Berkeley Ballet Theater: One of the East Bay’s longest running “Nutcrackers” is a full production that makes excellent use of the school’s Children’s Division and Youth Company; Dec. 16-18; Regents’ Theater, Holy Names University, Oakland; $35; berkeleyballet.org. Moscow Ballet: The “Great Russian Nutcracker” is a lavish production featuring 40 principal Russian dancers and corps de ballet,and local supporting dancers; 4 and 8 p.m. Dec. 20; Flint Center, Cupertino; $28-$88; 800-745-3000, www.nutcracker.com.
Meklit is giving audiences a fresh musical experience, “When I play in Ethiopia, they’re like, ‘Oh, this is American music.’ And then I play it here and they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s Ethiopian music.’ It’s really both, It’s a hyphenated music that’s about questions of immigration and culture, And when we think about where our hybridized culture is moving, what is the sound of our demographic shift? These are all questions that come up in this music, “This music comes out of where we are right now, I’m making American music, but it has elements of the world outside of America inside of it, because America is a nation of immigrants, I’m trying to reflect a reality that deserves a musical voice, a cultural voice pink ballet slippers and a cultural space.”..
Towering high on the box-shaped video screens, Beyonce was a captivating presence as she worked the big main stage as well as the long catwalk that extended partway across the field to a smaller secondary stage. Backed by a solid live band, she found great success with the country rambler “Daddy Lessons,” which sounds more like a Dolly Parton offering than a Beyonce tune, as well as a powerhouse “Drunk in Love.”. She gave the crowd too many snippets, instead of full renditions, but a few of those mashed-up medleys worked OK. Still, I would’ve preferred it if Beyonce had cut back on the number of tunes in order to play more fulfilling versions. Also, she spent too much time offstage, trusting the video segments to keep the momentum going.
For more information, a waiver form and template, email Kati Short at katishort@yahoo.com, The alcohol-free event will feature music, art, crafts and food vendors, The musical lineup includes the Kenny Neal Band, Gino Matteo, Mo Fo Party Band, BigCat Tolfree, Marshall Law Band and Sam-ONE, Admission and parking are free, but bring along lawn chairs, No pets are allowed, For more information, go to deltabluesfestival.net or call 925-698-8024, This award-winning Broadway musical about an aggressive stage mother is directed by Bryan Anthony and choreographed by Stacey Dempsey, Join Rose, pink ballet slippers June and Louise on their trip across the United States during the 1920s, when vaudeville was dying out and burlesque was born..
Another winning moment is when Rosetta talks about her husband (and ex-husbands) and calls them “squirrels.” She discovers that Marie also has a “squirrel,” and the two ruminate and bond over their man troubles. The actors dance around quite a bit, thanks to movement director Aleta Hayes (no choreographer is credited), and Cliff Caruther’s sound design and Steven B. Mannshardt’s lighting are both first-rate. Jill C. Bowers came up with gowns (Jordan’s is a shimmery, glossily lavender and Rudd’s is a lovely form-fitting pale peach) that seem to fit the two characters.
