A Press Democrat Blog

Arts

Dan Taylor on the fine arts scene.

‘Spirit of the Man’ sculpture show opens at Paradise Ridge Winery

Tuesday, at 2:26 by

“Spirit of the Man,” a new outdoor sculpture exhibition featuring the work of three dozen artists, opens with a reception from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at the Paradise Ridge Winery, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa. The show honors artist and art patron Al Voight, co-founder of the Voight Family Sculpture Foundation, who died in 2011. Prominent sculptors featured in the show include Roger Berry, David Best, Robert Ellison, Boback Emad, Bruce Johnson, Ned Kahn, Michael… Read More »

‘Marvelous Wonderettes’ extended at 6th Street Playhouse

Thursday, at 8:09 by

The response to the current 6th Street Playhouse production of “The Marvelous Wonderettes” has been so positive that the theater has added two more shows. The show opened April 20 and already was scheduled to continue at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 10-11, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 12, and 2 p.m. May 13. Now the run has been extended to include performances at 8 p.m. Friday, May 18 and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19. Directed by Craig… Read More »

Cynthia Weichel conducts her last SRJC Orchestra concert

Wednesday, at 7:00 by

  After 13 years as conductor of the Santa Rosa Junior College Orchestra, Cynthia Weichel will lead her last concert with the orchestra at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in the Burbank Auditorium on campus, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Overall, Weichel has been conducting for nearly three decades, and holds a degree in conducting from California State University, Sacramento. Peter Duranceau, SRJC student and winner of the Etude Music Competition, will join the orchestra for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.… Read More »

Martina McBride to play Sonoma County Fair

Tuesday, at 8:21 by

Country music superstar Martina McBride, pop teen singer Miranda Cosgrove and comic film and TV actor Jim Belushi all will be headliners at this year’s Sonoma County Fair. The fair will run daily, except Mondays, from July 25 through Aug. 12 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. McBride, known for her hits “Independence Day,” “My Baby Loves Me” and “Strangers,” will perform Aug. 7. The 16-year-old Cosgrove, who plays the title role in the Emmy-nominated… Read More »

Tell us about the teacher who inspired you

Monday, at 11:06 by

Acting on my lifelong belief that teaching is an art form, I’m using this ARTS blog as a platform today to ask for help with my current story project: Not everyone liked school, but all of us can remember at least one teacher who made a big difference in our lives. The Press Democrat would like to hear about the teacher who changed your life. Tell us not only who it was (and when and where it was), but also… Read More »

Little Kids Rock at George’s Nightclub in San Rafael

Friday, at 2:44 by

When nearly two dozen students from the Santa Rosa Charter School and Flowery Elementary School in Sonoma rock out in early May, they’ll have a special guest star — Prairie Prince of The Tubes. He and other musicians will join the students in a benefit show for the Little Kids Rock program, which provides free instruments and music lessons to more than 160,000 students at over 1,200 schools in 25 cities nationwide. There will be an auction signed celebrity guitars,… Read More »

Montgomery High stages Moliere’s ‘Imaginary Invalid’

Wednesday, at 9:21 by

Montgomery High School drama teacher Sue Byrne is justly famous in Santa Rosa for the ferocious enthusiasm she brings to every project. But she’s especially excited about the current Montgomery production of “The Imaginary Invalid,” Moliere’s 17th-century French farce about hypochondria, now updated to the 1960s. “Last year, I took my drama production students up to see several plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland,” Byrne said. “The students fell in love with their production of ‘The Imaginary Invalid,’… Read More »

Great Russian River Race not just for pros

Tuesday, at 8:43 by

There will be some top paddlers competing in the second annual Great Russian River Race, but don’t get the idea you have to be one of them to join the fun. “While 20 percent of the field are serious paddlers, the remaining 80 percent are out for a fun day on the river, followed by a great party with live music, local food, wine and beer, and kid’s activities,” said organizer Tony Hansen. Advanced paddlers will compete in the 15-mile… Read More »

Lake County duo plays Native American gathering

Monday, at 9:00 by

Twice As Good, a Native American blues duo from Elem Indian Colony in Clearlake Oaks, will be one of three dozen bands featured at the 29th annual Gathering of Nations, running Thursday through Saturday, April 26-28, at the University of New Mexico’s arena in Alubquerque. The band, also known as 2XG, features Richard James Steward and his son, Paul Anthony Steward. They’ll perform at 5 p.m. Saturday. The Gathering of Nations draws tens of thousands of attendees from more 500… Read More »

Comic Mike Birbiglia plays Santa Rosa

Wednesday, at 12:29 by

The name may or may not be familiar to you yet, but New York comedian Mike Birbiglia is a red hot property. At 33, he’s got three Comedy Central cable TV specials to his credit, three comedy albums, three movie roles (“Going the Distance,” “Cedar Rapids” and “Your Sister’s Sister”), a regular spot on public radio’s “This American Life” series and two hit one-man shows. The first solo stage show, “Sleepwalk with Me,” was released as a feature film, and… Read More »