BAYSTAGES | 2012.01 - January

JANUARY 2012 I Your Guide to the Best Theatre, Music, Dance and More in the Bay Area!

[THE ARTISTS]

JACK JONES ROSIE LEDET SUSAN GRAHAM LISA LAMPANELLI TAYLOR EIGSTI [THE SHOWS]

GHOST LIGHT HUMOR ABUSE THE GONDOLIERS NAMELESS FOREST

+

[THE COVER]

ONEGIN Pushkin Meets Tchaikovsky at San Francisco Ballet

THE EDWARDIAN BALL ALSO: PINA I EDDIE IZZARD I DEVO I PETER YARROW I CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN I GYPSY

oCtoBER 31 - NovEMBER 2 JANUARY tHE FaBUloUs...5 - 8

LEGENDARY BAY AREA MAUDE MAGGART GIANTS OF JAZZ SERIES: EvERYBodY’s doiN’ it

FRANK NovEMBER 6 JACKSON FAITH WINTHROP & FRIENDS

NovEMBER 3 - 6

JANUARY 9 & 10

RACHELLE RUSS FERRELLLORENSON Up ClosE & pERsoNal “AS LONG AS I’M SINGING”: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF

“Ya Gotta HavE FaitH!” ... iN soNG, spiRit, aNd sass.

“TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLE” WITH SPECIAL GUEST NovEMBER 7 - 9 KIM NALLEY

CARLY OZARD

soMEtHiNG WoNdERFUl?

BOBBY DARIN NovEMBER 10 - 13 aN iNtiMatE EvENiNG WitH

NovEMBER 13 12 & 14- 15 JANUARY 2010 NiGHtliFE aWaRd – oUtstaNdiNG dUo

OTTMAR LIEBERT

FEATURING : ANGELA BOFILL, NovEMBER 15 MELBA MOORE, DAVE VALENTIN, RUSS LORENSON JEANIE AND THE ANGELA BOFILL BAND “as loNGTRACY, as i’M siNGiNG”:

GRaMMY aWaRd WiNNiNG voCalist/piaNist

THE ANGELA ERIC COMSTOCK & BOFILL BARBARA FASANO EXPERIENCE tHE MUsiC oF BoBBY daRiN

NovEMBER 19 & 20

SONY HOLLAND JANUARY 17 - 22

JACK NovEMBER 21 - 23 JONES

“ONE OF THE MAJOR VERONICA KLAUS “aFtER daRk” SINGERS OF FEatURiNG OUR TIME”tHE Hall tRio -taMMY FRANK SINATRA NovEMBER 25 - 27

SUZANNE WESTENHOEFER

Melba Moore

NovEMBER 16 - 20

DIANE SCHUUR “dEEdlEs”

JANUARY 25 - 29

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES ...

JEFFERSON STARSHIP HolidaY CHEERs WitH DEANA MARTIN HoNoRiNG HER FatHER NovEMBER 25 - 27

dEaN MaRtiN

aMERiCa’s FavoRitE lEsBiaN “sEMi sWEEt” 222 222Mason MasonStreet, Street,San SanFrancisco, Francisco,CA CA 94102 94102

GrandPiano Pianocourtesy courtesyofofBaldwin Baldwin Grand

800-380-3095 800-380-3095 • www.TheRrazzRoom.com www.TheRrazzRoom.com

editor ROBERT SOKOL editor@baystages.com

THE STAGES PLAY I Ghost Light............................................................................ 5 CLASSICAL I Susan Graham.......................................................... 7 CLOWN I Humor Abuse.................................................................... 9 CABARET I Jack Jones...................................................................11 INSULT I Lisa Lampanelli...............................................................13 DANCE I Nameless Forest..............................................................17 ZYDECO I Rosie Ledet....................................................................19 GOREY I The Edwardian Ball.........................................................21 MUSIC I Taylor Eigsti......................................................................23 OPERETTA I The Gondoliers.........................................................25 BALLET I Onegin.............................................................................27 BACK I Behind the Scenes with

...............................28

Copyright © 2011-2012 by Caselli Partners LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in California.

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

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

Information is subject to change without notice.

publisher RON WILLIS publisher@baystages.com design VIA MEDIA design@viamedia.net contributing writers grier cooper Andrew gilbert nicole gluckstern daphne o’neal chris rené will schmid ROBERT SOKOL lee walker elizabeth warnimont Writers may submit resumes and samples to editor@baystages.com for consideration.

contributing photographers STEVEN UNDERHILL cover image Maria Kochetkova Vitor Luiz in ONEGIN image: erik tomasson

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

advertising sales RON WILLIS 415.552.8040 advertise@baystages.com

image: pak han (future motive power - christopher white)

distribution JUAN RAMIREZ If you need additional copies or would like to become a distribution point for BAYSTAGES please call our office. PDF copies of individual articles are available upon request. Press releases and promotional materials may be sent to:

thisjustin@baystages.com

future motive power January 6 to 29 The Old Mint 88 Fifth Street, SF $15 to $30 I 800.838.3006 mugwumpin.org

or mailed to:

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

JANUARY 2012 I

I1

REVOLVING

Blanca in Voices of Latin Rock Autism Awareness Benefit at Bimbos. (1/26)

MUSIC VENUES

2I

I JANUARY 2012

COMEDY & IMPROV BATS IMPROV Marina, SF improv.org I 415.474.6776

BIG CITY IMPROV Union Square, SF sheltontheater.com I 415.433.1227 BLUE BLANKET IMPROV Half Moon Bay blueblanketimprov.com I 650.726.0770 BUNJO’S COMEDY LOUNGE Dublin bunjoscomedy.com I 925.264.4413 COBB’S COMEDY CLUB North Beach, SF cobbscomedyclub.com I 415.928.4320 COMEDY OFF BROADWAY Oakland coboak.com I 510.214.2626 COMEDYSportz San Jose comedysportzsanjose.com DARK ROOM Mission, SF darkroomsf.com I 415.401.7987 ENDGAMES IMPROV Union Square, SF endgamesimprov.com ENSO Half Moon Bay ensohmb.com I 650.726.1409 HARVEY’S FUNNY TUESDAYS Castro, SF harveyssf.com I 415.431.4278 IMPROV San Jose improv.com I 408.280.7475 MADE UP THEATRE Fremont madeuptheatre.com I 510.573.3633 PUNCHLINE Embarcadero, SF punchlinecomedyclub.com I 415.397.7573 ROOSTER T. FEATHERS Sunnyvale roostertfeathers.com I 408.736.0921 SECRET IMPROV SOCIETY Union Square, SF improvsociety.com STONE SOUP IMPROV Oakland stonesoupimprov.com I 510.380.6808

..............................................

These venues book a frequently changing roster of artists. Call or check the websites for the latest performance information including minimums and age limits (if any).

Contact daily@baystages.com with additions or corrections.

image: courtesy photo (blanca)

BIMBO’S 365 CLUB North Beach, SF bimbos365club.com I 415.474.0365 BISCUITS & BLUES Union Square, SF biscuitsandblues.com I 415.292.2583 BLANK CLUB San Jose theblankclub.com I 408.292.5265 BLISS BAR Noe Valley, SF blissbarsf.com I 415.826.6200 Bottom of the Hill Potrero Hill, SF bottomofthehill.com I 415.621.4455 Café du Nord Upper Market, SF cafedunord.com I 415.861.5016 club fox Redwood City clubfoxrwc.com I 650.369.7770 ELBO ROOM Mission, SF elbo.com I 415.552.7788 EL RIO Mission, SF elriosf.com I 415.282.3325 FILLMORE Fillmore, SF thefillmore.com I 415.346.6000 Freight & Salvage Berkeley freightandsalvage.org I 510.644.2020 George’s NIGHTCLUB San Rafael georgesnightclub.com I 415.226.0262 Great American Music Hall Tenderloin, SF gamh.com I 888.233.0449 Hemlock Tavern Polk Gulch, SF hemlocktavern.com I No Number Given HOTEL UTAH SALOON SOMA, SF hotelutah.com I 415.546.6300

Independent Alamo Square, SF theindependentsf.com I 415.771.1421 Johnny Foley’s Union Square, SF johnnyfoleys.com I 415.954.0777 MEZZANINE SOMA, SF mezzaninesf.com I 415.625.8880 napa valley opera house Napa nvoh.com I 707.226.7372 NEW PARISH Oakland thenewparish.com I 510.444.7474 Rancho Nicasio Marin ranchonicasio.com I 415.662.2219 Regency Ballroom Civic Center, SF theregencyballroom.com I 800.745.3000 Rickshaw Stop Civic Center, SF rickshawstop.com I 415.861.2011 ROCKIT ROOM Richmond, SF rock-it-room.com I 415.387.6343 RRAZZ ROOM Union Square, SF therrazzroom.com I 415. 394.1189 SAVANNAH JAZZ Mission, SF savannajazz.com I 415.624.4549 SHATTUCK DOWN LOW Berkeley shattuckdownlow.com I 510.455.4735 SILO’S Napa silosnapa.com I 707.251.5833 Slim’s SOMA, SF slims-sf.com I No Number Given STARRY PLOUGH Berkeley starryploughpub.com I 510.841.1424 THEE PARKSIDE Potrero Hill, SF theeparkside.com I 415.252.1330 UPTOWN THEATRE Napa uptowntheatrenapa.com I 707.259.0123 WARFIELD Downtown, SF thewarfieldtheatre.com I 800.745.3000 YOSHI’S Oakland + Fillmore, SF yoshis.com I 510-238-9200 + 415.655.5600

view from the editor Happy 2012, everyone!

Of course I’m writing this in the waning days of 2011, but I trust you can manage the vagaries of the space/time continuum.

It’s been quite a year for us, and the BAYSTAGES staff will be popping a cork or two by month’s end to mark our first full year of publication. It’s worth a taking a moment’s pause to reflect on the fact that over the last twelve issues we have published (approximately!) 198 feature articles and 132 backstage photos; covered 66 performing arts CD/DVD/book releases; shone a spotlight on 224 individual performers or productions; and printed listing information for over 3,600 shows and events.

We’ve also launched a website; covered even more shows in our curated, searchable event database;

launched SPOTLIGHT - our weekly e-newsletter with the latest between-issue entertainment news, special offers and ticket giveaways; promoted shows through facebook and other social media outlets; and, I have personally attended at least 185 performances, plus an awards show here and there. (I didn’t count a year’s worth of typos, but we know they’re out there.)

Where others might be tempted to coast, let me quote Al Jolson and say: “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” We have a lot of plans for 2012 and we hope you’ll join us for the journey.

For now, best wishes for an exciting new year!

ROBERT SOKOL, editor

image: via media

Spreading the BAYSTAGES message to, from left to right, Caitlyn Tella, Maria Giere Marquis, Chris Quintos and Luisa Frasconi from Impact Theatre’s production of Joshua Conkel’s The Chalk Boy.

JANUARY 2012

I

I3

SAN FRANCISCO VENUES

DAILY The following listings are compiled from submissions to the baystages.com database and are subject to change without notice. Please be sure to verify performance times and dates when making your ticket purchases. Shows with multiple performances are listed below as of their first public performance, with the final performance date noted in the description. CLOSING SHOWS are listed separately in the sidebar columns with the date of the final scheduled performance noted before the title. ONGOING SHOWS offering regularly scheduled performance throughout the month are also listed separately in the sidebar columns. Closing and ongoing shows are not included in the listings that follow.

ABBREVIATIONS: MV-Mill Valley, PA-Palo Alto, RC-Redwood City, SF-San Francisco, SJ-San Jose, SR-Santa Rosa, WC-Walnut Creek.

Falsettoland

Stirfry Theatre presents Falsettoland at The Alcove Theatre. (1/27 - 2/11)

by

I JANUARY 2012

04 I Two Character Play

OFF-BROADWAY PRODUCTION DIRECTED BY JAMES LAPINE ORIGINALLY PRODUCED BY PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS, INC. PRODUCED OFF-BROADWAY BY MAURICE ROSENFIELD AND LOIS F. ROSENFIELD, INC.

01 I SFCC Underground

05 I All Female Comedy Show

Purple Onion I SF Waterfront Hotel I Oakland LOWELL ABELLON*, RINABETH $7 I 800.838.3006 $10 I APOSTOL* 510.214.2626 LAWRENCE-MICHAEL C. ARIAS, ROMAR DECLARO sfcomedycollege.com coboak.com ALEX HSU*, JENNIFER OKU, NICOLE SARICH* A weekly lineup of up-and-coming Shanti Charan, Colleen Watson, *Appears courtesy of Actors’ Aundre, Equity Association. comedians in the Bay Area. (Ends 3/15)FALSETTOLAND andis Cara Tramontano. presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

01 I Spontaneous Broadway An Equity05 I Diva Approved Project Night

Bayfront Theater I SF TIME $17-$20 I 800.380.3095 8:00 PM improv.org TICKETS - $15cast of Broadway characters A$10 fictional perform improvised songs. (Ends 1/31)

Freight & Salvage I Berkeley $22.50-$24.50 I 510.644.2020 thefreight.org Fundraiser featuring seven gifted Bay Area musicians.

01 I The Harold

05 I Frank Jackson & Friends

02 I QCOMEDY Showcase

05 I Junie B.

408.782.4373 • www.stirfrytheatre.com

Bayfront Theater I SF $17-$20 I 800.380.3095 improv.org Often called the “granddaddy of all longform improv formats. (Ends 1/31)

Rrazz Room I SF $30 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Jazz singer/pianist, Bay Area legend, tribute show. (Ends 1/8)

Martuni’s I SF $5-$15 I No Number Given qcomedy.com Nick Leonard’s queer and queer-friendly comedy guests. (Ends 6/18)

Lucie Stern Theater I Palo Alto $8-$12 I 650.463.4970 cityofpaloalto.org Children’s show where May keeps picking on Junie B. (Ends 1/7)

02 I Set up, Punch!

05 I Maria Muldaur

San Francisco Comedy Cellar I SF FREE I 415.345.8222 sfcomedycellar.jigsy.com Comedy meets the edge with comics performing raw and real material.

03 I Shen Yun

War Memorial Opera House I SF $60-$220 I 415.392.4400 shenyunperformingarts.org A classical Chinese dance and orchestral company. (Ends 1/8) 03 I Tower of Power

Yoshi’s I Oakland $40-$45 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com East Bay soul/funk legends. (Ends 1/8)

Yoshi’s I Oakland $20.00 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com With her Red Hot Bluesiana Band.

05 I Shuffle. Play. Listen.

Yoshi’s I SF $18.00 I 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Pianist Christopher O’Riley and cellist Matt Haimovitz. Classical and pop music.

06 I Benefit for Bread & Roses

Slim’s I SF $20.00 I 888.233.0449 Slims-SF.com Moonalice with very special surprise guests.

images: courtesy photo (falsettoland - stirfry theatre)

4I

01 I SF Symphony

Davies Symphony Hall I SF Eureka Theatre I SF $35-$145 I 415.864.6000 $10-$25 I 800.838.3006 sfsymphony.org therhino.org Featuring Pinchas Zukerman: violinist, A brother and sister and their secrets, by WILLIAM FINN & JAMES LAPINE with a Mozart concert. (Ends 1/29) Tennessee Williams. (Ends 1/15) MUSIC AND LYRICS BY WILLIAM FINN

alcove theatre Union Square thealcovetheater.com I 415.383.9600 bill graham auditorium Civic Center apeconcerts.com I No Number Available castro theatre Castro castrotheatre.com I 415.621.6120 exit theatre Tenderloin theexit.org I 415.673.3847 FORT MASON CEnTER MarinaDATES LOCATION MIA RESTAURANT fortmason.org I 415.345.7500 JUNE BELLA GRAND BALLROOM herbst theatre 17-25 58 SOUTH FIRST STREET Civic Center SAN JOSE, CA 95113 sfwmpac.org I 415.392.4400 louise m. davies hall Civic Center sfsymphony.org I 415.864.6000 marines’ memorial Union Square marinesmemorialtheatre.org I 415.771.6900 masonic auditorium Nob Hill masonicauditorium.com I 800.745.3000 odc theatre Mission odctheater.org I 415.978.2787 palace of fine arts Marina palaceoffinearts.org I 415.567.6642 shelton theatre Union Square sheltontheater.org I 415.882.9100 stage werx Mission stagewerx.org I No Number Available victoria theatre Mission victoriatheatre.org I 415.863.7576 war memorial opera Civic Center sfwmpac.org I 415.392.4400 yerba buena center SoMa ybca.org I 415.978.2787

by will schmid A new production of Hamlet stirs up unresolved feelings for its director, whose father died in a shooting incident several years before. That is the fictional framework into which Ghost Light infuses the very real life experience of director Jonathan Moscone, son of assassinated San Francisco Mayor George Moscone.

The framework is fictional because, as Moscone says, “I’ve already lived my story. I don’t need to tell my story.” He is opting instead to explore “what it feels like to live with the kind of loss that is overwhelming, using my story as a kind of inspiration.”

“The work is about not having enough time, about there not being enough memory and not having enough guidance, and still trying to become an adult, becoming the man I am today,” says Moscone of the process of embracing his father. Jonathan was 11 when George became mayor, and only 14 when his father died in San Francisco City Hall.

The first production took place under the auspices of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival last year. During that process, Moscone alternated between analyzing the play in order to improve it, and occasionally, simply watching it. He finds the former is easier. “I much prefer to make it happen for other people than I do to have people make it for me.“ When he did give in to the latter he says, “There were moments that were kind of amazing to experience in the presence of other people.”

Ghost Light January 6 to February 19 Berkeley Rep 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley $14.50 to $65 I 888.427.8849 berkeleyrep.org

image: jenny graham (ghost light - tyler james myers)

The play was conceived and developed by Moscone, current Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, with Tony Taccone, Artistic Director of Berkeley Rep, who is a longtime friend and colleague. They decided Taccone would write and Moscone direct. “It was very bracing. Very honest,”

says Moscone. “It was difficult to share this even with him, but sharing it with him was the first step to sharing it with others.”

Play

GHOST LIGHT

casting away the shadows

JANUARY 2012 I

I5

BAY AREA VENUES

DAILY 06 I ARF Comedy Night

06 I Tom Sawyer

06 I BLVD

06 I Twelve Angry Men

Lesher Center I Walnut Creek $35.00-$75.00 I 925.943.7469 lesherartscenter.org Dana Carvey and George Lopez with Mark Pitta benefiting Animal Rescue.

Independent I SF $18.00-$20.00 I 415.771.1421 theindependentsf.com With Crush Effect.

06 I Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Gladys Knight is appearing at the Wells Fargo Center. (1/6)

6I

I JANUARY 2012

06 I Gladys Knight

Wells Fargo Center I Santa Rosa $45.50-$87.50 I 707.546.3600 wellsfargocenterarts.org Singing her greatest hits plus work from her latest recording.

06 I Ghost Light

Berkeley Rep I Berkeley $14.50-$65 I 888.427.8849 berkeleyrep.org Taught drama about dealing with the loss of a famous father at a young age.

06 I Ray Molina

Waterfront Hotel I Oakland $10 I 510.214.2626 coboak.com Ray Molina, with hosts Joe Gleckler and Samson Koletkar.

06 I Roy Rogers

Napa Valley Opera House $20.00 I 800.380.3095 nvoh.org Acclaimed slide guitarist.

06 I SF Symphony

Davies Symphony Hall I SF $35-$140 I 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Liszt, Tchaikovsky & Ligeti. (Ends 1/8) 06 I Shawn & Marlon Wayans

Tommy T’s Comedy I Pleasanton $30-$40 I 925.227.1800 tommyts.com Older brother Shawn headlines and Marlon opens. (Ends 1/7) 06 I The 39 Steps

6th Street Playhouse I Santa Rosa $10-$25 I 707.523.4185 6thstreetplayhouse.com Action-packed, comical version of the famous Hitchcock film with four actors playing all the roles. (Ends 1/22)

Brava Theatre I SF $18 I 800.380.3095 brava.org Reginald Rose’s landmark drama about the US legal system. (Ends 1/28) 07 I Boar’s Head Festival

Seventh Avenue Presbyterian I SF $30.00 I 800.838.3006 sfrv.org SF Renaissance Voices presents Twelfth Night tradition. Also 1/8 in Palo Alto.

07 I Buxter Hoot’n

Café Du Nord I SF $10.00-$12.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Shady Maples and Kelly McFarling & Megan Keely Duo. 07 I Dan St. Paul

Waterfront Hotel I Oakland $10 I 510.214.2626 coboak.com Dan St. Paul of Comedy Central, VH1 and MTV, hosts Gleckler and Koletkar.

07 I Dueling Pianos

Johnny Foley’s Irish House I SF FREE I No Number Given duelingpianosatfoleys.com Jason Marion, Daniel & Rome Balestrieri all performing.

07 I Jason Dottley

Rrazz Room I SF $20 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Known for “Sordid Lives,” as well as for his Top 20 Billboard dance hits.

07 I Jazz Youth Ensemble

La Peña Center I Berkeley $7-$12 I 510.849.2568 lapena.org Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble annual Reunion Concert.

07 I Looking For Bobowicz

Town Hall Theatre I Lafayette FREE I 925.283.1557 townhalltheatre.com Reading of a new work by Town Hall student Lena Smith.

07 I Meshell Ndegeocello

Great American Music Hall I SF $26.00 I 415.885.0750 slimspresents.com With Alan Hampton.

image: courtesy photo (gladys knight)

142 Throckmorton Mill Valley 142throckmortontheatre.org I 415.383.9600 CAL PERFORMANCES Berkeley calperfs.berkeley.edu I 510.642.9988 EL CAMPANIL THEATRE Antioch flintcenter.com I 408.864.8816 FIREHOUSE arts center Pleasanton firehousearts.org I 925.931.4848 flint CENTER Cupertino flintcenter.com I 408.864.8816 FOX THEATRE Redwood City foxrwc.com I 650-369-7770 JULIA MORGAN CENTER Berkeley flintcenter.com I 408.864.8816 LESHER CENTER Walnut Creek lesherartscenter.org I 925.943.7469 marin CENTER San Rafael marincenter.org I 415.473.6800 mountain view CENTER Mountain View mvcpa.com I 650.903.6000 PARAMOUNT THEATRE Oakland paramounttheatre.com I 800.745.3000 SAN JOSE CENTER San Jose sanjose.org I 408.792.4111 SPRECKELS ARTS CENTER Rohnert Park spreckelsonline.com I 707.588.3400 STANFORD LIVELY ARTS Palo Alto livelyarts.stanford.edu I 650.725.2787 wells fargo center Santa Rosa wellsfargocenterarts.org I 707.546.3600

Pacifica Spindrift Theatre $20 I 650.359.8002 pacificaspindriftplayers.com Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer-winning drama. (Ends 1/29)

Smith Center I Fremont $10-$26 I 800.380.3095 starstrucktheatre.org Musical version of Mark Twain’s immortal novel. (Ends 1/22)

sans accoutrements by daphne o’neal

Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham seems as open, warm and generous as her TexasNew Mexico roots might suggest. Graham, who has graced the stage of every major opera, symphony and concert organization in the classical sphere especially enjoys the intimacy of the recital format.

“Singing a recital is a chance for those of us who spend most of our time in the larger formats, like opera, to sort of let our hair down and kind of be ourselves,” she says in characteristically unassuming fashion.

Classical

SUSAN GRAHAM

The flip side, she admits is that “there’s no place to hide, none at all. It’s a lot more pressure. I think ‘terrifying’ is not too strong a word sometimes.”

Revered for singing so-called “trouser roles,” such as the title role in Handel’s Xerxes at San Francisco Opera last fall, Graham devised the January recital program as a refreshing change of pace.

“I play so many male characters on stage that it was fun to sort of think of an opportunity for me to address the iconic female characters in literature and in song.

It’s a concept Malcolm Martineau, my pianist, and I have been talking about for some time.”

The Zellerbach recital will include Tchaikovsky and Hugo Wolf, plus pieces derived from three scenes involving Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth.

“I am a theater animal,” declares Graham. “I love character storytelling.” She also relishes the chance to put her stamp on a character, free of the grand sets, costumes and direction of most operas.

image: dario acosta (susan graham)

Graham’s legendary love of French music is evinced in a set of Poulenc pieces that present “an overview of the different kinds of love that a woman has in her life... for a child or for a loved one...[as well as] an unrequited or scornful kind of love.”

Lighter fare closes the program. “The last group that I’m doing is kind of a lot of fun. It’s Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim and French operetta by [Andre] Messager. It’s the seedier side [of love], varying from unrequited to duplicitous.”

SUSAN GRAHAM January 14 I 8:00 pm Zellerbach Hall UC Berkeley $40 to $60 I 510.642.9988 calperformances.org JANUARY 2012 I

I7

ONGOING SHOWS Beach BlanKet Babylon

Club Fugazi I SF $25-$130 I 415.421.4222 beachblanketbabylon.com Long-running revue skewering news and culture with songs and big hats.

Big City Improv

Shelton Theater I SF $20 I 866.468.3399 sheltontheater.com Every scene is based on suggestions shouted out by the audience.

The Kipling Hotel

Marsh I SF $20-$50 I 415.641.0235 themarsh.org Don Reed’s follow-up to his award winning “East 14th.”

Magic ON THE BAY

Aquarium of the Bay I SF $19.95-$44.95 I 415.623.5333 aquariumofthebay.org Show combines fun, clean comedy, amazing illusions and mind-bending mentalism by Peter Morrison.

Marga Gomez

Marsh - SF I SF $15-$50 I 415.641.0235 themarsh.org Gomez’s new one woman show Not Getting Any Younger.

PETER MORRISON

Marrakech Magic Theater I SF $38 I 877.624.4264

sanfranciscomagictheater.com

Morrison demonstrates sleight-of-hand magic and feats of mentalism.

PARTY OF TWO

Shelton Theatre I SF $27-$29 I 800.838.3006 partyof2themusical.com Follow two self-sufficient dynamosfrom their meeting through their relationship.

Secret Improv Society

Shelton Theater I SF $15 I 866.468.3399 sheltontheater.com Creating characters, stories, and songs on the spot from audience suggestions.

Shopping! The Musical

Shelton Theater I SF $27-$29 I 800.838.3006 sheltontheater.com An original musical revue about everyone’s favorite pastime.

SUNDAY’S A DRAG

Starlight Room I SF $44.95 I 415.395.8595 harrydenton.com Drag entertainment abounds in Harry Denton’s newly refurbished boite.

8I

I JANUARY 2012

DAILY 07 I MythBusters

09 I Kenny Washington

07 I New Esterházy Quartet

09 I Russ Lorenson

07 I Saint Michael Trio

10 I Carlos Xavier

Wells Fargo Center I Santa Rosa $45.00-$85.00 I 707.546.3600 wellsfargocenterarts.org Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co-hosts of MythBusters.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church I SF $25.00 I 800.838.3006 newesterhazy.org Music by Haydn and works dedicated to him by Hänsel and Mozart.

Mountain View Center $10.00 I 650.903.6000 saintmichaeltrio.com Presented by Nova Vista Symphony Association.

07 I Stars to the Rescue

Lesher Center I Walnut Creek $75.00-$250.00 I 925.943.7469 lesherartscenter.org Benefit for Animal Rescue featuring Wynonna, George Lopez and Jeff Soto.

07 I The English Beat

Bimbo’s 365 Club I SF $22.00-$25.00 I 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com Popular and influential ska group shares the stage with The Inciters.

08 I Ballet Flamenco

Pena Pachamama I SF $15-$19 I 800.838.3006 pachamamacenter.org Carolina Lugo’s & Carolé Acuña’s Ballet Flamenco. (Ends 3/5) 08 I Kaumakaiwa Kanaka‘ole

Yoshi’s I SF $24.00 I 415.655.5600 yoshis.com 7th generation Hawaii’an hula master and musician with Shawn Pimental.

08 I Music of Love

Oshman Family JCC I Palo Alto $5.00 I 650.223.8618 paloaltojcc.org Mezzo Jennifer Panara and pianist Elena Levina perform Shumann and Fauré.

08 I Whitfield & Greensill

Piedmont Piano Company I Oakland $20 I 510.547.8188 piedmontpiano.com Wesla and Mike along with Carla Kaufman on bass.

09 I Calvin Keys

Yoshi’s I SF $8.00-$12.00 I 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Performing his 1971 album, ShawnNeeq, in full to celebrate its reissue.

Yoshi’s I Oakland $16.00 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com With the Michael O’Neill Quintet Cheek to Cheek.

Rrazz Room I SF $30-$35 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Russ Lorenson explores the life and music of Bobby Darin. (Ends 1/10) Yoshi’s I Oakland $12.00-$15.00 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Bay Area raised Latin balladeer.

10 I Maceo Parker

Napa Valley Opera House $35.00-$40.00 I 800.380.3095 nvoh.org Acclaimed funk artist with his band.

10 I The Drunken City

Morrisson Theatre I Hayward $10 I 510.881.6777 dmtonline.org What would it be like if all the characters in a play were drunk?

11 I David K. Mathews

Yoshi’s I Oakland $16.00 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Keyboardist for Etta James, Tower of Power and Santana honors Ray Charles.

11 I Eric Sardinas

Biscuits & Blues I SF $20 I 415.292.2583 biscuitsandblues.com Slide guitarist and singer-songwriter.

11 I Fred Garbo

Wells Fargo Center I Santa Rosa $21.00 I 707.546.3600 wellsfargocenterarts.org Fast-paced performance full of imaginative imagery.

11 I Joe Lasqo

Meridian Gallery I SF FREE I 415.398.7229 meridiangallery.org A series of Indo-modernist & Neo-Gaku pieces inspired by India & East Asia.

11 I Jordana

Rrazz Room I SF $20 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Jazz and gospel singer.

serious clowning around by chris rené

There’s probably not a clown joke that Lorenzo Pisoni has not heard at least once. The son of Pickle Family Circus founder Larry Pisoni, Lorenzo not only had a clown for a father, he grew up in the circus and tumbled, juggled and, yes, clowned around in a 20-year career of his own.

As the script became more personal, Pisoni began to have doubts. “Who wants to see a one-man show about clowning and some guy’s relationship with his father. It’s kind of this perfect storm of things that people should not care about,” he laughs.

Now a New York actor and a decade out of clowning, the younger Pisoni has created Humor Abuse with writer-director Erica Schmidt, a long-time friend and frequent collaborator. It is an agile theatre event that is one small part clown college and one large part a memoir of his unique family history, and particularly his relationship with his father.

In 2009, just after appearing in a limited engagement of Equus opposite Daniel Radcliffe, Pisoni premiered the show at Manhattan Theatre Club and won Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel and Obie performance awards.

The project was born out of a very pragmatic idea to create a performing opportunity sculpted to Pisoni’s very particular skills. “It was Erica who pointed out that it was a father-son story,” he says. “What I gave her was much more of a history of clowning, as my father saw it.”

Humor Abuse January 12 to February 5 American Conservatory Theater 415 Geary Street, SF $22 to $95 I 415.749.2228 act-sf.org

Clown

HUMOR ABUSE

image: chris bennion (humor abuse - lorenzo pisoni)

The work began in 2007 and their creative process was influenced by changing dynamics in the real-time relationship between Pisoni father and son. “He had stopped performing with any kind of regularity and I – as men have to do with their fathers – was having a kind of reassessment of him at that point in my life.”

JANUARY 2012 I

I9

CLOSING SHOWS

DAILY 11 I Kevin Hart

13 I Moon for the Misbegotten

11 I Maceo Parker

13 I Cirque du Soleil

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $35 I 800.745.3000 cobbscomedyclub.com Stand up comedian from Philly, also in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. (Ends 1/14) Montalvo Arts Center I Saratoga $44.00-$49.00 I 408.961.5858 montalvoarts.org Acclaimed funk artist with his band.

12 I Angela Bofill

Pear Avenue Theatre I Mountain View $20-$30 I 650.254.1148 thepear.org O’Neill’s classic vibrates with moonlight, love, betrayal, and truth. (Ends 2/13) HP Pavilion At San Jose I SJ $50-$175 I 800.745.3000 cirquedusoleil.com Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour, a fusion of visuals, dance, music.(Ends 1/15) 13 I Devo

Rrazz Room I SF $45-$55 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com An evening with Bofill, Dave Valentin, and guest Melba Moore. (Ends 1/15)

Fillmore I SF $50 I 415.346.6000 thefillmore.com Punk group is back live. (Ends 1/14)

12 I Burnt Ones

13 I Dueling Pianos

12 I Chris Robinson

13 I Eric Sardinas

SF Playhouse I SF $40-$50 I 415.677.9596 sfplayhouse.org Ralph Bates is a Korean War hero facing problems with his in-laws. A Tennessee Williams comedy?

12 I Double Indemnity

13 I Folk Dance Festival

15 I God’s Plot

12 I Humor Abuse

13 I I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Juliana Lustenader gets ready to confess all in God’s Plot.

07 I Bring It On

Orpheum Theatre I SF $31-$200 I 888.746.1799 shnsf.com A new musical comedy based on the film that raises the stakes on over-thetop high school rivalries.

14 I Period of Adjustment

Ashby Stage I Berkeley $18-$27 I 510.841.6500 shotgunplayers.org A 1665 shot heard round the world came from a play that took satirical aim at the King of England.

15 I Nunset Boulevard

15 I Xanadu

New Conservatory Theatre Center I SF $25-$45 I 415.861.8972 nctcsf.org The musical story of a Muse who descends from Mt. Olympus to inspire Sonny, a struggling artist.

10 I

I JANUARY 2012

Amnesia I SF $5.00 I 866.920.5299 sfjazz.org SF Jazz presents a tribute to Pat Metheny.

San Jose Repertory Theatre I SJ $29-$74 I 408.367.7255 sjrep.com From the dingy streets of LA comes a tale of love and murder. (Ends 2/5) American Conservatory Theater I SF $22-$95 I 415.749.2228 act-sf.org See feature on page 9. (Ends 2/5) 12 I Bluegrass Festival

Café Du Nord I SF $10.00-$20.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com Featuring Buck Wild & The Boss Hossers plus guests.

12 I SF Symphony

Johnny Foley’s Irish House I SF FREE I No Number Given duelingpianosatfoleys.com Jason Marion, Greg Zema & Troy Neihadrt all performing.

George’s Nightclub I San Rafael $20.00-$25.00 I 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com Blues-rock guitarist.

Community UCC of San Carlos $7 I No Number Given folkdance.com Annual festival. (Ends 1/14)

Pinole Community Playhouse $20-$23 I 510.223.3598 pinoleplayers.org For anyone who has ever been in a relationship. (Ends 2/11) 13 I Joe Tobin

Waterfront Hotel I Oakland $10 I 510.214.2626 coboak.com With Tom Smith, David Nguyen, Rex Meredith, hosts Gleckler and Koletkar.

13 I K-Pop Power & Beauty

Davies Symphony Hall I SF $35-$140 I 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org MTT leads Debussy featuring Gauvin, Cooke & Wool. (Ends 1/14)

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium I SF $65.00-$100.00 I 800.745.3000 apeconcerts.com Korean Pop artists live onstage.

12 I Tritonal

13 I Lisa Lampanelli

Ruby Skye I SF $20 I 866.468.3399 rubyskye.com Progressive trance duo live onstage.

Fox Theatre I Redwood City $42.75 I 650.369.7770 foxrwc.com Comedy’s lovable Queen of Mean brings it on at the Fox Redwood City.

images: pak han (god’s plot - juliana lustaneder)

Willows Theatre I Concord $17-$32 I 800.380.3095 willowstheatre.com The Nuns are back! The Little Sisters of Hoboken have been invited to sing at the Hollywood Bowl!

Hemlock Tavern I SF $6.00 I No Number Given hemlocktavern.com With The Mallard and Koko & The Sweetmeats.

by robert sokol

Jack Jones may live in the retirement-friendly zone of the Palm Springs desert communities, but there’s nothing retiring about him. The six-foot singer with the now trademark mane of white hair is zipping ‘round the country as much today as he was in the ‘60s when he cemented his reputation as a singer’s singer.

image: courtesy photo (jack jones)

“Love Ballad” – the most recent of his more than 50 albums – is a revisiting of some of his most popular songs including his 1962 Grammy winner “Lollypops and Roses,” “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha, a role he’s played several times, and “Wives and Lovers,” his other Grammy winner from 1964.

Time has changed his relationships with some of the songs. “There was an innocence I had then that is gone. Now I’m looking at the love songs with sense memory. I didn’t have that when I started.”

The recording opportunity knocked when Jones and his trio had a couple of days off between performance dates. “My show evolves as we go along and I felt like things were going really well, so I said let’s go to LA and lay some music tracks down.” Jones recorded the vocals later in his

Cabaret

JACK JONES

still singin’ and swingin’

home studio, a process he found he enjoyed. “It’s wonderful to suspend yourself in this place where nobody goes but you. It’s a little lonely, but you can take your time and paint a picture.”

Just days before his Rrazz Room opening Jones will celebrate his 74th birthday and the extended time in San Francisco is something he will to savor.

“I really started my career at Fack’s II on Bush Street,” he says, referring to a prior incarnation of the legendary Boarding House club, now long gone.

“I was seen and signed to a record company, and then I went on to the Fairmont. I used to hang out in North Beach and listen to Stan Kenton. Getting to revisit some of those places, that’s kind of a present, you know?”

Jack Jones January 17 to 22 The Rrazz Room 222 Mason Street, SF $40 to $45 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com JANUARY 2012 I

I 11

SPOTLIGHT

DAILY 13 I Little Brother

Gough Street Playhouse I SF $20-$32 I 510.207.5774 custommade.org Adapted from the bestelling novel from Cory Doctorow. (Ends 2/11) 13 I New Fire

Brava Theatre I SF $25-$30 I 800.380.3095 brava.org Cherrie Moraga’s play about indigenous American ancestors. (Ends 1/29)

Devo January 13 to 14 I 9:00 pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary Boulevard, SF $50 I 415.346.6000 thefillmore.com

13 I Drowsy Chaperone

“Thirty years ago, people said that we were cynical, that we had a bad attitude,” says Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh. “But now, when you ask people if de-evolution is real, they understand that there was something to what we were saying.

It’s not the kind of thing you want to see proven right, but it does make it easier to talk about.” “The world is in sync with Devo,” says his bandmate and co-writer Gerald Casale.

14 I 15th One Night Stand

6th Street Playhouse I Santa Rosa $15-$35 I 707.523.4185 6thstreetplayhouse.com Jazz-age musical comes to life in a man’s apartment. (Ends 2/5) Slim’s I SF $13.00 I 888.233.0449 slimspresents.com Local bands perform their favorite covers.

14 I Shellie Awards

Lesher Center I Walnut Creek $30.00 I 925.943.7469 lesherartscenter.org Honoring East Bay theatre excellence.

14 I Susan Graham

12 I

I JANUARY 2012

14 I Dueling Pianos

Johnny Foley’s Irish House I SF FREE I No Number Given duelingpianosatfoleys.com Troy Neihardt, Jason Marion, Greg Zema.

14 I George Winston

Dance Palace I Point Reyes Station $18.00-$38.00 I 415.663.1075 dancepalace.org Winston switched to acoustic piano after hearing recordings from the 1920s.

14 I Incognito

Oshman Family JCC I Palo Alto $20.00 I 650.223.8618 paloaltojcc.org Michael Fosberg’s performance about discovering his hidden racial background.

14 I Joan Rivers

Wells Fargo Center I Santa Rosa $30.00-$50.00 I 707.546.3600 wellsfargocenterarts.org Emmy winning legendary comedian.

14 I Mark Hanson

Mildred Owen Hall I Pacifica $20.00 I 650.355.188 pacificaperformances.org Pacifica Performances presents Grammyaward winning fingerstyle guitarist.

14 I Alexander String Quartet

14 I Mark Hummel

14 I Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

14 I Pride & Joy

14 I Caldecott

14 I Simone Dinnerstein

Bankhead Theater I Livermore $39-$62 I 925.373.6800 livermoreperformingarts.org Swing kings bring it to Livermore.

Great American Music Hall I SF $14.00 I 415.885.0750 slimspresents.com With Space Monkey Gangstas, Oola Rocksteady & Speed Goat.

14 I Citizen Cope

Uptown Theatre I Napa $35.00 I 707.259.0123 uptowntheatrenapa.com An intimate solo acoustic performance.

14 I David Lanz

Firehouse Arts Center I Pleasanton $22.00-$27.00 I 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org Grammy-winning smooth jazz pianist.

George’s Nightclub I San Rafael $15.00-$18.00 I 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com With The Blues Survivors and guests.

Bimbo’s 365 Club I SF $22.00 I 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com Live onstage at Bimbo’s.

Montalvo Arts Center I Saratoga $37.00-$472.00 I 408.961.5858 montalvoarts.org Young American concert pianist.

14 I Strangelove

Café Du Nord I SF $12.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com Depeche Mode tribute band with guests.

14 I Symphony Silicon Valley

California Theatre I SJ $38-$74 I 800.745.3000 symphonysiliconvalley.org Featuring SSV viola principal Patricia Whaley. (Ends 1/15)

images: courtesy photos (devo, peter yarrow)

Remember the first time you heard “Puff the Magic Dragon,” or “The Great Mandala?” Anthems of the civil rights and peace movements, the songs of Peter Yarrow are woven into the fabric of our experience. Don’t miss this preeminent artist, activist, advocate for children and unflagging believer in the power of finding one’s own voice and blending it with others for social change.

Biscuits & Blues I SF $20 I 415.292.2583 biscuitsandblues.com Currently touring with Roberta Flack.

Zellerbach Hall I UC Berkeley $30-$60 I 510.642.9988 calperformances.org Acclaimed opera star in an intimate recital.

Herbst Theatre I SF $25.00-$48.00 I 415.392.4400 performances.org Featuring Schubert’s String Quartets.

Peter Yarrow January 28 I 8:00 pm Jewish Community Center of SF 3200 California Street, SF $48 to $55 I 415.292.1200 jccsf.org

14 I Derick Hughes

who do you mean? by lee walker

Is there a difference between Lisa Lampanelli, The Queen of Mean, and Lisa Lampugnale, the 50-year-old Connecticut native and one-time writer for Popular Mechanics and Rolling Stone?

“I don’t know,” she says simply. “I snap at people in public and tell people off a lot, but they’re asking for it.” She weighs the questions a little more and concedes: “It’s about, I would say, fiftyfifty. Sometimes I turn it up a notch, sometimes I keep it low, on simmer.”

Insult

LISA LAMPANELLI

It does not, she insists, fluctuate with which table she gets in a restaurant. “Oh no. I’m not like that. I’m more like – depending on which family member or friend pisses me off – I have to tell them what’s what. I’m not yet the diva who demands a good table. I’m happy to get any damn table. I don’t care.” She said: yet.

Fact is, more and more, she can probably get any damn table she wants. The roastess with the mostess has sighted her utterly uninhibited insult laser on the likes of Pamela Anderson, David “The Hoff” Hasselhoff and Donald Trump among others. She’s had CD and DVD releases of her shows, scored a Grammy nomination and was recently praised by Joan Rivers as a “take no prisoners” gal.

The last bit leaves here uncharacteristically flustered. “Ohmigod, how long ago was that?” she asks, genuinely curious. “I am now sitting here speechless and totally flattered. Holy crap! Think about it! Joan’s a freakin’ legend. That’s insane!”

image: gereardo somoza (lisa lampanelli)

Rivers was not, however, a career influence. “I really didn’t watch stand-up until I started doing it. I just remember watching the Dean Martin roasts when we were kids. I guess that’s why I kinda gravitated towards the roast-insult thing, ‘cause kinda like I thought that was comedy.”

Lampanelli did develop a short list of people she calls heroes and Rivers is on it. So are Howard Stern and Don Rickles. “Those were the people I really looked up to. So it’s just really exciting when you have those people like what you do.”

LISA LAMPANELLI January 13 I 7:00 pm Fox Theatre 2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City $42.75 I 650.369.7770 foxrwc.com

JANUARY 2012 I

I 13

SPOTLIGHT

DAILY 14 I Will Durst

Waterfront Hotel I Oakland $10 I 510.214.2626 coboak.com With Michael Slack, Butch Escobar, Chris Thayer, hosts Gleckler and Koletkar.

15 I Youth Orchestra

Davies Symphony Hall I SF $25-$70 I 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org Six of the Bay Area’s Youth Orchestras come together for a benefit concert.

Christopher Maltman January 19 I 8 pm Herbst Theatre 401 Van Ness Avenue, SF $38 to $68 I 415.392.4400 sfperformances.org

15 I Christine Ebersole

SF Performances brings worldrenowned baritone Christopher Maltman for a classical recital accompanied by acclaimed pianist Malcolm Martineau. Maltman’s recent appearances include the title role of Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival, at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, and in Cologne.

He will perform works such as Fauré’s “Cinq Mélodies de Venise,” Schumann’s “Two Venetian Songs” from Mythen, Schubert’s Der Gondelfahrer, plus Mendelssohn, Hahn and Mahler.

15 I Devo

Venetian Room I SF $40-$45 I 415.392.4400 bayareacabaret.com Tony-winner returns in a cabaret about youth, age and Hollywood illusions.

Uptown Theatre I Napa $75.00-$150.00 I 707.259.0123 uptowntheatrenapa.com With guests The Punk Group.

15 I Eusebius Duo

14 I

I JANUARY 2012

16 I Bringing the Noise

Herbst Theatre I SF $16.00 I 415.392.4400 youthspeaks.org Youth Speaks honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 16 I Martin Luther

Yoshi’s I Oakland $15.00 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Rebel soul guitarist & vocalist.

16 I Monday Night PlayGround

Berkeley Repertory Theatre $15 I 415.992.6677 playground-sf.org Readings of ten-page plays by a pool of Bay Area emerging playwrights.

16 I VNote Ensemble

Yoshi’s I SF $8.00-$12.00 I 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Presenting a melange of Venezuelan music and North American jazz.

15 I Grafitti

17 I Cirque du Soleil

Yoshi’s I Oakland $20-$25 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Featuring Dennis Chambers and celebrating their 18-year reunion.

Oracle Arena I Oakland $50-$175 I 800.745.3000 cirquedusoleil.com Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour, a fusion of visuals, dance, music. (Ends 1/18)

15 I In the Name of Love

17 I Del Sol String Quartet

15 I Montreux

17 I Jack Jones

15 I Part Time

17 I Jordan Glen

15 I Symphony Parnassus

17 I Joy Kills Sorrow

Napa Valley Opera House $25.00-$30.00 I 800.380.3095 nvoh.org Reunion show by Darol Anger, Barbara Higbie, Mike Marshall, Michael Manring.

Hemlock Tavern I SF $6.00 I No Number Given hemlocktavern.com With Permanent Collection and Tint.

SF Conservatory of Music I SF $20-$22 I 800.838.3006 symphonyparnassus.org A celebration featuring works by French composers Faure, Ravel & Debussy.

Yoshi’s I Oakland $20.00 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com San Francisco based quartet blends classical music with world influences.

Rrazz Room I SF $40-$45 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Singer’s singer and double Grammy winner. (Ends 1/22) Hemlock Tavern I SF $6.00 I No Number Given hemlocktavern.com With Marana Jocund and Heckler.

Freight & Salvage I Berkeley $20.50-$22.50 I 510.644.2020 thefreight.org Boston-based string band.

images: courtesy photos (christopher maltman, eddie izzard)

SF Sketchfest pays tribute to international comedy sensation Eddie Izzard. The evening will feature a selection of clips from Izzard’s illustrious career followed by a freewheeling onstage conversation and audience question-and-answer period.

Independent I SF $18.00-$20.00 I 415.771.1421 theindependentsf.com With Magic Trick.

Old First Church I SF $17.00 I 415.474.1608 oldfirstconcerts.org Ravel, Franck and Debussy.

Paramount Theatre I Oakland $16 I 800.745.3000 paramounttheatre.com 10th Annual Martin Luther King Tribute featuring Mavis Staples and Pop Lyfe.

eddie izzard January 25 I 8:00 pm Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 3301 Lyon Street, SF $50.00 I 415.392.4400 sfsketchfest.com

15 I Vetiver

17 I Mythbusters

Flint Center I Cupertino $49.50-$59.50 I 800.745.3000 flintcenter.com Adam Savage & Jamie Hyneman in a live version of their Discovery TV series.

17 I Shawn Colvin

Yoshi’s I SF $30-$35 I 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Returning once more to where she recorded Shawn Colvin Live. (Ends 1/19) 17 I Milk Carton Kids

Café Du Nord I SF $10.00-$12.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With The Brendan Hines 18 I BeauSoleil

19 I Cabaret

Young Performers Theatre I SF $25-$45 I 800.838.3006 cabaretsf.wordpress.com New rendition of classic show. (Ends 2/19) 19 I Christopher Maltman

Herbst Theatre I SF $38.00-$68.00 I 415.392.4400 performances.org Renowned opera star and baritone, with Malcolm Martineau on piano.

19 I Dashboard Confessional

Slim’s I SF $26.00-$29.00 I 888.233.0449 slimspresents.com Solo acoustic show by Chris Carrabba.

19 I Elizabeth Blumenstock

Napa Valley Opera House $30.00-$35.00 I 800.380.3095 nvoh.org Louisiana band with Michael Doucet.

All Saints Episcopal I Palo Alto $35.00 I 415.260.4687 voicesofmusic.org The Art of Baroque Violin. Also 1/201/22 at other venues.

18 I Cobb’s Showcase

19 I For the People Comedy

19 I Scene Night

Ray of Light Studio I SF FREE I No Number Given playwrightscentersf.org Playwright’s Center’s 10-minute readings from works in progress. (Ends 3/15) 19 I Night of the Shorts III

Castro Theatre I SF $30.00 I 415.621.6120 sfsketchfest.com Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett and John Hodgman, Cole Stratton, Janet Varney.

19 I SF Symphony

Davies Symphony Hall I SF $35-$145 I 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org Pablo Heras-Casado conducts Falla and Ravel, with Marina Heredia. (Ends 1/21) 19 I ROSIE LEDET

Boom Boom Room I SF $10.00 I 415.673.8000 boomboomblues.com Zydeco band. See feature on page 19.

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $15.00 I 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com Artists who share a goal of producing events fueled by positivity and laughter.

19 I The Limousines

18 I Johnny A

19 I La Corde

19 I The Soft Moon

18 I Songwriters Round

19 I Left Coast chamber Ensemble

19 I White Cloud

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $12.50 I 800.745.3000 cobbscomedyclub.com Known for hatching some of the country’s top comedic talent.

Yoshi’s I Oakland $14.00 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Soulful guitarist.

142 Throckmorton I Mill Valley $18.00-$20.00 I 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org Singer/songwriters Steve Seskin, Craig Carothers and Don Henry.

19 I Ali Wong

Rooster T. Feathers I Sunnyvale $12 I 408.736.0921 roostertfeathers.com Wong has been featured on The Tonight Show and elsewhere. (Ends 1/22) 19 I aphrodisiac

City Lights Theater I SJ $25-$35 I 408.295.4200 cltc.org Fast-moving play about a congressman, his family, and sex. (Ends 2/19) 19 I Augustana

Great American Music Hall I SF $16.00 I 415.885.0750 slimspresents.com With Graffiti16.

Hemlock Tavern I SF $7.00 I No Number Given hemlocktavern.com With Balaclavas and Cat Party.

142 Throckmorton I Mill Valley $25.00 I 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org Presenting The Clarinet Program.

19 I Marcus Shelby Quartet

George’s Nightclub I San Rafael $12.00-$15.00 I 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com A jazz tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King.

19 I Marvin’s Room

Dragon Theatre I Palo Alto $16-$30 I 800.838.3006 dragonproductions.net Humorous look at life, death, mental illness, and family. (Ends 2/12) 19 I Nameless forest

YBCA - Forum Theatre I SF $5-$25 I 415.978.2787 ybca.org A multidisciplinary piece by Dean Moss and Sungmyung Chun. (Ends 1/21)

Independent I SF $16.00-$18.00 I 415.771.1421 theindependentsf.com Electropop band based in the Bay Area.

Café Du Nord I SF $12.00-$14.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Blouse.

Thee Parkside I SF $6.00 I 415.252.1330 theeparkside.com White Cloud, Jeffertitti’s Nile, Moccretro, Arms ‘N’ Legs.

20 I Arcadia

Live Oak Theater I Berkeley $15 I 800.838.3006 aeofberkeley.org Tom Stoppard’s contemporary comic drama set in England. (Ends 2/18) 20 I Authority Zero

Slim’s I SF $16.00 I 888.233.0449 slimspresents.com Sharing the stage with Voodoo Glow Skulls, with Skyfox.

20 I Beyond Therapy

Shelton Theater I SF $20-$40 I 800.838.3006 sheltontheater.org Farcical play focuses on New Yorkers seeking romantic relations. (Ends 3/17)

JANUARY 2012 I

I 15

SPOTLIGHT

DAILY 20 I Billy “Big Daddy” Cade

Biscuits & Blues I SF $20 I 415.292.2583 biscuitsandblues.com Cade’s tribute to BB King. (Ends 1/21)

20 I Bobby Hutcherson

Jerry Herman Salon January 26 The Alcazar Theatre 650 Geary Street, SF $70 I 415.255.8207 42nd Street Moon presents Tonywiner Faith Prince and multi-award winning artist Jason Graae together with a cast of exceptional Moonies for an 80th birthday salute to Jerry Herman, the beloved, Tony-winning composer/lyricist whose shows lit up Broadway from the 1960s, to today.

20 I Lucinda Williams

20 I Bruce McCulloch

20 I Porchlight Storytelling

Eureka Theatre I SF $25.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Founding member of The Kids in the Hall.

20 I Company C Ballet

Lesher Center I Walnut Creek $23-$45 I 925.943.7469 companycballet.org Presenting their 10th Anniversary Season Winter Program. (Ends 1/21)

20 I Duran Duran Duran

Café Du Nord I SF $12.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com Tribute band.

Rickshaw Stop I SF $10.00 I 415.861.2011 rickshawstop.com Benefit for Bay Area Rock Girls Camp.

20 I Fences

Altarena Playhouse I Alameda $22 I 510.523.1553 altarena.org August Wilson’s exploration of race relations in the 1950s. (Ends 2/19)

16 I

I JANUARY 2012

20 I Frankie & Johnnie

Diablo Actors’ Ensemble Theatre I WC $25 I 866.811.4111 diabloactors.com Touching and often hilarious comedy by Terrance McNally. (Ends 2/5) 20 I Hairspray

Newark Memorial High School $22 I 800.838.3006 stage1theatre.org Broadway hit about youth, race relations and Baltimore in the 1960s. (Ends 2/4) 20 I Ise Lyfe

Rrazz Room I SF $20-$30 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Hip-Hop artist Ise Lyfe performs musical and spoken word tribute to Dr. King. (Ends 1/21)

Uptown Theatre I Napa $50.00 I 707.259.0123 uptowntheatrenapa.com With special guest Blake Mills.

Purple Onion I SF $20.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com David Figler, Caitlin Gill, Bobcat Goldthwait, Matt Gourley.

20 I Pretty Good Friends

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $28.00 I 415.928.4320 sfsketchfest.com Eugene Mirman, Bobcat Goldthwait, Michael Showalter, Paul F. Tompkins.

20 I Revolver

George’s Nightclub I San Rafael $10.00-$15.00 I 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com With The Tickets Band, a tribute to the 1960s.

20 I Robben Ford

Yoshi’s I Oakland $25-$28 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Four-time Grammy nominee electric guitarist returns. (Ends 1/23) 20 I Rooftop Stand-Up

Purple Onion I SF $15.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Andres du Bouchet, Caitlin Gill, Reid Faylor, Barbara Gray, Keith Lowell Jensen.

20 I SF Sketchfest Dozen

Punch Line San Francisco I SF $20.00 I 415.397.7573 sfsketchfest.com Ron Funches, Nick Thune and host Janine Brito.

20 I She Stoops to Conquer

The Barn Theatre I Ross $17-$25 I 800.838.3006 rossvalleyplayers.com Oliver Goldsmith’s comedy of manners.

(Ends 2/19) 20 I Sinbad

Tommy T’s Comedy I Pleasanton $28-$38 I 925.227.1800 tommyts.com 14+ show. (Ends 1/22)

images: courtesy photos (faith prince, christine andreas)

Symphony Silicon Valley presents Broadway star and Tony nominee Christine Andreas performing the legendary role of Rose in this concert version of Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim’s timeless musical. Gypsy is the ultimate show-biz story of a strong-willed stage mother and her brood of young performers. Join Mama Rose, her daughters June and Louise and a cast of lovable misfits in their trip across the United States during the 1920s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born.

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $28.00 I 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com SF Sketchfest presents Hodgman’s show An Evening of My Expertise.

Yoshi’s I SF $18-$25 I 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Celebration for vibraphonist Hutcherson with Warren Wolf. (Ends 1/21)

20 I EL ELLE

GYPSY January 21 to 22 California Theatre 345 South First Street, SJ $38-$74 I 800.745.3000

20 I John Hodgman

shaping the experience by grier cooper

image: julieta cervantes (nameless forest - eric conroe, pedro jiménez, dj mcdonald

Nameless Forest begins with a series of choices.

The six performers select a group of audience participants who are then posed and positioned in reenactments of playground games and other rituals for which they do not know the rules.

“The role of the audience in my work is based on two questions: ‘Where does the gesture in performance reside?’ and ‘How can its experience be shaped in the mind of the viewer?’” says choreographer Dean Moss. “Nameless Forest comes out of an idea … to question how our internal stories of identity reflect on the creation of, and compassion within, community.”

Structured in three parts, the work is a collaboration - most notably between Moss and South Korean sculptor, Sungmyung Chun, which began after Moss randomly stumbled across Chun’s work in the streets of Seoul in 2007. While Chun’s giant, headless figure arrested in mid-explosion creates a world for Nameless Forest’s performers, Moss’s work seeks to translate Chun’s installation into live action.

Additional collaborators include photojournalist Mike Kambler (audio diary and war zone images), Gandalf Gavan (neon sculpture), Stephen Vitiello (original score of environmental and found-sound) Roxanna Ramseur, (costumes) and Vincent Vigilante (lighting and technical design).

Dance

NAMELESS FOREST

The performers are also collaborators; each represents a unique combination of cultural traditions and contemporary music, dance and theater methods. “In directing and choreographing movements I often initiated a movement exploration or a scene development and immediately focused on the response from the cast. I then re-shaped and challenged what they made available,” Moss explains. “Nameless Forest’s most important collaboration, however, is the one with the audience.” Watching audience members engage in situations that are at times awkward, unpleasant, intimate or instructive invites the rest of the audience to empathize from afar.

Nameless Forest reflects a trend in the evolution of contemporary dance and American identity.

Moss, says, “I think American identity and dance are heading toward plurality: more mixed different people and disciplines, equally valued. In fact, like the future, I think it’s already here.”

NAMELESS FOREST January 19 to 21 I 8:00 pm Yerba Buena Center for the Arts - Forum Theatre 701 Mission Street, SF $5 to $25 I 415.978.2787 ybca.org JANUARY 2012 I

I 17

SPOTLIGHT

DAILY 20 I Sioux City Kid

Thee Parkside I SF $6.00 I 415.252.1330 theeparkside.com Sioux City Kid, Whiskerman, Misisipi Mike Wolf & The Midnight Gamblers.

20 I The Last Five Years

Firehouse Arts Center I Pleasanton $18-$33 I 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org Jason Robert Brown’s sizzling twocharacter musical. (Ends 1/29)

Little Brother January 12 to February 11 Gough Street Playhouse 1620 Gough Street, SF $25 to $32 I 510.207.5774 custommade.org

20 I The Story of My Life

Custom Made Theatre Company’s world premiere of the timely and frightening thriller, Little Brother, adapted by Josh Costello from Cory Doctorow’s New York Times best-selling novel. Little Brother, both a love story and a warning of a society controlled by a strangling bureaucracy, has been compared to Orwell’s “1984” and Huxley’s “Brave New World.”

20 I ZERO

New Conservatory Theatre Center I SF $25-$45 I 415.861.8972 nctcsf.org A profoundly funny and deeply moving tale of lifelong best friends. (Ends 2/26) Great American Music Hall I SF $30.00-$35.00 I 415.885.0750 slimspresents.com Steve Kimock, Greg Anton, Bobby Vega, Judge Murphy & Chip Roland.

21 I Eagleheart

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $20.00 I 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com SF Sketchfest and Adult Swim present Chris Elliott with show’s creative staff.

21 I Annie

Bankhead Theater I Livermore $ I 925.373.6800 trivalleyrep.org Uplifting Depression-era musical. (Ends 2/5) 21 I Concrete Blonde

21 I David Burnham

PINA Opens January 20 ifcfilms.com German master Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, The Buena Vista Social Club) shoots in 3D to capture the brilliantly inventive dance world of legendary choreographer Pina Bausch. Wenders had conceived with Bausch a dance film like none seen before, one which would take the fullest advantage yet of new 3D technology to put the viewer deep inside Bausch’s playful, thrillingly unpredictable pieces. After her untimely death in 2009, Wenders continued with the project, turning it into the most exciting tribute he could imagine.

18 I

I JANUARY 2012

Willows Theatre I Concord $30 I 800.380.3095 willowstheatre.com Burnham’s new show, Mostly Broadway.

(Ends 1/22) 21 I Delocated Witness

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $35.00 I 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com SF Sketchfest and Adult Swim present the Delocted Witness Protection Program.

21 I Edwardian Ball

Regency Ballroom I SF $39-$85 I 877.435.9849 edwardianball.com The 12th Annual Ball, celebrating everything Edward Gorey.

Rickshaw Stop I SF $10.00-$12.00 I 415.861.2011 rickshawstop.com Live with his five piece band.

21 I Gabriel Iglesias

Paramount Theatre I Oakland $40 I 800.745.3000 paramounttheatre.com Star of the movie, I’m Not Fat... I’m Fluffy! Live at the Paramount.

21 I Giacomo Fiore

Seventh Avenue Presbyterian I SF FREE I No Number Given sevenperforms.org Classical guitar by Giacomo Fiore.

21 I Gypsy

California Theatre I SJ $38-$74 I 800.745.3000 symphonysiliconvalley.org Tony nominee Christine Andreas in a concert version. (Ends 1/22) 21 I Keller Williams

Great American Music Hall I SF $19.00-$23.00 I 415.885.0750 slimspresents.com Bluegrass, folk, for the whole family.

Two performances.

21 I Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show

Punch Line San Francisco I SF $20.00 I 415.397.7573 sfsketchfest.com Samm Levine and special guest TBA.

21 I Lou & Peter Berryman

Freight & Salvage I Berkeley $20.50-$22.50 I 510.644.2020 thefreight.org Comedic duo of musicians.

21 I Mame That Chune

Hemlock Tavern I SF $10.00 I No Number Given sfsketchfest.com Video game music game show with Brent Weinbach and Rob F. Martinez.

21 I Peking Acrobats

Zellerbach Hall I Berkeley $20-$52 I 510.642.9988 calperformances.org Gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists, tumblers and musicians from China. (Ends 1/22) 21 I Peninsula Symphony

Flint Center I Cupertino $48.00 I 800.745.3000 peninsulasymphony.org Jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti and guitarist Julian Lage. Also 1/20 in Redwood City.

images: courtesy photos (little brother), donata wenders (pina - ditta miranda jasjfi)

Bimbo’s 365 Club I SF $30.00 I 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com Post-punk LA band with David J.

21 I Forrest Day

by andrew gilbert

The cool Pacific climate of the Bay Area is a far cry from the lush, sweltering atmosphere of southern Louisiana, but the Gulf Coast’s Francophone sound has set down deeper roots here than almost anywhere else in the nation. For more than a decade Alameda’s Eagles Hall has served as a focal point for the Bay Area’s Cajun and Louisiana Creole communities (and the many people who happen to love their music).

image: courtesy photo (rosie ledet)

Booked by Dana DeSimone, the Eagles Hall hosts Friday night dances featuring West Coast stars like the Zydeco Flames and top Louisiana acts such as Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys.

“Rosie picks up the torch laid down by Queen Ida as one of very few female leaders of a zydeco band,” says DeSimone, who teaches Cajun and zydeco dancing before the performances. “Two steps, blues, waltzes, shuffles sung in her sultry/velvety voice set new styles and standards for traditional FrenchCreole music.” Playing some of the most propulsive zydeco accordion on the Gulf Coast scene, Ledet is also a savvy vocalist with a teasing stage presence, whether delivering songs in English or old-time Creole French.

zydeco

ROSIE LEDET

bringing the bon temps

Living in Iota, La., with her husband, respected accordionist Morris Ledet, she’s a formidable bandleader who has attracted an elite cast of players, including guitarist Andre Nizzari, bassist Pernell Babineaux, drummer Kevin Stelly and Malcom Walker on rubboard.

While the Eagles Hall gigs attract regulars looking to boogie, many show up simply to soak up the goodtime music. “People come to dance,” DeSimone says. “People come with a good attitude to party on Friday night.”

ROSIE LEDET January 20 I 9:00 pm Eagles Hall 2305 Alameda Avenue, Alameda $15 I 415.285.6285 sfzydeco.com January 19 I 9:45 pm Boom Boom Room 1601 Fillmore Street, SF $10 I 415.673.8000 boomboomblues.com JANUARY 2012 I

I 19

JUST RELEASED

DAILY 21 I Petty Theft

21 I Upright Citizens Brigade

21 I Ray Obiedo

21 I Wet Hot American Summer

Town Hall Theatre I Lafayette $30.00-$40.00 I 800.380.3095 thtc.org Tribute band honoring the hits of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

hugh martin Hidden Treasures

Exceptional collection of 29 very rare Martin tracks. (harbingerrecords.com)

George’s Nightclub I San Rafael $16.00-$20.00 I 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com With Tony Saunders.

21 I Rooftop Stand-Up

Purple Onion I SF $15.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Mike Brown, Jeff MacKinnon, Adam Paul, Lance Weiss and Jules Posner.

21 I Santa Rosa Symphony

Wells Fargo Center I Santa Rosa $15-$65 I 707.546.3600 santarosasymphony.com Jeffrey Kahane conducting. Mozart and Rachmaninoff. (Ends 1/23)

21 I Sketchfest in Mission

ALEXANDRA kaprielian Born Too Late Kaprielian swings all the way to “Route 66” and back. (cdbaby.com)

A dozen strongly original tunes by the cabaret star. (craigjessup.com)

The soaring tenor caresses a dozen pop standards. (davidburnham.com)

20 I

I JANUARY 2012

22 I Bach and Friends

Legion of Honor I SF $26 I 415.392.4400 avedisconcerts.org Avedis Chamber Music Series with Opera San Jose tenor Michael Dailey.

22 I California Symphony

Lesher Center I Walnut Creek $39.00-$69.00 I 925.943.7469 lesherartscenter.org “The Romance of the Cello” featuring Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.” 22 I Great Night of Rumi

21 I Steve Aoki

22 I Heroes, Lovers, Roommates

21 I The Groundlings

22 I Jonathan Poretz

21 I The Pitmen Painters

22 I Jupiter String Quartet

21 I Thomas Pandolfi

22 I Mia Dyson

Eureka Theatre I SF $28.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Tim Bagley, Jordan Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Steven Cragg, Rachael Harris.

Mountain View Center $19-$69 I 650.463.1960 theatreworks.org True story of miners who become hits of the UK art world. (Ends 2/12) Mildred Owen Hall I Pacifica $20.00 I 650.355.188 pacificaperformances.org Young American pianist playing work by George Gershwin.

david burnam One Day

Marines’ Memorial Theatre I SF $60.00 I 415.771.6900 sfsketchfest.com Michael Ian Black, Christopher Meloni, Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon.

Dark Room I SF $15.00 I No Number Given sfsketchfest.com Charles, Joseph Scrimshaw and the Comedy of Doom, and Stupid Time Machine. Hosted by Reid Faylor.

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium I SF $25.00-$35.00 I 800.745.3000 apeconcerts.com With Datsik and guests Dirtyphonics and Aaron Axelsen.

craig jessup Vantage Point

Eureka Theatre I SF $35.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh.

21 I Tom Rigney

Rancho Nicasio I Nicasio $12.00-$15.00 I 415.662.2219 ranchonicasio.com With Flambeau Cajun Orkestra.

Freight & Salvage I Berkeley $20.50-$22.50 I 510.644.2020 thefreight.org Spoken word, music, and dance inspired by 13th Century Persian poet.

La Peña Center I Berkeley $10-$12 I 510.849.2568 lapena.org Live music and inspirational stories from Stagebridge Senior Theater Company.

Rrazz Room I SF $29.50 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Poretz is bringing back the carefree spirit of the swinging ‘60s.

Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church I Mill Valley $15-$30 I 800.838.3006 chambermusicmillvalley.org Beethoven, Bartok and Mendelssohn.

Café Du Nord I SF $10.00-$25.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com A benefit concert for The Trevor Project.

22 I Not Loaded

Five Points Art House I SF FREE I No Number Given fivepointsarthouse.com Readings by Seth Harwood, Brittany Perham. Music from Ira Marlowe.

a very gorey story

image: neil girling (edwardian ball 2011 - dark garden)

by nicole gluckstern

gorey

THE EDWARDIAN BALL

The distinctive pen-and-ink illustrations of one Edward Gorey, filled with upper-class ennui, prankish demons, and haunted tea-cosies, dance a fine line between the whimsical and the macabre, a fitting description of many of the entertainments in store at his namesake bacchanal, The Edwardian Ball. One part costume party, one part living cabinet of curiosities, The Ball cleverly combines the neoVictorian trappings of the steampunk movement with the fanciful darkness of Gorey’s works and San Francisco’s love of pageantry into a sumptuous spectacle that is completely its own. Begun as a goth-club tribute to the strange artistry of Edward Gorey, just one year before the death of that notably eccentric gentleman, the Ball has grown to include a wide range of artists and activities presented over the course of an entire weekend.

Edward Gorey story courtesy of co-hosts alternacircus Vau de Vire Society and “Pagan Lounge” ensemble Rosin Coven, is a reminder of the Ball’s literary and performative roots. This year’s edition is a rendering of “The Iron Tonic,” a rarity among the prolific writer’s works, with an eerie, wintery theme.

Participants can learn to ballroom dance then strut their stuff to DJ Delachaux’s “Pervertella” or the winsome croonings of dark cabaret chanteuse Jill Tracy, go on a bicycle-powered carnival ride, take afternoon tea with “Professor Elemental”, stroll through the “Living Statue Garden,” and check out the vendor bazaar, while sipping absinthe and interacting with circulating performers. The centerpiece of the evening, a live staging of an

THE EDWARDIAN BALL January 21 I 8:00 pm Regency Ballroom 1300 Van Ness Street, SF $39 to $85 I 877.435.9849 edwardianball.com

And what would Gorey enjoy in his namesake Ball?

Co-producer Justin Katz thinks perhaps it would be the overall “non-conformity” of the event, and it’s emphasis on audience participation and artistic creativity as opposed to strict period recreation.

“He wasn’t much for rules and formality, and had little patience for the humorless,” Katz points out.

“Our event…tends a bit to the absurd, and I think Gorey would appreciate that.”

JANUARY 2012 I

I 21

DAILY 22 I Paul Jacobs

23 I Robben Ford

22 I Racing to the Pink Moon

23 I Wolves in Throne Room

Davies Symphony Hall I SF $20-$30 I 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org Organ recital with works by Elgar, Bach, Price, Boulanger and Demessieux.

design publications websites

415.552.8040 780 sutter street san francisco, ca 94109

www.viamedia.net a division of Caselli Partners LLC

Rickshaw Stop I SF $15.00-$20.00 I 415.861.2011 rickshawstop.com Over 50 Bay Area artists are convening to reinterpret Nick Drake’s Pink Moon.

22 I Classic Nightclub Show

Mezzanine I SF $28.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, David Wain and guests. (21+ only) 22 I Sugar Blue

24 I Ann Magnuson

Yoshi’s I Oakland $25 I 510.238.9200 yoshis.com A musical soiree in songs and spoken word. (Ends 1/25) 24 I Home of the Slave Benefit

Independent I SF $18.00-$40.00 I 415.771.1421 theindependentsf.com Benefit for SF victims of human trafficking.

22 I Art of American Song

24 I Matthew Martin

22 I The Groundlings

24 I New Shanghai Circus

Old First Church I SF $17.00 I 415.474.1608 oldfirstconcerts.org Soprano Robin Fisher and pianist Hatem Nadimin in songs set to American poetry.

Rrazz Room I SF $30 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Heir to Charles Pierce is back with more “All Singing, All Dancing, All Dead!”

Eureka Theatre I SF $28.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Tim Bagley, Jordan Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Steven Cragg, Rachael Harris.

Wells Fargo Center I Santa Rosa $21 I 707.546.3600 wellsfargocenterarts.org Acrobats, jugglers and contortionists.

22 I They Came Together

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $40.00 I 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning creator of The Office and Extras for BBC.

23 I A Lull

Rickshaw Stop I SF $10.00 I 415.861.2011 rickshawstop.com Co-headlining with Deleted Scenes, as well as Ravenna Woods.

23 I Jeff Lorber

Yoshi’s I SF $18.00 I 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Keyboardist/composer/producer Lorber brings his stylings to Yoshi’s.

23 I Jimmy Kansau & Trio

Rrazz Room I SF $25 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Kansau combines love for the music of Latin America and the Caribbean.

I JANUARY 2012

Slim’s I SF $16.00 I 888.233.0449 slimspresents.com With Worm Ouroboros and Ash Borer.

Biscuits & Blues I SF $20 I 415.292.2583 biscuitsandblues.com Harmonica virtuoso and vocalist.

Eureka Theatre I SF $20.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Michael Ian Black, Rachael Harris, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Amy Poehler.

22 I

Napa Valley Opera House $20.00-$25.00 I 800.380.3095 nvoh.org Acclaimed electric guitarist makes his NVOH debut.

24 I Stephen Merchant

25 I Alvon

Biscuits & Blues I SF $15 I 415.292.2583 biscuitsandblues.com Former member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vocal group, The Coasters.

25 I Eddie Izzard

Palace of Fine Arts Theater I SF $50.00 I 415.392.4400 sfsketchfest.com An acclaimed comic in conversation.

25 I Eddie Money

Tommy T’s Comedy I Pleasanton $25-$35 I 925.227.1800 tommyts.com His Up Close and Personal concert.

orchestral maneuvers by andrew gilbert

Though pianist Taylor Eigsti and guitarist Julian Lage are all grown up and well ensconced in the top echelons of the New York City jazz scene, it wasn’t that long ago that they were Bay Area prodigies terrifying veteran musicians with their awesome talent.

music

TAYLOR EIGSTI

The twice Grammy-nominated Eigsti started blowing minds around the age of eight, when David Benoit hired the almost scarily selfpossessed Menlo Park-raised pianist as an opening act for a gig at Villa Montalvo. Since appearing in the award-winning Jules at Eight, a documentary that captured the pint-sized Lage playing searing blues, the Santa Rosa-raised guitarist has cut an equally impressive path.

Lage, 24, is probably best known for his extensive work with vibraphone legend Gary Burton, though he’s also toured widely with his own stylistically expansive chamber jazz quintet. Eigsti, 27, has been sought after by jazz masters like James Moody, Bobby Hutcherson and Red Holloway, as well as his contemporaries, like vocalist Gretchen Parlato.

Friends and compatriots since their early teens, Eigsti and Lage come together once again for a collaboration with the Peninsula Symphony. While each player gets a solo feature with the orchestra Eigsti’s performing the Khachaturian Piano Concerto, Lage is interpreting part of a Villa Lobos Concerto - the concerts mark the world premieres of several new Eigsti compositions written for guitar and piano, including “The Bird and the Forest Floor,” a suite.

image: bill douthart (taylor eigsti)

“I always learn a lot each time I have an opportunity to write for orchestra,” says Eigsti. “This time, without a rhythm section, it gave me and Julian the chance to explore more textures within the orchestra itself, and we always have a great time writing together. That can be a challenging process when we are touring all the time, but somehow, it’s all coming together.”

TAYLOR EIGSTI January 20 I 8:00 pm Fox Theatre 2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City January 21 I 8:00 pm Flint Center 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino $48 I 650.941.5291 peninsulasymphony.org JANUARY 2012 I

I 23

DAILY 25 I Hands Off My City

26 I Eric Johnson

25 I Jake Mann & Upper Hand

26 I Filligar

Eureka Theatre I SF $15.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Hosted by Backstage Paige.

Rickshaw Stop I SF $10.00 I 415.861.2011 rickshawstop.com With Tommy Keene and Sally Crewe & The Sudden Moves.

25 I Jefferson Starship

Rrazz Room I SF $40-$45 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Legendary rock, progressive rock band perform their 2,000th show. (Ends 1/29) 25 I Jesus in India

Magic Theatre I SF $20-$80 I 800.380.3095 magictheatre.org Lloyd Suh’s modern parable imagining the lost years of Christ. (Ends 2/19) 25 I Theatre Of Voices

Dinkelspiel Auditorium I Palo Alto $44.00-$50.00 I 650.725.2787 livelyarts.stanford.edu All-David Lang program with Bryce Dessner and Shara Worden.

25 I Gary Bartz Project

Yoshi’s I SF $30.00 I 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Grammy winning jazz saxophonist Bartz with Bilal and Aloe Blacc.

25 I The Special Consensus

Firehouse Arts Center I Pleasanton $15.00-$25.00 I 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org With opening act Them Boys.

26 I Alabama Shakes

Café Du Nord I SF $10.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Terraplane Sun, Warm Weather.

26 I Fitz & The Tantrums

Regency Ballroom I SF $23 I 888.929.7849 theregencyballroom.com With Dale Earnhardt Jr. and American Tomahawk.

26 I Hanz Araki Band

142 Throckmorton I Mill Valley $18.00-$21.00 I 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org Celtic music from this accomplished trio.

26 I Jerry Herman Salon

Alcazar Theatre I SF $70 I 415.255.8207 42ndstmoon.org Jason Graae and Faith Prince sing songs from Mame, Hello, Dolly! and more.

26 I Sketchfest in Mission

Dark Room I SF $15.00 I No Number Given sfsketchfest.com Boat, Jin & Joshi and KT Comedy hosted

by Caitlin Gill.

26 I Social Security

Theatre on San Pedro Square I SJ $29-$35 I 800.838.3006 tabardtheatre.org A young Jewish woman follows her grandmother’s sage advice. (Ends 2/19) 27 I Improv-A-Ganza

Marines’ Memorial Theatre I SF $55.00-$75.00 I 415.771.6900 sfsketchfest.com Drew Carey, Jeff Davis, Chip Esten, Greg Proops and Ryan Stiles. Also 1/28.

27 I Elvin Bishop

Great American Music Hall I SF $28.00 I 415.885.0750 slimspresents.com Live at GAMH. 27 I Eric Martin

George’s Nightclub I San Rafael $12.00-$18.00 I 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com Lead singer of Mr. Big. 27 I AfroBeat Ensemble

Elbo Room I SF $10-$12 I 800.838.3006 elbo.com Featuring members of Fela Kuti and Afrika 70.

27 I Mint Condition

27 I Body Awareness

I JANUARY 2012

27 I Crossing Delancey

27 I 6th Street Improv

26 I Allstar Weekend

Eureka Theatre I SF $15.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Hosted by Backstage Paige.

Main Stage West I Sebastopol $10-$15 I 707.823.0177 thewalkingelephant.blogspot.com Youth actors portray people’s words about civil disobedience. (Ends 1/29)

27 I Matt Skiba

Independent I SF $12.00 I 415.771.1421 theindependentsf.com With Dry The River.

26 I Colin Mahan

27 I Civil Disobedience

Hillbarn Theatre I Foster City $22-$32 I 650.349.6411 hillbarntheatre.org Tale of a mother’s coming to live with her trendy NYC family. (Ends 2/12) 6th Street Playhouse I Santa Rosa $14 I 707.523.4185 6thstreetplayhouse.com Presenting their improv “1940s Radio Show.” (Ends 1/28)

Fillmore I SF $22.50 I 800.745.3000 thefillmore.com With The After Party and Hollywood Ending.

24 I

Napa Valley Opera House $20.00-$30.00 I 800.380.3095 nvoh.org Acclaimed guitarist, singer/songwriter.

Aurora Theatre I Berkeley $34-$55 I 510.843.4822 auroratheatre.org Aurora Theatre presents Annie Baker’s tale about a female couple & the mutability of relationships. (Ends 3/4) 27 I Carmina Burana

Paramount Theatre I Oakland $20.00-$70.00 I 800.745.3000 oebs.org Oakland East Bay Symphony with the chorus and youth orchestra.

Slim’s I SF $16.00-$19.00 I 888.233.0449 slimspresents.com Guitarist/vocalist for Alkaline Trio.

Warfield I SF $35-$65 I 888.929.7849 thewarfieldtheatre.com Mature band from the Twin Cities.

27 I Montrose

Uptown Theatre I Napa $28.00-$35.00 I 707.259.0123 uptowntheatrenapa.com Ronnie Montrose in concert, with guest Michael Lee Firkins.

27 I Onegin

San Francisco War Memorial Opera House I SF $48-$285 I 415.865.2000 sfballet.org Adaptation of Pushkin’s passionate tale of Russian aristocrat’s lost love. (Ends 2/3)

brimming with italian lyricism by elizabeth warnimont

The Lamplighters Music Theatre wraps up its fullscale lineup this season with one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best-loved musicals, The Gondoliers. A young bride (Elise Marie Kennedy as Casilda) arrives in Venice to meet her future husband, heir to the throne of Barataria - but of course, nothing turns out the way anyone planned. The drunken gondolier charged with raising the heir has long since forgotten which boy was the royal, and which his own son.

The king, meanwhile, has since passed away, and the boys’ nurse is nowhere to be found. Nevermind that both young men have already married, and the bride-to-be is in love with somebody else.

Barbara Heroux, who has directed the Lamplighters for more than 20 years now, describes the show as being “simply full of gorgeous music.” Sullivan had just returned from Italy when he wrote the score, she says, and he was brimming over with lyricism.

“I love the first act finale in particular. There is a section where the two gondoliers and their two new wives are singing goodbye to each other. It starts out kind of cute with mock scolding. Then it goes into this beautiful, soaring...” at which point the director can’t help but break into song.

For anyone who isn’t sure they’d enjoy a Lamplighters production, Heroux has the answer. “Chances are they will,” she assures.

“It’s funny, it’s beautiful music and it’s beautiful to look at.” A comment she hears frequently is that people leave a show feeling better than they did when they walked in. “That’s my favorite testimonial,” says Heroux, “that I made somebody’s life a little bit better tonight. That’s worth doing.”

THE GONDOLIERS January 20 to 22 Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Novellus Theater 700 Howard Street, SF $20 to $48 I 415.978.2787 January 27 to 29 Lesher Center 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek $25 to $53 I 925.943.7469 lamplighters.org

image: courtesy photo (the gondoliers [2005] - amy stalcup, stacey helley)

Heroux says one of the best things about being involved with the Lamplighters is the consistently lighthearted, warmly funny content of the G&S material, which makes up about 80 percent of their repertoire. The troupe performs operettas and other

small classical works, but they’re essentially all about Gilbert and Sullivan.

operetta

THE GONDOLIERS

JANUARY 2012 I

I 25

DAILY 27 I Philharmonia Baroque

Herbst Theatre I SF $25-$85 I 415.392.4400 philharmonia.org Featuring Richard Egarr, harpsichordist.

27 I Snoopy

Lesher Center I Walnut Creek $16.50 I 925.943.7469 lesherartscenter.org Teen Theatre presents family musical.

27 I Sqwonk & Living Earth

Old First Church I SF $17.00 I 415.474.1608 oldfirstconcerts.org Two high-energy, completely unique duos will be spotlighted on this concert.

27 I Mystery of Edwin Drood

Town Hall Theatre I Lafayette $10-$15 I 925.283.1557 townhalltheatre.com Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel is now an intricate musical. (Ends 1/29) 27 I Zoran Dukić

SF Conservatory of Music I SF $30.00-$40.00 I 415.392.4400 performances.org Internationally renowned guitar virtuoso.

27 I Arms and the Man

Lesher Center I Walnut Creek $38-$43 I 925.943.7469 lesherartscenter.org George Bernard Shaw’s endearing romantic comedy. (Ends 2/25)

28 I Alexander String Quartet

Herbst Theatre I SF $25.00-$48.00 I 415.392.4400 performances.org Featuring Schubert’s string quartets Rosamunde and Death and the Maiden.

28 I Brasil Guitar Duo

Dance Palace I Point Reyes Station $11.00-$22.00 I 415.663.1075 dancepalace.org The Duo features a seamless blend of traditional and Brazilian works.

28 I Cash Tribute Show

El Campanil Theatre I Antioch $27 I 925.757.9500 elcampaniltheatre.com James Garner’s sincere and accurate tribute to the Man in Black.

28 I Company C Ballet

Castro Valley Center $15-$27 I 800.380.3095 companycballet.org Presenting their 10th Anniversary Season Winter Program. (Ends 1/29)

26 I

I JANUARY 2012

28 I Daniel Castro

Mildred Owen Hall I Pacifica $20.00 I 650.355.188 pacificaperformances.org Pacifica Performances presents this rising young Blues guitarist.

28 I Dawn Upshaw

Herbst Theatre I SF $38.00-$68.00 I 415.392.4400 performances.org American soprano is accompanied on piano by Stephen Prutsman.

28 I Diavolo Dance Theater

Dinkelspiel Auditorium I Palo Alto $14-$68 I 650.725.2787 livelyarts.stanford.edu Mix of dance, gymnastics, drama, and more, set to music by John Adams.

28 I Fela Kuti Extravaganza

Café Du Nord I SF $15.00 I 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com Featuring Baba Ken Okulolo and Soji Odukogbe of Nigeria.

28 I Finian’s Rainbow

Saratoga Civic Theater I Saratoga $18-$38 I 408.266.4734 southbaymt.com One of the most beloved classics of American musical theatre. (Ends 2/18) 28 I Kumail Nanjiani

Cobb’s Comedy Club I SF $25.00 I 800.745.3000 cobbscomedy.com Jonah Ray, Steve Agee, Leo Allen, Natasha Leggero & more.

28 I Peter Yarrow

Jewish Community Center of SF $48-$55 I 415.292.1233 jccsf.org Legendary artist and activist from Peter, Paul and Mary.

28 I Renacer Folklórico

La Peña Center I Berkeley $13-$15 I 510.849.2568 lapena.org Renacer Folklórico Bolivia and Kusikuna.

28 I Rockapella

Napa Valley Opera House $30.00-$40.00 I 800.380.3095 nvoh.org Five guys without instruments who sound like a full band.

28 I SF Symphony

Herbst Theatre I SF $15.00-$57.00 I 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org Music for families, kid-sized classical concerts. Conducted by Donato Cabrera.

28 I The Wood Brothers

Great American Music Hall I SF $19.00-$21.00 I 415.885.0750 slimspresents.com With Sarah & Christian Dugas.

28 I Tim Flannery

Uptown Theatre I Napa $55.00-$100.00 I 707.259.0123 uptowntheatrenapa.com With his band, The Lunatic Fringe.

29 I Avotcja

La Peña Center I Berkeley $10-$25 I 510.849.2568 lapena.org An evening of music and poetry.

29 I Clerestory

Holy Innocents Episcopal I SF $20.00 I 415.648.5236 nvcm.org An a cappella concert by a group of ten men, many veterans of Chanticleer.

29 I Broadway Sing-Along

Oshman Family JCC I Palo Alto $25.00-$30.00 I 650.223.8618 paloaltojcc.org Jewish Composers through the years.

29 I Marin Symphony

Marin Center I San Rafael $29-$70 I 415.499.6800 marinsymphony.org Conductor Alasdair Neale with guest Nathan Chan on cello.

30 I Fujiya & Miyagi

Independent I SF $13.00-$15.00 I 415.771.1421 theindependentsf.com With The Frail.

30 I G. Scott Lacy

Rrazz Room I SF $20 I 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Lacy has musical directed over 120 productions.

31 I Reggidency: a Reggie Watts series

Yoshi’s I SF $25.00 I 415.655.5600 sfsketchfest.com Comic/musical improviser Reggie Watts.

31 I The XXX Factor

Eureka Theatre I SF $15.00 I 866.468.3399 sfsketchfest.com Comedy Noir thinks the art of telling a good dirty joke has been lost.

image: erik tomasson (onegin - maria kochetkova, vitor luiz)

by grier cooper

It would be hard to state how beloved Eugene Onegin is to the Russian people. Alexander Pushkin’s early 19th-century novel in verse is a passionate story of a Russian aristocrat and his lost chance for love with the beautiful Tatiana. Its heartbreaking themes of unrequited love, anguish and tragic irony inspired both Tchaikovsky’s famous opera and John Cranko’s 1965 ballet, Onegin, which now joins San Francisco Ballet’s repertory for the first time, with lavish scenery and costumes designed by Santo Loquasto.

“Cranko was very inventive when it comes to partnering,” says Vitor Luiz, who plays Eugene Onegin in San Francisco Ballet’s upcoming production. “Finishing Act One with the ‘Mirror Pas de Deux’… it is so beautiful it makes you wish for the intermission to be over so you can keep watching more!”

Luiz, who is originally from Juiz de Fora, Brazil, joined San Francisco Ballet as a Principal Dancer in 2009. “I love every aspect of this ballet,” he says. “For me, that was the perfect recipe; to unite Pushkin, for the Russians, the greatest of all poets;

ballet

ONEGIN

russians taking steps

Cranko, also a poet himself, but of movement and story telling; and last but not least Tchaikovsky, the poet of great music.”

Luiz does conduct research to prepare for the role and create a well-developed character. “I think about my character and how he would interact with others. I think about how my own experience in life would add to the role and about society at the given time.”

Luiz says he thinks of his role in terms of the big picture, as if he were reading a book. “I like books because everybody can read the same words but picture different things. I try to imagine that all of a sudden, that picture that I created in my head has somehow materialized around me.”

ONEGIN January 27 to February 3 San Francisco War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Avenue, SF $48 to $285 I 415.865.2000 sfballet.org

JANUARY 2012 I

I 27

BACK The cast and crew of 42nd Street Moon’s Three Sisters at the Eureka

Mary Wilson and Sheryl Lee Ralph at the Hotel Rex

image: via media

image: via media

Stacey Kent at the Venetian Room

Trixie, Winnie, Trampolina and Rachel (aka The Kinsey Sicks) at the Herbst

Ed Decker and Stephanie Temple at New Conservatory Theatre

image: via media

image: via media

image: via media

Alex Perez at Hillbarn Theatre

Scott Besser and Franc D’Ambrosio at the Rrazz Room

Michael Londra at Marines’ Memorial Theatre

image: via media

image: steven underhill

image: via media

Stefan Karl (aka The Grinch) at the Golden Gate Theatre

Russ Lorenson and Veronica Klaus at the Rrazz Room

Mark Jackson, Beth Wilmurt and Juliana Lustenader at God’s Plot

image: steven underhill

image: via media

image: via media

IN PRINT

|

ONLINE

Stop searching and start finding!

All your theatre, music, dance and more is at

www.BAYSTAGES.com Subscribe to SPOTLIGHT, your free weekly email of news, reviews, ticket giveaways and other special offers.

415.552.8040

|

780 sutter street, san francisco, ca 94109

SAM SHEPARD IN REPERTORY January – April 2012

True West Buried Child Fool For Love

Opens 1/21/12 & 1/22/12 A collaboratively directed and performed project

Opens 2/8/12 Directed by Rebecca Longworth

Opens 2/29/12 Directed by Nick A. Olivero

Opens 3/14/12 Directed by Susannah Martin

A Lie of the Mind

www.boxcartheatre.org Single $25 | Four Show Rep Pass $85 | Previews $15 | Opening Nights $35