Arts & Events

Marion Fay's popular, longrunning classes for adults, Theater Explorations and Music Appreciation, both held at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda near the Solano Avenue Tunnel in Berkeley, are starting up again.

Theater Explorations, four two-hour classes with two separate groups, one meeting Mondays from April 4, 1-3 p. m., the other on Thursdays from March 31, also 1-3, both for nine weeks, features post-performance discussions, guest speakers (including presentations by the artistic directors of SF Playhouse, Ubuntu Theatre Project and Theatre First, as well as pre-play talks by Berkeley Rep docents) and trips to see Mary Zimmerman's adaptation of 'Treasure Island' (from Robert Louis Stevenson) at Berkeley Rep, 'Grapes of Wrath' (adapted from Steinbeck) by Ubuntu and a visit to the new Strand Theater in San Francisco.

Music Appreciation meets Thursdays, 10-noon, starting April 7, and features composers, conductors and musicians from the Berkeley Oakland and San Francisco Symphony orchestras and other professional musicians performing and discussing their work in class, as well as field trips to concerts and performances..

Special events include a piano quintet by SF Symphony musicians; a presentation by a music therapist; and a program of pieces for oboe, English horn and piano, featuring solos from orchestral masterpieces.

No background in music is required for Music Appreciation classes.

Both courses, Theater Explorations and Music Appreciation, are nine weeks for $90, excluding discounted tickets for performances. Register at the first class. For further information: marionf5@earthlink.net