Curtain Calls: Catch Smuin Ballet’s dazzling ‘Dance Series 02’ in Walnut Creek
George and Ira Gershwin, Peggy Lee and Nat King Cole conjure thoughts of dancing up a storm at your favorite nightclub or long romantic nights with your best gal or guy. Well, get ready for a new look at these great composers and performers when the always-creative Smuin Ballet presents “Dance Series 02” to close its 25th anniversary season.
The show begins with “The Best of Smuin,” featuring such favorites as the red-hot chair solo “Fever” along with highlights from “Dancin’ With Gershwin” and more. Look for lots of razzle-dazzle, stunning effects and trademark twists. Joining this nostalgic trip back in time is the world premiere of “Renaissance” by Amy Seiwert. Honoring Michael Smuin’s legacy, Seiwert set her work to the empowering a cappella soundtrack of Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble.
Loosely inspired by the 385-mile protest wall of women in India on New Year’s Day 2019 to draw attention to India’s gender inequality, the piece features Seiwert’s signature choreography and unabashed showmanship. “Dance Series 02” plays May 17-18 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, and May 23-25 at Mountain View’s Center for the Arts, 500 Castro St. For tickets, call 415-912-1899 or go to smuinballet.org.
Orinda: It’s time to enjoy the beautiful summer weather and an outdoor play as our various outdoor theaters open for business. California Shakespeare Theater will open its summer season with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Tyne Rafaeli directs this romp in the woods as four young lovers find their world turned upside-down.
Caught between quarreling fairies and a troupe of bewitched actors, they lose control as the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Marcel Spears (known for his role in CBS television’s “The Neighborhood) is Bottom with Jerrie Johnson as Titania/Hippolyta. The show runs May 22 through June 16 at the Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda. Call 510-548-9666 or go to calshakes.org for tickets.
Also in Orinda: On May 31, the Orinda Starlight Village Players will perform Agatha Christie’s “Witness for the Prosecution.” The company always begins with a Christie mystery, much to the delight of its audiences. Suzan Lorraine directs this suspenseful thriller that will have you guessing who really murdered the rich widow right until the very end. The show continues through June 29 at the Orinda Community Center Park Amphitheatre, 28 Orinda Way in Orinda. Call 925-528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org.
Oakland hills: Look for Woodminster Summer Musicals at the scenic Oakland hills amphitheater to open in July with “Newsies,” the Disney Broadway smash. Inspired by the real-life newsboy strike of 1899, the show runs July 5-14, followed by “Billy Elliott” (Aug. 2-11) and “Into the Woods” (Aug. 30 through Sept. 8). For tickets, call 510-531-9597 or go to woodminster.com.
Oakland: South Indian classical dance and Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” inspire Oakland Ballet’s upcoming production of “Jangala.” The family-friendly ballet infuses contemporary ballet with movement vocabulary from the South Indian classical form, Bharatanatyam. Jammie Walker portrays Mowgli, the young boy adopted by wolves, with Bharatanatyam dancer Nadhi Thekkek as his mother. The show will take place May 30 through June 1 with a June 2 community dance celebration, “East Bay Dances.” The Odell Johnson Center for the Performing Arts at Laney College will host both events. For tickets, go to brownpapertickets.com or for more information, call the Oakland Ballet at 510-893-3132.
Pleasant Hill: Fly away with your favorite lost boy as the Peter Pan Foundation presents its annual “Wish Upon a Star.” More than 200 performers of all ages will retell the story of Peter Pan with much-loved heroes and well-known villains from traditional and contemporary fairy tales. Proceeds will benefit local charities. The creative rendition will run multiple times May 25-27 at Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Center, 321 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill. Go to peterpanfoundation.org for tickets.
Berkeley: I must admit that the name alone makes me want to attend Berkeley Rep’s next show. “Kiss My Aztec!” features the writing and directing talents of John Leguizamo and Tony Taccone.
“It’s been fantastic to collaborate with John on another show that not only keeps the audience laughing but finds a creative way to explore Latinx culture,” says artistic director Taccone. “Working together allows us to channel our obsessive imaginations, whacked-out senses of humor and shared yearning to be honest. We’re thrilled to be creating with the immensely talented Benjamin Velez, David Kamp and Maija García and couldn’t be happier with this hilarious, adventuresome cast. May the Force be with us.”
Taccone says this fresh, irreverent musical comedy fuses salsa, Latin boogaloo, hip-hop, gospel, funk and an inspired mash-up of Elizabethan dialect plus modern slang to celebrate Latinx culture. “Kiss My Aztec!” will run fron May 28 through July 14. Call 510-647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org for tickets or more information.
Lafayette, Livermore: If classical music is more your style, try the Pacific Chamber Orchestra’s concert featuring Beethoven’s “Symphony #3: Eroica,” “Coriolanus Overture” and “Triple Concerto” with soloists Trio Foss on violin, cello and piano. Performances take place May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 24 Knox in Lafayette and May 19 at 3 p.m. at the Bankhead Theatre, 2400 First St. in Livermore. Go to pacificchamberorchestra.org.
Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Search for “Curtain Calls” by Sally Hogarty at eastbaytimes.com to read more of her reviews online.