Arts Listings

FRIDAY, DEC. 21 

THEATER 

“Amahl and the Night Visitors” at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Tickets at the door are $12-$15.  

Aurora Theatre Company “Sex” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through Dec. 23. Tickets are $28-$50. 843-4822.  

Berkeley Rep “After the Quake” at the Trust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through Dec. 21. Tickets are $33-$69. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Encore Theatre Company & Shotgun Players “The Shaker Chair” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m., at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Jan. 27. Tickets are $20-$30. 841-6500.  

Impact Theatre “A Very Special Money & Run Winter Season Holiday Special” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through Dec. 22. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468.  

Kids Take the Stage “Footloose” at 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$15. 527-1138.  

“A Christmas Carol” with Martin Harris at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant. Tickets are $10-$15. 848-7800. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Mark Morris Dance Group “The Hard Nut” at 7:30 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$60. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Oakland Ballet “Nutcracker” at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Oakland Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$50. www.ticketmaster.com 

The Women’s Antique Vocal Ensemble “From the Rising of the Sun” Music for the Christmas season at 8 p.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave. Tickets are $5-$15. www.wavewomen.org  

Farallon Brass Ensemble at 7 p.m. at St. Paul‘s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland. Tickets rae $12-$15, free for children under 15. 332-9975. 

Holiday Caroling with Terrence Kelly & Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Albany Artists Collective featuring The Matresses and Cody Green in a benefit for the Albany Music Fund at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Mario “Weary Boys” Matteoli at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

In Harmony’s Way “Mid-Winter Sing” at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Lalin St. Juste and Connie Lim at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Starry Plough Bluegrass Session with Jacob Groopman, Ben Bernstein, Erik Yates and others at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Charlie Hunter at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $20-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Machina Sol at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, DEC. 22 

CHILDREN  

“Wintertime at Little Farm” a puppet show for the whole family at 11 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

“Stuart Little” the movie at 10 a.m. and noon, Sun. at noon at Elmwood Theater, 2966 College Ave. at Ashby. Benefit for local PTAs. 433-9730. 

THEATER 

Kids Take the Stage “Footloose” at 2 and 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$15. 527-1138. www.kidstakethestage.com  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

West Coast Live with Michael Chabon, Will Durst at 10 a.m. at Freight and Salvage. Tickets are $13-$18. 415-664-9500. www.WCL.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“From the Darkness...Solace” a Winter Solstice Concert at 6 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Donation $10-$20. 228-3207. 

Mark Morris Dance Group “The Hard Nut” at 2 and 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$60. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Oakland Ballet “Nutcracker” at 2 and 8 p.m. at Oakland Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$50. www.ticketmaster.com 

Nicolas Bearde Holiday Blues Fest at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ.  

Hot Hot Hot Caribbean Nights with Winston Soso and David Reid Caribbean band at 9:05 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054.  

Michael Grandi at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Holiday Revue, bluegrass and acoustic with Lauries Lewis, host, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50-$16.50. 548-1761.  

Bayonics, The Unsmokables at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $9. 841-2082.  

Mitch Marcus Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, DEC. 23 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Thomas Lynch performs the Truman Capote classic, “A Christmas Memory” at 3 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets sliding scale $10-$30. 665-5565. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Ballet “Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. at Oakland Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$50. www.ticketmaster.com 

Redwing at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Trumpet Supergroup Holiday Concert with Dave Scott, Mark Inouye, Mario Guarneri, Mike Olmos, and Erik Jekabson at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373.  

MONDAY, DEC. 24 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Musica ha Disconnesso traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26 

CHILDREN 

The Blue Fairy Storyteller “Tales of a Winter Wonderland” for ages 3-7 at 3:30 p.m. at the Claremont Branch of the Berkeley Public Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave. 981-6280. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082  

Will Durst’s Big Fat Year End Kiss Off Comedy Show XV at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $18-$20. 925-798-1300. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tee Fee Swamp Boogie at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun/zydeco dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Kurt Ribak Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Spanish Harlem Orchestra at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $26-$30. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, DEC. 27 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Duece Eclipse, Cataracs, Jack Sprat and others at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Ideal Vine, banjo music with Evie Ladin, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

5 Cent Coffee, Freddy Parish, Winter Fall at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

FRIDAY, DEC. 28 

CHILDREN 

“Habari Gani?/What’s the News?” Kwanzaa stories with April Armstrong for ages 5 and up at 3 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6223. 

THEATER 

Encore Theatre Company & Shotgun Players “The Shaker Chair” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m., at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Jan. 27. Tickets are $20-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Wild Music: Sounds and Songs of Life Percussion discussion with Ken Bergman at noon and 1:30 p.m. at Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive. Cost is $8-$10. 642-5132. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Mack Rucks Group at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Moodswing Orchestra at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

David Grisman Bluegrass Experience at 5 and 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $30.50-$31.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Ali Weiss and Cris Kelly & Manda Bryn at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Musiciens sans Frontiéres, Talons of Peace at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Albino, heavy afro-beat, at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10. 548-1159.  

Space Heater at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, DEC. 29 

CHILDREN  

Folksongs with Chris Molla for ages 3-7 at 10:30 a.m. at Berkeley Public Library, West Branch, 1125 University Ave. 981-6270. 

Music with Melita and Friends at 11 a.m. at Studio Grow, 1235 Tenth St. Cost is $7. 526-9888. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Otro Mundo at 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Lady Bianca Blues at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

The Zydeco Flames at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun/Zydeco dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

James Brown Tribute at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $7-$15. 548-1159. www.shattuckdownlow.com 

Jenny Kerr and Kenny Schick at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

The Bobs, a cappella, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

The Unreal Band, Lucky Dog at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Justin Hellman Quartet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, DEC. 30 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Mon’s Music Trio, featuring Si Perkoff, at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Evie Ladin at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Creation at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Lyrics Born at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $35. 548-1159.  

Dani Torres, flamenco,, at 5 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198. 

MONDAY, DEC. 31 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Bobi Cespedes Quartet at 8 and 10 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Reservations recommended. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Balkan Bash with Édessa, Brass enazeri, Joe Finn at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Jesus Diaz’s The Cuban Connection at 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $25-$27. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Montana Slim at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Medicine Ball Band featuring Pee Wee Ellis and Lady Bianca at 8:30 p.m. at Plymouth Church 424 Monte Vista, at Oakland Ave. Cost is $24-$30. 444-2115. 

High Country, Dix Bruce & Jim Nunelly at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.org 

What It Is at 9 p.m. at Jupiter. Cost is $10. 843-8277. 

Flamenco Fiesta at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. at Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $55-$85. 287-8700.  

Spanish Harlem Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $100. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com