needs a hero. Enter Elmo.

images: mark kitaoka ([title of show] - ian leonard, farah alvin), all others - courtesy photo (sharon mcnight)

23 | Harland Williams Improv Comedy Club | San Jose $20-$22 | 408.280.7475 improv.com

Female trio known for their three-part harmonies of bluegrass and gospel classics.

the dude abides with iambic pentameter by james j. siegel

The Bard meets The Dude. That’s the idea behind the Primitive Screwhead’s Much Ado About Lebowski. The show takes Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 film The Big Lebowski and gives it the Shakespearean treatment, complete with Greek chorus and live minstrels.

Sean Madeira, founder of the Screwheads, and director and producer of the Lebowski mashup, admitted that he had never seen the film until the idea was brought to him by IndieFest founder Jeff Ross. After seeing it, the “classic characters” and the plot of mistaken identity made it a perfect marriage with Shakespeare. It was also a perfect fit for Medeira and his Screwhead team.

Madeira, a film student and self-professed “pop culture geek,” started his theater company with the idea of bringing film to the stage. For example, the first production the company produced was Evil Dead: Live, which brought Sam Raimi’s gore fest Evil Dead to a live audience.

“There was blood all over the theater,” said Madeira. In fact, audience members were warned in advance not to wear clothes they would hate to see ruined. Now the Screwheads have turned to another cult classic. “It’s been really well received,” Madeira said about the Lebowski production.

The show played to audiences last year, and will play every weekend through June as part of IndieFest. Madeira has seen how devoted fans are to the Lebowski film. Audience members have been known to finish lines of dialogue with the actors and even sing along to the film’s soundtrack that plays during the show.

parody

MUCH ADO ABOUT LEBOWSKI

“There are people I’ve met who are very passionate about the movie” Madeira said.

So with its second go around, the Primitive Screwheads are making sure they include as many Lebowski elements as possible, including serving pre-show white Russians. There’s also a salute to other titles in the Coen brothers filmography. Raising Arizona, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and other Coen hits get a wink and a nod here.

Much Ado About Lebowski June 3 to 26 CellSpace 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco $20 to $25 | 415.820.3907 sfindie.com

image: jon bauer

Pete Lynch, Omied Far, and Steve Bologna

JUNE 2011 |

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THEATRE

DANCE

MUSIC

TOURS

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a truly monumental production event

image: karin cooper / washington national opera

by jason victor serinus Of all the classical music events this month, nothing remotely equals the sheer magnitude and import of San Francisco Opera (SFO) staging three complete cycles of Richard Wagner’s Ring (aka Der Ring des Nibelungen). The music, long mislabeled as “heavy,” includes some of the most thrilling and rapturous scenes for voice and orchestra ever composed. Few can remain unmoved by the power and humanity of Wagner’s writing.

Those without the finances (significant) and fortitude (equal) to spend a week immersed in Wagner’s demanding cycle – the running time of the shortest opera, Das Rheingold, is two and a half hours without bladder relief – can opt for single performances of the final two operas, Siegfried (May 29) and the 4.5 hour Götterdämmerung (June 5). People are already begging for seats.

The sprawling story, with its roots in Norse mythology and Wagner’s personal angst, ultimately addresses the consequences of disturbing the natural order of things. With capitalism plundering the planet, and American politicians putting far more resources into defense than education, the lessons of the Ring have never been more relevant.

Der Ring des Nibelungen Through July 3 San Francisco War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Nes Avenue, SF $95 to $360 | 415.864.3330 sfopera.com

Staging all four Ring operas in the course of a week is such a mammoth undertaking that it has become a defining act for opera companies worldwide. With SFO, the Metropolitan Opera, and Los Angeles Opera all staging single or complete cycle productions this season, competition for the finest singers has been especially fierce. SFO’s casts include Mark Delavan, one of a small handful of bass-baritones capable of singing Wotan, and Nina Stemme, one of the finest Wagnerian sopranos of our era. They also include several singers making their SFO debuts, not the least of whom are Anja Kampe (Sieglinde), Gordon Hawkins (Alberich), and Ronnita Miller (Erda). There’s also special interest in the two Siegfrieds, Jay Hunter Morris and Ian Storey; the Siegmund (Brandon Jovanovich), and local Wagnerian debuts from former Adler Fellows Heidi Melton and Daveda Karanas.

OPERA

Der Ring des Nibelungen

Name Name

Pär Lindskog and Iréne Theorin in Washington’s 2009 production.

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MUSIC CLUBS The following is a partial list of music clubs in the Bay Area with ever-changing bookings of bands and other entertainment. If you enjoy the independent music scene, we recommend you call or check the websites for these clubs to get the latest performance schedules and information about ticket prices, age limits and minimum charges (if any).

BISCUITS & BLUES Union Square, SF biscuitsandblues.com | 415.292.2583 Bottom of the Hill Potrero Hill, SF bottomofthehill.com | 415.621.4455 Café du Nord Upper Market, SF cafedunord.com | 415.861.5016 Freight & Salvage Berkeley freightandsalvage.org | 510.644.2020 George’s San Rafael georgesnightclub.com | 415.226.0262 Great American Music Hall Tenderloin, SF gamh.com | 888.233.0449 Hemlock Tavern Polk Gulch, SF hemlocktavern.com | No Calls Independent Alamo Square, SF theindependentsf.com | 415.771.1421 Johnny Foley’s Union Square, SF johnnyfoleys.com | 415.954.0777 Rancho Nicasio Marin ranchonicasio.com | 415.662.2219 Regency Ballroom Civic Center, SF theregencyballroom.com | 800.745.3000 Rickshaw Stop Civic Center, SF rickshawstop.com | 415.861.2011 Slim’s SOMA, SF slims-sf.com | 888.233.0449

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| JUNE 2011

DAILY 24 | Ethic Dance Festival YBCA (Novellus Theater) | SF $18-$58 | 415.978.2787 worldartswest.org

Yup’ik Eskimo, Indian, Filipino, Korean, Liberian, Irish, Eastern European, Mexican dance and more.

(Ends 7/3) 24 | King O’ the Moon Willows Theatre | Concord $20-$32 | 925.798.1300 willowstheatre.com

A family gathers to honor their father’s memory and they become entangled in each others’ problems.

(Ends 7/17) 24 | Kitty Margolis Yoshi’s | SF $25 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com

Margolis makes her Yoshi’s debut, accompanied by New York drummer Allison Miller.

24 | Lucinda Williams Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $39-$45 | 707.546.3600 lucindawilliams.com

Two-time Grammy winner, singer songwriter Williams brings her Americana style to the stage.

24 | Musiq Soulchild Bimbo’s 365 Club | SF $40 | 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com

Philly-native blends soul, funk and hip-hop in his music.

24 | Pride & Joy George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $20 | 800.380.3095 pridejoy.com

Still going strong after 28 years of presenting great pop/soul dance numbers in the Bay Area.

24 | Sandra Bernhard Marines’ Memorial Theatre | SF $45-$75 | 415.771.6900 marinesmemorialtheatre.com

Sandra Bernhard is 97 on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 greatest standups of all time. (Ends 6/25) 24 | So Not the Cleavers 142 Throckmorton Theatre | Mill Valley $20-$22 | 415.383.9600 sonotthecleavers.com

Two gay parents and two straight parents discover that parents are parents, regardless of sexuality.

24 | Tender Loin Exit on Taylor | SF $20 | 800.838.3006 theexit.org

Annie Elias’ documentary theater piece about the Tenderloin. Part of Cutting Ball’s Risk is This. (Ends 6/25)

24 | The Glitch Mob Regency Ballroom | SF $25 | 800.745.3000 theglitchmob.com

With Ana Sia and Comma.

24 | Zoe Keating Great American Music Hall | SF $23 | 415.885.0750 gamh.com

Cellist and arranger Keating is joined by members of Magik*Magik Orchestra. (Ends 6/25) 25 | 2nd Annual Moonwalker Event Fox Theatre | Redwood City $25-$35 | 650.369.7770 foxrwc.com

Fesaturing Foreverland - a 14-piece tribute to Michael Jackson.

25 | Alison Krauss & Union Station Greek Theatre | Berkeley $39.50-$125 | 800.745.3000 alisonkrauss.com

Hot on the heels of releasing their first album in 7 years, bringing Bluegrass to the Greek.

25 | Ana Moura Herbst Theatre | SF $25-$65 | 866.468.3399 sfjazz.org

Anna Moura--critically acclaimed international singer of the Fado tradition--in SF for 1 night only.

25 | ArtemesiaBlack City Lights Theater | San Jose $15 | 408.295.4200 cltc.org

Americana Gothic - CD Release Concert. With Kenny Schick.

25 | Circle The Earth Bankhead Theater | Livermore $12-$25 | 925.373.6800 livermoreperformingarts.org

Valley Dance Theatre’s summer showcase featuring Asian, African, Latin American and European dances.

25 | Comedy Brains Marsh | Berkeley $15-$50 | 415.641.0235 themarsh.org

Smart Smut: Liz Grant, Clean Sanchez.

25 | Ethic Dance Festival YBCA (Forum Theatre) | SF $24 | 415.978.2787 worldartswest.org

Solstice Celebration with Polish, English, Mexican and American dances.

25 | Jonathan Poretz: Night Beat at THE Rrazz Rrazz Room | SF $25 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

A late night lounge event for connoisseurs of the Vegas style and sound.

25 | The Sound of Music Saratoga Civic Theater | Saratoga $16-$30 | 800.838.3006 wvlo.org

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved classic winner of six Tony awards including Best Musical. (Ends 7/23) 26 | Cartoon Jazz Orchestra Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $22.50-$24.50 | 510.644.2020 thefreight.org

Jeff Sanford’s 13-piece band plays the music of Raymond Scott, composer of cartoon themes for years.

26 | Ethic Dance Festival YBCA (Forum Theatre) | SF $24 | 415.978.2787 worldartswest.org

Rising Up — Dances of strength and empowerment of Aztec, Pilipino, Capoeira and Afro-Cuban styles.

26 | So Not The Cleavers Club Fox | Redwood City $20 | 650.369.7770 sonotthecleavers.com

So Not The Cleavers will deliver big laughs during Pride Week this June.

27 | Billy Elliot Orpheum Theatre | SF $55-$200 | 888.746.1799 shnsf.com

A young boy from a poor neighborhood dreams of becoming a dancer in this Elton John musical.

(Ends 9/27) 27 | Johnny Mathis Davies Symphony Hall | SF $15-$110 | 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org

Legendary Mathis returns to the Bay Area for an evening with the SF Symphony.

27 | Nancy Dussault Rrazz Room | SF $35 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com

Nancy Dussault hands in a solo performance in “I’m In Love Again,” playing for one weekend only. (Ends 6/28) 27 | Yellow Magic Orchestra Warfield | SF $42.50-$85 | 800.745.3000 thewarfieldtheatre.com

Formed in the 70s, and influential among techno, hippo, pop and rock musicians.

29 | Dropkick Murphys Warfield | SF $29.50 | 800.745.3000 thewarfieldtheatre.com

Joined onstage at the Warfield by Chuck Ragan.

30 | Dave Burleigh Rooster T. Feathers | Sunnyvale $12-$16 | 408.736.0921 roostertfeathers.com

Dave Burleigh has been entertaining audiences around the globe with his unique blend of comedy. (Ends 7/3) 30 | Hal Sparks Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $18.50-$22.50 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com

Co-star of the hit Showtime series Queer As Folk, Sparks shares the stage with Charlyne Yi. (Ends 7/3) 30 | Pink Martini Davies Symphony Hall | SF $20-$115 | 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org

With the San Francisco Symphony, Pink Martini brings their unique musical style to Davies once more.

(Ends 7/1)

COMEDY & IMPROV The following is a partial list of comedy clubs and improv groups in the Bay Area. Please call or check the websites to get the latest schedules, ticket information, age limits and minimum charges (if any).

BATS Marina, SF improv.org | 415.474.6776 BIG CITY IMPROV Union Square, SF sheltontheater.com | 415.433.1227 COBB’S COMEDY CLUB North Beach, SF cobbscomedyclub.com | 415.928.4320 THE COMEDY SHOP Mission, SF comedyshop.wordpress.com COMEDYSportz San Jose comedysportzsanjose.com THE DARK ROOM Mission, SF darkroomsf.com | 415.401.7987 ENDGAMES IMPROV Union Square, SF endgamesimprov.com ENSO Half Moon Bay ensohmb.com | 650.726.1409 FUNNY TUESDAYS Castro, SF harveyssf.com | 415.431.4278 THE IMPROV San Jose improv.com | 408.280.7475 THE MARSH Berkeley themarsh.org | 415.641.0235 PUNCHLINE Enbarcadero, SF punchlinecomedyclub.com | 415.397.7573 ROOSTER T. FEATHERS Sunnyvale roostertfeathers.com | 408.736.0921 SECRET IMPROV SOCIETY Union Square, SF improvsociety.com STONE SOUP IMPROV Oakland stonesoupimprov.com | 510.380.6808 JUNE 2011 |

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design publications websites

415.552.8040 780 sutter street san francisco, ca 94109

www.viamedia.net a division of Caselli Partners LLC

by jim van buskirk The musical hit Avenue Q is coming to San Jose Stage Company in a new, locally-produced version.

Now in its 28th season, “the Stage” bills itself as “the Bay Area’s premiere Off-Broadway theatre.”

This makes it an ideal venue to see Avenue Q, which originated off-Broadway, went on to Broadway and surprise wins for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book at the 2004 Tony Awards, ran for six years and then, in a rare turn of events, returned to Off-Broadway, where it is still running. A touring production recently stopped in San Francisco.

Director Rick Singleton explained that although the San Jose Stage was given the rights “late in the game, we lucked out when original cast member Rick Lyon happened to have just built a set of puppets for another production that was ultimately unable to use them.“ David Colston Corris, who appeared in the recent tour, again plays Rod, a closeted gay Republican investment banker, as well as recent college graduate Princeton. The other colorful characters, including Kate Monster, Nicky, Lucy the Slut and Trekkie Monster, were all cast with local performers who had previously performed with the company and who, according to Singleton, “expressed interest in working with puppets.”

Singleton explains that the show uses a variety of puppet types including “single rod puppets, double rod puppets and live-hands puppets requiring two puppeteers, each of whom contributes one hand and arm.” He notes “whereas most musicals consist of one-third music, one-third story, and one-third choreography, Avenue Q includes onethird puppetry. “

MUSICAL

AVENUE Q

these puppets are no dummies

The show’s libretto is by Jeff Whitty, currently represented in San Francisco by Tales of the City. It also boasts two dozen irreverent songs

by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez including “It Sucks to Be Me,” “Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist,” “I’m Not Gay,” and “The Internet Is For Porn.” Although inspired by the ubiquitous children’s television program Sesame Street, the show’s creators suggest that the show is likely not suitable for young children, but teens will love it. avenue q June 1 to July 3 San Jose Stage Company 490 South First Street, San Jose $16.50 to $50 | 408.283.7142 thestage.org

image: john daughtry

Nicky & Rod

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by steve murray California Shakespeare Theatre opens its 38th season with their first-ever production of Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare’s version of the revenge tragedies of his day. The play seems prophetic to today’s political zeitgeist. According to director Joel Sass, “Titus Andronicus, in the guise of a juicy revenge tale, is the vision of a society dismembering itself. And while the gleeful gory spectacle of the play is undeniably part of its notorious appeal, it is not a bloodbath just for the sake of a bloodbath. It’s a play that is profoundly concerned with the personal and societal consequences of violence. Ultimately the major question is: Is this society going to heal?

Do the virtues of mercy, empathy, compromise, and forgiveness have any power to survive in this world? And who among the combatants is capable of halting the cycle of revenge?”

Set during the last days of the Roman Empire, Titus Andronicus is the story of a career military man who returns from a ten-year-long battle to a hero’s welcome, only to find his long-awaited retirement from public life derailed and his family destroyed by the war’s cultural and religious fallout. Director Sass has assembled an intrepid team of designers to create a world he describes as “a film set from a Fellini movie combined with Kabuki theater, with a big chunk of Hoover Dam thrown in.”

book’ most of his life. He has a sense of order of the way life should be led, both militarily and at home. When this sense of order is displaced by chaos, by injustice, by random brutality rather than that measured brutality in which his military self resides, he finds himself emotionally at sea with no stars to guide him.”

tragedy

TITUS ANDRONICUS

cal shakes serves up a hearty fare

Founded in 1974, now under the leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone and Managing Director Susie Falk, Cal Shakes was recently named “one of the most beautiful outdoor performing spaces in America” by the Wall Street Journal. titus andronicus June 1 to 26 Bruns Amphitheater 100 Gateway Boulevard, Orinda $35 to $66 | 510.548.9666 calshakes.org

No stranger to the bard, actor James Carpenter believes “Titus seems a man who has lived ‘by the

image: kevin berne

James Carpenter

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BACK Suzanne Ramsey, Evie Lovelle, Mimi Le Meaux and Roky Roulette at the screening of Tournee at the Castro

Betty Buckley at the Rrazz Room

image: steven underhill

image: steven underhill

Joe Wicht and Sean Ray at the Cats benefit at Martuni’s

Femi Kuti at Bimbo’s 365 Club

Marilyn Levinson at Bay Area Cabaret

image: steven underhill

image: via media

image: via media

Lani Hall and Herb Alpert at the Palace of Fine Arts

Sheryl Lee Ralph at the Fairmont

Bobby Thornton at the Venetian Room

image: via media

image: via media

image: via media

Michael Williams and Lillias White at the Tonga Room

Hugh Jackman at the Curran

Lynda Carter at the Hotel Nikko

image: via media

image: steven underhill

image: via media

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