2010-11 Season for Friend Center at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
By: Lauren Wolman Jul. 16, 2010
Part of the Arts and Ideas series of performances, lectures and conversations, The Friend Center for the Arts at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) today announced details of its comprehensive Performing Arts programming for 2010/11. The eclectic array of performances in the intimacy of Kanbar Hall will include a tribute to Stephen Sondheim on the occasion of his 80th birthday by Broadway star Liz Callaway; performances of The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman's Tectonic Theater Project; Viva Cuba! With Carlos Reyes; and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. Returning favorites include the Harlem Gospel Choir, the Great Broadway Sing-Along: the comedy of The Capitol Steps; and The Jewish Theatre with a production of Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers.
COMEDY
35TH ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO COMEDY COMPETITION - Semi-finals Tuesday, Sept. 28, 8 pm
This is possibly the funniest show in town, in which tomorrow's standup stars vie for glory and $25,000. Host Mo Mandel presents ten top comedians who have advanced in earlier shows. Alums of this renowned event include Kevin Pollak, Ellen Degeneres, Dane Cook and, of course, Robin Williams, who came in second in 1976. Suggested for mature audiences only. Tkts: $13 - $26
The nation's premier political satirists take no prisoners as they tackle immigration reform, financial bailouts, Tea Parties and Washington shenanigans. For over 30 years, these former Congressional staffers have been skewering the government with punch lines from the left and jabs from the right. Tkts: $46 - $55
THEATER
The Tectonic Theater Project presents
THE LARAMIE RESIDENCY A decade in the life of an American town
In October 1998 Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming. Headlines swept the country about this hate crime directed at a gay teen. Five weeks later, Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theatre Project went to Laramie, and over the course of the next year, conducted more than 200 interviews with people in the town. From the interviews came The Laramie Project, a play chronicling the life of the town in the year after the murder.
The work became one of the most performed plays in America. The production energized an awareness of attitudes about violence against gay people. Tectonic collaborators revisited Laramie on the 10th anniversary of Shepard's death to examine how the town, its attitudes, laws and its people had changed. The result is The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, An Epilogue.
The Laramie Project Friday, Oct. 22, 8 pm Tkts: $25 - $55
The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, An Epilogue Saturday, Oct. 23, 8 pm Tkts: $25 - $55
OFF THE PAGE SERIES : The work of Lydia Davis Monday, Nov. 1, 7 pm
San Francisco's acclaimed, literary theater company performs a staged reading exploring the dark, lucid, bleak and human works of Lydia Davis, a trailblazing American writer and enigmatic master. Directed by and starring Word for Word company members: Delia MacDougall, Sheila Balter, Stephanie Hunt, Jeri Lynn Cohen and JoAnne Winter. Suggested donation: $15 The Jewish Theatre San Francisco in association with the Eugene & Elinor Friend Center for the Arts presents
LOST IN YONKERS By Neil Simon January 8 - 16, 2011
A touching and humorous coming of age story about two Young Brothers left in the care of their formidable immigrant grandmother in Yonkers, New York. Their sweet but simple-minded aunt and gangster uncle add to the mix in this classic portrait of a dysfunctional Jewish family in the 1940s. The play is directed by Nancy Carlin, and features TJT cofounder Naomi Newman. Tkts: $20 - $39 The Magic Theatre presents
THE VIRGIN PLAY SERIES Mondays, March 7, 14, 21 & 28, 7 pm
Magic Theatre presents readings of scripts-in-progress by the playwrights whose voices we're listening to right now. Hear these plays before they arrive on the stage and see the new play development process up close. After each reading, the playwright and director will have a conversation with the audience members. The complete list of plays may be viewed at www.jccsf.org/arts <http://www.jccsf.org/arts> after January 15. Tkts: $10 & $15
DANCE
MARGARET JENKINS DANCE COMPANY Thursday, October 7, 8 pm
Preview of Light Moves (2010) and Other Suns I (2009)
Known for its highly charged and rigorous dancing, the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company (MJDC) creates nuanced, layered and thought-provoking landscapes. This season, the MJDC celebrates its 37th anniversary with a preview performance at the JCCSF of its latest work, Light Moves, a collaboration with multi-media artist Naomie Kremer, composer Paul Dresher and poet Michael Palmer. The evening's program will also include an encore performance of the critically acclaimed Other Suns I. Tkts: $18 - $26
West Coast Premiere
KIBBUTZ CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY Saturday, February 26, 8 pm
EKODOOM - It's Not Time, It's Us
Choreographer Rami Be'er presents Ekodoom, an incisive observation about mankind and the processes of destruction and devastation perpetrated on man's physical environment. Be'er creates a world with all its possibilities; the harsh, cruel, gray world in conflict, and the world of fantasy, dreams and romance. Founded in 1970, Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company has developed into one of Israel's most prominent and it has gained international renown through its worldwide touring. Tkts: $20 - $36
JEWISH AND WORLD MUSIC
SHLOMI SHABAN Thursday, Sept. 30, 8 pm
Israeli pianist Shlomi Shaban makes his West Coast debut in an exciting concert that will showcase the full range of his extensive musical sensibility, which include rock, jazz and classical influences. Known for his ability to move audiences through his mesmerizing stage presence, Shlomi will be joined by vocalist Rona Kenan and internationally renowned trumpet player Avishai Cohen. Tkts: $32 - $41
Friday, Nov. 5, 6:30 pm dinner - 8 pm concert
Originally from Paraguay, harpist and violinist Carlos Reyes brings his grace, wit and musical virtuosity to Kanbar Hall with a concert combining Latin, jazz and classical music with his native roots to offer an exquisite evening of his music and stories of Cuba.
Tkts: Cuban Dinner & Concert: $55 & $60 Concert Only: $25 & $30 THE 11TH ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Ritual Project Friday, Nov. 19, 8 pm: Offering Saturday, Nov. 20, 8 pm: Entering the Fire,
Sun. Nov. 21, 7 pm: Feasting
San Francisco World Music Festival brings together the music of many cultures for three innovative evenings of transformation featuring youth and master musicians from the Bay Area and beyond with stylized video footage from around the world, including live-stream performances from Taiwan via satellite. For more information visit www.sfworldmusicfestival.org
Festival Pass: $31 & $38 Individual Events: $12 & $15 ESN: A SHABBAT CONCERT WITH COOKING Featuring Frank London, Lorin Sklamberg and Adrienne Cooper
Friday, Feb. 11, 8 pm
Redolent of the tastes, sounds and smells of Jewish cooking, ESN is literally a song feast - with tastings for the audience of both food and a full menu of song - both Yiddish and English. Adrienne Cooper teams with Klezmatics Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg in a special Shabbat concert filled with comedy, warm memory and tradition - and all about Jewish food. Tkts: $32 - $41
NEW DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC
OTHER MINDS 16 March 3, 4 & 5, 7 pm Panel Discussion 8 pm Performance
Other Minds 16 features nine maverick composers from around the world in concerts and personal panel discussions. The "premier new music festival on the west coast" (Los Angeles Times) includes The Seattle Chamber Players in works by Agata Zubel (Poland) and Janice Giteck (US); Dutch jazz and improv pioneer Han Bennink with special guest Fred Frith; a rare appearance by Howard Skempton, the leading senior composer in the UK; and premiere performances of commissioned works by Jason Moran and David Jaffe, with a special installation by world-renowned sound sculptor Trimpin. Tkts: $20- $40 Festival Pass: $51 - $102
THE Harlem Gospel Choir: A Multi-cultural Shabbat Concert Friday, April 1, 8 pm
Last season The Harlem Gospel Choir's sold-out, soul-stirring performance had the audience on its feet, asking for more. The Choir now returns with its stirring message of love, and songs of inspiration in an evening that the whole family will enjoy. Tkts: $46 & $55
THE GREAT AMERICAN (AND FRENCH) SONGBOOK
IN GOOD COMPANY - Liz Callaway SINGS SONDHEIM Saturday, Nov. 13, 8 pm
Tony Award winning Broadway star Liz Callaway celebrates Stephen Sondheim with an evening devoted to his music and lyrics. Liz has headlined Sondheim celebrations at Lincoln Center, Sotheby's and even on his appearance on Inside the Actor's Studio. Her show is filled with stories and brings her exceptional musical gifts to the Friend Center with selections from Company, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, and more. Tkts: $46 - $55
This treasured musical event goes into its seventh season, with the evergreen songs of Cole Porter, The Gershwins, Harold Arlen, Lerner & Loewe, Marvin Hamlisch, Jerry Herman, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, Stephen Schwartz, and more, with a special nod to Stephen Sondheim. Tkts: $26 - $30.
‘S WONDERFUL: The New Gershwin Musical Revue Saturday, Jan 29, 8 pm & Sunday, Jan. 30, 2 pm
‘S WONDERFUL is an all singing, all dancing, musical revue that celebrates the genius of George and Ira Gershwin, one of the most successful songwriting team in the history of popular music. Legendary tunes including timeless classics such as: "Swanee," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Fascinating Rhythm," "Strike Up The Band," "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Summertime," "I've Got Rhythm," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Funny Face," and many more. Tkts: $50 - $60
Jil Aigrot IN CONCERT: THE VOICE OF PIAF IN LA VIE EN ROSE Sunday, April 3, 4 pm
Jil Aigrot is the extraordinary singer behind the scenes in the Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winning film La Vie en Rose about the legendary French singer, Edith Piaf. Aigrot's breathtaking voice transports her audience to a Paris of another time and brings Piaf's mystique to the Friend Center for a very special concert. Tkts: $45 & $55
JAZZ
SFJAZZ PRESENTS MARCUS SHELBY JAZZ ORCHESTRA Friday, Oct. 8, 8 pm
Marcus Shelby, superb Bay Area bassist and educator, brings his latest large-scale work entitled MLK to the JCCSF. It celebrates the life of Martin Luther King Jr., and integrates fresh orchestrations of African American spirituals with the Civil Rights era music of John Coltrane and Charles Mingus. Featured are vocalists Faye Carol, Jeannine Anderson and Kenny Washington, as well as Howard Wiley on saxophone. Tkts: $17 - $30
Jazz, World Music and Beyond
Led by internationally esteemed jazz educator Paul Contos, the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars program is widely renowned. The All-Stars offer exhilarating arrangements for jazz orchestra, highlighting a unique blend of jazz and world music. Included in the repertoire are big-band compositions featuring Middle Eastern, African, East Asian, and South American themes. Tkts: $5 - $15MARK CANTOR'S GIANTS OF JAZZ ON FILM
Master jazz film archivist Mark Cantor continues to delight audiences as he shares gems from his collection of historical jazz to Kanbar Hall.
More Treasures from the Archive: Saturday, Jan 22, 8 pm
The Great American Songbook: Saturday, April 2, 8 pm
Blacks, Whites and Technicolor - Racial Images in Jazz: Saturday, May 7, 8 pm
Tkts: $12 - $25 Series price: $51 & $64
FAMILY
BANANA SLUGS STRING BAND -- Science, Song and Celebration Sunday, Nov. 14, 2 pm
For over 25 years Santa Cruz's ecological "edu-tainment" band has brought their message of conservation, reclamation and earth stewardship (Tikkun Olam) to kids of all ages all across America. Wearing wacky costumes, their songs range from rockin' boogies and sensitive ballads, to rap and reggae. In their concerts, they create a fun-filled learning experience, exuding a joyous sense of wonder and respect for the world around them. Tkts: $16 - $24
Saturday, Jan. 22, 5 pm Sunday, Jan 23, 11 am and 2 pm
The New Pickle Circus presents some brand new thrills and chills this year. Each season this perennial Friend Center favorite matches clowns, acrobats and contortionists with jugglers, aerialists and more. Pickle veterans and talented Circus Center students alike bring action, excitement and delight to the whole family. Tkts: $16 - $22SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL Saturday, May 7, 2 pm & 5 pm
"Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss's best-loved stories collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! The Cat in the Hat is the host and emcee (and all-around mischief-maker) in this romp through the Seuss classics presented by Theatreworks, USA, especially adapted for families with young children.
Tkts: $18 - $24
SPECIAL EVENTS
LIVE TAPING of NPR'S SAYS YOU! Friday, April 15, 8 pm, Saturday & Sunday, April 16 & 17, 2 pm
Host Richard Sher and hilarious panelists Barry Nolan, Francine Achbar, Tony Kahn, Carolyn Faye Fox, Arnie Reisman, Paula Lyons and Philip Salkind are fast on their feet and smart on their tongues. They keep everyone guessing whether the ludicrous-sounding definitions are real or simply calculated to fool everyone!
Tkts: $28 & $32
Explore the San Francisco Bay in two evenings that trace the Bay's history from the Ice Age through years of exploitation to today's efforts at restoration. Hear the story of three women who rallied support to save the Bay from becoming little more than a river - an invaluable lesson on how ordinary citizens can protect our environment. Both screenings include a post-screening talkback with producer Ron Blatman and local experts.
Episode 1: "Marvel of Nature (Prehistory - 1848)"
Episode 2: "Harbor of Harbors (1849 - 1906)"
Monday, Oct.4, 7:00 pm
Episode 3: "Miracle Workers (1906 - 1959)"
Episode 4: "Bay in the Balance (1960 - Present)"
Monday, Oct. 11, 7:00 pm
FREE! Reservations required through the JCCSF Box Office at arts@jccsf.org or 415.292.1233.
Learn more about Saving the Bay is available at www.savingthebay.org. The JCCSF located at 3200 California Street (at Presidio), has been serving the Bay Area since 1877 with programs that transform people's lives - mind, body and spirit. A home away from home for San Franciscans of all faiths and backgrounds, the JCCSF welcomes more than 5,000 guests each day, presenting them with world-class cultural events, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and hundreds of inspiring educational, recreational and social programs. Programs are made possible through generous community support, enabling the JCCSF to provide free and low-cost programs as well as generous financial assistance - ensuring that the Center is accessible, welcoming and nurturing to all. For more information about the JCCSF, visit www.jccsf.org. Subscription series tickets for the 2010/11 Arts & Ideas Season are now available, and single tickets go on sale August 23. To order, call the JCCSF Box Office at 415/292-1233. For additional information, visit www.jccsf.org/arts
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