A Press Democrat Blog

Arts

Dan Taylor on the fine arts scene.

Santa Rosa’s Imaginists theater wins $10,000 NEA grant

Wednesday, at 9:37 by

The Imaginists, an experimental theater company based in Santa Rosa’s A Street arts district, has won a $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant will support the company’s “Art is Medicine Show (El Show el Arte es Medicina)” in a series of free, bilingual performances in public places. The Imaginists will present “Art is Medicine Show” in rotation with Federico Garcia Lorca’s “The Billy-Club Puppets” this summer. The shows will tour by bicycle caravan in July and… Read More »

New ‘Peanuts’ graphic novel release party at Schulz Museum

Tuesday, at 7:00 by

The “Peanuts” comic strip characters always have had a large and loyal fan base in Japan. Tourists from Japan are often among the visitors at Santa Rosa’s Charles Schulz Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the late creator of the strip. Now Charlie Brown and the gang return the favor in the new graphic novel, “It’s Tokyo, Charlie Brown!” The story follows Charlie Brown and Snoopy and their beleaguered baseball team as they represent the United States in… 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 »

New June festival scheduled at Sonoma County Fairgrounds

Monday, at 2:39 by

The Harmony Festival, Sonoma County’s counter-culture gathering since 1978, will not be held this year, but there will be a new festival at its old site in June with food, crafts and live music. The “Community Activation and Awareness Gathering,” produced by Higher Vision Presents of Sebastopol, will run 11 a.m. June 9 until 1 a.m. at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, former home of the Harmony Festival. Featured musical acts include reggae superstar Burning Spear, Grammy-winning North… Read More »

Kate Wolf remembered in two tribute concerts

Tuesday, at 8:16 by

Newcomers to Sonoma County must wonder why they hear so much about Kate Wolf. Although the folk singer and songwriter died at age 44 of leukemia in 1986, her spirit and music are still alive throughout Northern California. Those who don’t know Wolf’s work can get an easy introduction through “Unfinished Life,” Randall Keith Horton’s new musical tribute to Wolf, to be performed by the California Redwood Chorale at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26,… Read More »

‘A Winter Hootenanny’ Feb. 25 in Santa Rosa

Tuesday, at 8:00 by

If you’re feeling folksy, then Saturday, Feb. 25, will be your day. That’s when “A Wintertime Hootenanny,” featuring 18 Americana acts from all over the North Bay, comes to the Arlene Francis Center, 99 Sixth St., Santa Rosa. Performers include the Brothers Comatose, the Blushin’ Roulettes and the Mighty Chiplings. For a full line-up: facebook.com/the.north.bay.hootenanny. The event will run from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., and include jam sessions, music workshops, a kids’ area and food and drink, as wells… Read More »

Shakepeare, Vegas-style, in Santa Rosa

Monday, at 11:02 by

A Shakespeare play set in a Las Vegas nightclub? Not such a stretch, really. After all, the Bard’s timeless comedy, “Twelfth Night,” is basically about a cross-dressing love triangle. Disguised as a boy, Viola fends off advances from Olivia (a torch singer in this version) and pines instead for Orsino (a club owner.) The Actor’s Basement theater troupe presents its “holiday gala” version of the play at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16-17, at the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino… Read More »

6th Street Playhouse sells its extra costumes

Tuesday, at 1:16 by

Anyone who has ever dreamed of wearing a really flashy dress — and we do mean anyone — ought to check out the costume inventory liquidation sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26-27, at the 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. “There are fanstasy pieces, vintage clothing for men and women, and very large dresses for men,” said Pat Fitzgerald, costume director at the Playhouse. “We seem to have done a lot… Read More »

Santa Rosa comic headlines at Purple Onion

Tuesday, at 8:18 by

The Purple Onion nightclub in San Francisco has hosted many of the top names in comedy — Woody Allen, Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, the Smothers Brothers and Phyllis Diller. Juan Carlos Arenas, a 32-year-old construction worker from Santa Rosa, will admit he’s not a star — at least, not yet — but he’s getting closer. He’ll be the headliner Nov. 12 at the Purple Onion. “This is not my first time headlining a show, but quite frankly the most special,”… Read More »

Playwright visits 6th Street Playhouse

Tuesday, at 8:44 by

This weekend, you’ll have a chance not only to see the current 6th Street Playhouse production, “Kite’s Book: Tales of an 18th Century Hitman,” but also meet the playwright. Playwright Robert Caisley of Moscow, Idaho, will present a pre-show discussion of his play at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, followed by the performance at 8 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 23, 6th Street Playhouse Artistic Director Craig Miller will host a discsussion including Caisley and the entire cast and crew of… Read More »