From successful Broadway musical about Michael Jackson to Masako Miki’s one-of-a-kind artwork and arguably probably the most controversial performer in standard music proper now, there’s a lot to see and do within the Bay Space this weekend.
Right here’s a partial roundup.
Theater picks: ‘MJ,’ ‘Home’
Listed below are two productions Bay Space theater followers ought to learn about.
“MJ”: If you will create a jukebox musical, it’s arduous to discover a higher catalogue of songs than these created and popularized by Michael Jackson. Created by award-winning theater-makers Christopher Wheeldon and Lynn Nottage, the present options such prime Jackson singles as “Beat It” and “Billie Jean,” a number of Jackson 5 songs and different hits of the period. And whereas the present touches on Jackson’s tough childhood, it largely stays away from the late performer’s bigger controversies. Jordan Markus stars within the title position within the solid that features Fremont native Kristin Stokes. The musical, which opened on Broadway in 2022, is at Broadway San Jose for a brief run.
Particulars: By means of Aug. 3; San Jose Middle for the Performing Arts; 2½ hours with 1 intermission; tickets begin at $59; broadwaysanjose.com.
“Home: A Palestinian Woman’s Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness”: Hend Ayoub’s hyper-topical solo present, commissioned by SF Playhouse via its Sandbox Collection of recent performs, is a poignant, humorous and heartbreaking account of her childhood in Israel and pursuit of an appearing profession in Israel, Egypt, and New York. It’s taking part in on the Z Area in San Francisco via Aug. 16.
Particulars: $40; www.sfplayhouse.org.
— Randy McMullen, Employees
Delightfully fuzzy artwork
It’s arduous to search out paintings extra eminently huggable than Masako Miki’s furry creations. Half Nineteen Seventies lounge furnishings, half “Monsters, Inc.” character design, the ungainly-yet-cute bloboids beg for a pat on the pinnacle – or not less than no matter anatomy takes the place of “head” in these odd guys.
However please, be respectable and don’t truly contact the artwork in “Night Parades,” a enjoyable exhibit working till December on the Institute of Modern Artwork San Francisco. A Japanese-born artist who’s lived for many years in California (now Berkeley), Miki has colonized the area along with her largest presentation ever, encompassing each work and sculptures crafted from felt and lurking in a near-dark atmosphere.
“I hope that my works generate the kind of curiosity and empathy that enables us to come together,” she says. Certainly, you would possibly end up unusually stirred by these humping shapes. Because the museum’s curators write: “’Midnight March’ helps us understand deeper aspects of Miki’s ‘othered’ figures and recognize difference as a positive force, even as we are unsettled by it.”
Particulars: By means of Dec. 7; hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday via Sunday, open till 7 p.m. Thursday; 345 Montgomery St., San Francisco; free, icasf.org
— John Metcalfe, Employees
Love him or hate him
For a man described by NPR as music’s “elephant in the room,” Morgan Wallen has received some superb stats.
For starters, all 4 of his studio albums — 2018’s “If I Know Me,” 2021’s “Dangerous: The Double Album,” 2023’s “One Thing at a Time” and this yr’s “I’m the Problem” — have hit No. 1 on the nation charts, with the latter three additionally notching the highest spot on the general Billboard 200.
These first three releases are all multiplatinum affairs, with “One Thing at a Time” in pole place with greater than seven tens of millions copies offered. And we definitely anticipate “I’m the Problem” to hitch the celebration as soon as the album — which was simply launched in Could — has spent a little bit extra time on cabinets.
Wallen has scored 20-plus High 10 nation singles — 4 of which went on to hit No. 1 on the general Billboard Scorching 100. And, after all, he places up numbers within the stay area like no one’s enterprise.
In different phrases, regardless of his knack for creating controversy — see: the N-word debacle, the chair-throwing incident, allegations of ignoring COVID protocols — anticipate large crowds to end up to see Wallen throughout his two-night stand, Aug. 1-2 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The 2 reveals are a part of Wallen’s large I’m the Drawback Tour — which helps the album of the identical title. The nice Miranda Lambert serves as foremost assist on Night time 1 and the ever-popular Brooks & Dunn take that very same spot on Night time 2.
Particulars: Showtime is 6 p.m. for each reveals; tickets begin at $88; ticketmaster.com.
— Jim Harrington, Employees
Classical picks: ‘Dolores,’ extra Cabrillo
West Edge Opera’s 2025 summer time season begins with “Dolores,” an opera primarily based on the life and work of Dolores Huerta, the long-lasting labor chief and activist recognized for her grit and tenacity. This new work, commissioned from the corporate’s Aperture Program, is by composer Nicolás Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin, and stars soprano Kelly Guerra within the title position. (See full story on Web page 5)
Nonetheless to return: the season continues with Charpentier’s not often carried out “David and Jonathan,” and wraps with Berg’s harrowing masterpiece, “Wozzeck.”
Particulars: “Dolores” runs Aug. 2-17; Oakland Scottish Ceremony Middle, Oakland; $10-$170; westedgeopera.org.
In the meantime, the Cabrillo Pageant of Modern Music continues this week and thru Aug. 10; The Aug. 1 lineup options works by John Corigliano (“Phantasmagoria,” “Three Hallucinations”), Nina Shekhar (“Lumina”) and Missy Mazzoli: (“Procession,” a West Coast premiere with violinist Jennifer Koh as featured soloist). Additionally examine the schedule free of charge open rehearsals.
Particulars: By means of Aug. 10; Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium; tickets $24-up; some occasions free; 831-420-5260; Cabrillomusic.org.
— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent
Freebie of the week
You will discover every kind of musicians taking part in every kind of music on the free neighborhood live shows that enliven the Bay Space through the summer time. On July 31, one of many world’s best fiddler/violinists can be readily available in San Mateo, performing a type of roots music which may simply have you ever busting a transfer or two. He’s Tom Rigney, an Alameda native and son of an expert baseball participant and supervisor, whose tackle Cajun and Zydeco music is a pleasure to behold. He’s been a busy a part of the Bay Space music scene for some 50 years, fronting such bands as Again within the Saddle, The Solar Canines and now Flambeau.
The acclaimed Cajun/swing outfit is revered for its spectacular and passionate performances and for delivering tunes that can put a smile in your face and maybe a spring in your step. Tom Rigney and Flambeau has launched near a dozen albums through the years, the newest being “Let the Four Winds Blow.” He writes a lot of his band’s music, though his live performance setlist has been recognized to incorporate a Cajun basic or two. Tom Rigney and Flambeau carry out free of charge from 6 to eight p.m. July 31 as a part of the San Mateo Central Park Music Collection, 50 E. fifth Ave. All kinds of meals distributors readily available in addition to purveyors of beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks. Extra info is right here.
— Bay Metropolis Information Basis
Mike Epps branches out
Mike Epps has mentioned that performing comedy saved his life, after he endured a tough and impoverished childhood in Indiana. However standup isn’t the one sport he’s into today. He’s made regular strides on the planet of appearing, starring or showing in quite a lot of big- and small-screen comedies and dramas. He presently produces and stars within the sitcom “The UpShaws,” with Wanda Sykes and Kim Fields (obtainable on Netflix), which relies on his early years. He’s additionally been in movies starting from “Next Friday” and “Friday After Next” (with Ice Dice), to 2012’s “Sparkle,” a Supremes-inspired movie additionally starring Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston (his first dramatic position); and the provocative darkish comedies “Meet the Blacks” and “The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2.” Epps, who kicked off his comedy profession within the Def Comedy Jam Tour, is hardly turning his again on standup, nonetheless. He’s bringing his present tour to San Jose Improv for 5 performances Aug. 1-3. Tickets are $61.53 (together with service costs); go to improv.com/sanjose.
— Bay Metropolis Information Basis
Third World in Berkeley
It was some 5 many years in the past that Third World, an upstart reggae band, joined the Wailers, an already-well-established band, because the opening acts for the Jackson 5 on the Jamaica Nationwide Stadium in Kingston. The Wailers had been already properly on the best way to changing into international superstars, however Third World, till then, had been taking part in primarily small golf equipment and resorts. The stadium gig helped Third World get signed to a significant label (Island Data) and land a European tour, and whereas the band by no means achieved the identical stage of fame as The Wailers, they’re nonetheless going as we speak and are bringing their newest tour to the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley on Aug. 2.
The band has seen plenty of personnel adjustments and often broadens its conventional Jamaican sound with components of soul, funk, rock, dancehall and disco. As bassist Richard Daley as soon as put it, “we took roots reggae music and put branches on top of it.” The band’s most up-to-date album, “More Work To Be Done,” was produced by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and nominated for a Grammy for greatest reggae album. The band has launched greater than two dozen studio and stay albums in all and obtained 9 Grammy nominations. Music at The Freight begins at 8 p.m.; a portion of the venue can be open for dancing. Tickets are $42-$44; go to thefreight.org.
— Bay Metropolis Information Basis
The genius of G&S
“We sail the ocean blue, and our saucy ship’s a beauty; We’re sober men and true, and attentive to our duty.” Catchy, no? Simply begs to be sung loud and lustily. And so it’s, because the merry opening, sung by the crew, to “H.M.S. Pinafore,” the primary huge hit that W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan had again in 1878 that’s now being dropped at the stage by The Lamplighters at three Bay Space theaters, debuting first on the Lesher Middle for the Arts in Walnut Creek at 2 p.m. Aug. 2. Lowly sailor Ralph Rackstraw loves Josephine, the Captain’s daughter, however her loftier social standing is an issue – that will get comically and fortunately resolved. The manufacturing stars Max Ary as Rackstraw, Syona Ayyankeril as Josephine, Carly Ozard as Sir Joseph Porter, Tony De Louisia as Captain Corcoran advert Sarah Szeibel as Buttercup. It repeats at 8 p.m. Aug. 2 and three p.m. Aug. 3 in Walnut Creek earlier than transferring to the Mountain View Middle for the Performing Arts for two p.m. performances on Aug. 9 and 10 and the Yerba Buena Middle for the Arts in San Francisco for two p.m. Aug. 16 and eight p.m. Aug. 17 reveals. Tickets, $35-$95, can be found at lamplighters.org.
— Bay Metropolis Information Basis
