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THEATRE NEWS FOR SAN FRANCISCO BAY

Posted by:	Richard Connema 06:25 pm EDT 05/10/15

Custom Made Theatre Presents A Very Special Event… Jerry Torre: The Marble Faun of Grey Gardens WHAT:Custom Made Theatre Presents A Very Special Event… Jerry Torre: The Marble Faun of Grey Gardens Live on-Stage - In Conversation WHEN: Sat. May 30, 2015 - 7:00 pm TIX: http://www.custommade.org/meet-jerry or by calling 415- 798-2682 Tickets are $100 - $150 and include the interview and performance of Grey Gardens: The Musical, and a post reception with Jerry Torre and the cast. All proceeds benefit Custom Made Theatre Co. VENUE: Gough Street Playhouse, 1620 Gough Street (at Bush), SF 94109 WEB PAGE: http://www.custommade.org ############################# -- Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee) will launch the National Tour of IF/THEN , reprising her critically-acclaimed, Tony-nominated performance in seven select cities. IF/THEN is an original Broadway musical which reunites composer Tom Kitt, book writer/lyricist Brian Yorkey, and director Michael Greif, the creative team behind the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical, Next to Normal. Ms. Menzel will launch the National Tour at the Buell Theatre in Denver (October 13-25), and will then play the Paramount Theatre in Seattle (November 3-8), the SHN Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco (November 10 – December 6), the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles (December 8 – January 3), San Diego Civic Theatre in San Diego (January 5-10), ASU Gammage in Tempe (January 12-17), and Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa (January 19-24). Tickets for these engagements are only available to season subscribers. Following these seven cities with Ms. Menzel, the National Tour will then continue across North America. “IF/THEN is especially meaningful for me because I had the opportunity to develop it for several years with the creative team, whom I have come to consider family,” said Idina Menzel. “I’m so thrilled to launch the show’s National Tour and to send it off across the country and around the world. I am very much looking forward to sharing this original musical with Broadway fans who weren’t able to travel to New York and see it there.” “I am thrilled that Idina will be playing these select cities, in the time-honored touring tradition established by Broadway’s leading stars like Angela Lansbury, Yul Brynner, and Ethel Merman,” said producer David Stone. ““I look forward to having audiences discover and embrace IF/THEN and to give Broadway fans across the country the unique opportunity to see a genuine superstar at the height of her powers, in a role that was literally tailored for her.” Additional casting for the National Tour of IF/THEN will be announced at a later date. IF/THEN is a contemporary new musical that follows two distinct storylines in the life of Elizabeth, a city planner who moves back to New York to restart her life in this city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully designed plans collide with the whims of fate, Elizabeth’s life splits into two parallel paths. IF/THEN follows both stories simultaneously as this modern woman faces the intersection of choice and chance. IF/THEN features choreography by Larry Keigwin, set design by Tony Award-Nominee Mark Wendland, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Tony Award-Winner Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony Award-Winner Brian Ronan. The original Broadway Cast Recording of IF/THEN is produced by Sony Masterworks and is available on iTunes. IF/THEN recently played its final Broadway performance on Sunday, March 22, having played 29 previews and 401 performances For more information about IF/THEN, please visit IfThenTheMusical.com. Facebook: Facebook.com/ifthenmusical Twitter: @ifthenmusical YouTube: youtube.com/ifthenmusical Instagram: instagram.com/ifthenmusical # # # ##################### FOOTHILL MUSIC THEATRE PRESENTS THE TONY AWARD-WINNING STEPHEN SONDHEIM MUSICAL A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM Smithwick Theatre, Los Altos July 23-August 9, 2015 Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove. Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus, this bawdy musical tells the story of Pseudolus, a slave, as he helps his master, Hero, win the heart of their neighbor Philia. A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM is infused with comic mayhem and debuted the hit song “Comedy Tonight.” After opening on Broadway in 1962, FORUM was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, winning five Tonys including Best Musical and Best Book. This production will be co-directed by Milissa Carey and Michael Ryken. Musical direction will be provided by Katie Coleman. WHEN: July 23-August 9, 2015 Press opening: 8pm Friday, July 24 Thursdays at 7:30pm; Friday - Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm WHERE: Smithwick Theatre, Foothill College 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 Parking in Student Parking Lots 1, 2, or 5 (use Lot 5 for no-stairs access). Visitors must purchase the required parking permit for $3. Foothill College is located off I-280 on El Monte Road in Los Altos Hills. TICKETS: For tickets ($10 - $32) and more information, please visit www.foothillmusicals.com. Tickets also available by phone at (650) 949-7360. ############################# 42ND STREET MOON ANNOUNCES FUNDRAISING GALA “SONG OF A SUMMER NIGHT” Dinner & Concert Starring Tony Award-Winner LAURA BENANTI 6pm, June 1, 2015 – 42nd Street Moon announces SONG OF A SUMMER NIGHT, a fundraising gala starring television star and Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti. The event includes cocktails, a live auction, dinner, and a “Moonlight Lounge” with Musical Director Dave Dobrusky and other 42nd Street Moon performers. Cocktail attire is encouraged. The evening takes place 6pm, Monday, June 1 at Bimbo’s 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave, San Francisco. For tickets ($375 - $750 for individuals, $3,750-$7,500 per table) the public may call (415) 255-8207 or visit 42ndstmoon.org. Kicking off with a cocktail reception, SONG OF A SUMMER NIGHT guests will be treated to a lavish dinner and a live auction, followed by a concert from Laura Benanti. In addition to her television work (“Nashville,” “Nurse Jackie,” NBC’s “The Sound of Music LIVE!”), Ms. Benanti is a celebrated, four-time Tony Award-nominated stage actress who first took Broadway by storm at the age of 18 as Maria in The Sound of Music, opposite Richard Chamberlain. Ms. Benanti earned the 2008 Tony Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her portrayal of Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy, opposite Patti LuPone and directed by Arthur Laurents. Other Broadway credits include her Tony Award-nominated roles in Into the Woods, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and Swing! She can currently be seen headlining the “New York Spring Spectacular featuring The Rockettes” at Radio City Music Hall. Called “brilliantly funny” by Variety and commended for singing “like an angel” by The New York Times, Ms. Benanti continues to prove herself as one of the most accomplished musical theatre stars working today. Organizers of SONG OF A SUMMER NIGHT are Gala Co-Chairs Victoria Stewart Davis and Erik Davis, Honorary Chairs Pat and Susie McBaine, Planning Chair Joanna Leighton Nevesny, and Event Producer Cindy Goldfield. For 42nd Street Moon, Greg MacKellan serves as Artistic Director, Stephanie Rhoads is Producing Director, and Joe Mader is Managing Director. ##################### Virgins and Villains: My Journey with Shakespeare’s Women Written and performed by Robin Goodrin Nordli WHEN Monday, July 20, 7:30pm WHERE Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda, CA 94563 (just off Highway 24 at the California Shakespeare Theater Way/Wilder Rd. exit, one mile east of the Caldecott Tunnel.) Complimentary shuttle from Orinda BART beginning 2 hours before curtain. Complimentary parking onsite. TICKETS Single tickets for Virgins and Villains are $30 and $65; the higher-priced ticket includes a post-show reception with Ms. Nordli. All tickets are available through the California Shakespeare Theater Box Office, 701 Heinz Avenue, Berkeley CA, 510.548.9666, online at www.calshakes.org, or at the Bruns box office on the day of the performance (pending availability). INFO www.calshakes.org ####################### THE JCCSF COMMUNITY PLAYERS PRESENT TOM STOPPARD'S HILARIOUS WHODUNIT SPOOF THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND ▪ June 12 – June 14, 2015 ▪ Single tickets available now! – Community theater returns this summer to the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco with Kris Neely directing Tom Stoppard’s hilarious classic whodunit spoof The Real Inspector Hound. The JCCSF Community Players tradition that dates back from the 1920’s at the Center presents this critically acclaimed one-act masterpiece of a farce that is a parody of the stereotypical parlor mystery, centering on feuding theater critics Birdboot and Moon, the first a fusty philanderer and the second a pompous and vindictive hack. The two end up being swept into the very whodunit they are viewing. The familiar components of an Agatha Christie-style mystery combine with Stoppard’s trademark explorations of fate and free will, as well as the theme of a “play within a play.” As mists rise about isolated Muldoon Manor, critics Moon and Birdboot become dangerously implicated in the lethal activities of an escaped madman. The Real Inspector Hound will run Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14, 2015 at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (3200 California St. San Francisco, CA). Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee show on Sunday. Press night for The Real Inspector Hound will be held on Friday, June 12, 2015. Single tickets are $10 for ages 19 and older and are free for ages 18 and under. They are available now by calling 415.292.1233 or visiting www.jccsf.org/communityplayers. The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco’s production of The Real Inspector Hound features a cast of 9 actors: Jason Berner, Craig Christiansen, Pamela Greenberg, Jeanne Kirkwood, Jason Kyle, Barbara LaBounta, Benoît Monin, Robert Nelson and Andrew Powell. Directed by Kris Neely, the production team for The Real Inspector Hound includes assistant director Michael Walraven, producer Jackie Lewis, artistic director Laura Klapper, and production assistant Pete Donatello. ######################################* * * SMUIN BALLET ANNOUNCES 2015-2016 SEASON WORLD PREMIERES BY HELEN PICKETT, AMY SEIWERT, AND BEN NEEDHAM-WOOD PLUS WORKS BY JIŘÍ KYLIÁN, VAL CANIPAROLI, MA CONG, AND MICHAEL SMUIN – San Francisco’s Smuin Ballet announces its 22nd season celebrating artistic innovation. The 2015-2016 lineup unveiled by Artistic Director Celia Fushille includes world premieres by Helen Pickett, Choreographer-in-Residence Amy Seiwert, and Smuin Ballet dancer Ben Needham-Wood; the return of Jiří Kylián’s acclaimed ballet Return to a Strange Land; Ma Cong’s contemporary French Twist; Michael Smuin’s timeless Bouquet; and Val Caniparoli’s spirited Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino (everything but the kitchen sink). The holiday season will mark the return of the company’s beloved Christmas Ballet, with new surprises by Smuin Ballet dancers and others. Smuin Ballet’s 22nd Season, including Dance Series One, The Christmas Ballet and Dance Series Two, will be presented in San Francisco, Mountain View, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, and Carmel between September 2015 and June 2016. For subscriptions and further information about this exciting new season, please call 415.912.1899 or visit the Smuin Ballet website at www.smuinballet.org. Single tickets go on sale early August. Dance Series One World Premiere by Ben Needham-Wood World Premiere by Amy Seiwert French Twist by Ma Cong Bouquet by Michael Smuin September 18 - 19, 2015 - Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek September 24 - 27, 2015 - Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View October 1 - 4, 2015 - Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco March 25 - 26, 2016 - Sunset Center, Carmel Smuin Ballet will kick off its 22nd season with a world premiere by company member Ben Needham-Wood set to an original score by composer and cellist Ben Sollee. Needham-Wood is entering his third season as a dancer with Smuin Ballet. Before joining the company, Needham-Wood spent five years performing with the Louisville Ballet where he danced principal and featured roles in a variety of classical and contemporary works. Needham-Wood made his debut as a choreographer with Smuin Ballet last season during The Christmas Ballet with a contemporary piece set to Zee Avi’s “Frosty the Snowman.” Ben Sollee has performed at Carnegie Hall (as part of a tribute to Paul Simon), South by Southwest Music in 2011, and TEDx San Diego in 2012. The New York Times has said, Sollee’s “meticulous, fluent arrangements continually morphed from one thing to another. Appalachian mountain music gave way to the blues, and one song was appended with a fragment from a Bach cello suite, beautifully played.” His music can be heard in shows such as ABC’s “Parenthood” and HBO’s “Weeds,” as well as the film “Killing Season” starring John Travolta and Robert De Niro. Also on the Dance Series One bill is a world premiere by Smuin Ballet’s Choreographer-in-Residence Amy Seiwert. This new piece is inspired by Russian composer and pianist Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Suite For Jazz Orchestra (1938).” A former Smuin dancer, Seiwert has been choreographing since 1999 and has won numerous awards and critical accolades. Bay Area Reporter declares her to be “the most talented and prolific young choreographer working from a ballet base around here” and the San Francisco Chronicle has called her “sharply innovative” and “one of the country’s most exciting young dance makers.” In addition to Smuin Ballet, her work is in the repertory of Sacramento Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, and Carolina Ballet, Robert Moses KIN, and Ballet Austin. The series includes the return of Ma Cong’s fast and flirtatious French Twist, which received high praise for its world premiere with Smuin Ballet in spring of 2010. Inspired by the American cartoon “Tom and Jerry,” French Twist uses contemporary movement set to five musical selections by the late French composer Hugues Le Bars. A quirky piece accented by angular arms and flexed feet, the music is at times reminiscent of a manic spider spinning its web, simultaneously fragile, sturdy, and exquisite. Cong’s choreography utilizes every note of the vivacious tracks to their fullest capacity, as dancers slide across the floor through legs and around chairs to a sultry and mysterious waltz, and manipulate each other like marionettes in an energetic cat-and-mouse caper. The San Francisco Examiner said French Twist “features dancers interacting with agility and precision” and “showcases the rising talent of Cong.” Currently resident choreographer at Tulsa Ballet, Cong was named one of the “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine in 2006 for both dancing and choreography. As a choreographer, Cong has created many works for Tulsa Ballet as well as works for other companies such as Ballet Met Columbus, Ballet Florida, Ballet Nouveau Colorado, Richmond Ballet and Houston Ballet. Michael Smuin’s stunning Bouquet also returns. Timeless in its beauty, the lyrical Bouquet is set to a pair of glorious Shostakovich piano concerti. Smuin’s approach explores the care and sensitivity in a search for the ideal suitor and the joy and intimacy of new love. A romance in both the literal and philosophical sense, Michael Smuin contrasts the 19th century romantic longing with a more contemporary romantic style. The Contra Costa Times said Bouquet is “among Smuin’s most poetic pieces of choreography.” Critical Dance also noted, “Smuin’s choreography couldn’t better represent such powerful music, and the dancers carry it out spectacularly.” The Christmas Ballet Nov 20 - 21, 2015 - Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek Dec 4 - 5, 2015 - Sunset Center, Carmel Dec 9 - 13, 2015 - Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View December 17 - 27, 2015 - Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco The Christmas Ballet makes its sassy return, offering a perfect gift for audience members of all ages. This enormously popular holiday celebration offers something for everyone, from ballet, tap, and swing to a wealth of other genres drawn from holiday traditions from around the world. This year’s festivities will feature new works from Smuin Ballet dancers and others. Dance Series Two World Premiere by Helen Pickett Return to a Strange Land by Jiří Kylián Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino (everything but the kitchen sink) by Val Caniparoli May 6 - 15, 2016 - Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco May 27 - 28, 2016 - Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek June 3 - 4, 2016 - San Mateo Performing Arts Center, San Mateo June 10 - 11, 2016, Sunset Center, Carmel Smuin Ballet presents a world premiere by acclaimed choreographer Helen Pickett collaborating with “House of Cards” composer Jeff Beal, who has created a new score for this new work. With water scarcity as her theme and inspiration, Pickett‘s powerful new work will be both timely and universal. Addressing this concern, Pickett offers challenge and inspiration to dancers and audiences alike. The Resident Choreographer for Atlanta Ballet, Pickett has set her works on companies around the world including Boston Ballet, Washington Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Ballet X, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Semperoper/Dresden Ballet, Vienna State Opera, and Scottish Ballet, among many others. Dance Series Two also includes the highly anticipated return of Jiří Kylián’s Return to a Strange Land. The piece, set on six dancers, combines elegant classical ballet and swiftly-changing geometric poses in a meditation on loss, healing, and hope, created as a tribute to Kylián’s mentor John Cranko. According to Kylián, “The title Return to a Strange Land conveys the step from one form of existence into another. The substance, which bodies are made of, has always existed on the other side: the unconscious. To live is to become conscious. To die is to return to the other land: the strange land of one’s origin.” When Return to a Strange Land made its Bay Area premiere at Smuin Ballet in October of 2013, the San Francisco Chronicle called it “moving” and “impressive,” and SF Classical Voice called it “a must-see!” The Artistic Director of Netherlands Dance Theatre (NDT) from 1975 to 1999, Kylián has created nearly 100 original works for NDT, Stuttgart Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Swedish Television, Bayeriches Staatsballet Munchen, Tokyo Ballet, and more, while his ballets have been performed by more than 100 companies and schools worldwide. Val Caniparoli’s spirited Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino (everything but the kitchen sink) returns marrying his trademark style and physicality with the music of Antonio Vivaldi. Caniparoli’s work celebrates the versatility of the Smuin dancers, blending high energy athleticism with wit and reflective beauty. Of the ballet, which was introduced as a world premiere in spring of 2014 in honor of Smuin Ballet’s 20th Anniversary season, the San Francisco Bay Guardian said that it “charmed because everything grew so clearly out of the music.” The San Francisco Chronicle also noted “Those dancers aced the balletic rigors.” Caniparoli has created a body of work that is rooted in classicism but influenced by all forms of movement: modern dance, ethnic dance, social dancing, and even ice skating. He has contributed to the repertoires of more than forty-five dance companies, including Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre, Pennsylvania Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet West (Resident Choreographer 1993-97), Washington Ballet, Israel Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, State Theatre Ballet of South Africa, and Tulsa Ballet. Caniparoli is most closely associated with San Francisco Ballet, his artistic home for over thirty years, where he began his career under the co-artistic directorship of Lew Christensen and Michael Smuin. He continues to choreograph for the company and perform as a principal character dancer. His ballet Swipe received its West Coast Premiere with Smuin Ballet in 2012. Debuting in San Francisco in March 1994, Smuin Ballet immediately established itself as one of the Bay Area’s most eagerly watched performing arts companies, as “one of this country’s most entertaining, original ballet troupes” (Dance Magazine), and as a dance company of international acclaim, performing to sold-out houses on European tours. Michael Smuin’s innovative philosophy to create pieces which merge the diverse vocabularies of classical ballet and contemporary dance has served as the company’s touchstone since its beginning. Now at the helm of Smuin Ballet is Artistic Director Celia Fushille, whose vision includes maintaining and increasing the company’s reputation for presenting compelling and innovative repertoire and attracting new audiences of all ages to the medium. The company has continued to highlight works created by Smuin, both for his own and for other ballet companies. Fushille has also enriched its impressive repertoire with newer choreographic voices, bringing the Bay Area its first look at works by exciting choreographers from around the world, as well as developing world premieres by company members. ###################### Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education The California Chapter Created, written, and performed by Anna Deavere Smith Music composed and performed by Marcus Shelby Directed by Leah C. Gardiner Special Presentation • Roda Theatre July 14–August 1, 2015 Playwright, actor, and educator Anna Deavere Smith garnered a 2012 National Humanities Medal from President Obama and a MacArthur Award for her incisive and astounding theatrical investigations—from racial tension with law enforcement (Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992) to the deficiencies in our health care system in Let Me Down Easy. Now she turns her attention to “the school-to-prison pipeline,” which, by pushing children out of the classroom into the criminal justice system, has created a lost generation of youth from poor communities. In act one, Anna performs striking portraits culled from interviews she conducted with nearly 100 individuals in Northern California and elsewhere in the nation, affected by the pipeline’s devastating policies—capturing the dynamics of a rapidly shifting social issue through her trademark performance technique. She will be joined by Bay Area favorite, jazz musician Marcus Shelby. Act two…involves you! Anna invites the audience to engage in dynamic conversations and be active agents of change. With the compelling and inspiring Notes From the Field: Doing Time in Education, Anna Deavere Smith believes that we all have the imagination, the wit, and the heart to make a difference. ############################ TRANSCENDENCE THEATRE COMPANY Announces 2015 Season Outdoor Broadway Concerts Performed by Artists from Broadway and Hollywood in Sonoma Wine Country Fourth Year of BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS Shows In the Winery Ruins at Jack London State Historic Park Named by USA Today’s 10BEST as the #2 “Outdoor Concert Venue You Shouldn’t Miss” And The TRANSCENDENCE ARTIST SERIES Throughout Sonoma Valley With Special Guest Performer MEGAN HILTY on July 25 ..Transcendence Theatre Company announced their 2015 season of spectacular outdoor Broadway concerts in Sonoma Wine Country running June 19 through September 13 featuring Broadway Under the Stars in Jack London State Historic Park and the Transcendence Artist Series in various locations throughout Sonoma Valley. Transcendence Theatre Company, named by USA Today's 10BEST as the #2 "Outdoor Concert Venue You Shouldn't Miss" in the United States, was chosen as “Theater of the Year” for the second consecutive year by Broadway World San Francisco. Transcendence’s Broadway Under the Stars is an award-winning series of Broadway-inspired concerts featuring performers from Los Angeles — artists who come to the Sonoma stage directly from recent Broadway appearances. More than a standard musical revue, each show weaves well-known Broadway and popular songs into a spectacular themed performance in the open-air 150-year-old Winery Ruins at Jack London State Historic Park. In addition to their Broadway Under the Stars concerts, Transcendence Theatre Company presents Transcendence Artist Series, a collection of one and two night concerts featuring individual artists in remarkably stunning settings throughout Sonoma Wine Country. From hilltops and vineyards to the Jack London Park Winery Ruins, these intimate performance experiences shine the spotlight on legends such as Ben Vereen to popular Broadway stars like Sutton Foster and current Broadway artists, as well as featuring new works under development by Transcendence Theatre Company. Preshow Picnicking at Transcendence's Broadway Under The Stars - photo by Melania MahoneyAll events begin with picnicking amidst scenic vineyard settings — food trucks or gourmet picnic baskets spread out, local wineries pouring and pre-show music casting a magical spell of communal festivity and a summer party. Sunset heralds the start of the show and the stage begins to sparkle as dusk descends and the Broadway stars sing and dance under a starlit nighttime sky. Amy Miller, Artisic Director for Transcendence Theatre Company says: "We are thrilled to present our fourth season of programming to our incredible audiences. In addition to an expanded season with more performances than ever, we are excited to bring back many of our exceptionally talented artists, as well as introduce the Bay Area community to new artists and work at the forefront of the national theatrical dialogue. It's going to be a fantastic summer and we thank our Transcendence Family of donors, sponsors and patrons for continuing to make it a reality." Transcendence’s Broadway Under the Stars 2015 season shows: Oh What A Night - June 19-21, 26-28, July 2 & 3 Broadway showstoppers, nostalgic standards and modern twists on some of the world’s most uplifting and cherished songs. Fantastical Family Night - July 17 & 18 An inspirational evening of dream living filled with Broadway, Disney and everything in between, this popular family event features a special performance by the kids from Transcendence’s Broadway Kids Camp. Rhythm of Life - August 7 & 8, 14-16, 21-23 Align yourself to the rhythmic pulse of life during a celebratory musical adventure exploring marching to the beat of your own drum. Gala Celebration Concert - September 11-13 The climax of the Transcendence season, the gala is a celebration of the highlights moments of the summer augmented with community tributes and reflections. A fundraiser for Transcendence Theatre Company the event also includes a silent auction, raffle and more. All Broadway Under the Stars shows are presented at Jack London State Historic Park at 2400 London Ranch Road Glen Ellen, CA. Pre-show picnics begin at 5:00 pm; Show commences at 7:30 pm Tickets to “Broadway Under the Stars” shows range from $42 to $129. Special Youth prices available for Fantastical Family Night shows only. Season Flex Passes Available (3-4 shows) - more details on the website. A portion of every ticket sold for Broadway Under the Stars shows will benefit Jack London State Historic Park Transcendence Artist 2015 Series Superheroes In Love July 7 and 8 at Paradise Ridge Winery, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive in Santa Rosa Pre-show picnics begin at 5:30 pm; Show commences at 8:00 pm An evening of song and dance with Broadway’s super couple Desiree and Nicolas Dromard. He hails from the far-away land of Canada and she from the palm-swaying lands of Southern California. They joined forces in New York City to save the world….through song and dance. Tickets: $75 VIP Table Terrace Seating, $50 Premium Table Terrace Seating and $29 Lawn Seating Megan Hilty in Concert July 25 at Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road in Glen Ellen Pre-show picnics begin at 5:00 pm; Show commences at 7:30 pm The vivacious star of Broadway’s Wicked, Gentleman Prefer Blondes and 9 to 5: The Musical, as well as the NBC hit television series Smash, Megan takes the stage for an unforgettable evening of Broadway standards, Hollywood favorites, and songs from her album, “It Happens all the Time.” Brian Gallagher joins her onstage and performers from Broadway Under the Stars will open the show for Megan. Tickets: General Admission $42, Premium $77 (reserved seating), VIP $129 (reserved seating and special benefits). A $5 park contribution and a $1.50 ticketing fee are added to each ticket sold. Off to the Cloud: A Virtual Vaudeville Adventure: Login, Tune In, Connect starring Mark Gindick and Lexy Fridell August 19 - Location and performance times to be announced. Check website for updates. Mark Gindick (Big Apple Circus and Off Broadway's Wing-Man) and Lexy Fridell (Broadway: Pee-Wee Herman Show; Off-Broadway: Avenue Q) team up for an evening of virtual hilarity as they explore love and connection in our digital world. Gindick modernizes the tradition of vaudeville using social media and technology while Fridell plays his electronic guide, utilizing her penchant for playing multiple characters to teach him how to truly live. Tickets: $65 VIP, $35 General Admission Imagine September 2 & 3 at Paradise Ridge Winey, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive in Santa Rosa Pre-show picnics begin at 5:30 pm; Show commences at 8:00 pm A celebration of groundbreaking work by singer songwriters reshaping the landscape of musical theater and popular music. This behind the scenes glimpse into the song writing and storytelling process will offer audiences an exciting insight into the passion and imagination that goes into bringing a song from concept to creation. Tickets: $75 VIP Table Terrace Seating, $50 Premium Table Terrace Seating and $29 Lawn Seating All shows in the 2015 Transcendence Theatre Season are on sale now at www.transcendencetheatre.org. Group tickets for all shows are available at a special discount for individuals and organizations. Contact the box office for more details at (877) 424-1414. For more information about Transcendence Theatre Company’s 2015 season and to purchase tickets, please visit the website at www.transcendencetheatre.org. or call the box office at 877-42-1414. ######################## PlayGround Announces2015 Young Playwrights Finalists STUDENT PLAYS TO RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL READINGS AT BEST OF PLAYGROUND FESTIVAL, MAY 14-17 - PlayGround is thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2015 Young Playwrights Contest. PlayGround invited aspiring writers and theatre artists at the high school level to write and submit their own 10-minute plays inspired by the topic: HERSTORY: The Greatest Stories Never Told. The four selected plays will each receive a professional staged reading, presented as a “curtain raiser” before select performances of the 19th Best of PlayGround Festival (http://playground-sf.org/bestof) at Thick House in May. PlayGround invites audiences to join in welcoming these bold new voices to the stage. The selected plays/ finalists are: HOME FRONT by Camilla Dwyer (SOTA ’17), DARLING ON THE NICKEL by Rocko Bauman (Berkeley High School ’15), MAN'S WORK by Neil Binnie (Miramonte High School ’17), and DIFFERENT PIECES OF OPPRESSION by Rebecca Shalliker (Albany High School ’16). Join us May 14-17 as we celebrate the work of these emerging young writers as a part of this year’s Best of PlayGround. For more info, visit http://playground-sf.org/youngplaywrights. WHAT: Young Playwrights Contest Staged Readings WHEN: Thursday, May 14 @ 8pm / HOME FRONT by Camilla Dwyer, directed by Doyle Ott Friday, May 15 @ 8pm / ON THE NICKEL by Rock o Bauman, directed by Michael French Saturday, May 16 @ 8pm / MAN'S WORK by Neil Binnie, directed by Claire Rice Sunday, May 17 @ 7pm / DIFFERENT PIECES OF OPPRESSION by Rebecca Shalliker, directed by Dylan Russell WHERE: Thick House, 1695 18th Street, San Francisco, CA INFO: http://playground-sf.org/youngplaywrights ################# Wells Fargo Center for the Arts announces 2015-16 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series Eight family-friendly performances feature astonishing acrobats, glow-in-the-dark dazzling puppetry, amazing performing pets and perennial favorite characters – Wells Fargo Center for the Arts continues its commitment to including dynamic family entertainment as a key part of its programming with a new-lineup of educational and interactive performances in Santa Rosa. Today, the Center announced the 2015-2016 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series, featuring eight shows for young audiences and their families. Fall through spring, the series will delight audiences of all ages with shows sure to astound, entertain, enlighten and engage. Popular children’s book characters coming to life onstage, musical performances, glow-in-the-dark characters, pets performing extraordinary tricks, the world’s finest acrobats, and hilarious improv based on stories submitted by children comprise the Family Fun Series experience. To round out the yearlong series, each performance includes free family art projects before each show and post-show opportunities to meet the cast. Beginning this fall, the Center is proud to announce a new partnership with the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County who will be bringing their “Museum-on-the-Go” experience to augment the existing “Free Fun with Art” pre-show activities prior to each performance. “We are proud to continue our longstanding tradition of bringing high-quality, family programming to our community. These shows and their related programs introduce young audiences to the performing arts, provide a venue for children to discover the world around them, experience new cultures and learn important life lessons, and create a space for quality family time,” says Executive Director Rick Nowlin. “And we applaud the continued support of Clover Stornetta, our presenting partner, which allows us to provide tickets at an accessible price, to allow as many families as possible to participate.” The Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series kicks-off on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, with the onstage experience of the wildly popular Veggie Tales Live! Through hilarious storytelling, silly songs and lovable characters, VeggieTales Live! engages the whole family. DreamWorks Animation has re-launched the TV show on Netflix starting in November 2014 and this all-new stage show will feature 14 cast and crewmembers and 15 different Veggie Tales songs. Back by popular demand are the Golden Dragon Acrobats on Wednesday November 4, 2015. Recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today, Golden Dragon Acrobats combine award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music and theatrical techniques to present a show of breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty representing the best of a time honored tradition that began more than twenty-five centuries ago. Light up the holidays by attending a performance of Lightwire Theater’s A Very Electric Christmas on Tuesday, December 1. From the creators of last year’s DiNO Light, this captivating and magical tale of adventure, friendship and love is a wonderful opportunity to start a new holiday tradition. Employing the company’s signature combination of art, theater, puppetry, and technology powered by “electroluminescent wire,” this creative storyline features Nutcracker soldiers, caroling worms, dancing poinsettias, mischievous mice and an evil Rat King with epic battle scene. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the timeless Christmas classics including songs from some of today’s most popular artists. The New Year brings a perennial favorite children’s story, The Cat in the Hat, to life with a performance on Wednesday January 20, 2016. Based on the ever-popular children’s book by Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat and his mischievous friends keep the antics entertaining and surprising. Sunday February 21 Dallas Children’s Theater will present The BFG, a “whizzcracklingly wacky tale” where puppets and people create a fantastical world of towering giants and magical adventures. In the much beloved tradition of Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), this is an adventure of two misfits on an unforgettable odyssey. For a young orphan “human bean,” the sight of a giant outside her window is terrifying, and she fears for her life when he whisks her away to an enchanted land. This Big Friendly Giant is not like other giants, however. The job of this larger-than-life vegetarian is to blow magical dreams into children’s bedrooms, and together they embark on a quest to save England from the “gizzard-gulping” giants who don’t have the BFGʼs tender heart. The cheeky BFG ultimately shows that heroes can come in all sizes . Clifford The Big Red Dog™ ‒ Live! brings the return of the Emmy-nominated show on stage on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. It only takes a little to BE BIG!™ The ‘big red dog,’ a character beloved for generations, comes to life in a BIG way in this interactive musical. Join Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and all their friends as they embark on an adventure filled with singing, dancing and more. Share in the timeless values of Clifford’s BIG Ideas: Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe In Yourself, Be A Good Friend and Help Others – with a family musical experience. On Sunday April 10, 2016, the popular Story Pirates return with their hysterically funny inter-active performance experience. Described as “Monty Python meets Schoolhouse Rock,” Story Pirates create outlandishly funny sketches and mini-musicals based on stories submitted by children. The songs and stories explode with creative energy and the audience participation guarantees the show is never the same twice. The season concludes with Popovich Comedy Pet Theater on Thursday, May 12, 2016. Following a tour of more than 20 countries, Gregory Popovich, winner of multiple international circus competitions, and his rescued furry friends, bring their Comedy Pet Theater to Santa Rosa. Critics describe the show as a unique blend of physical comedy, world-champion juggling and the extraordinary talents of more than 30 performing pets including housecats, dogs, parrots, even geese and mice. Tickets 4-show and 8-show season ticket packages to the 2014-2015 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series are now available. 8-show season ticket packages range from $50 - $80 for children, and $68 - $112 for adults. New this year is the “Pick 4” season ticket package allowing patrons to choose any four shows and save 10% on ticket prices. All season ticket packages are available by phone at 708-546-3600, or at the Ticket Office located at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa. Single tickets will go on sale in August. Tickets for individual shows range from $16 - $21 for adults and $12 - $16 for children and are available at wellsfargocenterarts.org, by phone at 707-546-3600, or at the Ticket Office located at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa. Generous additional support for the 2014-15 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series is provided by Exchange Bank and Macy’s. Media sponsors for the series are Mix 104.9, Hot 101.7, and Froggy 92.9.

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