With holiday entertainment in full swing, there are many great shows and live shows to see within the Bay Area this weekend. Here is a partial overview.
The holiday “Cinderella” is back
The centuries-old Cinderella story about an ignored and humiliated girl who gets the last laugh (and the handsome prince) when given the possibility to shine has countless different versions with different origins stretching back centuries and world wide might be found. The versions mostly present in American popular culture reflect the story's beginnings in Europe within the seventeenth century and generally are predominantly white. And there's rarely a vacation reference, except after all for the 2019 teen romantic comedy Cinderella Story: A Christmas Wish (which currently has a 40 percent audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes). But the African-American Shakespeare Company of San Francisco is bucking each trends with its adaptation of “Cinderella.” The production, directed by Tavia Percia and starring Jasmine Williams within the title role, has change into AA Shakes' beloved holiday classic, often selling out. Although the plot follows the normal story to some extent, it also celebrates African American culture and offers a narrative of female empowerment.
Details: Performances will happen on December twentieth at 7 p.m., December twenty first at 2 and seven p.m. and December twenty second at 2 p.m.; Autumn Theater, 401 Van Ness Ave; $45, $18 for those under 21; www.african-americanshakes.org.
In the meantime, there are three more holiday stage shows to see this weekend.
“The Jewelry Box”: Brian Copeland is a talented performer and writer, and this funny and heartwarming story about how, as a 6-year-old boy, he tried to search out and procure an ideal Christmas present for his mother stays one in all his hottest works. He is reviving the show for the Christmas season.
Details: December twenty first, 5 p.m.; The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., San Francisco; $25-$100; themarsh.org.
“Armistice: A Christmas Wish from the First World War”: A decade ago, San Jose's City Lights Theater Company presented the world premiere of the heartfelt play set in World War I, when warring factions agreed to put down their arms for Christmas in 1914. Now the hit piece is back as a Christmas production by City Lights.
Details: Until December twenty second; City Lights Theater, 529 S. Second St., San Jose; $31-$70; cltc.org.
“Sisters’ Christmas Catechism”: This a part of Maripat Donovan's solo stage series “Catechism” is described as a combination of comedy, mystery and a definitely unusual Christmas story. The touring show plays one night only in Livermore.
Details: 7:30 p.m. December 19; Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore; $55-$66; Livermorearts.org.
East Bay “Nutcracker” returns
The Nutcracker Christmas ballet has a fairly incredible history within the Bay Area. There is, after all, the San Francisco Ballet, which presented the primary full-length U.S. production of the classic in 1944. The San Jose Dance Theater's annual version is around 60 years old. And an amazing East Bay “Nutcracker” tradition returns this weekend to the Oakland venue where it has been performed for about 15 years. Oakland Ballet’s “Nutcracker” was created by the corporate’s artistic director, Graham Lustig. Set in Edwardian-era Vienna, the version follows the unique version of E. T. A. Hoffmann's story and includes elements of an often-dismissed act involving a fantastical dance within the Land of Sweets. The Oakland Ballet production also includes a ravishing Art Nouveau set and sensible costumes worn by a forged of about 40 dancers. Lustig's “Nutcracker” premiered in New Jersey in 1999 but is now the pride of Oakland. The production includes the Oakland Symphony and the Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir.
Details: 21-22 Dec., 1 p.m.; Paramount Theater, 2525 Broadway, Oakland; Visitors can meet the artists on the “Sweet Dreams” reception after the performance. $34-$154; Oaklandballet.org.
There are Nutcracker and holiday dance performances everywhere in the Bay Area, there are several options here.
SF Ballet: Until December twenty ninth; War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; $19-$465; www.sfballet.org.
New ballet “San Jose Nutcracker”: Presented in collaboration with Symphony San Jose; until December twenty third; California Theater, San Jose; $31.50-$121.50; newballet.com
Mark Foehringer dance project: Presenting the hour-long “Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets”; until December twenty second; Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, San Francisco; $23.50-$59.50; nutcrackersweets.org.
Berkeley City Ballet “Nutcracker 2024”: 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. December twenty first; Alan Harvey Theater, Piedmont; $35; berkeleycityballet.org.
Peninsula Ballet Theater “Nutcracker”: 2:00 p.m. 21-22 December; San Mateo Performing Arts Center; $35-$70; www.peninsulalyarts.org.
“Hip-Hop Nutcracker”: 21-22 December, 2 p.m.; Fox Theater, Redwood City; $35-$70; www.peninsulalyarts.org.
Smuin Contemporary Ballet: The Christmas ballet program includes recent and classic works from the favored company; until December twenty fourth; Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, San Francisco; $25-$119; www.smuinballet.org.
Here comes Muldaur’s “Holiday Swing”
Let's be clear: Famous singer Maria Muldaur has nothing against most Christmas songs – just the cheesy ones.
She created her “Holiday Swing” concert to remind us that every one the boring, overly sentimental Christmas songs that belong in elevators don't necessarily should define our holiday music experience. That's why she put together a group of swinging jazz, blues and roots songs that she sees as an antidote to the same old.
What could these songs be? You'll have to search out out for yourself on Sunday when Muldaur performs her “Holiday Swing” concert at Backroom in Berkeley, backed by her Jazzabelle quintet: Danny Caron on guitar, Ruthie Davies on bass, John R. Burr on piano, Kristin Strom on the horns and drummer Mark Lee.
Best known for her 1973 hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” Muldaur has a protracted, storied history that has produced greater than 30 albums and countless collaborations with artists starting from Jerry Garcia to Geoff Muldaur (her former husband) to Linda Ronstadt.
Details: Sunday, 3 p.m.; 1984 Bonita Ave., Berkeley; $30 (children under 12 free); backroommusic.com.
12 golden voices of Christmas
World-renowned, San Francisco-based Chanticleer, the 12-member a cappella male vocal ensemble, has hosted its program “A Chanticleer Christmas” at various Bay Area locations since 1978. The traditional opening is a slow candlelit procession into the church, cathedral or mission while singers perform Gregorian chants. This yr's version will feature the motet “Ave Maris Stella” (Hail, Star of the Sea), which can include verses by various composers, and the group will proceed to perform the early music that’s their trademark in the primary a part of this system. In the second half, further contemporary, stirring and joyful pieces follow, including excerpts from Benjamin Britten's famous “A Ceremony of Carols” and a comparatively recent piece by the Canadian choral composer Sarah Quartet. The touring holiday show runs this weekend.
Details: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 19 at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church in Mill Valley; 4:00 and 6:30 p.m. December 20 at Mission Santa Clara; 7:30 p.m., Dec. 21, at First Congregational Church in Berkeley; December 22, 8 p.m. at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco; 6:00 and eight:30 p.m. Dec. 23 at Carmel Mission; $45-$91; www.chanticleer.org.
And listed here are two more holiday live shows you must find out about.
“Vacation spectacular!”: Cal Performances presents the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and its annual heartfelt, hilarious program of Christmas carols, satirical skits, guest dancers and drag artists; December 21, 5 p.m., Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $45-$125; calperformances.org.
“Winter Songs”: Presented by Kitka, the renowned nine-piece vocal ensemble dedicated to the music of the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Slavic countries; through December 22 in Oakland and San Francisco (also available to stream for $36-$56; kitka.org.
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