Arts & Events

Arts Calendar

Thursday April 16, 2009 - 09:58:00 AM

THURSDAY, APRIL 16 -more-


‘The Last Five Years’ at Masquers

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Thursday April 16, 2009 - 06:44:00 PM

“I’m breaking my mother’s heart / And my grandfather’s rolling in his grave ... .” Jamie, a young, ambitious writer sings with energetic sarcasm about breaking out of his Midwestern Jewish family circle, “Finally breaking through / Waiting for someone like you ... Hey hey shiksa goddess / I’ve been waiting for someone like you / You, breaking the circle / You are the story I should write ...” —as he embarks towards the distant horizon of his new life. -more-


Historical Society Exhibits 1960s Berkeley Poster Art

By Steven Finacom, Special to the Planet
Thursday April 16, 2009 - 06:45:00 PM
A vivid “Speak out Against the War” poster is one of several
                  Vietnam-era examples in the exhibit.

Working on the UC campus and walking daily through the streets of Berkeley, I’ve seen thousands of posters and flyers over the years, many commercial, but many also cultural or political, displayed everywhere from official bulletin boards to telephone poles. -more-


Aurora Stages Strindberg’s ‘Miss Julie’

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Thursday April 16, 2009 - 06:45:00 PM

The kitchen of an old country estate: stove at the rear, a long table cuts through the middle of the room. (Like a pagan fetish, a tree hangs upside-down above the table.) On a diagonal axis, the servants’ bedrooms, female and male; cook’s off to one side, the valet’s opposite—like wings in an old theater, to enter and exit. At right angle, beneath an electric bell with telephone to summon the servants upstairs, another entrance, through which comes the sound of fiddles, of a barn dance. It’s Midsummer’s Eve. The master is away from home; his daughter dances with the peasants. -more-


Dorothy Bryant Honored With Fred Cody Lifetime Achievement Award

By Estelle Jelinek, Special to the Planet
Thursday April 16, 2009 - 06:46:00 PM

Finally! Dorothy Bryant is getting the recognition she deserves. For more than four decades Dorothy Calvetti Bryant has been churning out book after book—novels, plays and nonfiction—with an amazing versatility in themes and characters. -more-


Philharmonia Baroque Presents Handel’s ‘Athalia’

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Thursday April 16, 2009 - 06:46:00 PM

Philharmonia Baroque will close its season with Georg Frideric Handel’s third English oratorio, Athalia, at First Congregational Church this weekend. -more-


East Bay Symphony’s ‘Russian Easter Overture’

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Thursday April 16, 2009 - 06:47:00 PM
Sara Beuchner.

The Oakland East Bay Symphony is performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring pianist Sara Buechner, and Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Petroushka, this Friday night at the Paramount Theatre with musical director Michael Morgan conducting. -more-


Around the East Bay: Mz. Dee at Blake's

Thursday April 16, 2009 - 12:41:00 PM

East Bay R&B vocal stylist Mz. Dee, a featured singer with the Johnny Otis band, and whose Medicine Show plays on local BETV Channel 28, is playing at 9 p.m., Friday, April 17, at Blake’s On Telegraph, with her band, The VIPs, for the first time in years, featuring her Blues Revival in advance of a European tour. Show $12 advance; $15 at the door. 2367 Telegraph Ave. 843-0886. blakesontelegraph.com. -more-


Around the East Bay: Crucible Open House

Thursday April 16, 2009 - 01:18:00 PM

The Crucible, West Oakland’s unique fire arts studio and performance space, is celebrating its Spring Open House this from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, with an art show, fire performance artists, a parade of art bikes, and demonstrations of glassblowing, blacksmithery and, bronze casting. Refreshments available. 1260 Seventh St., West Oakland. Free admission. 444-0919. thecrucible.org. -more-


Around the East Bay: 'Confessions of a Refrigerator Mother'

Thursday April 16, 2009 - 01:42:00 PM

East Bay performer Carolyn Doyle, a familiar face on local stages, is performing a challenging solo show she’s written, Confessions of a Refrigerator Mother, about a day in the life of raising an autistic 9-year-old boy. 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through April 25 at The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., San Francisco. $15 and up, sliding scale. (800) 838-3006. themarsh.org. -more-


East Bay Then and Now: Captain Thomas Offered City Land for a Park

By Daniella Thompson
Thursday April 16, 2009 - 06:49:00 PM
he Samuel Hume Castle at 2900 Buena Vista Way is located on the
                  former site of Captain Thomas “Fort La Loma.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series on Captain R.P. Thomas and La Loma Park. -more-


About the House: Notes on Civility

By Matt Cantor
Thursday April 16, 2009 - 06:47:00 PM

It’s a function of my age and m-m-m-my generation that I consider civility as important a societal imperative as I do. Not that I’m all that civil, mind you. I do have my bad days. I could excuse that by saying that everyone has their bad days, but I don’t actually think that’s adequately justifiable. I believe that it behooves each of us to do the best we can. I don’t expect someone with Tourette’s syndrome to spare me a litany of curse words (thought I’m usually writing them down as fast as possible to augment my woeful vocabulary) but I do expect those who don’t suffer from either limbic failings or horrible upbringings to do the best they can; to try to smile; to cheer those around them as best they can and to make the party (which eventually comes to an end) as pleasant as possible. -more-


Community Calendar

Wednesday April 15, 2009 - 07:16:00 PM

THURSDAY, APRIL 16 -more-