APRIL 2012 I Your Guide to the Best Theatre, Music, Dance and More in the Bay Area!
[THE ARTISTS]
MOONALICE KRISTEN STROM THIRD WORLD LOVE RHYTHMIC CIRCUS [THE SHOWS]
ARTICHOKE NOTES FROM THE PHILIPPINES RABBIT HOLE
+ TEASE-O-RAMA +
MUSEUM OF PERFORMANCE & DESIGN
[THE COVER]
ST. VINCENT
Singer-Songwriter Annie Clark’s Strange Mercy
ALSO: DAILY EVENTS + MUSIC & COMEDY CLUB LISTINGS + VENUE DIRECTORIES + MORE
MONDAYS, STArTiNG April 2
ToMMy igoe big bAnD livE AT THE rrAzz rOOM!
April 3 & 4
THE WHAT MATTErS MOST TOUr!
sTeVen bRinbeRg iS “SiMplY BArBrA”
April 5 - 7
GrAMMY - WiNNiNG SiNGEr/SONGWriTEr/ACTrESS
MelissA MAnChesTeR AU S T R A L I A’ S
THUNDER From
DOWN UNDER
April 11 - 13
The benny golson quinTeT FEATUriNG nnennA FReelon WiTH JASON MArSAliS, rAY DrUMMOND & MiKE lEDONNE
April 14
ONE NiGHT! TWO SHOWS!
heART & soul THE MUSiC OF
DiAnA Ross, Dionne WARWiCk AnD WhiTney housTon STArriNG SHOSHANA BEAN, SYlviA MACCAllA AND SYESHA MErCADO
April 15
ArE YOU rEADY FOr THE THUNDEr?! AUSTrAliA’S
ThunDeR FRoM DoWn unDeR
Sponsored By:
April 17 - 29
VARlA JeAn MeRMAn
rETUrNS iN A BrAND NEW SHOW! THE BOOK OF MErMAN
April 27 & 28
FirST WEST COAST TOUr & CD rElEASE!
lADy Rizo
DirECT FrOM HEr rECOrD BrEAKiNG ENGAGEMENT AT JOE’S pUB NYC
222 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
April 29 THE QUEENS HOlD COUrT FOr AN AFTErNOON OF HilAriTY
PoPPy ChAMPlin
prESENTS THE QUEEr QUEENS OF QOMEDY SpECiAl GUESTS: HEATHEr GOlD AND KirA SOlTANOviCH (JiMMY KiMMEl livE!) Grand Piano courtesy of Baldwin
800-380-3095 • www.TheRrazzRoom.com
editor ROBERT SOKOL editor@baystages.com
THE STAGES PLAY | Artichoke............................................................................... 5 EXHIBIT | Museum of Performance & Design.............................. 7 PLAY | Rabbit Hole............................................................................ 9 MUSIC | Kristen Strom...................................................................11 BURLESQUE | Tease-O-Rama.......................................................13 MUSIC | MOONALICE....................................................................15 DANCE | Bay Area National Dance Week.....................................17 ADAPTED | A Hot Day In Ephesus................................................19 SYMPHONY | Notes From the Philippines..................................21 MUSIC | St. Vincent........................................................................23 DANCE | Feet Don’t Fail Me Now..................................................25 JAZZ | Israeli JazzFest....................................................................27 BACK I Behind the Scenes with
...............................28
Copyright © 2010-2012 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 NICOLE DIAL ANDREW GILBERT NICOLE GLUCKSTERN ML HEATH DAPHNE O’NEAL JIM VAN BUSKIRK ELIZABETH WARNIMONT Writers may submit resumes and samples to editor@baystages.com for consideration.
contributing photographer STEVEN UNDERHILL Photographers and publicists may submit images to editor@baystages.com for consideration.
cover image ST. VINCENT
image: tina tyrell All other photos are provided by the artists or venues. Photography credits are noted when provided.
image: mark kitaoka (hairspray - victoria morgan and company)
advertising sales RON WILLIS 415.552.8040 advertise@baystages.com Press releases and promotional materials may be sent to:
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HAIRSPRAY April 4 to 22 Fox Theatre 2215 Broadway Street Redwood City $20 to $48 | 650.579.5565 broadwaybythebay.org
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APRIL 2012 |
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REVOLVING
The Late, Late Show’s Craig Ferguson at the Uptown in Napa. (4/25)
Varla Jean Merman in The Book of Merman at the Rrazz in SF. (4/17-29)
330 RITCH SOMA, SF 330ritch.com/ | 415.541.9574 AMNESIA Mission, SF amnesiathebar.com | 415.970.0012 ASHKENAZ Berkeley ashkenaz.com | 510.525.5054 BIMBO’S 365 CLUB North Beach, SF bimbos365club.com | 415.474.0365 BISCUITS & BLUES Union Square, SF biscuitsandblues.com | 415.292.2583 BLANK CLUB San Jose theblankclub.com | 408.292.5265 BLISS BAR Noe Valley, SF blissbarsf.com | 415.826.6200 Bottom of the Hill Potrero Hill, SF bottomofthehill.com | 415.621.4455 BRICK & Mortar MUSIC HALL Mission, SF brickandmortarmusic.com | 415.800.8782 Café du Nord Upper Market, SF cafedunord.com | 415.861.5016 Café ROYALE Tenderloin, SF caferoyale-sf.com | 415.441.4099 club fox Redwood City clubfoxrwc.com | 650.369.7770 DNA LOUNGE SOMA, SF dnalounge.com | 415.626.1409 ELBO ROOM Mission, SF elbo.com | 415.552.7788 EL RIO Mission, SF elriosf.com | 415.282.3325
FILLMORE Fillmore, SF thefillmore.com | 415.346.6000 FOX THEATRE Oakland thefoxoakland.com | 800.745.3000 Freight & Salvage Berkeley freightandsalvage.org | 510.644.2020 George’s NIGHTCLUB 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 HOTEL UTAH SALOON SOMA, SF hotelutah.com | 415.546.6300 Independent Alamo Square, SF theindependentsf.com | 415.771.1421 jazzschool Berkeley jazzschool.com | 510.845.5373 Johnny Foley’s Union Square, SF johnnyfoleys.com | 415.954.0777 MAKE-OUT ROOM Mission, SF makeoutroom.com | 415.647.2888 MEZZANINE SOMA, SF mezzaninesf.com | 415.625.8880 MILK BAR Haight, SF milksf.com | 415.387.6455 napa valley opera house Napa nvoh.com | 707.226.7372 NEW PARISH Oakland thenewparish.com | 510.444.7474
OAKLAND METRO OPERAHOUSE Oakland oaklandmetro.org | 510.763.1146 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 | 415.861.2012 ROCKIT ROOM Richmond, SF rock-it-room.com | 415.387.6343 RRAZZ ROOM Union Square, SF therrazzroom.com | 415. 394.1189 SAVANNAH JAZZ Mission, SF savannajazz.com | 415.624.4549 SHATTUCK DOWN LOW Berkeley shattuckdownlow.com | 510.455.4735 SILO’S Napa silosnapa.com | 707.251.5833 Slim’s SOMA, SF slims-sf.com | No Calls STARRY PLOUGH Berkeley starryploughpub.com | 510.841.1424 THEE PARKSIDE Potrero Hill, SF theeparkside.com | 415.252.1330 UPTOWN THEATRE Napa uptowntheatrenapa.com | 707.259.0123 WARFIELD Downtown, SF thewarfieldtheatre.com | 800.745.3000 YOSHI’S Oakland + Fillmore, SF yoshis.com | 510-238-9200 + 415.655.5600
These venues feature a rapidly changing roster of artists. We advise calling or checking the websites for the latest performance information including minimums and age limits (if any). Please contact daily@baystages.com with additions or corrections.
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images: courtesy photos (oh land, craig ferguson, varla jean merman)
Nanna Øland Fabricius aka Oh Land at The Independent in SF. (4/09)
view from the editor Trying to take in the entire Bay Area performing arts scene and get your arms around it - even just figuratively - is a daunting task. If you know me at all, you know that I’m primarily a theatre person who keeps a few non-twinkling toes in the music world. Each month I juggle the calendar to see how many of the dozens of plays and musicals available will actually be seen by yours truly and I almost feel like I’m cheating if I sneak off to the occasional cabaret or nightclub performance, or - rarer still - a comedy club. It’s not that I don’t appreciate these other forms of entertainment. I do. I also enjoy film and television arts, and the craft of a well-written book. The challenge is time. In our ever-expanding, increasingly connected world of options, keeping up on things - even things one enjoys - is difficult. Learning about new things even more so. Most of us work harder and play less. Time that isn’t spent producing some result somehow feels...well, unproductive. Here at BAYSTAGES, we spend our time helping you stay on top of your entertainment options so you can make informed - dare I say productive? - choices on where to spend your precious resources of time and money when you do shift from labor to pleasure. Whether it’s alerting you to some exciting new
music or comedy artist coming to the area, getting a rare revival of a classic play or musical on your radar, or even something as simple as providing you with a handy list of shows closing this month or of the most prominent ticket agencies, our goal is to make the pleasure of attending a live performance just a little sweeter. While the folks on Bay stages may be “stealing that extra bow,” the folks at BAYSTAGES want to help you steal a few extra minutes of ease. Whether it’s on the pages of this magazine or in the bits and bytes of our website and searchable database, we’re constantly striving to lengthen our arms and extend our reach to cover as much theatre, music, dance and more entertainment in the Bay Area as possible. We haven’t perfected things yet, so if we’re missing some important venue or genre, please let us know. All best regards,
ROBERT SOKOL, editor
image: sarah spinner for via media
Making like an honorary Escovedo with Pete, Juan and Peter Michael at the fourth annual Rrazziversary.
APRIL 2012
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CLOSING SHOWS
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.
Marilyn Pittman in It’s All the Rage at The Marsh in SF. (Ends 4/15) 7 | True West
Boxcar Studios | SF $15-$35 | 415.776.1747 boxcartheatre.org Sam Shepard’s drama about sibling rivalry between estranged brothers. 7 | Sam Marlowe
Stage Werx 446 | SF $18 | 800.838.3006 catchynametheatre.org Noir play subtitled “and the Mean Streets of San Francisco” set in 1947. 7 | Suicide in B Flat
Boxcar Studios | SF $5-$20 | 800.838.3006 suicideinbflat.blogspot.com They’re in love with the classics, but tired of the same-old, same-old. 7 | Buried Child
Boxcar Playhouse | SF $15-$35 | 415.776.1747 boxcartheatre.org Shepard’s drama about family secrets dragged out into the light of day. 14 | The Real Americans
Marsh | SF $25-$50 | 415.282.3055 themarsh.org Dan Hoyle’s account of his experience with America’s polarized politics. 15 | It’s All The Rage
ABBREVIATIONS: MV-Mill Valley, LF-Lafayette, PA-Palo Alto, RC-Redwood City, SF-San Francisco, SJ-San Jose, SR-Santa Rosa, SU-Sunnvale, WC-Walnut Creek. 1 | Artichoke
Mel Mello Center | Half Moon Bay $20-$30 | 650.569.3266 coastalrep.com Coastal Rep reprises Joanna Glass’s engaging dramatic comedy about family, connection & forgiveness. (Ends 4/21) 1 | SFJAZZ Collective
Yoshi’s | Oakland $22-$28 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder. (Ends 4/1) 1 | American Philharmonic
Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $20-$30 | 707.546.3600 tickets.wellsfargocenterarts.org Inspiring music from Brahms, Vaughn Williams and Strauss. 1 | Così fan tutte
Cowell Theater | SF $20 | 415.345.7575 sfopera.com Conservatory Opera Theatre presents Mozart’s classic. G. Finzi conducts. 1 | Dawn Upshaw
Herbst Theatre | SF $25-$68 | 415.392.4400 sfperformances.org Acclaimed soprano performs with Stephen Prutsman. 1 | Moonlight Rodeo
15 | Hamlet
1 | Races
City Lights Theater | San Jose $28 | 408.295.4200 cltc.org City Lights’ modern-day Hamlet is a contemporary psychological thriller. 15 | A Funny Thing...
Spindrift Theatre | Pacifica $25 | 650.359.8002 pacificaspindriftplayers.org Sondheim-Shevelove musical inspired by the ancient Roman playwright Plautus.
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Rancho Nicasio | Nicasio FREE | 415.662.2219 ranchonicasio.com Roots-Rock, Americana. Café Du Nord | SF $10 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With No and Sunbeam Rd.
1 | Sierra Maestra
Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $30-$35 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org Pioneering Cuban band brings their old-style line-up to Napa.
Brava Theatre | SF $10-$15 | 800.380.3095 switchboardmusic.com Featuring musicians who are challenging, blending, & breaking down traditional genre distinctions. 1 | The Collection
EXIT Stage Left | SF $20-$25 | 800.838.3006 theexit.org Theatrical magician Christian Cagigal’s top secret show of magic, storytelling, and creepiness. (Ends 4/13) 1 | Wesla Whitfield
Firehouse Arts Center | Pleasanton $15-$25 | 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org Cabaret great returns to The Firehouse’s Cabaret Series. 2 | Chamber Music SF
Herbst Theatre | SF $39-$48 | 415.392.4400 chambermusicsf.org Featuring James Ehnes on violin and Orion Weiss on piano. 2 | Kacey Johansing
Café Du Nord | SF $10-$12 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Hosannas, Joseph Childress and Levi Strom. 2 | Oakland Tech Jazz Ensemble
Yoshi’s | Oakland $15 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com With the Westlake Jazz Ensembles. 2 | Scott Amendola Quartet
Yoshi’s | SF $16 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Double Bill with Wil Blades.
image: courtesy photo (sunset boulevard - annmarie martin)
Marsh | SF $15-$50 | 415.282.3055 ttp:themarsh.org Marilyn Pittman with 28 scenes in 60 minutes. A tragedy with jokes.
1 | Switchboard Music Festival
a hunger for family by nicole dial
Coastal Rep delves into the layers of a family drama, revealing past and present indiscretions on a small wheat farm in Saskatchewan. Originally crafted as a drama, Artichoke playwright, Joanna Glass adapted her work into a comedy over a decade, creating a blend that moves between laughter and heartbreak. According to director Paul Anable, “The characters have complexity and depth that aren’t normally seen in comedy.“
image: joyce morrell (artichoke - peter owens, roxane ashe, nicole st. john, don hughes, will chen, paul smith, rob hedges)
This character driven family portrait explores how people connect with one another, overcoming pride and betrayal. Passions ignite and, over the course of a summer, a family struggles with reconciliation. Margaret and Walter have been estranged since Walter’s illegitimate child arrived on their doorstep. While Walter was banished to the smokehouse on the edge of the farm, Margaret remained in the house and raised Walter’s daughter, Lily-Agnes. Family dynamics become further strained with the appearance of Gibson, Margaret’s childhood friend and English professor who has recently had a nervous breakdown. “Margaret has been living like a nun for 14 years,” says Roxane Ashe who will be performing the role. She cleans and cleans and that’s what she does.
She believes that Gibson will somehow bring her back to who she was before. She’s looking for a way to feel again. [Gibson] opens the door to a renewal. She finds her way back to where she’s always been.”
play
artichoke
Artichoke already has a special place in the hearts of the cast. When the play was performed 20 years ago, Ashe was the director and Anable was part of the cast. It has been revived again as a theatre favorite. “I never would have imagined I would have an opportunity to play Margret,” said Ashe. “When you’re directing you’re viewing it from the audience, but I now get the joy of being with the character and the family.” ARTICHOKE April 1 to 21 Coastal Repetory Theatre 1167 Main Street, Half Moon Bay $15 to $30 | 650.569.3266 coastalrep.com
APRIL 2012 |
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CLOSING SHOWS
DAILY 3 | Chanticleer
First Congregational Church | Berkeley $20-$44 | 415.392.4400 chanticleer.org Presenting their show What Do You Think I Fought For? See website for other venues and dates. 3 | Looking for Normal
Annmarie Martin in Sunset Boulevard at the Lesher Center. (Ends 4/15) 15 | Sunset Boulevard
Lesher Center | Walnut Creek $44-$49 | 925.943.7469 ccmt.org Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece based on Billy Wilder’s film. 15 | God of Carnage
San Jose Repertory Theatre | SJ $44-$74 | 408.367.7255 sjrep.com Yasmina Reza’s comedy about parents reacting to their children’s acting out. 15 | Cat’s-Paw
Dragon Theatre | Palo Alto $16-$30 | 800.838.3006 dragonproductions.net An eco-terrorist with a hostage wages a battle of wits with a journalist. 15 | Don Giovanni
Cinnabar Theater | Petaluma $25-$35 | 707.763.8920 cinnabartheater.org Mozart’s masterpiece about a handsome but reprehensible nobleman. 18 | Fool for Love
Douglas Morrisson Theatre | Hayward $10 | 510.881.6777 dmtonline.org A staged reading of Jane Anderson’s play about marriage and family and the very notion of love.
5 | Dan St. Paul
Yoshi’s | Oakland $15 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Hi energy Jazz dance band. 3 | Steven Brinberg
Rrazz Room | SF $35 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Presenting Simply Barbra, his tribute to Barbra Streisand. (Ends 4/4) 4 | Baron Vaughn
Punch Line San Francisco | SF $15-$21 | 415.397.7573 punchlinecomedyclub.com Actor/comedian Vaughn brings his standup act to the Punch Line. (Ends 4/7)
4 | Brass Menažeri
Curran Theatre | SF $25-$175 | 888.746.1799 shnsf.com Jonathan Pryce in this revival production of Pinter’s classic play.
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Café Du Nord | SF $10 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com Featuring Brother Ali.
Yoshi’s | Oakland $15 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com San Francisco’s original Balkan Romani “Gypsy” brass band. 4 | David K. Mathews
Yoshi’s | SF $16 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Mathews’ Ray Charles Project featuring Tony Lindsay, Chris Cain & Glenn Walters. 4 | Of Mice and Men
Mountain View Center | MV $29-$49 | 650.463.1960 theatreworks.org Steinbeck’s classic play about friendship and the American Dream. (Ends 4/29)
George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $12-$15 | 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com With the Afro Cuban Jazz Cartel Quintet. Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $15 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org Featuring opening comic Derrick Leonard. 5 | Far Easter w/ Dat Phan
Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $18.50-$23.50 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedyclub.com With special guests. (Ends 4/7) 5 | Hiromi Trio Project
Yoshi’s | Oakland $25 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Japanese piano phenom featuring Anthony Jackson and Simon Phillips. (Ends 4/8) 5 | Il Gato
Café Du Nord | SF $10 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Passenger & Pilot, Red Weather and Drew Victor. 5 | Melissa Manchester
Rrazz Room | SF $45 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and actress returns to the Rrazz Room. (Ends 4/7) 5 | Poplyfe
Yoshi’s | SF $20 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Oakland natives & finalists on NBC’s America’s Got Talent.
image: photo (sunset boulevard - annmarie martin)
22 | The Caretaker
San Francisco State University | SF $12 | 800.380.3095 creativearts.sfsu.edu SF State Creative Arts presents Eve Ensler’s celebration of women’s sexuality and strength. (Ends 4/6)
3 | Rita Lackey
22 | The Mousetrap
Ross Valley Players | Ross $17-$25 | 415.456.9555 rossvalleyplayers.com Rapid-fire screwball comedy dazzles with dialogue and romantic plot twists.
4 | Vagina Monologues 2012
5 | Brian Andres
Café Du Nord | SF $12 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Field Report.
4 | Blank Tape Beloved
22 | Twentieth Century
Marsh - Berkeley | Berkeley $10-$15 | 415.282.3055 themarsh.org Matthew Francis’ one-man play about the struggle to reconcile faith and sexuality.
3 | Megafaun
Boxcar Studios | SF $15-$35 | 415.776.1747 boxcartheatre.org Shepard’s tale of a man who wants to drag home an old girlfriend. Altarena Playhouse | Alameda $22 | 510.523.1553 altarena.org Agatha Christie’s infamous “whodunit” - running in London since 1952.
4 | The Gospel According to Matthew
preserving the rich history of bay area arts by jim van buskirk
The Museum of Performance & Design, celebrates its 65th anniversary this year and remains dedicated to “educating people of all ages through exhibitions, programming and research about the impact and value of the performing arts in their lives.” “We’re still collecting, still open, with events planned through the end of the year,” according to Bill Eddelman, a 15-year board member, who acknowledges that recent financial challenges necessitated significantly reducing staffing and hours.
image: courtesy photo (russell hartley)
It began in 1947 when Russell Hartley (pictured), a costume designer and occasional performer with the SF Ballet, began amassing ephemera for a dance archive. Once known as the Performing Arts Library and Museum, it changed to its current name to highlight the importance of design, which Eddelman says, “pervades all the performing arts.” MPD now boasts more than 3.5 million items including original artwork, artifacts, recordings, sheet music, programs, photographs, and books covering all aspects of the performing arts in the Bay Area and around the world. The official archives for SFBallet and SFOpera, the Stern Grove and Ethnic Dance Festival are here, as are the personal papers of prominent Bay Area performers, patrons and creators including Lew Christensen, Anna Halperin, and Michael Smuin. Eddelman’s current exhibit “Viewing the Collection,” offers a broad sampling from the MPD’s permanent collection of puppets, masks, and costumes and
exhibit
museum of performance & design
scenic design, representing theatre, dance, design and music. Small sections of the modular exhibit will change during the year to include circus, vaudeville, possibly even some artifacts from Burning Man. Despite the financial crunch, events are being planned throughout 2012. Ken Ruta shares personal reminiscences from his six decades as an actor in “Behind the Curtain: A Life in the Performing Arts” on April 2. Also this month, Carrie Gaiser Casey presents “Don Quixote: An Appreciation,” investigating why this ballet has become such a beloved staple of the world’s best dance companies. These will be followed by a “big book sale” in June, new programs on monsters, on design in the performing arts, and celebrations of the 60th anniversary of The Lamplighters, and the 400th anniversary of The Tempest. Check the online schedule for additional dates and times. A “moving out” party is slated for December followed by four months of packing up the collections before the seismic reinforcement of the Veteran’s Building begins in 2013. MPD plans to reopen in a new central, but as yet unidentified location late in 2013. MUSEUM OF PERFORMANCE & DESIGN 401 Van Ness Avenue - Fourth Floor, SF $10 to $15 | 415.255.4800 mpdsf.org
APRIL 2012 |
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CLOSING SHOWS
DAILY 5 | Soweto Gospel Choir
6 | The Monophonics
6 | Anatol
6 | Soft White Sixties
6 | ClownSnotBombs
6 | Vagina Monologues
6 | Hermeto Pascoal
6 | Theatresports Madness!
Herbst Theatre | SF $25-$75 | 415.392.4400 cityboxoffice.com CIIS Public Programs & Performances presents the choir’s show African Grace.
Othello, the Moor of Venice at the Marin Theatre Company. (Ends 4/22) 22 | Any Given Day
Magic Theatre | SF $30-$60 | 415.441.8822 magictheatre.org A story about the moment when everything changes by Linda McLean, 22 | Othello, Moor of Venice
Marin Theatre Company | MV $34-$55 | 415.383.9600 marintheatre.org Jasson Minadakis helms Shapespeare’s tragic tale of love, deceit and murder. 22 | Tin Pan Alley Rag
Theatre on San Pedro Square | SJ $29-$35 | 800.838.3006 tabardtheatre.org Tabard Theatre’s musical based on the music of Scott Joplin & Irving Berlin. 27 | The Waiting Period
28 | Anything Goes
Willows Theatre | Concord $26-$36 | 925.798.1300 willowstheatre.com 2011 Tony-winning revival with Cole Porter’s music and a new book. 28 | Rumors
Lesher Center | Walnut Creek $38-$43 | 925.943.7469 centerrep.org Center Rep presents Neil Simon’s hilarious play, directed by Timothy Near. 29 | Voyage
Ashby Stage | Berkeley $20-$30 | 510.841.6500 shotgunplayers.org Tom Stoppard’s riff on pre-revolutionary Russia, the first in a trilogy. 29 | Laramie: Ten Years Later
New Conservatory Theatre Center | SF $25-$45 | 415.861.8972 nctcsf.org Life in Laramie, WY, 10 years after Matthew Shephard’s brutal death.
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EXIT Theatre | SF $10-$15 | 800.838.3006 clownsnotbombs.com Their newest theatrical circus show The Mystery of the Jeweled Egg. (Ends 4/7) Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $30-$35 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org Innovative Brazilian composer and multiinstrumentalist. 6 | Honey Ear Trio
142 Throckmorton | Mill Valley $18-$21 | 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org With Todd Sickafoose’s Tiny Resistors. 6 | John Denver Tribute
Firehouse Arts Center | Pleasanton $20-$30 | 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org Ted Vigil’s moving tribute to John Denver. (Ends 4/7) 6 | Lisa Lampanelli
Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $42.75 | 707.546.3600 tickets.wellsfargocenterarts.org The Queen of Mean brings her rabid comedy to Sonoma County. 6 | McCoy Tyner Trio
Yoshi’s | SF $25-$35 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com With with special guest Gary Bartz. (Ends 4/8) 6 | North Bay Blue Review
Rancho Nicasio | Nicasio $10-$12 | 415.662.2219 ranchonicasio.com Dance to these Blues! 6 | The Aïoli Trio
Cinnabar Theater | Petaluma $15 | 707.763.8920 cinnabartheater.org Featuring Dhyanidharma Mas, guitar, Lewis Jordan, alto saxophone and Michel Snethlage, violin.
Café Du Nord | SF $10-$12 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Major Powers & The Lo-Fi Symphony, Lloyd’s Garage and Abatis. Bankhead Theater | Livermore $27.50-$42.50 | 925.373.6800 livermoreperformingarts.org Eve Ensler’s groundbreaking monologues. (Ends 4/7)
Bayfront Theater | SF $$17-$$20 | 800.380.3095 improv.org BATS Signature Improv Comedy Competition! (Ends 4/27) 7 | 915 Cayuga
Brava Theatre | SF $5-$10 | No Phone brava.org Spring Holiday Showdown - an episodic old-time radio-style comedic variety show. 7 | Gator Beat & Zydeco Flames
George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $15 | 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com High energy Zydeco band. 7 | Hanni El Khatib
Café Du Nord | SF $12 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Tijuana Panthers and Sundelles. 7 | Improvised Hitchcock
Bayfront Theater | SF $$17-$$20 | 800.380.3095 improv.org Improvised Hitchcock is authentic SpineChilling Suspense! (Ends 4/28) 7 | Stompy Jones
Rancho Nicasio | Nicasio $12-$15 | 415.662.2219 ranchonicasio.com Very cool swing band. 8 | Charmaine Clamor
Rrazz Room | SF $30 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Filipino-American vocal star presents Hallelujah!: A Celebration of Rebirth.
image: kevin berne (othello, the moor of venice- craig marker, aldo billingslea, mairin lee)
Marsh - San Francisco | SF $35-$50 | 415.282.3055 themarsh.org Brian Copeland’s dark, comical show about depression and the firearm waiting period.
Aurora Theatre | Berkeley $34-$44 | 510.843.4822 auroratheatre.org A gadabout living for pleasure in late 19th-century Vienna. (Ends 5/13)
George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $12-$15 | 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com San Francisco’s Psychedelic Soul and Funk Band.
by elizabeth warnimont Daren Carollo couldn’t be happier to be directing David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Rabbit Hole for Contra Costa Civic Theatre in El Cerrito. “I’ve been dying to direct it since I saw it on Broadway,” he enthuses. “When I saw that piece, I knew this was something I wanted to bring to CCCT. I just kept applying for the rights until it got to the community theater level.” Rabbit Hole follows a husband and wife as they come to terms with the recent loss of their child in a car accident. Howie, the boy’s father, needs to talk about it, but his wife doesn’t want to listen. She just wants to forget, trying desperately to get back to feeling normal. “She doesn’t know that she’s never going to achieve the same normal she had when Danny was alive,” Carollo explains. “Her ‘normal’ has to change.” Howie, on the other hand, “doesn’t want to even clean fingerprints off of glass,” and that’s what Carollo loves about the play.
Carollo believes audiences will recognize people in their own lives, or maybe even themselves, as they get to know the characters in the play. “There’s something in each one of these characters that I can relate to. I see my siblings, my mother, or my father in different characters. Are you an Izzy, are you a Becca, a Howie?” Most likely, he concludes, “a mixture of two or three.” RABBIT HOLE April 6 to 29 Contra Costa Civic Theatre Pomona Avenue at Moeser Lane, El Cerrito $11 to $20 | 510.524.9132 ccct.org
image: ben krantz (rabbit hole - steve rhyne, emily hippert, lissa keigwin)
“What I find so interesting about the piece is that everybody copes so differently. Some of them are reaching out, some of them are communicating less.” He also sees that the play is about more than just grief. “As sad as this play is, there are moments where you will be rolling,” he says, noting
that there have been times when people just couldn’t stop laughing during rehearsal. “It’s so important that the play doesn’t get so sad that the audience stops caring about the characters. It’s not interesting to watch a bunch of people mope. It is interesting to watch people trying to cope.”
play
rabbit hole
looking for normal, or something next to it
APRIL 2012 |
|9
ONGOING SHOWS
DAILY 8 | Chris Thile
11 | Dohee Lee
8 | Kabir Singh
11 | Foxtails Brigade
Herbst Theatre | SF $35-$55 | 415.392.4400 omniconcerts.com Acclaimed mandolin virtuoso presented by Omni Guitar Concerts and SF Performances.
Hot Greeks keeps the Cockettes music playing at the Hypnodrome. 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 | SF $20 | 866.468.3399 bigcityimprov.com Four years running. Every scene is based upon audience suggestions. HOT GREEKS
Hypnodrome I SF $30-$69 I 800.838.3006 thrillpeddlers.com College rhythm meets the Peloponnesian War as Athens U takes on Sparta State. 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
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 | SF $44.95 | 415.395.8595 harrydenton.com Drag entertainment abounds in Harry Denton’s newly refurbished boite.
10 |
| APRIL 2012
9 | David Calzado
Yoshi’s | SF $25-$40 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com With his 22-peice Latin band Charanga Habanera. (Ends 4/10) 9 | Night Jazz Band
Yoshi’s | Oakland $10-$15 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com With Wayne Wallace.
10 | Kyle Eastwood
Yoshi’s | Oakland $16 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Clint’s eldest son shares his jazz chops at Yoshi’s Oakland. 10 | Robin Duhe
Rrazz Room | SF $25 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Bassist Duhe and his band present smooth jazz and R&B classics. 10 | Spamalot
Orpheum Theatre | SF $30-$200 | 888.746.1799 shnsf.com Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Spamalot returns to SHN. (Ends 4/22) 10 | Train
Café Du Nord | SF $35 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Jeff Campbell. 11 | Band of Brotherz
Yoshi’s | SF $12 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com A Night of ‘Dead’ Beatz with members of Alphabet Soup, Mo ‘fessionals, and Spearhead.
Café Du Nord | SF $10 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Emily Jane White and Paula Frazer. 11 | Girls
Bimbo’s 365 Club | SF $22-$25 | 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com San Francisco band presents songs from their album Father, Son, Holy Ghost. 11 | Itzhak Perlman conducts Tchaikovsky
Davies Symphony Hall | SF $15-$140 | 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org SF Symphony presents a program including Vivaldi and Mozart. (Ends 4/14) 11 | Sebastian Maniscalco
Punch Line San Francisco | SF $15-$22.50 | 415.397.7573 punchlinecomedyclub.com Chicago-native comedian shares the stage with Sal Calanni and Edwin Li. (Ends 4/14) 11 | The Benny Golson Quintet
Rrazz Room | SF $40-$45 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com 83 year old jazz legend joined by Nnenna Freelon, Jason Marsalis, Ray Drummond and Mike Ledonne. (Ends 4/13) 11 | Vandross Tribute
Yoshi’s | Oakland $25 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Featuring Ray McCoy, Denise Robinson and more. 11 | Will Durst
George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $10-$15 | 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com Political comic shares the stage with Debi Durst & Michael Bossie. 12 | Act One, Scene Two
Phoenix Theatre | SF $10-$20 | 415.322.8738 un-scripted.com Un-scripted Theater blends scripted and unscripted work exposing the electric heart of live theater. (Ends 5/12)
image: david wilson (hot greeks - noah haydon, rik lopes, tom orr)
Shelton Theatre I SF $27-$29 I 800.838.3006 partyof2themusical.com Follow two self-sufficient types from their meeting through their relationship.
Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $20 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedyclub.com Indian comedian, along with LA comedians Justin Harrison and Casey Balsham.
Meridian Gallery | SF $10 | 415.398.7229 doheelee.com Korean composer, vocalist, percussionist, dancer & performance artist presents her latest music.
finding the rhythm of collaboration by andrew gilbert
With a tone that’s lithe and lustrous, Kristen Strom imbues her musical philosophy into every note she plays. The San Jose-based saxophonist has been a mainstay on the Bay Area music scene for two decades, and her new album, “Sojourn,” is the work of an artist whose musical world is predicated upon the primacy of beautifully rendered melodies.
toured and recorded widely with the Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra throughout the ‘90s. “I joined the band to get a chance to play more alto and soprano,” Strom says. “All the ensemble work has certainly served me well. You rarely get that many hours of really working on getting an ensemble sound.”
For the CD release celebration she presents a supremely sympathetic quartet with guitarist Scott Sorkin, bassist John Shifflett and drummer Jason Lewis. Strom and Sorkin, who are married, have played together intensively over the years, often in a duo setting. She’s also collaborated extensively with rhythm section maestros Shifflett and Lewis.
Her commitment to group concepts rather than personal grandstanding has made her an eagerly sought after collaborator. She provides expert support for blues/jazz singer Pamela Rose, whose project showcasing the underappreciated work of female lyricists and composers, Wild Women of Song, has earned rave reviews around the country..
“With Jason there’s tremendous rhythmic communication,” Strom says. “He’ll always give me an idea when I’m looking for something. And Shifflett and I have a very strong connection in trying to reach that emotional point, though not necessarily with pyrotechnics or technical ferocity. I don’t really have that as one of my goals. We’re trying to find the essence of the melody.”
KRISTEN STROM April 14 | 7:30 pm The Little Theatre (with Wild Women of Song) 1700 West Hillsdale Boulevard, San Mateo $50 | 650.574.5276 | kcsm.org April 22 | 4:00 pm City Lights Theater 529 South Second Street, San Jose $12 to $14 | 408.295.4200 | cltc.org
image: courtesy photo (kristen strom)
Besides leading her own band, Strom is a valued session musician who has backed both pop acts, such as The Temptations, Natalie Cole, The Four Tops, Roberta Flack, and Johnny Mathis, and jazz luminaries, including saxophonist/composer Jimmy Heath, trombonist Steve Turre, singer Kevin Mahogany, and trumpeter Jon Faddis. She’s also
music
kristen strom QUARTET
APRIL 2012 |
| 11
COMEDY & IMPROV
DAILY 12 | Barbary Coast Burlesque
13 | A Glass of Cabaret
12 | Comedy @ Firehouse Arts
13 | Anton Schwartz
Yoshi’s | SF $18-$22 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com A cabaret show created and produced by the one and only, Bunny Pistol. The monthly Stone Soup Improv mixes it up in Berkeley. (4/7)
12 |
| APRIL 2012
12 | Jerry Joseph
Café Du Nord | SF $12-$15 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With his band the Jack Mormons, plus Boom Chick. 12 | Kevin Nealon
Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $25 | 800.745.3000 cobbscomedyclub.com Sharing the stage with Joe Nguyen. (Ends 4/15) 12 | LOVE/HATE
Firehouse Arts Center | Pleasanton $16-$24 | 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org Acclaimed tenor saxophonist pays tribute to the great saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. 13 | AzDz
George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $10-$15 | 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com Plus the Butlers. 13 | Blame Sally
Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $20-$25 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org Bay Area band of four talented female musicians and vocalists.
ODC Theater | SF $45-$55 | 415.863.9834 odcdance.org Jack Perla and Rob Bailis’ comic opera featuring SF Opera Center’s prestigious 2012 Adler Fellows. (Ends 4/15)
13 | Brazilian Night
12 | Paula Poundstone
13 | It Is What It is / The Watch Tower
Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $35-$48 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org The popular comedienne returns to Napa. 12 | Quijerema
Yoshi’s | Oakland $20 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Music of the Americas with Windham Hill’s Alex de Grassi & acoustic instrumental ensemble Quijerema. 12 | SF Ballet Program 7
War Memorial Opera House | SF $20-$285 | 415.865.2000 sfballet.org Celebrating 60 years of SF Ballet’s performances of Balanchine’s Masterworks. (Ends 4/18) 12 | Triangle of the Squinches
YBCA - Novellus Theater | SF $30-$250 | 415.978.2787 linesballet.org Alonzo King LINES Ballet piece is set to a commissioned score by legendary musician Mickey Hart. (Ends 4/15)
Café Du Nord | SF $12 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com Coelho & Ridnell with Will Magid, Sambaxe, Mondo Loko and more.
EXIT Theatre | SF $20 | 800.838.3006 theexit.org Two shorts presenting male & female perspectives on love, death and relationships. (Ends 4/29) 13 | James Moore
Meridian Gallery | SF $10 | 415.398.7229 jamesmooreguitar.com A strange and beautiful program of new music for National steel string guitar. 13 | Marga Gomez: Not Getting Any Younger
Marsh - Berkeley | Berkeley $15-$50 | 415.282.3055 themarsh.org One woman show, a comedy about lies, vanity and the good old days. (Ends 5/5) 13 | Najee
Yoshi’s | SF $26-$35 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Iconic instrumentalist is adept on soprano, tenor and alto saxophones as well as the flute. (Ends 4/14)
image: courtesy photo (stone soup improv)
BATS IMPROV Marina, SF improv.org | 415.474.6776 BIG CITY IMPROV Union Square, SF sheltontheater.com | 415.433.1227 BLUE BLANKET IMPROV Half Moon Bay blueblanketimprov.com | 650.726.0770 BUNJO’S COMEDY LOUNGE Dublin bunjoscomedy.com | 925.264.4413 COBB’S COMEDY CLUB North Beach, SF cobbscomedyclub.com | 415.928.4320 COMEDY OFF BROADWAY Oakland coboak.com | 510.214.2626 COMEDYSportz San Jose comedysportzsanjose.com 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 HARVEY’S FUNNY TUESDAYS Castro, SF harveyssf.com | 415.431.4278 IMPROV San Jose improv.com | 408.280.7475 MADE UP THEATRE Fremont madeuptheatre.com | 510.573.3633 PUNCHLINE Embarcadero, 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 Berkeley stonesoupimprov.com | 510.380.6808
Firehouse Arts Center | Pleasanton $15 | 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org Darren Carter and David Lew.
6th Street Playhouse | Santa Rosa $$20-$$30 | 707.523.4185 6thstreetplayhouse.com 6th Street Playhouse and Napa Valley’s Lucky Penny Productions present cabaret with songs of love. (Ends 4/22)
naughty or nice?
by nicole gluckstern Always just on the verge of a full-blown revival, the flash and feathers of burlesque have never really gone away. And if evidence were required, surely the lineup at San Francisco’s burlesque convention Tease-O-Rama will provide proof enough. A star-studded global array of luscious ladies will be in attendance, sharing their trade secrets in a series of daytime workshops at The Holiday Inn on Fisherman’s Wharf and shaking their tail feathers evenings at Bimbo’s 365 for an entire weekend.
burlesque
tease-o-rama
When San Francisco’s own Devil-Ettes take the stage admiration for their signature blend of individual sass and synchronized dazzle always follows. Shimmying to the rarest of ‘60s grooves in fringed gowns and glitter-dusted horns, the ladies may not epitomize the extremes of burlesque (“We keep our clothes on,” explains co-producer Baby Doe, “we’re schoolteacher sexy.”) but they nonetheless became part of the burgeoning neoburlesque scene. Sexy in a decidedly non-schoolteacher way, Chicagoan Michelle L’Amour (pictured) performs clad only in the tiniest of rhinestone-encrusted accoutrements, often dancing with a set of gigantic feathered fans like the legendary Sally Rand. Old school entertainer Satan’s Angel, who got her start in San Francisco in 1961, will twirl her tassels Saturday night, and take part in a special meet-and-greet “Tea and Gossip” brunchtime on Sunday, as will the “Grant Avenue Follies” founded by a quartet of dancers from Chinatown who originally performed in the ‘40s and ‘50s. In all, Baby Doe estimates that around 170 Burlesque queens from all over the world will be performing, many of whom never make it out to San Francisco otherwise.
image: courtesy photo (michelle l’amour)
“Nobody else does a big burlesque festival like this in San Francisco,” she confirms. “We really tried to get a huge mix of people.” TEASE-O-RAMA April 19 to 22 DNA Lounge, Bimbo’s 365 & Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf $12 to $150 | teaseorama.com
APRIL 2012 |
| 13
DAILY 13 | Paula Poundstone
Bankhead Theater | Livermore 925.373.6800 livermoreperformingarts.org Poundstone brings her comedy to Livermore. 13 | SHOUT!
Studio Theatre | Pleasanton $25 | trivalleyrep.org Non-stop musical journey through the pop anthems of the 1960s. (Ends 4/29) 13 | The Bad Plus
Yoshi’s | Oakland $15-$20 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Bringing their amalgam of jazz, pop, rock and avant garde stylings to Yoshi’s. (Ends 4/15) 13 | Tommy Castro
Rancho Nicasio | Nicasio $20 | 415.662.2219 ranchonicasio.com With band The Painkillers. 14 | Danny Click
Rancho Nicasio | Nicasio $15-$20 | 415.662.2219 ranchonicasio.com Blues rock. 14 | Heart and Soul
Rrazz Room | SF $35-$45 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com The music of Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick and Whitney Houston.
14 | Lenny Williams
George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $29.50-$39.50 | 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com The voice of Tower of Power. 14 | Pacific Chamber Symphony
Bankhead Theater | Livermore $29-$34 | 925.373.6800 livermoreperformingarts.org A program of Handel and Mozart. 14 | Sista Monica
Firehouse Arts Center | Pleasanton $16-$24 | 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org Monica Parker, singer and songwriter, brings her contemporary blues and gospel stylings to Pleasanton. 14 | The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $12-$20 | 510.296.4433 bactheatre.org In this comedic send-up of a courtroom trial, the wolf gives his version of what befell the three pigs. (Ends 5/20)
14 |
| APRIL 2012
14 | Will Durst
Town Hall Theatre | Lafayette $25 | 925.283.1557 thtc.org Town Hall Comedy Series presents political pundit Durst along with improv troupe Crisis Hopkins. 15 | Bettye Lavette
Yoshi’s | SF $30 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com 2011 Grammy Nominee for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
15 | Cleveland Orchestra
Davies Symphony Hall | SF $40-$110 | 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org Franz Welser-Möst conducts a program including Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Kaija Saariaho. (Ends 4/16) 15 | Jenni Rivera
Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $75-$100 | 707.546.3600 tickets.wellsfargocenterarts.org Celebrating her first all-Mariachi album. 15 | Pleasanton Chamber Players
Firehouse Arts Center | Pleasanton $16-$24 | 925.931.4848 firehousearts.org Presenting Brahms, Dvorak and William Grant Still’s Suite for Violin and Piana. 15 | Thunder Down Under
Rrazz Room | SF $35-$55 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Australia’s acclaimed all-male review.
16 | Hiroyuki Kurosawa
Yoshi’s | SF $15-$20 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com With his band Ten-Chi-Jin, feauturing guest dancer Ufo Furusawa. 16 | Roscoe Mitchell
Yoshi’s | Oakland $10-$20 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Renowned saxophonist brings his avantgarde jazz stylings to Yoshi’s. 16 | The Horrors
Bimbo’s 365 Club | SF $25 | 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com Co-Headlining with The Black Angels. 17 | Michael Martin Murphey
Yoshi’s | Oakland $25-$35 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Cowboy troubadour and writer of beloved song Wildfire in acoustic sets.
it’s 4:20 somewhere by ml heath
Led by guitarist Roger McNamee, Bay Area psychedelic-jam quintet Moonalice describes itself as “a band of seasoned musicians who feel that live music should be a communal experience where the listener and musicians feed and derive inspiration from each other. Their songs try to speak to everyone, mixing a variety of genres with extended musical improvisations that evoke a sense of adventure and exploration.”
image: courtesy photo (moonalice)
Debuting in 2007 with an EP produced by T-Bone Burnett, Moonalice’s music drinks deeply from the timeless well of San Francisco groups of bygone days, while also spicing things up with each band member’s admirable and at times surprising talents. Guitar/pedal steel player Barry Sless holds his own with tasteful, post-Garcia assurance, while lead singer Ann McNamee is a heartfelt, soulful vocalist, especially during duets with husband Roger (formerly of the Flying Other Brothers). Pete Sears, on bass and keyboards, needs no introduction to those who have enjoyed his work since the ‘70s on albums by Rod Stewart, Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship. Meanwhile, drummer John Molo (like Sears and Sless) has spent quality time
music
moonalice
with Grateful Dead offshoots like Phil Lesh & Friends and The Other Ones. Moonalice shows have even enjoyed the presence of SNL’s G.E. Smith and Hot Tuna’s Jack Casady on occasion. Moonalice is back in the Bay Area this month, following an East Coast tour taking in everything from a gig at Yale University, to a Brooklyn art exhibit of concert posters done for the group by such legendary alternative comic artists as Wes Wilson and Stanley Mouse. Their Slim’s show is in honor of “4:20,” a topic previously addressed on the band’s online single “It’s 4:20 Somewhere,” which has been downloaded more than 1.3 million times from their abundant moonalice.com website. MOONALICE April 20 | 8:00 pm Slim’s 333 11th Street , SF $4 or $28.95 w/ Dinner | 415.255.0333 slims-sf.com
APRIL 2012 |
| 15
SAN FRANCISCO VENUES
DAILY 17 | Oz Noy
19 | Doug Benson
17 | Suzanne Vega & Duncan Sheik
19 | FWD: Life Gone Viral
Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $45 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org Singer-songwriters turned music-theater composers team up on stage.
Marsh - San Francisco | SF $20-$50 | 415.282.3055 themarsh.org Charlie Varon & Jeri Lynn Cohen’s comedy that skewers the brave new world of Internet exhibitionism. (Ends 6/10)
17 | Varla Jean Merman
19 | Grant-Lee Phillips
Yoshi’s | SF $22 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Israeli virtuoso guitarist is joined by Dave Weckl and Darryl Jones.
Itzak Perlman conducts and plays violin at Davies Symphony Hall. (4/11-14)
16 |
| APRIL 2012
Rrazz Room | SF $25-$40 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Jeffery Roberson returns with his new show The Book of Merman. (Ends 4/29) 18 | Dan Gabriel
Punch Line San Francisco | SF $15 | 415.397.7573 punchlinecomedyclub.com Sharing the stage with Mike Drucker and Arthur Gaus. 18 | Jon Cleary’s Philthy Phew
Café Du Nord | SF $20 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Tyler Lyle.
19 | Howie Mandel
Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $35.50-$45.50 | 707.546.3600 tickets.wellsfargocenterarts.org Comic and TV star brings his show to Sonoma County. 19 | Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Yoshi’s | Oakland $18 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com New Orleans funk keyboardist’s new power trio.
Davies Symphony Hall | SF $40-$140 | 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org SF Symphony presents acclaimed pianist in a program of works by Saint-Saëns, Berlioz and Roussel. (Ends 4/22)
18 | PJ Morton
19 | Kenny G
18 | Scheherazade
19 | Skin & Bone
Yoshi’s | Oakland $22 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Trailblazing songwriter, singer & keyboard player. YBCA - Novellus Theater | SF $30-$250 | 415.978.2787 linesballet.org Alonzo King LINES Ballet’s reenvisioning of the ancient collection of stories of 1,001 Nights. (Ends 4/22) 18 | Seven Endings
142 Throckmorton | Mill Valley $15 | 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org Staged reading of a new play by Martin Russell. 18 | Suzanne Vega & Duncan Sheik
Yoshi’s | SF $25-$35 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Extraordinary pair of artists share the stage at Yoshi’s.
Yoshi’s | SF $40-$48 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Rare club appearance for Grammy Award-winning saxophonist. (Ends 4/22) 142 Throckmorton | Mill Valley $18-$21 | 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org Jazz, with special guest vocalist Jackie Ryan. 19 | Spring Awakening
Lesher Center | Walnut Creek $17-$35 | 925.943.7469 centerrep.org Timeless story of teenage self-discovery and budding sexuality. (Ends 5/6) 19 | Suzanne Vega & Duncan Sheik
Yoshi’s | SF $25-$35 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Extraordinary pair of artists share the stage at Yoshi’s.
image: akira kinoshita (itzak perlman0
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 Marina fortmason.org I 415.345.7500 herbst theatre Civic Center 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
Punch Line San Francisco | SF $25 | 415.397.7573 punchlinecomedyclub.com Presenting his show “Countdown to 4/20!” Also appearing: Graham Elwood.
many rhythms, one community by grier cooper
If you’ve ever wondered if tango really does live in your blood, you’ll want to attend the 14th Annual Bay Area National Dance Week to find out. Over the course of ten days, sample more than 600 free dance classes, workshops, performances, open rehearsals and lectures offered throughout the entire Bay Area. Whether your passion is hip-hop or hula, aerial or African, dance lovers of all ages, styles and experience can benefit. “Bay Area National Dance Week is a chance to showcase and celebrate the diversity of dance in the Bay Area...to have the opportunity to sit in on a rehearsal or take a class in a different style, even if you’re not a dancer. Come experience the creative process in a different way through movement,” says Carmen Carnes, choreographer and dancer for the Carmen Carnes Dance Ensemble. The kickoff happens noontime on April 20 in Union Square with the wildly popular One Dance, featuring a variety of dance groups and schools performing to the same music in an array of styles then dancing in unison for the finale. The week closes with postmodern dance pioneer Anna Halprin’s Planetary Dance, a participatory dance for peace that has been performed annually for more than 30 years.
a contemporary dance/meditation workshop offered by Carnes in her Petaluma studio. “I am exploring contemporary movement infused with Eastern dance’s attention to detail,” she explains. She is pleased to be a part of this year’s event. “This festival puts the North Bay on the map. Dance is happening everywhere, not just in the city.”
dance
BAY AREA national dance week
BANDW is the most extensive and best attended dance festival in the country, originally created by Dancer’s Group to increase the visibility and viability of dance in the community. “As I’ve matured as an artist and a mother I’ve been wanting to do more community-based work,” says Carnes. “I want to build community with teachers, choreographers and dancers alike. This opens the door.” Bay area national dance week April 20 to 29 Various Locations bayareandw.org
image: courtesy photo
Other program highlights include a fire dancing expo, a rare open rehearsal from LINES Ballet and
APRIL 2012 |
| 17
BAY AREA VENUES
DAILY 19 | Thunder Above, Deeps Below
Bindlestiff Studio | SF $20-$25 | 800.838.3006 bindlestiffstudio.org Dramatic comedy that follows three homeless adults in their efforts to find a better way of life. (Ends 5/5) 20 | Arsenic and Old Lace
Debbie Reynolds makes a rare Bay Area visit to the Marin Center. (4/22)
18 |
| APRIL 2012
20 | BATS Improv vs. Stanford Improv
Bayfront Theater | SF $17-$20 | 800.380.3095 improv.org BATS Improv vs. Stanford Improv in the Rubber Chicken Match! 20 | Bill Bellamy
Cobb’s Comedy Club | SF $22.50-$25 | 415.928.4320 cobbscomedyclub.com (Ends 4/22) 20 | Ken Waldman
George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $12-$15 | 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com With the Miles Schon Band. 20 | Rex Navarrete
Punch Line San Francisco | SF $25 | 415.397.7573 punchlinecomedyclub.com San Francisco comic appears with Dan Gabriel and Chris Storin. (Ends 4/21) 20 | Sweeney Todd
Burbank Auditorium | Santa Rosa $18 | 707.527.4343 santarosa.edutheatrearts Santa Rosa JC Theatre Arts presents Sondheim’s musical thriller about the Demon Barber of Fleet St. (Ends 5/5) 20 | The Marvelous Wonderettes
6th Street Playhouse | Santa Rosa $28-$35 | 707.523.4185 6thstreetplayhouse.com Go back to 1958 for “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” a musical confection featuring chart topping hits. (Ends 5/13) 20 | Women Fully Clothed
142 Throckmorton | Mill Valley $18-$21 | 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org Fiddling poet presents his show From Mill Valley to Moose Pass.
Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $20-$30 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org Robin Duke, Jayne Eastwood, Kathryn Greenwood and Teresa Pavlinek bring their humor to Napa.
20 | Kerry Wing
21 | David Benoit
20 | LABAYEN DANCE/SF
21 | Edgar Winter
Café Du Nord | SF $10 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Jonny Cat and the Coo Coo Birds, Aaron Glass and Friends and Haberdasher. ODC Theater | SF $25 | 415.863.9834 labayendancesf.org Award winning works of Enrico Labayen and the world premiere of Labayen’s “Prayer is Not Enough.” (Ends 4/22) 20 | Lisa Loeb
Yoshi’s | Oakland $20 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Iconic 90’s pop singer/songwriter. 20 | Mike Birbiglia
Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $30-$45 | 707.546.3600 tickets.wellsfargocenterarts.org Comic brings his new show My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend to Santa Rosa.
Yoshi’s | Oakland $26 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Masterful contemporary jazz keyboardist brings his gifts to Yoshi’s Oakland. (Ends 4/22) Bankhead Theater | Livermore $34-$51 | 925.373.6800 livermoreperformingarts.org Legendary rock icon brings his music to Livermore. 21 | Evolution
George’s Nightclub | San Rafael $10-$15 | 800.380.3095 georgesnightclub.com Journey tribute band. 21 | Lisa Loeb
Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $25 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter comes to Napa.
image: courtesy photo (debbie reynolds)
142 Throckmorton Mill Valley 142throckmortontheatre.org I 415.383.9600 CAL PERFORMANCES Berkeley calperfs.berkeley.edu I 510.642.9988 EL CAMPANIL THEATRE Antioch elcampaniltheatre.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
Fetterly Playhouse | Vallejo $12-$15 | 707.649.1053 bayareastage.org This classic Joseph Kesselring play is a clever combination of the farcical and the macabre! (Ends 5/6)
20 | Reckless in Vegas
source image: jerome solberg + carolyn day (a hot day in ephesus - jody christian, peggy de coursey, asali echols, jenni rickmeira relstein)
an update of an update of the bard by elizabeth warnimont
The American stage has seen several adaptations of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. Rodgers and Hart gave it a go with the 1938 musical, The Boys from Syracuse, which forms the basis for A Hot Day in Ephesus by playwright Victoria Siegel. Whereas R&H incorporated their own swing-era music and dance into Boys, Siegel brings the comedy up to date with elements of Motown, rap and tango. “The courtesan and the wife whose husband is cheating on her have real points of view,” says Siegel. The wife wants to spend more time with her husband so she nags him, which in turn causes him to stay away even more. “So I wrote a tango about that.” At one point, Antipholus has ordered a gold chain for his wife, but he’s mad so he decides to give it to the courtesan. “I changed that around, trying to make it fun and funny. I tried to give the women something to say.” Siegel also wrote most of the music for the play with one notable exception. “I had written a rap, but Don [Clark, musical director] said, ‘No, this is not what a rap sounds like!’” With help from his filmmaker son Cameron and actor/composer Brian Hanson, Clark gave the piece a more modern rap
flavor. “They fixed it so it was even more funny,” Siegel says, noting that it stole the show at its first staging in 2009. Director Bruce Coughran feels Siegel’s lyrics are the heart of the play. “The music really ties into the story. The songs are very evocative of what’s going on emotionally for the characters. There’s a warmth to it. There’s a good-heartedness to it.” He is confident that audiences will have fun with the show. “I’m hoping it just takes them on this wonderful little journey, makes them smile and makes their hearts warm.”
adapted
a hot day in ephesus
A HOT DAY IN EPHESUS April 20 to May 19 Live Oak Theatre 1301 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley $12 to $15 | 510.841.5580 aeofberkeley.org
APRIL 2012 |
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JUST THE TICKET!
DAILY 21 | Los Pinguos
Osher Marin JCC | San Rafael $20-$25 | 415.444.8000 marinjcc.org From Buenos Aires, a mixture of Latin rhythms, performed with classic instruments. 21 | Los Pinguos
Cynthia Lin tix available fromTicketfly for Hotel Utah Saloon in SF. (4/19) ONLINE/PHONE SALES Brown Paper Tickets brownpapertickets.com I 800.838.3006 City Box Office cityboxoffice.com I 415.392.4400 EventBrite eventbrite.com I 888.541.9753 InTicketing inticketing.com I 866.558.4253 SJTix sjtix.com I 408.792.4111 StubHub stubhub.com I 415.222.8400 TicketFly ticketfly.com I 877.435.9849 TicketMaster ticketmaster.com I 800.745.3000 TicketWeb ticketweb.com I 866.468.3399
DISCOUNT SALES TixBayArea.COM Online and walk-up same-day, halfprice tickets for theatre, music, dance and more. Full-price advance tickets also available. UNION SQUARE 350 Powell Street Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm FISHERMAN’S WHARF 2800 Leavenworth Street Thursday to Saturday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
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20 |
| APRIL 2012
21 | Mitch Woods
Rancho Nicasio | Nicasio $15 | 415.662.2219 ranchonicasio.com With his Rocket 88s. 21 | Surprise Party? Or Murder Most Foul?
Fallon House | San Jose $25-$50 | 408.264.3479 shadyshakes.org Join Shady Shakespeare Theatre Company for a big birthday surprise for the Bard at the Fallon House. 21 | The Romeros
Veterans’ Auditorium | San Rafael $20-$45 | 415.499.6800 marincenter.org The Romeros guitar quartet are a veritable institution in the world of classical music. 21 | Top Shelf
Rrazz Room | SF $25-$30 | 800.380.3095 therrazzroom.com Presenting their show Uptown, Downtown, Motown Madness. 22 | Debbie Reynolds
Yoshi’s | SF $22 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Master of the Hammond B3 Organ. 24 | Rez Abbasi
Yoshi’s | Oakland $20 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Indian-born Jazz guitarist brings his unique style to Yoshi’s. 25 | Alex Reymundo
Punch Line San Francisco | SF $15-$19 | 415.397.7573 punchlinecomedyclub.com (Ends 4/28) 25 | Bright Light Social Hour
Café Du Nord | SF $10 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com With Allofasudden.
25 | Fared Shafinury
Yoshi’s | Oakland $25-$30 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Presenting a modern vision of Persian classical music. 25 | Guitar Trio Duo!
Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $25-$30 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org The California Guitar Trio and the Montreal Guitar Trio share the stage at Napa. 25 | Will Bernard Trio
Yoshi’s | SF $18 | 415.655.5600 yoshis.com Featuring Wil Blades and Simon Lott.
Veterans’ Auditorium | San Rafael $20-$60 | 415.499.6800 marincenter.org Legendary singer, dancer and actress Debbie Reynolds and her six-decade career.
26 | Dolorata
22 | Radiance
26 | Comedy of Errors
23 | Chabot College Jazz Ensembles
27 | Don Quixote
Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $32-$75 | 707.546.3600 tickets.wellsfargocenterarts.org Backed by the Santa Rosa Symphony, a tribute to the Ladies of Motown.
Yoshi’s | Oakland $10 | 510.238.9200 yoshis.com Performing their latest works.
Café Du Nord | SF $10-$12 | 866.468.3399 cafedunord.com Female-led bands including Upside Drown and Harriot with Sophia Mabelitini. Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $30 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org The Acting Company brings Napa one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, and one of his most farcical. (Ends 4/27) War Memorial Opera House | SF $20-$285 | 415.865.2000 sfballet.org SF Ballet brings out new scenery and costumes for this three-act story ballet. (Ends 5/6)
image: courtesy photo (cynthia lin)
Goldstar.COM Free and discounted performance and event tickets. Registration required.
Osher Marin JCC | San Rafael $20-$25 | 800.380.3095 marinjcc.org From Buenos Aires, a mixture of Spanish guitars, a Cuban Tres, Peruvian cajón, bass and vocals.
24 | Lonnie Smith Trio
coming full circle with dvorak by daphne o’neal
Oakland East Bay Symphony has a widespread reputation for its commitment to diversity and innovation in programming. This month’s Notes from the Philippines, an eclectic mix of world premieres by Filipino jazz composers, including an unusually bombastic Mendelssohn overture and a Romantic-era staple by Antonin Dvorak, delivers on both counts. The abiding OEBS commitment to music education will also be in evidence. Oakland-born David Requiro, who will interpret the Dvorak Cello Concerto, has a long-standing relationship with the Symphony. “You could say I made my orchestral debut with them back [in 1988] when I was in eighth grade. I played [the first movement of] Haydn’s C major Concerto. Michael Morgan has always been great to me. It’s fun to come full circle.” Since those early days, Requiro has made swift, impressive progress, winning a spate of international competitions in the early 2000s, which led to chamber, orchestral and recital appearances around the country. In 2008, he made his Carnegie Hall debut.
“It’s really the king of cello concertos in my opinion. It’s more of a journey than any other concerto that I know of. The first movement is filled with virtuosity and command. The second movement is, I think, some of the most beautiful music ever written for cello and orchestra. You have this great spectrum from intimate chamber music and …huge symphonic force. After your first performance…it kind of never escapes you.”
New works commissioned by OEBS are also on the program. Composer and pianist Victor Noriega, who has won several Earshot Jazz Awards among other honors, a steady presence on the West Coast jazz scene. He also regularly gigs in Shanghai. “Generations, Directions,” is his first work for orchestra. Pianist, composer and arranger Art Khu, a graduate of Yale School of Music, regularly performs at Yoshi’s in Oakland. His new composition is entitled “Symphony of Souls.” Notes from the Philippines April 20 | 8:00 pm Paramount Theater 2025 Broadway, Oakland $20 to $70 | 800.745.3000 oebs.org
image: courtesy photo (david requio)
Currently Artist-in Residence at University of Puget Sound, he divides his time between Washington State and the East Coast, where he plays
regularly with New York City’s Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players. His passion for the Dvorak Concerto is contagious.
symphony
notes from the philippines
APRIL 2012 |
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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
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780 sutter street, san francisco, ca 94109
lyrical ingenuity and meticulous songwriting by nicole gluckstern
image: tina tyrell (st. vincent)
Fans of the end-of-the-year edition of “Music We Like,” the Amoeba Records compilation of staff picks, might have noticed that two albums dominated the otherwise variegated lists: St. Vincent’s “Strange Mercy,” and “w h o k i l l” by tUnE-yArDs. Singular works by singular women whose multi-instrumentalism and expansive vocal talents are matched only by their lyrical ingenuity and meticulous songwriting. Both albums definitively separate the two from the bland herd of manufactured pop starlets. Although just 28, Annie Clark (pictured), otherwise known as St. Vincent, has already released three solo albums, plus been a member of both the Polyphonic Spree and the backup band for Sufjan Stevens. Though physically lovely, like a clear-eyed changeling left in a patch of cowslip, she’s attained her justified acclaim strictly on the strength of her impressively mature musicianship. “Strange Mercy,” a collection of off-kilter odes to past loves and new chances, is characterized by juxtaposition. Clark’s purposeful riffs, anchoring a clear voice which spirals just to the edge of her register, heightens the intensity of tuneful layers of synth from Bobby Sparks and the relentless drums of MacKenzie Smith.
music
ST. VINCENT & tUnE-yArDs
In contrast to Clark’s carefully-orchestrated polish, Oakland-dwelling Merrill Garbus, aka tUnE-yArDs, has retained the raw DIY style that characterized her self-recorded debut album “BiRdBrAiNs.” Armed with a ukulele, a loop-machine, and a distinctive polyphonic sensibility - she studied Taarab music on the East African island of Lamu Garbus elevated the art of solitary bedroom crooning into a wild, internationally-flavored dance party. Access to an actual studio only makes her “w h o k i l l” mix more intricately-layered, without detracting from the fresh spontaneity of her sound. This month provides a rare, can’t-miss opportunity to catch two of the most unique female-fronted acts currently touring without having to make a trip all the way to Coachella to do it. ST. VINCENT & tUnE-yArDs April 24 | 7:30 pm The Fox Theater 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland $29.50 | 510.302.2277 thefoxoakland.com
APRIL 2012 |
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DAILY cordially invites you to
35 yearsfaces 35 a night of music, video and performance celebrating 35 years of service and support to Bay Area theatre and dance artists and organizations
27 | Little Shop of Horrors
27 | Rhythmic Circus
Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $25-$35 | 707.546.3600 tickets.wellsfargocenterarts.org Percussive (tap) dance troupe. 27 | Smuin Ballet
YBCA - Novellus Theater | SF $25-$62 | 415.556.5000 smuinballet.org Spring series includes World Premiere by choreographer Ma Cong, plus Swipe and a Michael Smuin work. (Ends 5/6) 27 | The Gin Game
450 Florida St. San Francisco
6:30pm celebration with VIP reception at 5:30pm
or call 415-433-1235
| APRIL 2012
Bimbo’s 365 Club | SF $20 | 877.435.9849 bimbos365club.com Featuring Becky Stark and Tom Brosseau.
Lavay Smith and her Swingtet are no April Fools at Le Colonial. The Highway Poets
Hotel Utah Saloon | SF $8 | 415.546.6300 hotelutah.com Poetry readings by the International Organization of Published Bikers! Lavay Smith
Le Colonial | SF FREE | 415.931.3600 lecolonialsf.com Internationally recognized as the Queen of ‘40s and ‘50s jazz. Baroque Delights
Zellerbach Hall | Berkeley $23-$85 | 510.642.9988 calperformances.org Led by acclaimed British conductor and Baroque specialist Jane Glover. Golden Gate Men’s Chorus
28 | Julius Caesar
Napa Valley Opera House | Napa $30 | 707.226.7372 nvoh.org Rob Melrose directs. (Ends 4/29)
St. Matthew’s Church | SF $20 | 415.668.4462 ggmc.org A musical journey to a world of dreams, fantasy, shadows and light.
28 | Kenny Rogers
Mark Pitta & Friends
Wells Fargo Center | Santa Rosa $45-$85 | 707.546.3600 tickets.wellsfargocenterarts.org Country legend brings his latest show to Santa Rosa.
142 Throckmorton | Mill Valley $15-$25 | 415.383.9600 142throckmortontheatre.org You may see five comics, or an improv group or even a scene from a new play.
$29 | Chamber Music Davies Symphony Hall | SF $36 | 415.864.6000 sfsymphony.org Members of SF Symphony perform works by Mendelssohn and Brahms.
Girl In A Coma
30 | rich solzman & elliot fisk
HARD TIMES ORCHESTRA
Oshman Family JCC | Palo Alto $51 | 415.392.4400 paloaltojcc.org The world’s foremost clarinetist partners with a remarkable guitar virtuoso in an program of Bach, Berio and more.
The Independent | SF $15 | 415.771.1421 theindependentsf.com Formed when Jenn Alva and Phanie Diaz met in junior-high school art class. Freight & Salvage | Berkeley $16.50-$18.50 | 510.644.2020 thefreight.org International Worker Day celebration with area mandolin stalwart and his band.
image: courtesy photo (lavay smith)
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theatrebayarea.org/35faces
For tickets or more information visit
Diablo Actors’ Ensemble Theatre | Walnut Creek $10-$25 | 866.811.4111 diabloactors.com Pulitzer-winning play about two inhabitants of a nursing home who play gin & learn about each other. (Ends 5/12) 28 | John Reilly and Friends
April 30
WHO’S ON (THE) FIRST?
Cinnabar Theater | Petaluma $12 | 707.763.8920 cinnabartheater.org Cinnabar Young Rep presents Ashman and Menkin’s hysterical musical. (Ends 5/6)
by grier cooper
image: courtesy photo (rhythmic circus)
A recent Twin Cities review described the Rhythmic Circus production Feet Don’t Fail Me Now as a show that “approximates the cocktail you would get by putting tap dancing, stepping, jazz, funk and film noir in a blender at high speed, then sprinkling the whole thing with slapstick comedy.” With that type of concoction it follows that there’s a bit of something for everyone. Rhythmic Circus consists of five tap dancers, a seven-piece band, vocalists and a beat-boxer, with music running the gamut from Minneapolis funk to salsa. “We are a wide variety of players and styles and we feed off each other for different pieces and ideas,” says co-creator/dancer Ricci Milan. “We are all simultaneously inspiring and challenging each other.” The show promises to be a wild ride. Take, for example, Milan’s description of the interplay between himself and keyboardist Cory Blanchard: “We’re playing folding chairs, trying to one up each other with the ability to make music out of folding chairs. It teeters on hilarious, and it also teeters on violence at times.” The combined and integrated talents of dancers and musicians have kept Feet Don’t Fail Me Now
dance
rhythmic circus
feeling the fire and taking the risks
on the road since 2008. Milan says that the music is a huge part of the show, both during the creative process and especially during live performances. “It’s as much an audio show as anything else,” he says. “Although there are a lot of visual elements, interaction, coinciding story lines, monologues and everything else, the music is the glue that holds everything together. Like I always say, ‘on planet dance, music is the gravity.’” Rhythmic Circus seeks not just to entertain, but to bring people together. Asked about the show’s title, Milan explains, “We have high hopes for everything we do. We’re always looking to take the next big step, to take a risk, to get our message to everyone while we can.” FEET Don’t fail me now April 27 | 8:00 pm Wells Fargo Center For The Arts 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa $20 to $35 | 707.546.3600 wellsfargocenterarts.org
APRIL 2012 |
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| APRIL 2012
Union Square, SF
a new kind of musical melting pot by andrew gilbert As part of its Spring Season concert series, SFJAZZ presents a mini-festival showcasing the most influential Israeli jazz musicians on the New York scene. At first glance, this profusion of Israeli talent might seem inexplicable. Trumpeter Avishai Cohen, a featured artist and a member of the SFJAZZ Collective, offers an intriguing answer, attributing Israel’s success in cultivating promising jazz musicians to its singular position in the Middle East. As both a pariah to its Arab neighbors and a safe harbor for a global array of immigrants, Israel is a pressure cooker containing a dazzling array of cultural ingredients. And with its expressive power, jazz is an ideal outlet for a people who go to sleep wondering whether they’ll wake up at war. “With all the tension, it drives people a little more to the edge, as far as saying what you want to say,” says Cohen, with performs with his collective quartet Third World Love, and the 3 Cohens, a sextet featuring his siblings Anat (reeds) and Yuval (soprano sax).
ISRAELI JAZZFEST April 28 & 29 Jewish Community Center of San Francisco 3200 California Street, SF $22 to $35 | 415.788.7353 sfjazz.org
image: courtesy photo (third world love)
He notes that Israel’s ingathering has created a supremely cosmopolitan musical scene. “You’ve got people from Eastern Europe, and all the influences from Russia, Germany and Poland, which mix with rhythms of the Sephardic side, the 6/8 Moroccan
grooves.” Where Third World Love’s bassist Omer Avital has forged a unique sound by exploring his Yemenite heritage, saxophonist Eli Degibri, the son of a Bulgarian-born Holocaust survivor and an Iranian-born mother, finds inspiration in the music of Israeli singer/ songwriters. A brilliant player who is coming into his own as a leader after a two-and-a half-year stint touring the world with Herbie Hancock, Degibri performs in a duo with the superlative pianist Kevin Hayes. The 3 Cohens close the Israeli mini-fest as part of a double bill with the trio of rising guitar star Gilad Hekselman featuring bassist Joe Martin and Obed Calvaire, one of New York’s most sought after drummers.
jazz
ISRAELI JAZZFEST
APRIL 2012 |
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BACK The cast of The Pirates of Penzance on opening night at Berkeley Playhouse
Jonathan Pryce on Geary Street
image: via media
image: steven underhill
Annie Paladino and Paige Rogers at Cutting Ball Theater
Linda Lavin, Lynda Carter and Mary Wilson at the Rrazz Room
Kimiye Corwin, Carly Mensch and Matt Harrington at TheatreWorks
image: via media
image: steven underhill
image: via media
Alison Ewing of Mamma Mia! at Academy of Friends
Al Pacino at Wilde Salome at the Castro
Lucie Arnaz with Ed Maffei at the Rrazz Room
image: steven underhill
image: steven underhill
image: via media
Jeff Garrett, Brian Trybom, Lauren Doucette and Geoffrey Nolan of Fool For Love at Boxcar Theatre
Tom Orr, Michaela Greeley and Ed Halvey at the opening of Maurice at New Conservatory Theatre Center
image: via media
image: via media
The Spring Program An exciting and eclectic program that combines Smuin dancers’ athleticism with provocative choreography! Swipe by Val Caniparoli Set to an edgy classical/fusion remix Through World Premiere by Ma Cong Featuring music by renowned composer Ryuichi Sakamoto Symphony of Psalms by Michael Smuin Elegant and breathtaking, danced to Stravinsky’s powerful score
Photo by Scott Harben/SEE Pictures
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Apr 27 – May 6 • 415 912 1899 smuinballet.org
SAM SHEPARD IN REPERTORY
www.boxcartheatre.org