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THEATRE NEWS FOR SAN FRANCISCO BAY

Posted by:	Richard Connema 01:56 pm EDT 08/10/14

THE 2014-15 SCHEDULE FOR THE BAY AREA CABARET AT THE VENETIAN ROOM OF THE FAIRMONT HOTEL Opening Night Gala Celebrating Stephen Schwartz When: 8 pm, Saturday, September 27, 2014 Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San Francisco Tickets: $75/$60 subscribers (415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org Bay Area Cabaret's Opening Night Gala celebrates one of our nation's finest living songwriter/composers, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, Pocahontas, Enchanted, Prince of Egypt). The evening will feature performances by Saturday Night Live's Ana Gasteyer, who performed the role of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, and by two masterful interpreters of Schwartz' work, Liz Callaway and Michael McCorry Rose. Mr. Schwartz will perform his own work, and be interviewed on stage by ASCAP's Director of Musical Theatre Michael Kerker. Leslie Uggams in Classic Uggams When: 5 pm, Sunday, November 2, 2014 Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San Francisco Tickets: $50 general/$45 subscribers (415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org Bay Area Cabaret is honored to present Tony and Emmy Award winning actress/singer Leslie Uggams in her first Bay Area concert in more than two decades. Celebrating over 60 years in show business, Ms. Uggams has starred on television, films, and Broadway, and has recorded more than fifteen albums. Earlier in 2014, Ms. Uggams was featured in the PBS documentary series: The Pioneers Of Television, as she was instrumental in breaking down racial barriers on television and became known for creating a number of"firsts." At age six, Ms. Uggams co-starred on the first sitcom starring an African American playing the niece in 1950 to Ethel Waters's Beulah. By age 9, after singing on the Lawrence Welk and Milton Berle Shows, she became th opening act for such legends as Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington. At age 15, Ms. Uggams was signed to a record deal at Columbia Records by Mitch Miller, who also cast her on his Sing Along With Mitch TV series, makingLeslie the first African-American to be a featured regular on a national prime-time variety show. In 1967, Ms. Uggams made her Broadway debut starring in Hallelujah Baby! earning the actress a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. Ms Uggams then became the first African-American female to have her own variety show, when The Leslie Uggams Show debuted on CBS in 1969. In 1978, Ms. Uggams starred as Kizzie, in the landmark television mini-series Roots, earning her the Critics Choice Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress as well as Emmy and Golden Globenominations. Broadway and regional shows include Jerry Herman's Jerry'sGirls, Stormy Weather, Master Class, Anything Goes, and Thoroughly ModernMillie. In July, Uggams became the first African-American to star as Mamma Rose in a professional production of Gypsy and she will star as Auntie Mame in Jerry Herman's Mame, in December of this year. The New York Post recently raved, "In a powerful voice undimmed by age, she displayed a dazzlingstylistic range. Absolutely stunning." Sierra Boggess When: 5 pm, Sunday, December 7, 2014 Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San Francisco Tickets: $50 general/$45 subscribers/$30 under 30 w/ID (415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org Bay Area Cabaret is thrilled to present Broadway star and Olivier Award nominee Sierra Boggess in her Venetian Room debut. Ms Boggess was chosen by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber to star as Christine Daae in the Las Vegas production of Phantom Of The Opera. She quickly made her Broadway debut when she was cast as Ariel in The Little Mermaid (opposite Norm Lewis),receiving Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical. In 2009, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber cast Ms. Boggess once again as Christine Daae for the world premier of the Phantom Of The Opera sequel - Love Never Dies, in London. Ms. Boggess received an Olivier Awardnomination for Best Actress in a Musical. The Daily Mail stated, "Sierra Boggess as Christine, is the production's great joy - its show saver. Shehas a soprano of porcelain precision." Sierra reprised her role as Christine for the 25th Anniversary concert of The Phantom Of The Opera At The RoyalAlbert Hall in London. In 2014, Ms. Boggess returned to Broadway to star in Phantom Of The Opera, opposite her Little Mermaid co-star Norm Lewis, once again to critical praise. Some of her other shows include Music In The Air (opposite Kristin Chenoweth) and Master Class (opposite Tyne Daly). Her soloalbum debut is Awakening: Live At 54 Below. Stacey Kent The Changing Lights When: 7:30 pm, Sunday, February 1, 2015 Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San FranciscoTickets: $50 general/$45 subscribers (415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org. Bay Area Cabaret presents platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated vocalist Stacey Kent in a long-anticipated performance of bossa nova material from her recent album, The Changing Lights. Since the release of her debut album in1997, Ms. Kent has become one of the world's foremost jazz singers. With her fresh approach to lyrics and her beguiling, lightly swinging style, she has received critical praise and worldwide popularity, recording also in French and Portuguese, and selling out concert halls from Paris to Hong Kong and all around the globe. With more than nine albums to her credit, including one platinum and two gold albums (her Raconte-Moi became the second biggest-selling French language album worldwide in 2010), Stacey releasedThe Changing Lights, her first studio album in three years, in Fall 2013. Arecent Birdland show caused The New York Times to praise Ms. Kent and her husband Jim Tomlinson as "sophisticated, cosmopolitan jazz impressionists." Hall of Fame Singer/Songwriter Judy Collins When: 8 pm, Saturday, February 28 & 5 pm, Sunday, March 1, 2015 Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San FranciscoTickets: $90 premium seating & meet and greet (limited); $60 general/$45 subscribers (415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org Grammy winner, Oscar nominee, and American music legend (Both Sides Now, Send in the Clowns) returns to Bay Area Cabaret after her sold-out Venetian Room performance last March, to debut a brand new show. Ramsey Lewis & John Pizzarelli in Straighten up and Fly Right: A Tribute to Nat King Cole When: 5 pm & 8 pm, Saturday, March 21, 2015Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San Francisco Tickets: $75 premium (limited)/$65 general/$50 subscribers (415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org On March 21st, 2015, Bay Area Cabaret's favorite jazz guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli returns to the Venetian Room with multi-Grammy-Award winning jazz pianist, arranger, producer and composer Ramsey Lewis. Lewis is best known for his recently re-mastered gold album Sun Goddess, and for his hits "The In Crowd" (Grammy Award - Best Jazz Performance 1965 and inducted intothe Grammy Hall of Fame 2009), "Wade In The Water" (Gold Record), and "Hang On Sloopy" (Grammy Award). Lewis and Pizzarelli will perform Straighten upand Fly Right: A Tribute to Nat King Cole. Mr. Cole, of course, was aregular in the Venetian Room, and Mr. Lewis will return to the room after more than three decades. At this homecoming, the room will swing! Annaleigh Ashford Lost in the Stars When: 7:30 pm, Sunday, April 19, 2015Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San Francisco Tickets: $50 general/$45 subscribers(415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org With a gift and a passion for cabaret, versatile Tony-nominated Broadway and television star Annaleigh Ashford will make her West Coast cabaret debut as part of Bay Area Cabaret's series. She currently stars as the hooker Betty Dimelo in the hit Showtime series, The Masters Of Sex, and Ashford's recent shows at New York's 54 Below met with rave reviews. Originating the role ofLauren in Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper's Tony winning musical Kinky Boots, Ms. Ashford received Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations forBest Featured Actress in a Musical. Variety called her "sizzling andsensational." She made her Broadway debut in 2006, originating the role of Margot in Legally Blonde: The Musical. After a year, she starred as Glindain the Broadway production of Wicked, then on Broadway in Hair and Grease. Her films include Sex and The City: The Movie and Rachel Getting Married.Ms. Ashford will return to Broadway this fall, to co-star with James Earl Jones in the first bi-racial revival of You Can't Take It With You. Bobby Conte Thornton Concert Debut Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander When: 5 pm, May 31, 2015 Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San FranciscoTickets: $40 general/$30 subscribers & under 21(415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org Winner of Bay Area Cabaret's 2011 Bay Area Teen Idol, featured performer I Bay Area Cabaret's Gala 2013 Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch and star of Boxcar's Equus and Papermill Playhouse's Grease, San Francisco's own Bobby Conte Thornton will take the Venetian Room stage for the first time in his owncabaret show on Sunday, May 31. Directed by the nation's foremost concert director, Richard Jay-Alexander (Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Kristin Chenoweth), Mr. Thornton will present a personal account of what it means to be at beginning of one's adult life, with all the possibilities that lifehas to offer. Jay-Alexander directed Thornton in the role of Enroljas inLes Miserables at St. Louis MUNI and describes this young man's talent as"an unstoppable freight train." LILLIAS WHITE & BILLY STRITCH Bay Area Cabaret Season Finale When: 8 pm, Sunday, May 31, 2015Where: Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San Francisco Tickets: $50 general/$45 subscribers (415) 392-4400 or www.bayareacabaret.org Bay Area Cabaret will conclude its season by welcoming back another favorite: Tony winner (Cy Coleman's The Life) Lillias White. In her latest show, an open audition for her next big Broadway role which just returnedfor an encore at 54 Below, Ms. White addresses Broadway producersdirectly...very directly! On Broadway, White has received critical acclaim for her many starring roles, in The Life, Barnum, Fela!, Once on thisIsland, Chicago, Dreamgirls and How To Succeed In Business Without ReallyTrying. This fall, she'll star in a new off-Broadway play by Tony winner Billy Porter. With the most breathtaking voice on Broadway, and an abilityto reach her audience emotionally, Ms. White is a "one-of-a-kind performerwho combines the sass of a classic blues mama with the skill of a Broadwaystar. What sets her above, and apart from, most Broadway pop-blues shouters is her ruthless honesty and self-awareness.." (New York Times) Performing with her to close Bay Area Cabaret's 11th season is Grammy-winning musicaldirector and performer Billy Stritch (42nd Street, Liza Minelli, RebaMcIntyre, Linda Lavin). Tickets for individual concerts are available at www.bayareacabaret.org orby phone at City Box Office (415) 392-4400. Subscriptions, and discounts forgroups of 8 or more, are available directly from Bay Area Cabaret at (415)927-4636. For Bay Area Cabaret 2014-2015 season subscriptions and moreinformation, visit www.bayareacabaret.org. ################################################## BERKELEY REP ADDS FINAL PERFORMANCES OF MONSIEUR CHOPIN Virtuoso artist Hershey Felder returns in September for the farewell presentation of his critically acclaimed solo showIncluding one-night-only engagement of The American Songbook Sing-Along: Irving Berlin – Due to an exuberant reception from critics and audiences alike resulting in a sold-out engagement, Berkeley Repertory Theatre is proud to announce that Hershey Felder’s already extended Monsieur Chopin will have one final encore presentation of 10 performances September 16-21, 2014. In the second installment of his Composers Sonata – George Gershwin Alone; Monsieur Chopin; Beethoven, As I Knew Him; Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro; and Hershey Felder as Franz Liszt in Musik – Felder reveals the beloved and romantic composer’s secrets against a gorgeous lush score of more than a dozen compositions. This fall, don’t miss the last presentation of the critically acclaimed Monsieur Chopin, Felder’s most passionate performance. Then for one night only on Monday, September 22, join us at Berkeley Rep for The American Songbook Sing-Along: Irving Berlin featuring the music of one of America’s most prolific and beloved composers. Audiences will have the chance to be serenaded and sing along with Felder and might even get the chance for a solo number if they catch the star’s attention. Mark your calendar for “a singular display of sheer joy” (Chicago Sun-Times). Tickets for Monsieur Chopin are $29-$87 (subject to change) and $50 for The American Songbook Sing-Along: Irving Berlin. For more information call (510) 647-2949 or visit berkeleyrep.org. ####################################### # THE MARSH EXTENDS DAN HOYLE'S NEW WORK "EACH AND EVERY THING" FOR SECOND AND FINAL TIME - MUST CLOSE OCTOBER 4 - Due to popular demand, The Marsh announces a second and final extension of the newest solo show by award-winning actor/playwright Dan Hoyle, EACH AND EVERY THING, a search for connection in the digital age. Originally scheduled to run through July 12 and extended through August 24, the show has been an instant hit with audiences and critics alike, receiving highest accolades from every news outlet. The show is now held over one final time through October 4, after which Hoyle will return to his home base in New York City, to continue with other projects. Developed with Charlie Varon and Maureen Towey, and directed by Charlie Varon, EACH AND EVERY THING will play 8pm Thursdays and Fridays,8:30pm Saturdays, and 2pm Sundays at The Marsh San Francisco MainStage Theater (beginning September 6, Saturday performances will be at 5pm). For tickets ($20-$50), the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1 - 4pm, Monday through Friday. ################################### 42ND STREET MOON PRESENTS "THE BOY FRIEND" AT THE EUREKA THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO October 29 - November 16, 2014 WHAT: 42nd Street Moon, San Francisco's only resident professional musical theatre company, presents THE BOY FRIEND, a lighter-than-air spoof of the 1920s with music, lyrics and book by Sandy Wilson. In this delectable farce, English "perfect young ladies" become red-hot flappers as they frolic on the French Riviera. The high-spirited score includes I Could Be Happy With You, A Room in Bloomsbury, Won't You Charleston With Me?, Safety in Numbers, and Poor Little Pierrette. 42nd Street Moon's production of THE BOY FRIEND will be directed and choreographed by Cindy Goldfield, with music direction by Dave Dobrusky. WHEN: Previews: October 29 - 31, 2014 Opening: Saturday, November 1, 2014 Closes: Sunday, November 16, 2014 SHOWS: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm Fridays at 8 p Saturdays at 6 Sundays at 3 pm Special Family & Student matinee on Saturday, November 8 at 1:00 pm. WHERE: The Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 TICKETS: $25 - $75 INFO: For information or to order tickets call (415) 255-8207 or visit 42ndStMoon.org SHN KICKS OFF NEW SCHOOL YEAR BY DONATING 3,500 “MATILDA” BOOKS TO SAN FRANCISCO STUDENTS PART Of MAYOR ED LEE’S BACKPACK GIVEAWAYS ################################# – SHN is partnering with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s Office of Neighborhood Services (MONS) by donating 3,500 “Matilda” books along with special MATILDA THE MUSICAL bookmarks for the 9th Annual Mission and Tenderloin Backpack Giveaways. MONS, through a partnership with Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) in the Mission and The Salvation Army in the Tenderloin, will kick off the school year by distributing backpacks to students of all ages in both districts with events taking place on Saturday, August 9th. “The Mayor’s Office is incredibly grateful for SHN’s generous support of our Annual Backpack Giveaway,” said Kriztina Palone, the Director of the MONS. “For the past nine years, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services has worked with nonprofits and local businesses to ensure that San Francisco students are prepared for the new school year. This year, with the support of local organizations like SHN, and from our event partners MEDA and the Salvation Army, we’re proud to have expanded the event to include both the Mission and Tenderloin neighborhoods and will be giving away a combined total of 4,000 backpacks.” “This donation is an exciting opportunity for SHN to give back to our wonderful city,” said SHN Chief Executive Officer Greg Holland. “Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’ tells the story of an extraordinary girl with a vivid imagination and big dreams. SHN is grateful to the Mayor’s office for the opportunity to participate in the backpack program and help students begin the school year with a positive message. We hope this book will inspire and delight the students and families who read it.” Both events take place on Saturday, August 9, 2014. MEDA’s 3-in-1 “Back to School Event” is from 10am-4pm, at John O’Connell High School. The Salvation Army’s event is from 9:30-3:30pm, at 519 Stevenson Street (between 6th and 7th). All participating families are pre-registered and registration is full. Tony Award-winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL comes to the SHN Orpheum Theatre July 15, 2015 through August 15, 2015 as part of the 2014-2015 season. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA THE MUSCIAL has won 47 international awards, and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages on Broadway and in London’s West End. ###################################### #Crowded Fire (CFT) announces the four featured playwrights and plays for the Crowded Fire 2014 Matchbox Readings Series, public staged readings of plays in development. New plays by playwrights Geetha Reddy, Andrew Saito, MJ Kaufman, and Eugenie Chan in readings from December 1-9, 2014 at the Thick House Theater in San Francisco. Crowded Fire champions playwrights whose work offers a vital contribution to the American theater landscape with a commitment to diversifying the canon of contemporary plays. The Matchbox: Commissioning and Developing New Plays grew out of CFT's need to bolster playwrights’ revision processes in order to strengthen the scripts before rehearsals for the professional productions began. The plays featured in the 2014 Matchbox Readings Series are: A Wonderverse by Geetha Reddy (Dec. 1, 7pm); La Lechera by Andrew Saito (Dec. 2, 7pm); Murmur Rock by MJ Kaufman (Dec. 8, 7pm) and 19 Wentworth Alley by Eugenie Chan (Dec. 9, 7pm).\ Crowded Fire 2014 Matchbox Readings Series Features New Plays by Geetha Reddy, Andrew Saito, MJ Kaufman, and Eugenie Chan Reading Dates: Dec. 1-9 TBD by Geetha Reddy (Dec. 1, 7pm); La Lechera by Andrew Saito (Dec. 2, 7pm); Murmur Rock by MJ Kaufman (Dec. 8, 7pm) & 19 Wentworth Alley by Eugenie Chan (Dec. 9, 7pm). At: Thick House, 1695 18th St., SF (between Carolina St.& Arkansas St. in Potrero Hill ) Readings: 7 PM Tickets: Free to the public RSVP at http://www.crowdedfire.org ################################ Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT), now in its 55th season, is pleased to announce auditions for two of its upcoming productions: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Adapted by Christopher Sergel From the novel by Harper Lee Directed by David Bogdonoff AUDITIONS Sunday, September 7, 1-5pm Youth auditions 1-2:30pm Adult auditions 2:30-5pm Monday, September 8, 6-9pm Youth auditions 6-7:30pmAdult auditions 7:30-9pm CALLBACKS Wednesday, September 10, 6-9pm NEEDED 1 girl, to appear 9 1 boy, to appear 13 1 boy, to appear 9-10 9 men, ages 30-65 1 woman, 18-22 3 women, 40-65 1 African-American man, 25-35 1 African-American man, 40-60 1 African-American woman, 40-60 Prepare two contrasting monologues; total time 90 seconds. Show dates Nov 21-Dec 14; rehearsals begin October 13. Non-AEA. Travel stipend. Audition appointments at auditions@ccct.org; please put MOCKINGBIRD AUDITIONS in the subject header. Cast breakdown available at http://ccct.org/participate-audition.html DOUBT: A PARABLE By John Patrick Shanley Directed by Daren A.C. Carollo AUDITIONS Sunday, September 28, 7-9pm Monday, September 29, 7-10pm CALLBACKS Saturday, Oct 4, 12-5pm Sunday, Oct 5, 7-9pm NEEDED 1 woman, 55-65 1 woman, 20-25 1 man, 35-45 1 African-American woman 35-45 Prepare two contrasting monologues; total time 90 seconds. Rehearsals begin January 5, 2015. Show dates Feb 13-Mar 8. Non-AEA. Travel stipend. Audition appointments at auditions@ccct.org; please put DOUBT AUDITIONS in the subject header. Cast breakdown available at http://ccct.org/participate-audition.html ################################ Best Beloved A wild and ruckus stage adapatation of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories Adapted by: Joan Howard, Rebecca Longworth and the ensemble Directed by: Rebecca Longworth Performed by: Sam Bertken, Juliana Frick, Joan Howard, Sam Jackson, Casey Robbins and Marlene Yarosh Designed by: Joan Howard and Megan Hillard Musical direction by: Casey Robbins. Saturday, August 16 at 2:00pm -- Precita Park 3200 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA Sunday, August 17 at 5:00pm -- Centennial Park, Pleasanton 5353 Sunol Blvd, Pleasanton, CA Sponsored by the City of Pleasanton Satuday, August 23 at 1:00pm -- Port Costa 31 Canyon Lake Drive, Port Costa, CA Picnic lunch available from the Bull Valley Roadhouse at http://obbportcosta.brownpapertickets.com Sunday, August 24 at 2:00pm -- Noe Valley Town Square 3861 24th Street, San Francisco, CA Sunday, August 31 at 2:00pm -- Glen Canyon Park Elk Street at Chenery, San Francisco, CA Saturday, September 6 at 2:00pm -- Hall Pavilion, Santa Clara 1511 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA Sponsored by Santa Clara Players Sunday, September 7 at 2:00pm -- Memorial Park, Hayward 24176 Mission Blvd., Hayward, CASponsored by the Douglas Morrison Theatre Tickets: FREE (donations accepted). No reservations necessary. ###############################

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