JCCSF Announces 2012 Events

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) presents a wide array of Performing Arts programming from January through June of 2012. Highlights include performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company, the West Coast premiere of Up From the Stacks and the musical, The Man that Got Away.

THEATER
L.A. Theatre Works presents THE RIVALRY
Sunday, January 29, 4 pm
The Rivalry, Norman Corwin’s riveting depiction of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, uses original dialogue to bring to life the fierce competition between the future President and the incumbent Senator as they tackled the most controversial issues - slavery and the American concept of freedom. Robert Parsons, who starred in the acclaimed production of The Rivalry at Ford’s Theatre in Washington last year, will recreate the role of Abraham Lincoln. Stephen Douglas will be played by the fine television and film actor JosH Clark who has a long list of roles in Heroes, Star Trek: Voyager, Pretty Little Liars, and All My Children. As the 150 anniversary of the Civil War is commemorated, The Rivalry raises questions of values and rights that are still being debated and remain unresolved at every level of our society: race, social and economic inequity, states’ rights and the role of the government in the lives of its citizens. Tkts: $42 - $55

Theatre and Bookfest
West Coast Premiere
Newly commissioned by the New York Public Library and Lincoln Center this season.
UP FROM THE STACKS New music-theater from Ben Katchor and Mark Mulcahy
Thursday, February 23, 8 pm
Set in the New York Public Library circa 1970, Up From The Stacks is the story of Lincoln Cabinee, a college student working part time as a page retrieving books from the library’s 43 million item collection. This mundane job unwittingly thrusts the protagonist into the treacherous crosshairs of scholarly obsession and the businesses of amusement and vice flourishing on 42nd street. The intellectual life of the city and the happiness of a young man hang in the balance. Tkts: $35 - $48

MAGIC THEATRE’S VIRGIN PLAY SERIES Monday, January 23 – February 13, 7 pm
The Magic returns with a new round of readings of in progress scripts performed before a live audience. Four plays will be read by local actors, who will engage with the playwright and audience following each reading. This rare experience has theatergoers take part in the creative process. Tkts: $12 - $15

WORD FOR WORD OFF THE PAGE SERIES presents
Selections from Peter Orner’s Esther Stories.
Monday, February 27, 7 pm
JCCSF proudly welcomes back San Francisco’s premiere producer of short stories on stage, Word for Word, as they perform selections from local writer Peter Orner’s collection Esther Stories. Word for Word presents Orner's family tales, in a stylized staged reading. Suggested donation $10 - $15

COMEDY
THE GRAND PERFORMANCE
THE Capitol Steps Sunday, March 18, 2 & 5 pm
With the presidential primaries looming, who knows what these masters of political satire have up their collective sleeves? Which Republicans will be left standing? With hits from their latest CD entitled “Desperate Housemembers,” only the Capitol Steps know for sure. The Friend Center happily brings back Cap Steps each spring for a brand new, rousingly funny take on the American political scene. Tkts: $46 - $55

AN EVENING WITH Bruce Vilanch Saturday, April 23, 8 pm
One of the funniest men alive, Bruce Vilanch is best known from his days on “Hollywood Squares” and his Broadway and San Francisco starring role as Edna Turnblatt in Hairspray. TV audiences have been laughing for years at his hysterical writing for the Oscars, years of Comic Relief specials starring Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, the American Comedy Award TV specials, The People’s Choice Awards and many Bette Midler performances. Tkts: $40 - $55

DANCE
Martha Graham DANCE COMPANY: Dance as a Weapon
Saturday, February 11, 8 pm, Sunday, February 12, 2 pm
This exceptional event marries extraordinary live performances with narration and historical dance footage. During the 1930s, American modern dance was fueled by the political and social activism of the time and took on the plight of the oppressed of all races and backgrounds. Dance is a Weapon explores the issues of that time and how they reverberate today. It features work from seminal female choreographers of the 1930s—Jane Dudley, Eve Gentry, Isadora Duncan, Sophie Maslow and Martha Graham. Tkts: $48 - $60

JEWISH MUSIC
The Yiddish Culture Festival
*THE KLEZ-X CONCERT Saturday, Feb. 18, 8 pm
The Klez-X mines the rich depths of klezmer, Yiddish folk and art song, and modern jazz to create a brilliantly original sound, still rooted in the bedrock of Yiddish culture. The group boasts an all-star roster of highly versatile and innovative musicians led by violinist and composer Daniel Hoffman, and featuring Richard Saunders, Jeanette Lewicki, Sheldon Brown, Stephen Saxon, Charlie Seavey and Alan Hall. The concert will be followed by a dance party in the JCCSF’s Pottruck Family Atrium. Tkts: $25 - $45
* Yiddish Culture Festival: Free Yiddish Sing-Along Sunday, Feb 19, 5 pm
*Yiddish Culture Festival: Classes (Details at www.jccsf.org) Saturday, Sunday & Monday, Feb. 18 - 20

JUST ADDED:
United Religions International in partnership with Koret Foundation presents
MUSAIQUE: Music without Boundaries – building bridges between religions, nations and cultures.
Friday, March 23, 8 pm
Musaique was founded in 2008, when Israeli Lee Ziv and Jamil Sarraj, an Arab from Jordan, met and played together at a United Religions Initiative assembly in Amman. Less than a year later, twenty musicians from four countries, three religions and three languages met in Shantana, Jordan for four days of playing music. Today Musaique is a diverse network of musicians from throughout the Middle East who come together to build bridges in a style drawn from The Common musical heritage they share: A fusion of ancient, sacred music and prayer, with new musical instruments and genres. Tkts: $10 - $15

NEW DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC
OTHER MINDS 17 Thursday, Friday, Saturday, March 1, 2 and 3
Esteemed ex-pat Gloria Coates (US/Germany) will be joined by young mavericks including Norway's Øyvind Torvund, combining influences from Purcell to Black Flag with instruments like a two-stringed bass and aerosol cans, and recent Rome Prize winner Ken Ueno, presenting a new work for the Del Sol String Quartet with interactive video. With all featured composers in attendance, OM 17 offers a first-hand encounter with artists from across the musical spectrum, pushing the creative possibilities of jazz, classical music, world music, and points between and beyond. Tkts: $25 - $45

JAZZ
MARK CANTOR’S GIANTS OF JAZZ ON FILM
Master jazz film archivist Mark Cantor continues to delight audiences as he brings gems from his collection of historical jazz film to Kanbar Hall.
Treasures From the Archive Saturday, Jan. 21, 8 pm
Mark Cantor’s series opens with a program of clips intended to illustrate the depth of this amazing music. All music styles will be represented, and among the artists shared on screen, most in performances never seen before at the JCCSF, will be Count Basie, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald and many others.
Jazz Dance Saturday, March 17, 8 pm
Jazz Dance comes in two varieties: social dance (Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and the like), and performance dance (tap dance, and its many variations). This program will cover both, with the big names ---Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, The Nicholas Brothers, and the lesser known Juanita Pitts, Slick and Slack, The Clark Brothers.
Ebony and Ivory: A Night of Jazz Piano on Film Saturday, May, 5 8 pm
The piano is, of course, the “most complete” of musical instruments. Melody, harmony and rhythm are all at the command of the master pianist. And indeed this evening we will view performance clips of some of the true masters of the jazz piano: Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Mary Lou Williams, Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck129.95 and more!
Tkts: $12 - 25

JUST ADDED:
SFJAZZ presents
ISRAELI JAZZ FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 28, 8 pm, Sunday, April 29, 3 pm & 7 pm
Israel’s profile on the international jazz circuit has exploded in recent years. SFJazz offers a remarkable weekend of music celebrating many of the world-class artists at the heart of the Israeli jazz revolution, including bassist Omer Avital, the Tel-Aviv born Cohen siblings – Anat (tenor and clarinet, Yuval (soprano) and Avishai (trumpet), pianist Yonatan Avishai and drummer Daniel Freedman. Tkts: $22 - $35

HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STARS JAZZ ORCHESTRA Sunday, May 13, 7:00 pm
The All-Stars offer unique compositions and arrangements with a special focus on American themes from such composers as Oliver Nelson, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and more. Tkts: $5 - $15

THE FLIP SIDE: MARIA MULDAUR in conversation with Ben Fong-Torres Thursday, March 29, 8 pm
Best known for her mega-hits “Midnight at the Oasis” and “I’m a Woman,” which enshrined her forever in the hearts of baby boomers this musical powerhouse has released 35 solo albums spanning the folk revival, early Blues, Bluegrass, and even jug band. Tkts: $32 - $45

ROOTS
Peter Yarrow (Of Peter, Paul and Mary) Saturday, January 28, 8 pm
Puff the Magic Dragon, Day is Done, and The Great Mandala -- these and the anthems for the Civil Rights and Peace movements, the songs and performances of Peter Yarrow are burnished in the collective memory. Peter Yarrow’s life and work, culminating in the founding of Operation Respect, embraces the premise that if each person finds a way to articulate his or her own voice and joins with others, together they can become a powerful force for the transformation of society. Tkts: $42 - $55

GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK
Crossroads Irish-American Festival in association with the Eugene & Elinor Friend Center for the Arts presents
IF IT WASN’T FOR THE IRISH AND THE JEWS: Exploring Tin Pan Alley and Vaudeville
Sunday, March 4, 4 pm
The Great Days of Tin Pan Alley flourished with the fertile contributions of Irish and Jewish songwriters, producers and publishers. Join Mick Moloney, PhD and Professor of Music at New York University for a rousing afternoon filled with talk, music, and film exploring that wistful bygone era. Tkts: $18 - $20

Presented in loving memory of Eugene Friend
The West Coast Premiere
Rex Reed, Linda Purl, Gregory Harrison, Sally Mayes and Kurt Reichenbach starring in
THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY Ira After George
Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14 at 8 pm & Sunday, April 15, 2 pm
Created and narrated by internationally renowned critic/author Rex Reed, this musical revue follows the life of lyricist Ira Gershwin, and his decades of phenomenal output after his brother George’s death with collaborators including Vernon Duke, Kurt Weill, Harold Arlen, Harry Warren and Jerome Kern. The Man That Got Away features a star-studded Broadway cast singing 27 numbers from the pantheon of timeless Gershwin hits.
Tkts: $60 - $75

AN EVENING WITH Marvin Hamlisch Sunday, May 6, 4 pm
Award winning Broadway and movie composer Marvin Hamlisch brings his incredible talent to Kanbar Hall. His life in music is notable for its great versatility as well as substance. His awards include three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony and three Golden Globe awards. His groundbreaking Broadway show A Chorus Line, received the Pulitzer Prize. Tkts: $72 - $85

FAMILY
THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID FAIRY TALES Based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith Sunday, January 22, 11am and 2 pm
Poor Jack. He's got to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans-and then there's that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! This adorable show created for kids four years and up deconstructs the tradition of the fairy tale. Tkts: $18 - $24

CASEY CARLE’S BUBBLEMANIA Sunday, April 1, 11 am and 2 pm
Who can resist bubbles? Visual comedy, quick wit, stunning creations made entirely from soap bubbles, Casey Carle’s creations grow from intricate and imaginative bubble art to human-size bubble “traps” – perfect for the whole family! Tkts: $12 - $16

Tickets for all events may be purchased through the JCCSF Box Office at 415/292-1233 or online at www.jccsf.org/arts.

The JCCSF located at 3200 California Street (at Presidio) has been serving the Bay Area since 1877 with programs that help individuals and the community to flourish. A home away from home for San Franciscans of all faiths and backgrounds, the JCCSF welcomes more than 4,500 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. From three outstanding preschools and a renowned after-school K – 6 enrichment program to hot kosher lunches and daytime activities for older adults, the JCCSF offers singular programming designed to meet the needs of children, teens, parents, interfaith families, Russian émigrés and many other segments of the San Francisco community. Programs are made possible through generous community support, enabling the JCCSF to provide free and low-cost programs as well as general financial assistance, making the Center accessible, welcoming and nurturing to all.

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