Timeless Gilbert & Sullivan, Blues Is A Woman, Comedy Noir Returns
TIMELESS GILBERT AND SULLIVAN. Lamplighters Music Theatre returns this week with its 65th season, kicking off with The Yeomen of the Guard, a dark musical comedy that is full of lies, deceit, and corruption and set in England's bloody Tower of London.
The company was founded in 1952 to produce the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan along with additional work of comparable wit, literacy and musical merit. The 2017-18 season promises to continue its tradition of terrific G&S productions. Following Yeomen is The Gondoliers in February and Iolanthe Singalong in March where the audience is invited to sing any and all parts as well as don a costume for the intermission contest.
The annual Champagne Gala and Auction is slated for October 15 at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco where they will be parodying Saturday Night Live! in G & SNL, or Live from SF, it's Patterday Night!
The Yeomen of the Guard performances will be held August 4-6 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek (925-943-7469); August 12-13 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in Mountain View (650-903-6000); August 18-20 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco (415-978-2787); and August 26-27 at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore (925-373-6800). For more information, visit lamplighters.org.
BLUES IS A WOMAN. Following sold-out previews at Kuumbwa, Freight & Salvage, SFJAZZ, and Cinnabar Theater, the critically acclaimed Blues Is A Woman: From Ma Rainey to Bonnie Raitt opens Thursday, August 3 at the Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco for a month-long run through August 27. Blues Is A Woman was written by the talented Bay Area singer/songwriter and noted jazz/blues queen Pamela Rose with creative direction by Jayne Wenger. BIAW is the latest in Rose's Wild Women of Song project, giving voice to remarkable women in American music. BIAW offers a concert/theatre experience using storytelling, rare film footage, and music, bringing the colorful history of the bold women who wrote and popularized the blues including Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Ma Rainey, Ida Cox, Memphis Minnie, and more. The powerful ensemble of musicians/actors includes Rose, Ruth Davies, Tammy Hall, Shaunna Hall, Daria Johnson, and Kristen Storm. Together, they take the audience on a musical journey back to the blues' early roots, continuing through the decades and giving voice to how the blues influenced American music as it follows these powerful and passionate women who popularized the blues. This co-production with Custom Made Theatre is the official theatrical debut of Rose's new piece and runs Thursdays through Sundays. Custom Made Theatre is located at 533 Sutter Street (Union Square) in San Francisco. Tickets range from $38 to $50. Call 415-798-2682 or visit www.custommade.org/blues-is-a-woman.
WEEKEND SCENE: Loose Ends featuring Jane Eugene Friday, Soul Mechanix Saturday, (See Comedy Scene - Saturday, Sunday), Samantha Fish Monday at Yoshi’s Jack London Square Oakland … Leon Joyce, Jr. Sunday at Jazz on Sundays Oakland Public Library Oakland ... The Subdudes Friday, George Winston Saturday, Linda Tillery and Jennifer Johns Sunday at Freight & Salvage Berkeley … Jim Cordiss, Friday, Saturday at Zio Fraedo’s Pleasant Hill … Girls' Jazz and Blues Camp Concert Friday, Jessica Jones/Rebecca Coupe Franks Sextet Saturday, Shimpei Ogawa Sunday at California Jazz Conservatory Berkeley … Delta Jazz Friday-Saturday at Scottie’s Brentwood … David and Linda LaFlamme with the music of It's a Beautiful Day Saturday at Armando’s Martinez ... Micky Dolenz Friday at Feinstein's at the Nikko San Francisco.
COMEDY SCENE: : Comedy Noir Competition continues this Friday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rheem Theatre, 350 Park Street in Moraga. The laughs take place the first Friday of each month through November with 32 total comics competing for the grand prize. Yours truly will be on hand as a judge on Friday night too. Stop by, say hi, and enjoy the show. Tickets are $15. Call 925-388-0751 or visit lamorindatheatres.com … Mark Curry Saturday, Sunday at Yoshi’s Jack London Square Oakland ... DeRay Davis Friday-Sunday at Tommy T’s Comedy Club Pleasanton … Paul Rodriguez Friday-Sunday at The Improv San Jose … Marlon Wayans Friday-Sunday at Cobb’s Comedy Club San Francisco … Chad Daniels through Saturday, SF Comedy Showcase Sunday at the Punch Line San Francisco.
TAHOE SPOTLIGHT
Slightly Stoopid Friday, August 4 at Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena. Next up, An Evening with The Who, August 16 (www.caesars.com/harveys-tahoe, 775-588-6611) … Franciscos Ramos through Sunday followed by Jenny Zigrino August 9-13 and Rocky Laporte August 16-20 at The Improv (improvtahoe.com, 855-234-7469) …The Magic of Rob Lake through September 4 in the South Shore Room at Harrah’s Tahoe (www.caesars.com/harrahs-tahoe, 800-427-7247) … Luma: Art In Darkness through August 13 in the Montbleu Showroom at the MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa (www.montbleuresort.com, 888-829-7630) … Susan Jones and Benjie Wright: Comedy Cage Match Winners return Saturday, August 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com, 844-588-7525).