Arts & Events

—Marion Fay's unusual adult education theater and music classes are starting up again for the Fall season. Theater explorations—nine weeks of two hour weekly classes—meets first on either Monday September 8 or Thursday September 11, both at 1 p. m. The course features five plays, including 'Rapture, Blister, Burn' at Aurora,' 'Party People' at Berkeley Rep, and also at the Rep a new play about Molly Ivins featuring Kathleen Turner. Guest speakers include artistic directors Michael Storm, of TheatreFIRST and Michael Moran of Ubuntu Theater Project. $85; discounted group theater tickets additional. Register at first class—bring $28 and a plain envelope if seeing 'Rapture, Blister, Burn' at Aurora on September 21. 

Music Appreciation class first meets Thursday, September 18, 10-noon, for nine weeks. Speakers include conductors and musicians from the Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco Symphonies. Musical events will be attended with post-performance discussions. In-class talks and concerts will include SF Symphony cellist Jill Brindell and her piano trio, composer Gabriela frank and clarinetist Deborah Pittman with her trio and baritone singer. $80; discounted group tickets additional. Register first day of class. 

All classes at Northbrae Community Chiurch, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley (near Solano Avenue Tunnel) 

marionfay@earthlink.net 

—This weekend Jovelyn Richards will be staging the latest episode in her Depression era tale, 'Dinner at Mz. Pat's House,' set in a bordello in a black neighborhood in Cleveland that becomes a kind of community center and a beacon for unusual characters from all over. Backed by the sound of blues and jazz from her band, Jovelyn spins her own original stories, acting out the people, equally from dreams and reality. 8 pm Friday and Saturday, August 29 and 30. La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck between Prince and Woolsey. $12-15; cabaret-style table, $20 (food and drink available). lapena.org