AAUW Authors Luncheon: A a benefit book signing for AAUW Funds by Bo Caldwell, author of “Distant Land of My Father” and “City of Tranquil Light”; Audrey Lynch, author of “The Development of Roy Simmonds as a Steinbeck Scholar as Evidenced Through His Letters” and several other Steinbeck books; and Marcia Kemp Sterling, author of “One Summer in Arkansas.” Jan. 23, 11 a.m. La Rinconada Country Club, 14597 Clearview Drive, Los Gatos. $55; reservations required by Jan. 15 to Judy Borlase, 1660 Hyacinth Lane, San Jose, CA 95124. For more information, contact Geri Williams at 408-642-5042.
If you’ve been to either of Hunger at Home’s previous events, you know the music is just part of the draw, The evening includes small plates prepared by a dozen Silicon Valley restaurant and catering chefs, along with craft beer and ballet leotards germany wine from the region, And it all goes for a good cause, supporting Hunger at Home’s mission to collect surplus food from hotels, convention centers and big event venues and give it to nonprofit groups that feed the homeless and hungry, including Martha’s Kitchen in San Jose, the event’s primary beneficiary..
Los Altos Stage Company. “The Crucible.” Sept. 7 through Oct. 1. By Arthur Miller. Directed by Jeffrey Lo. Features Joe Antonicelli, Nicole Apostol Bruno, Michael Champlin, Jeff Clarke, Carolyn Compton, Mat Espinosa, Marjorie Hazeltine, Alexandra Ho, Leslie Ivy, Gary Landis, Maria G. Marquis, Shareen Merriam, Brittany Pisoni, Roneet Aliza Rahamim, Neiry Rojo, Ellie Schwartz, Max Tachis, Damian Vega and Cameron Wells. Bus Barn Theatre, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. $18-$38. www.losaltosstage.org or 650-941-0551.
‘Spontaneous Shakespeare’ by Synergy Theater, Synergy Theater presents “Spontaneous Shakespeare,” at 8:15 p.m, May 20-21, at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Knight Stage 3 Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, in Walnut ballet leotards germany Creek, This is a completely improvised two-act play in the style of William Shakespeare, and full of bawdy humor, mistaken identities, disguises, star-crossed lovers, mischievous spirits, wily servants, sword fights and wordplay, The improvised comedy is made up entirely on the spot and all based on audience suggestions..
Yuri Possokhov’s “Fusion” also acknowledges the collision of East and West, but as pure dance where chest isolations evolve into American jazz. Unfortunately it, too, loses its way — though the leads, who dance with transcendent commitment, never do. (They include Frances Chung, Lauren Strongin, Yuan Yuan Tan, Lorena Feijoo, Jaime Garcia Castill, Luke Ingham, James Sofranko and Hansuke Yamamota.). Nor do they in the company’s reprise of Liam Scarlett’s “Fearful Symmetries,” which, in place of the excited chaos of last year’s premiere, had a tribal air of menace that was both combative and life-affirming. Set to John Adams’ “Fearful Symmetries” — “traveling music,” as the Berkeley composer calls this genre of his work — the dance uses boxing motifs and propulsive, prowling ensemble work to capture a generation on the edge. What Scarlett doesn’t nail are the music’s layers. The dance hews to the melodic line, rather than its architecture as whole. And it is visually less interesting than it could be.
