Arts & Events

Press Release: Forum: Fire Risk Reduction and Tree Removal Plans for the East Bay Hills' Public Lands

From Dan Grassetti and Peter Gray Scott, Hills Conservation Network
Monday June 10, 2013 - 10:56:00 PM

The University of California, East Bay Regional Park District, and the City of Oakland want to remove more than 80,000 trees in the East Bay Hills. These public-sector entities also plan to deploy a 10-year program of herbicides. This attempt to reduce fire risk is to be funded by $5.9 million from FEMA. Come to a discussion of different visions for our hills. Ask questions and contribute your voice in advance of FEMA's June 17 deadline for public comment. -more-


New: “REEFER MADNESS” at San Jose Stage, delightful and mindless, but wanting

by John A. McMullen II
Monday June 10, 2013 - 11:12:00 AM
Allison F. Rich*, Michael Doppe, Carmichael "CJ" Blankenship*, Mikey Perdue, 
                  Galen Murphy-Hoffman*, Simone Kertesz, Gabriel Grilli*, Juliet Heller, 
                  Brittany Blankenship. Front row: Will Springhorn Jr.*, Courtney Hatcher, Barnaby James, 
                  Jill Miller, Orianna Hilliard.

I don’t go to the South Bay theatre often enough, so I drove down to San Jose Stage Company on Saturday night to attend the opening of “REEFER MADNESS.” The weather was balmy and summery in a way it just doesn’t get up here in Oakland. The weather puts one in a good mood, which primed me to see a delightful if silly musical. -more-


New: Arcadia at ACT: Thick With Thought and Humor, an Intellectual’s Delight

by John A. McMullen II
Monday June 10, 2013 - 10:57:00 AM
Rebekah Brockman and Jack Cutmore-Scott

In mythology, Arcadia is utopia, Eden, Pan’s paradise, a virgin wilderness with nymphs frolicking in lush forests, that longed-for pastoral setting in perfect harmony with nature. -more-


New: “Dear Elizabeth” at Berkeley Rep charms with lovely words, warmth, and beautiful pictures

by John A. McMullen II
Saturday June 08, 2013 - 11:48:00 AM
Mary Beth Fisher and Tom Nelis as Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell

I like epistolary plays where the letters sent between two people over decades are fashioned into a dramatic piece. The only trouble is such plays sometimes remind me of radio drama on NPR. But “Dear Elizabeth,” by Sarah Ruhl now at the Berkeley Rep, is saved from that trap by some of the best stagecraft I’ve seen this year, inspired staging, and two adept and exactingly cast professionals doing the acting. -more-


“TERMINUS” at the Magic Theatre: a play that will burn itself into your memory

Theatre Review by John A. McMullen II
Monday June 03, 2013 - 03:09:00 PM
Carl Lumbly in Mark O'Rowe's "Terminus" at Magic Theatre.

I go to a lot of plays, 40 per year at least, and I have for years.

There are certain—and few—truly outstanding memorable moments in the theatre.

If you want to have one of the memorable moments, call the Magic Theatre box office today and get a ticket to the first American production of Mark O’Rowe’s “Terminus” before the word gets out. -more-


Updated: Around & About Arts & Entertainment: Live Oak Park Fair

By Ken Bullock
Saturday June 08, 2013 - 11:15:00 AM

This weekend's the 43rd annual Live Oak Park Fair, an all-day--10 to 6--free event, both Saturday and Sunday, featuring arts and crafts booths, including handmade clothing, music--soul, folk, jazz, bluegrass, Dixieland, Swing, country, Klezmer, Appalachian--magic shows, face-painting, and--for the first time--Edible East Bay's Edible Tastings, a spot at the center of the fair where free samples of food and body products will be provided in a benefit for People's Grocery of Oakland. Jan Etre produces the Fair, her 26th year at the helm. Free half-hourly shuttle from North Berkeley BART. info: 227-7110; liveoakparkfair.com -more-


The SF Green Film Festival Comes to Berkeley May 30 - June 5, 2013

By Gar Smith
Monday June 03, 2013 - 02:36:00 PM
Mark Rufallo in Dear Gov. Cuomo

The 2013 San Francisco Green Film Festival includes 50 films from around the globe, with over 70 visiting filmmakers and guest speakers covering environmental topics surrounding clean energy, green chemistry, food, housing, trash, water, and art in the environment. The festival (which includes a week of special events, discussion panels, workshops and educational programs) takes place Thursday, May 30 through Wednesday, June 5, 2013 ending appropriately on United Nation’s World Environment Day. -more-


New: Theater Review: 'The Medea Hypothesis'--Central Works at the City Club

By Ken Bullock
Saturday June 08, 2013 - 11:16:00 AM

"Only children aren't happy. Adults are depressed."

Opening and closing with the projection of a young girl (Dakota Dry) wearing a crown and telling a scary fairytale, which hints at the mother being a witch, Central Works' premiere of Marian Berges' 'The Medea Hypothesis' focuses on a present-day fashion designer, Em (Jan Zvaifler), whose unseen husband Justin (Em laments that she "created" him, as Medea ensured Jason's success) leaves her for a younger woman, while she fears her daughter's becoming estranged ... an update of Euripides' tragic tale. -more-


New: Around & About Poetry: Jack Marshall & Gerald Fleming Read From Their New Books at Albany Library

By Ken Bullock
Saturday June 08, 2013 - 11:14:00 AM

Jack Marshall, who lives in El Cerrito, has been one of the bright lights of the Bay Area poetry scene for four decades, his successful series of books by Coffee House Press since the 80s bringing his constantly evolving work to all of North America ... -more-


New: Around & About Film & Video: 'The Sari Soldiers,' Film on Nepal at the East Bay Media Center

By Ken Bullock
Saturday June 08, 2013 - 11:04:00 AM

Around & About Film & Video: 'The Sari Soldiers,' Film on Nepal at the East Bay Media Center -more-


New: Molly Bell shines in “Sweet Charity”—a reason to tunnel to the warm side!

By John A. McMullen II
Saturday June 08, 2013 - 11:02:00 AM
Molly Bell shines in “Sweet Charity”

For those of you who do not live on the warm side of the Caldecott, you need to know that there is an incredibly talented musical theatre actress who is worth the drive (or via BART a few blocks away). -more-


New: “Abigail’s Party” at SF Playhouse—a Showcase of Talent in a Train-wreck of a Play

by John A. McMullen II
Saturday June 08, 2013 - 10:57:00 AM
Inappropriate dancing between hostess Bev (Susi Damilano) and Tony (Patrick Kelly Jones*)

“Abigail’s Party” at San Francisco Playhouse has a delightful and comically adept cast of five, who together almost make a very amusing two acts, but the play keeps getting in the way. Mike Leigh’s comedy-drama is one those BBC sitcoms of a couple of decades ago with a twist—actually with a twisted twist, particularly the incongruous (and here unrevealed) resolution. -more-