Oakland Ballet to Present Graham Lustig's THE NUTCRACKER
by BWW News Desk - November 21, 2019
Returning to Oakland's magnificent Paramount Theatre, Oakland Ballet Company is pleased to present its tenth annual production of Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker, Saturday and Sunday, December 21 - 22, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. both days. This season marks the 48th year that Oakland Ballet will present a production of The Nutcracker.
by BWW News Desk - November 21, 2019
Returning to Oakland's magnificent Paramount Theatre, Oakland Ballet Company is pleased to present its tenth annual production of Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker, Saturday and Sunday, December 21 - 22, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. both days. This season marks the 48th year that Oakland Ballet will present a production of The Nutcracker.
BWW Review: MOTHER OF THE MAID at Marin Theatre Company is dramatization of the life of Joan of Arc as seen through the eyes of her mother.
by Steve Murray - November 21, 2019
BWW Review: MOTHER OF THE MAID at Marin Theatre Company is dramatization of the life of Joan of Arc as seen through the eyes of her mother.
by Steve Murray - November 21, 2019
BWW Review: MOTHER OF THE MAID at Marin Theatre Company is dramatization of the life of Joan of Arc as seen through the eyes of her mother.
VIDEO: Highlights From GYPSY At Bay Area Musicals
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
Inspired by the 1957 memoirs of legendary burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, GYPSY features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. Bay Area Musicals' production of GYPSY runs from November 9 - December 8, 2019 and will perform at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre (650 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102). The press opening will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
Inspired by the 1957 memoirs of legendary burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, GYPSY features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. Bay Area Musicals' production of GYPSY runs from November 9 - December 8, 2019 and will perform at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre (650 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102). The press opening will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.
THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE Announced At TheatreWorks
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents the internationally-acclaimed The Pianist of Willesden Lane. Starring celebrated pianist Mona Golabek, this triumphant tour de force recounts the inspiring true story of Golabek's mother, Lisa Jura, a young Jewish musician. Created and directed by TheatreWorks favorite Hershey Felder, this musical journey follows Jura's escape from Nazi-occupied Austria via the Kindertransport, and her life at a children's home on Willesden Lane in London, where she later survived the London Blitz. Combining vivid storytelling and masterful performances of classics by Bach, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff, The Pianist of Willesden Lane is a one-woman show that illustrates how music can bring light and hope to even the darkest of times.
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents the internationally-acclaimed The Pianist of Willesden Lane. Starring celebrated pianist Mona Golabek, this triumphant tour de force recounts the inspiring true story of Golabek's mother, Lisa Jura, a young Jewish musician. Created and directed by TheatreWorks favorite Hershey Felder, this musical journey follows Jura's escape from Nazi-occupied Austria via the Kindertransport, and her life at a children's home on Willesden Lane in London, where she later survived the London Blitz. Combining vivid storytelling and masterful performances of classics by Bach, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff, The Pianist of Willesden Lane is a one-woman show that illustrates how music can bring light and hope to even the darkest of times.
Aurora Theatre Company Extends Bryna Turner's BULL IN A CHINA SHOP Through December 15
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
Aurora Theatre Company will add five performances to its run of the Bay Area premiere of Bryna Turner's BULL IN A CHINA SHOP, directed by Aurora Associate Artistic Director Dawn Monique Williams.
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
Aurora Theatre Company will add five performances to its run of the Bay Area premiere of Bryna Turner's BULL IN A CHINA SHOP, directed by Aurora Associate Artistic Director Dawn Monique Williams.
BWW Review: GYPSY at Bay Area Musicals Gives Us a Welcome Chance to Revisit This All-Time Classic
by Jim Munson - November 20, 2019
a?oeGypsya?? is undeniably one of the all-time great achievements of the American musical theater. It possesses a thrilling combination of showbiz razzmatazz and dramatic intensity, grounded in Arthur Laurents' complex book and wrapped in an incomparably tuneful and stirring score by Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim. For anyone who has not yet had the pleasure of seeing a?oeGypsy,a?? here's the basic rundown. This a?oemusical fablea?? is pretty much the ultimate backstage musical, set in the 1920's/30's against the backdrop of the dying vaudeville circuit and based on the true tale of the ultimate stage mother and her two daughters. Momma Rose, dissatisfied with the lousy cards life has dealt her, pushes her two young daughters to careers in show business as a way of fulfilling her own dreams. In real life, one eventually became successful actress June Havoc, and the other perhaps the most famous American stripper of all time, Gypsy Rose Lee. The show is replete with kiddie acts, charm songs, comic numbers and roof-raising anthems, all performed with a dual edge of gusto and desperation.
by Jim Munson - November 20, 2019
a?oeGypsya?? is undeniably one of the all-time great achievements of the American musical theater. It possesses a thrilling combination of showbiz razzmatazz and dramatic intensity, grounded in Arthur Laurents' complex book and wrapped in an incomparably tuneful and stirring score by Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim. For anyone who has not yet had the pleasure of seeing a?oeGypsy,a?? here's the basic rundown. This a?oemusical fablea?? is pretty much the ultimate backstage musical, set in the 1920's/30's against the backdrop of the dying vaudeville circuit and based on the true tale of the ultimate stage mother and her two daughters. Momma Rose, dissatisfied with the lousy cards life has dealt her, pushes her two young daughters to careers in show business as a way of fulfilling her own dreams. In real life, one eventually became successful actress June Havoc, and the other perhaps the most famous American stripper of all time, Gypsy Rose Lee. The show is replete with kiddie acts, charm songs, comic numbers and roof-raising anthems, all performed with a dual edge of gusto and desperation.
San Francisco Opera Center Presents 'The Future Is Now: Adler Fellows Concert' At Herbst Theatre
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
For its final concert of the year, San Francisco Opera Center will showcase the talents of the 2019 class of Adler Fellows in The Future Is Now: Adler Fellows Concert on Friday, December 6, at 7:30pm.
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
For its final concert of the year, San Francisco Opera Center will showcase the talents of the 2019 class of Adler Fellows in The Future Is Now: Adler Fellows Concert on Friday, December 6, at 7:30pm.
SFCM Launches Orchestra Fantasy Camp In Partnership With Amateur Music Network And The San Francisco Symphony
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, in partnership with Amateur Musicians Network and the San Francisco Symphony, launches its first-ever Orchestra Fantasy Camp in 2020, a new immersive performance opportunity for adult amateur musicians. The Orchestra Fantasy Camp at SFCM-Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2020-brings together 100 adult amateur musicians for an intensive weekend of symphonic music-making, culminating in a free public performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, led by Edwin Outwater, on Sunday, June 14, at 3:00 PM in Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall at SFCM.
by BWW News Desk - November 20, 2019
The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, in partnership with Amateur Musicians Network and the San Francisco Symphony, launches its first-ever Orchestra Fantasy Camp in 2020, a new immersive performance opportunity for adult amateur musicians. The Orchestra Fantasy Camp at SFCM-Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2020-brings together 100 adult amateur musicians for an intensive weekend of symphonic music-making, culminating in a free public performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, led by Edwin Outwater, on Sunday, June 14, at 3:00 PM in Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall at SFCM.
African-American Shakespeare Company Returns With Holiday Classic CINDERELLA
by BWW News Desk - November 19, 2019
The African-American Shakespeare Company's annual holiday offering Cinderella returns this December with their take on the oft-told of a scullery maid determined to take her life into her own hands and make it better. All with the help of a Fairy Godmother who though opinionated and outspoken is also soulful in more ways than one, and of course, with a pair of life-changing shoes!
by BWW News Desk - November 19, 2019
The African-American Shakespeare Company's annual holiday offering Cinderella returns this December with their take on the oft-told of a scullery maid determined to take her life into her own hands and make it better. All with the help of a Fairy Godmother who though opinionated and outspoken is also soulful in more ways than one, and of course, with a pair of life-changing shoes!
BWW Previews: ERMELINDA at ODC Theater
by Maria Nockin - November 19, 2019
Ars Minerva is a Baroque opera company devoted to the resurrection of forgotten but eminently worthy Italian operas. On the weekend of Nov. 22-24, Are Minerva will present the modern world premiere of composer Domenico Freschi and librettist Francesco Maria Piccioli's Ermelinda. Originally heard in 1680, the opera was a lavish entertainment for Procurator of St. Mark's Marco Contarini and his guests at his country villa.
by Maria Nockin - November 19, 2019
Ars Minerva is a Baroque opera company devoted to the resurrection of forgotten but eminently worthy Italian operas. On the weekend of Nov. 22-24, Are Minerva will present the modern world premiere of composer Domenico Freschi and librettist Francesco Maria Piccioli's Ermelinda. Originally heard in 1680, the opera was a lavish entertainment for Procurator of St. Mark's Marco Contarini and his guests at his country villa.
Lisa Donahey Brings Her Holiday Show to Feinstein's at Vitello's
by BWW News Desk - November 19, 2019
Powerful vocalist and inimitable performer Lisa Donahey will kick off the holidays and celebrate the joyous, soulful sounds of the seasona?"featuring songs off her critically acclaimed, stylistically eclectic holiday album Christmas in Our Soul.
by BWW News Desk - November 19, 2019
Powerful vocalist and inimitable performer Lisa Donahey will kick off the holidays and celebrate the joyous, soulful sounds of the seasona?"featuring songs off her critically acclaimed, stylistically eclectic holiday album Christmas in Our Soul.
Montalvo Brings Grammy-Nominated Artists, Comedians, And More To Saratoga In February
by BWW News Desk - November 18, 2019
This February Montalvo Arts Center presents a collection of multi-faceted, live performances in its Carriage House Concert Series.
by BWW News Desk - November 18, 2019
This February Montalvo Arts Center presents a collection of multi-faceted, live performances in its Carriage House Concert Series.
BWW Review: GYPSY Sizzles Now Through December 8 At Bay Area Musicals
by Linda Hodges - November 18, 2019
The heyday of Vaudeville may have come to an abrupt end in the 1930s, but it is alive and well in Gypsy, Bay Area Musical's fifth season opening act. And what a doozy of a show. Based on the 1957 memoirs of famed striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, the musical came to Broadway in 1959 and was promptly hailed as a runaway hit. With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim it garnered 8 Tony nominations, though strangely enough, it didn't win any, losing Best Musical to a tie between Fiorello! and The Sound of Music. Ouch!
by Linda Hodges - November 18, 2019
The heyday of Vaudeville may have come to an abrupt end in the 1930s, but it is alive and well in Gypsy, Bay Area Musical's fifth season opening act. And what a doozy of a show. Based on the 1957 memoirs of famed striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, the musical came to Broadway in 1959 and was promptly hailed as a runaway hit. With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim it garnered 8 Tony nominations, though strangely enough, it didn't win any, losing Best Musical to a tie between Fiorello! and The Sound of Music. Ouch!
The ICB Artists to Present 2019 WINTER OPEN STUDIOS
by BWW News Desk - November 18, 2019
The ICB Artists, known as one of the nation's most creative artist collectives, will present their biggest event of the year, the 2019 Winter Open Studios. The ICB is a collective with excellent art in a variety of mediums including Painting, Drawing, Printing, Sculpture, Textiles, Jewelry, Photography, Film, Technology.
by BWW News Desk - November 18, 2019
The ICB Artists, known as one of the nation's most creative artist collectives, will present their biggest event of the year, the 2019 Winter Open Studios. The ICB is a collective with excellent art in a variety of mediums including Painting, Drawing, Printing, Sculpture, Textiles, Jewelry, Photography, Film, Technology.
Review Roundup: GYPSY at Bay Area Musicals - What Did the Critics Think?
by BWW News Desk - November 16, 2019
Bay Area Musicals presents the timeless 6-Time Tony Award-winning masterpiece GYPSY. Inspired by the 1957 memoirs of legendary burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, GYPSY features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. Bay Area Musicals' production of GYPSY runs from November 9 a?" December 8, 2019 at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre (650 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102).
by BWW News Desk - November 16, 2019
Bay Area Musicals presents the timeless 6-Time Tony Award-winning masterpiece GYPSY. Inspired by the 1957 memoirs of legendary burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, GYPSY features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. Bay Area Musicals' production of GYPSY runs from November 9 a?" December 8, 2019 at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre (650 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102).
Hear A New Song From CONSTRUCTION SITE ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT Opening Saturday In Sunnyvale
by BWW News Desk - November 15, 2019
a?oeConstruction Site on Christmas Night,a?? a new musical presented by Bay Area Children's Theatre (BACT) with book and lyrics by Min Kahng and Austin Zumbro and music by Daniel Mertzlufft, opens Saturday (11/16) at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087.
by BWW News Desk - November 15, 2019
a?oeConstruction Site on Christmas Night,a?? a new musical presented by Bay Area Children's Theatre (BACT) with book and lyrics by Min Kahng and Austin Zumbro and music by Daniel Mertzlufft, opens Saturday (11/16) at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087.
BWW Review: A BOX WITHOUT A BOTTOM at The Marsh Berkeley Conjures Magic out of Japanese American Histories
by Jim Munson - November 15, 2019
David Hirata has got quite a lot to offer with his multi-layered 'A Box Without a Bottom (Soko-nashi Bako).' He combines elements of a magic show with his own personal narrative as he also tells the surprising history of Japanese magicians in 19th-century America, all in a tight 55 minutes. It's a tall order, and Hirata largely succeeds. The idea for the show came to Hirata, a lifelong magic nerd, when he learned that the first Japanese person given a passport to leave Japan for the US was magician Namigoro Sumidagawa in 1866.
by Jim Munson - November 15, 2019
David Hirata has got quite a lot to offer with his multi-layered 'A Box Without a Bottom (Soko-nashi Bako).' He combines elements of a magic show with his own personal narrative as he also tells the surprising history of Japanese magicians in 19th-century America, all in a tight 55 minutes. It's a tall order, and Hirata largely succeeds. The idea for the show came to Hirata, a lifelong magic nerd, when he learned that the first Japanese person given a passport to leave Japan for the US was magician Namigoro Sumidagawa in 1866.
David Hirata of A BOX WITHOUT A BOTTOM at The Marsh Berkeley Works Some Serious Magic
by Jim Munson - November 15, 2019
David Hirata is the creator and sole performer of a?oeA Box Without a Bottom (Soko-nashi Bako)a?? currently running at The Marsh Berkeley. Within the context of a magic show, Mr. Hirata connects his own personal story to that of earlier Japanese magicians in a way that explores the illusions of race and identity in America. Talking with him, it's evident that he's a true magic geek as he delights in sharing his extensive knowledge about the history of magic and finding hidden links to his heritage as a Japanese American.
by Jim Munson - November 15, 2019
David Hirata is the creator and sole performer of a?oeA Box Without a Bottom (Soko-nashi Bako)a?? currently running at The Marsh Berkeley. Within the context of a magic show, Mr. Hirata connects his own personal story to that of earlier Japanese magicians in a way that explores the illusions of race and identity in America. Talking with him, it's evident that he's a true magic geek as he delights in sharing his extensive knowledge about the history of magic and finding hidden links to his heritage as a Japanese American.
The 2019 TBA Awards Acknowledge Excellence In Bay Area Theatre; Winners Announced Including PARADISE SQUARE and More!
by BWW News Desk - November 15, 2019
Theatre Bay Area held its sixth-annual TBA Awards Celebration on Monday, November 4 at the Herbst Theatre. Featuring a a?oeradically inclusivea?? pricing structure, over 800 people attended the event, exceeding the previous year's attendance by nearly 20%.
by BWW News Desk - November 15, 2019
Theatre Bay Area held its sixth-annual TBA Awards Celebration on Monday, November 4 at the Herbst Theatre. Featuring a a?oeradically inclusivea?? pricing structure, over 800 people attended the event, exceeding the previous year's attendance by nearly 20%.
Ilene Graff Will Come to Feinstein's at Vitello's
by BWW News Desk - November 15, 2019
FEINSTEIN'S AT VITELLO'S presents THE ILENE GRAFF HOLIDAY SHOW for one night only on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 8 P.M.
by BWW News Desk - November 15, 2019
FEINSTEIN'S AT VITELLO'S presents THE ILENE GRAFF HOLIDAY SHOW for one night only on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 8 P.M.
Photo Flash: Meet The Stars Of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE At TheatreWorks
by BWW News Desk - November 14, 2019
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley rings in the holidays with the new musical Pride and Prejudice, the 2019 Tony-winning company's 70th World Premiere.
by BWW News Desk - November 14, 2019
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley rings in the holidays with the new musical Pride and Prejudice, the 2019 Tony-winning company's 70th World Premiere.
BWW Review: NASSIM at Magic Theatre Utilizes an Unorthodox Structure to Find What Connects Us
by Jim Munson - November 14, 2019
Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour's eponymous play a?oeNassima?? currently enjoying an all-too-brief run at the Magic Theatre adheres to an unorthodox format. Its sole actor, a different one at each show, does not see the script until it is unsealed onstage at the beginning of the actual performance. That actor can be of any gender, age or race. For the record, it was a very game Sean San Jose the night I attended. Soleimanpour himself is also on hand as a sort of enigmatic, mute guide and companion. Given that the actor knows virtually nothing about the play ahead of time, it would seem churlish of me as a theater critic to spill the beans in this review. Having now seen the play myself, I can also attest that the less you know about it going in, the richer your experience is likely to be.
by Jim Munson - November 14, 2019
Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour's eponymous play a?oeNassima?? currently enjoying an all-too-brief run at the Magic Theatre adheres to an unorthodox format. Its sole actor, a different one at each show, does not see the script until it is unsealed onstage at the beginning of the actual performance. That actor can be of any gender, age or race. For the record, it was a very game Sean San Jose the night I attended. Soleimanpour himself is also on hand as a sort of enigmatic, mute guide and companion. Given that the actor knows virtually nothing about the play ahead of time, it would seem churlish of me as a theater critic to spill the beans in this review. Having now seen the play myself, I can also attest that the less you know about it going in, the richer your experience is likely to be.
ODC Theater Announces Its 2020 Season
by BWW News Desk - November 13, 2019
ODC Theater, part of the most active center for contemporary dance on the West Coast, has announced the program for its 2020 Season, including the kick-off to ODC's 50th anniversary celebrations. Among the season's highlights are premieres by Larry Arrington, Deborah Slater Dance Theater, Funsch Dance, Garrett + Moulton Productions, Geoff and Dan Hoyle, inkBoat with Ann Carlson, Kinetech Arts, The Living Earth Show, Robert Moses' Kin, RAWdance, Amy Seiwert's Imagery, SFDanceworks and Bobbi Jene Smith.
by BWW News Desk - November 13, 2019
ODC Theater, part of the most active center for contemporary dance on the West Coast, has announced the program for its 2020 Season, including the kick-off to ODC's 50th anniversary celebrations. Among the season's highlights are premieres by Larry Arrington, Deborah Slater Dance Theater, Funsch Dance, Garrett + Moulton Productions, Geoff and Dan Hoyle, inkBoat with Ann Carlson, Kinetech Arts, The Living Earth Show, Robert Moses' Kin, RAWdance, Amy Seiwert's Imagery, SFDanceworks and Bobbi Jene Smith.
Wheeldon's CINDERELLA Opens SF Ballet's 2020 Repertory Season, Tickets On Sale Now
by BWW News Desk - November 13, 2019
Tickets are on sale now to San Francisco Ballet's 2020 Repertory Season, starting January 21 with Christopher Wheeldon's Cinderella, set to Sergei Prokofiev's score, at the War Memorial Opera House. The 2020 Season continues through May with two additional story ballets: George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream (March 6a?"15) and Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson's Romeo & Juliet (May 1a?"10). Tickets to the 2020 Repertory Season start at $29.
by BWW News Desk - November 13, 2019
Tickets are on sale now to San Francisco Ballet's 2020 Repertory Season, starting January 21 with Christopher Wheeldon's Cinderella, set to Sergei Prokofiev's score, at the War Memorial Opera House. The 2020 Season continues through May with two additional story ballets: George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream (March 6a?"15) and Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson's Romeo & Juliet (May 1a?"10). Tickets to the 2020 Repertory Season start at $29.
BWW Review: AMALUNA at The Big Top At Oracle is a wondrous and enchanting night at the circus that will be enjoyed by all ages.
by Tim Sullivan - November 13, 2019
Cirque du Soleil has produced a staggering number of shows in its 35-year history--there are no less than seven currently running on the Las Vegas strip alone--so one must marvel at the company's ability to ensure its quality matches its quantity. First seen in 2012, Amaluna is a breathtakingly beautiful and magical evening that exemplifies the best Cirque du Soleil can offer.
by Tim Sullivan - November 13, 2019
Cirque du Soleil has produced a staggering number of shows in its 35-year history--there are no less than seven currently running on the Las Vegas strip alone--so one must marvel at the company's ability to ensure its quality matches its quantity. First seen in 2012, Amaluna is a breathtakingly beautiful and magical evening that exemplifies the best Cirque du Soleil can offer.
Videos
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Cinderella
Hillbarn Theatre (12/4 - 12/28) | |
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An Evening with a Mentalist: Jay Alexander's Mind Tricks Live
San Francisco Magic Theater (w/Jay Alexander) at the Marrakech (1/23 - 1/25) | |
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Live At the Orinda 2025-2026 Concert Season
Orinda Theatre (10/5 - 5/10) | |
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“After Sleepwalking: Music by Women and Nonbinary Composers”
Piedmont Piano Company, 1728 San Pablo Ave (1/25 - 1/25) | |
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Live At the Orinda - Christine Andreas
Orinda Theatre (1/18 - 1/18) | |
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Therapist Zero at Playground Solo Performance Festival
Potrero Stage (1/19 - 1/31) | |
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“E4TT/RMF New Music Piano Summit”
Berkeley Piano Club, 2724 Haste Street (3/1 - 3/1) | |
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