Arts & Events

So you're of the belief that April Fools Day is a modern, 20th Century celebration? Think again. April Fools Day can be traced back to the 1500's under the reign of Charles IX and the change in the Gregorian Calendar. On this day in 1700 English pranksters began popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools Day by playing practical jokes on each other. April Fools Day of this year offers embarrassment of riches -- art, drama, music, etc. You'll be hard pressed to make choices given the attractive events out there. 

Let's start with the Walt Disney Galleries, featuring early drawings and animation, movies, music, spectacular model of Disneyland and much more -- such as the special program, "Cinderella Style: The Evolution of Disney Animation." Sunday, April 15, 3 p.m., Scienic Presidio, S.F. (415) 345-6800. 

"Sunset Boulevard" by Andrew Lloyd Weber, Lesher Center for the Arts, Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, through April 15 (925-943-7469). 

"Faure: Requiem, Poulenc: Quartre motets pour un temps de penitence", Palm Sunday, April 1, 4 p.m., St. John's Episcopal Church, 1707 Gouldin Road, off Thornhill, Oakland, (510-339-2200). 

Voci Women's Vocal Ensemble, with two performances of a concert titled "The River Has Many Voices", next Saturday at Lake Merritt Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, and next Sunday at All Soul's Episcopal Parish, 3330 Cedar St., Berkeley, (510) 531-8714. 

"The Caretaker", by Harold Pinter, starring Jonathan Pryce, Curran Theatre, S.F., Wednesday through April 22. (888) 746-1799. 

"The 1968 Exhibit" , Helicopter veterans of the Vietnam War assemble a Huey helicopter; also, Michael Rossman's social justice posters about the Free Speech Movement (all 23,500 of them!) Saturday through August 19, Oakland Museum of California, (510) 318-8400. 

"Maple and Vine", ACT's West Coast Premiere of Jordan Harrison's provocative New York hit about an interracial couple trading their stressful, successful urban lives for the retro world reenacting American Life in the 1950's. April 4-22, ACT Theatre, S.F. (415) 749-2228. 

"Any Given Day," U.S. premiere of Linda McLean's drama about two couples in Glasgow. Opens April 11, Fort Mason Center, (415) 441-8822. 

S.F. Silent Film Festival presents "Napoleon", a special screening of the restored silent film. Paramount Theatre, 1:30 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday. (510) 465-6400. 

"Selected Shorts: Delicious Fictions,", with Jill Eikenberry, Sunday, April 1, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Berkeley Repertory Theatre, (510) 647-2949. 

S.F. Library Spring Book Sale, 400,000 books, DVD's, CD's and more. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. next Sunday, Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason, (415-626-7500.) 

Chanticleer's First Film Score, contemporary personal musical reflections, First Congregational Church, Berkeley, April 3, 8 p.m. (415) 392-4400. 

San Francisco Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra and Franz Weiser-Most, Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 and Shostakovich, Symphony No. 6, Sun. April 15, 7 p.m. (415)-864-6000. 

"Othello, the Moor of Venice," Shakespeare's tale of jealousy and villainy, opens April 3 - 22. Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley . (415) 388-5208. 

Hopefully you'll find one or more of the above offerings a great way to observe your own personal April Fools Day.