From a new Steinbeck-themed play in Berkeley to a free circus show and the inaugural Cookbook Festival, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend and beyond.
Here is a partial rundown.
Octavio Solis takes on Steinbeck
Octavio Solis is one of the country’s most acclaimed and influential Mexican American playwrights. He’s revered for his plays that blend compelling portrayals of Mexican American and immigrant life with an exploration of the larger forces at work in his characters’ worlds. In “Santos and Santos,” one of his best-known works, the brothers of a family law firm in El Paso deal with drugs, violence, racism and corruption as they try to honor their father’s heritage and forge success in the legal world.
Now Solis is bringing his 2019 John Steinbeck-themed work “Mother Road” to much-anticipated production at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The play is inspired by — and is something of an answer to — Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath,” in which a member of the Joad Family farm, seeking an heir to the clan’s property, discovers a young Mexican American migrant worker with whom he embarks on an epic and impactful road trip that revisits many of the themes of migration and survival that Steinbeck tackled in “Grapes of Wrath.” Directed by David Mendizabal, “Mother Road” stars James Carpenter and Emilio Garcia-Sanchez.
Details: Through July 21; Berkeley Rep’s Peet’s Theatre; $25-$134; www.berkeleyrep.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
Classical picks: Opera Parallèle, Yefim Bronfman
A new opera set during a shameful episode in American history, the return of one of the world’s great pianists, and an exuberant choral concert are among the highlights on this week’s classical calendar.
Recalling the “Lavender Scare”: Opera Parallèle presents the West Coast premiere of “Fellow Travelers.” Based on history and Thomas Mallon’s novel, this significant new opera by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Greg Pierce explores themes of loyalty, forbidden love and betrayal during the “Lavender Scare” of the 1950’s McCarthy era.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; Presidio Theatre, San Francisco; $50-$120, $30 students; presidiotheatre.org.
Piano mastery: The superb pianist Yefim Bronfman returns to Davies Symphony Hall this week to join the San Francisco Symphony under music director Esa-Pekka Salonen in Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto; Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4, “Romantic,” completes the program.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; $25-$169; sfsymphony.org.
— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent
Circus Bella sets free summer tour
Since it’s undoubtedly a phrase many viewers utter while watching Circus Bella perform, why not make it the title of the troupe’s latest show?
“Wow.”
Yes, the popular circus acts company that has been charming and amazing audiences since its formation in 2008 is back with its summer tour of Bay Area outdoor venues.
The new show — yes, it’s titled “Wow” — is another Circus Bella unique, madcap and heartfelt take on the one-ring circus. The 60-minute family-friendly show features exhilarating performances by the company’s cast of colorfully attired acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, clowns and more, all set to a lively score created by Rob Reich and performed by the six-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band.
Circus Bella’s summer tour has become a Bay Area staple, having been performed more than 160 times at some 40 locations before approximately 80,000 people, most of whom have likely exclaimed “Wow!” at some point.
Details: Noon Friday and noon and 2:15 p.m. Saturday (part of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival); Yerba Buena lawn on Mission Street, between Third and Fourth streets; all shows free; summer tour runs through July 20; www.circusbella.org.
— Randy McMullen, Staff
Here comes Cookbook Fest
What’s the equivalent of a BottleRock for people really into cooking? Why, a cookbook festival with tons of well-known chefs, of course.
And this month in the Napa Valley, the first-ever Cookbook Fest kicks off with appearances from dozens of industry legends like Martin Yan, Viola Buitoni and “Top Chef” alums like Oakland’s Tu David Phu and Preeti Mistry.
The event spans three days and features book signings, live podcasts, cooking demonstrations, live music, food and drinks and more. Attendees might hit up the “Scandinavian From Scratch” baking demo from San Francisco chef Nichole Accettola in the morning, for instance, then enjoy a wood-fired pizza lunch with L.A. food writer Khushbu Shah and meander over to a “Kowbird” signing from Matt Horn.
There are also special events, such as a live-fire competition and all-you-can-eat barbecue from Tyler Florence, so be sure to pack your very nicest bib.
Details: Friday through Sunday; 1031 McKinstry St., Napa; $150 for general admission on Saturday with breakfast, lunch and drinks; other days and special events have different prices; cookbookfest.com.
— John Metcalfe, Staff
Megan Thee Stallion rides back into Bay
Having just wowed fans at the BottleRock Napa Valley festival in May, Megan Thee Stallion returns to Northern California for a date on June 23 at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The greatly anticipated gig is part of the platinum-selling hip-hop artist’s Hot Girl Summer Tour, which has been doing big business during a season when some other acts have been cancelling shows and, in some cases, whole tours.
The tour has reportedly moved more a quarter million tickets to date, while posting sold-out shows in such cites as Chicago, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Memphis, Atlanta, Raleigh, Tampa, New Orleans and Los Angeles.
Megan Thee Stallion certainly drew a large crowd in Napa — despite performing in the same time slot as headliner and two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Nicks — and she used the opportunity to showcase strong live versions of songs from her 2020 full-length debut, “Good News,” as well as other material.
Grammy-nominated artist GloRilla, known for such hits as “Tomorrow 2″ (featuring Cardi B),” “FNF” and “Yeah Glo!,” is also scheduled to appear at the San Francisco show.
Details: 8 p.m.; tickets start at $49 (subject to change); chasecenter.com.
— Jim Harrington, Staff
OIGC celebrates Juneteenth in Livermore
Those who have seen and heard director Terrance Kelly and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir perform know there is far more going on than just gospel singing. Kelly’s passion for the sound, message and history of African American gospel music is a force, and he passes that love and energy onto the more than 300 singers of all backgrounds that comprise the various branches of the award-winning chorus. You can observe for yourself on Friday when Kelly and the OIC present a Juneteenth-themed concert at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore. Organizers say the show will combine traditional gospel numbers with freedom songs and civil rights anthems. And, if the spirit moves you, feel free to sing along. OIGC has been performing for not quite 40 years, entertaining crowds around the world and collaborating on stage or in the recording booth with artists ranging from the Blind Boys of Alabama to the Duke Ellington Orchestra to MC Hammer and Linda Ronstadt.
Details: 8 p.m. June 21; Bankhead Theater at Livermore Valley Arts Center; $25-$35; livermorearts.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
Arias al fresco on tap
Opera lovers of all ages, sizes, income levels and predilections for particular composers have a cornucopia of totally free outdoor celebrations of the art to choose from in the Bay Area this weekend.
Both Festival Opera and Opera San Jose are hosting opera-in-the-park concerts. Festival Opera’s concerts are 6 p.m. June 20 in Orinda Community Park and at Walnut Creek’s Civic Park at 4 p.m. June 24. Opera San Jose performs 6 p.m. Saturday in the Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose.
Lining up for the two East Bay events are a quartet of Festival Opera artists — soprano Lila Khazoum, mezzo-soprano Courtney Miller, tenor Taylor Thompson and baritone Liam Daly, and they will be dipping into material from “La Traviata,” “Carmen,” “The Magic Flute,” “Rigoletto” and more, and throwing in a few hit Broadway tunes as well.
Opera San Jose has not announced a lineup of singers, but is asking folks to register at www.operasj.org and offering free Kona Shaved Ice treats for the first 100 people who show up at the registration table (starting at 5:45 p.m.) Operagoers in Orinda and Walnut Creek can avail themselves of treats from nearby food trucks to add to the contents of their picnic baskets.
Details: More information is at www.operasj.org and www.festivalopera.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
Of lutes and strings and singers and things
“Harmony Unveiled: The Secret Music of the Renaissance” is the title of the ambitious, multidisciplinary program lined up for the Trinity Concert Series event at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Pleasanton’s Trinity Lutheran Church. Music director Tim Salaver’s Areté Singers team up with Courtney Ramm’s Ramm Dancers; the vocal trio known as Concerto delle Donne (named after the original Consort of Ladies from the Renaissance period); and instrumentalists Jamie Mulfinger on flute and recorder, Michael Langham on harpsichord and Matthew Xie on lute and Baroque guitar for a journey into one of the richest and most influential periods in the history of music.
A 7 p.m. preconcert talk by Xie will highlight the significance of the pieces and offer a “petting zoo” of sorts for the period instruments. The music and dance to be performed will include pieces from such masters as Palestrina, Allegri, Josquin des Prez, Michael Praetorius, Frescobaldi and many more.
Details: $5-$20 (free for 12 and under); tickets available at the door, 1225 Hopyard Road in Pleasanton; more information is here.
— Bay City News Foundation
Fall in love with ‘Thelma’
Finally someone wised up to how great an actor June Squibb is and cast the 94-year-old Oscar-nominated scene stealer of 2013’s “Nebraska” (with Bruce Dern and Lafayette native Will Forte) and the voice of Nostalgia in “Inside Out 2,” in a lead role.
She’s an absolute delight as the titular protagonist in “Thelma,” a comeuppance-seeking scam victim who channels her inner Tom Cruise for an impossible mission to collar the jerk who bilked her of cash.
Director and screenwriter Josh Margolin’s sunny-side-up comedy warms the heart, especially during scenes between grandma Thelma and her anxiety-prone grandson (Fred Hechinger, a heart-melter himself). Thelma’s slow but purposeful unmasking of a criminal gets help from her assisted-living chum (the late Richard Roundtree, aka “Shaft”).
But this film belongs to Squibb, who’s been acting for most of her life. And the unstoppable actor, along with Margolin, give us the family-friendly comedy of the summer. The film, reportedly inspired by a real-life incident involving Margolin’s grandmother, got its premiere earlier this year at the Sundance Film Fest. It also features Parker Posey and Malcolm McDowell.
Details: Not rated, one hour, 38 minutes running time, opens Friday in area theaters.
— Randy Myers, Correspondent
