With holiday music still ringing in my years, I must admit it will be nice to get back to one of my favorite musical genres – the blues.
I fell in love with the blues as a young girl listening outside an African American church where the blues and gospel music were so much more inviting than the Latin hymns I had been raised on. I’ve fortunately since found a choir to sing with that not only does a Latin hymn or two but also a good number of spirituals and others with a bluesy or jazzy beat.
Thanks to Center Repertory you can get lots of great blues music in the company’s upcoming production of “The Devil’s Music,” the life and blues of Bessie Smith. Written by Angelo Parra, the show transports you to one electrifying evening in 1937 Memphis as Bessie recounts the incredible journey of her life and career, her loves and losses and, of course, the songs that made her “Empress of the Blues.”
Katrina Lauren McGraw stars as Bessie Smith. Joined on stage by a four-piece band, this musical celebration is full of such hits as “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” “St. Louis Blues” and “T’ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I do.” Darryl V. Jones directs with musical direction by Kenneth Little.
“The Devil’s Music” runs Jan. 24 – Feb. 22 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Shows are Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Call 925-943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org for tickets.
Pleasanton: Blues of a different kind take over the Firehouse Arts Center as Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre presents “West Side Story.” Can it be any wonder that this musical is a continual favorite of theater companies? With such talent as Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, it can’t miss.
This modern-day Romeo and Juliet story plays out on the streets of New York City’s West Side in the 1950s. Here a deep-seated rivalry between the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks and the white gang, the Jets turns romance into tragedy in this much loved American musical treasure.
Noel Anthony Escobar directs with Joy Sherratt as choreographer and Nick Perez as musical director. Sam Faustine plays the coveted role of Tony with Alexis Vera as Maria, Bran Conway as Bernardo and Sofia Constantini as Anita.
“West Side Story” runs Jan. 25 – Feb. 9. The company has already had such a demand for tickets that it’s added two additional Thursdays within the run. A special talkback with the actors takes place Jan. 26 following the 2 p.m. matinee. For tickets, call 925-931-4848 or go to www.pcrtproductions.org.
Moraga: Saint Mary’s College presents the wonderful Ensemble Ari on Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Featuring composer/director Jean Ahn, violinist Jiwon Evelyn Kwark, cellist Sarah Hong, Pianist Sharon Lee Kim with special guest Hijung Lee on violin and viola, this special concert also includes San Francisco Opera soprano Rhoslyn Jones and the BAVA Singers. This prestigious ensemble of woman musicians will present a program of women composers: Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Amy Beach, Pauline Viardot and two world premieres by Sunhee Cho and Jean Ahn.
The free concert takes place at the Saint Mary’s College Chapel, 1928 St. Mary’s Rd., in Moraga. For more information, email ahnjean@hotmail.com.
Berkeley: The Aurora Theatre begins 2020 with Lucy Kirkwood’s eco-thriller “The Children.” In its West Coast premiere, the story tells of a long-married couple living in a ramshackle cottage near the edge of a nuclear disaster. Intruding into their eccentric existence comes Rose, a former co-worker at the power station whose appearance after 30 years is a mystery that inspires both laughter and an increasing sense of menace.
Barbara Damashek directs the dynamite cast of Jim Carpenter, Anne Darragh and Julie Eccles.
“The Children” runs Jan. 31 – March 1 at The Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison Street, in Berkeley. Shows are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. Call 510-843-4822 or go to www.auroratheatre.org for tickets.
San Francisco: If you’re looking for something fun and educational to take a youngster to, try Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s “A Year with Frog and Toad. Directed by Khalia Davis, the jazzy-tuned production features music by Robert and Willie Reale as the show takes Frog and Toad from spring, as they awaken from hibernation through winter, as they sip hot chocolate by the fire.
The heartwarming musical about the magic of friendship plays through Jan. 19 at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Call 510-296-4433 or go to www.bactheatre.org.
Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.