By Lina Broydo
Theatreworks of Silicon Valley Presents the 21st Annual New Works Festival in Palo Alto
Through August 18, 2024
No end to the originality and the stunning creativity of the Theatreworks of Silicon Valley as it announces the casting of the extremely multi talented actors, producers, directors and writers for its 21st annual New Works Festival at Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.
The unique program offers an extraordinary opportunity for audiences to experience new plays and musicals in their early stages of development. Four new works will be brought to life in readings featuring Broadway and TV performers Lauren Marcus (Broadway’s Be More Chill, Netflix’s Tick, Tick…Boom!), Stephanie Gibson (Broadway’s Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Shakina (NBC’s “Connecting,” NBC’s “Quantum Leap,” Hulu’s “Difficult People”), as well as regional theatre actors Molly Bell, Ashley Cowl, Will Dao, Miller Liberatore, Mikee Loria, Hayley Lovgren, Mary Jo McConnell, Jenny Nguyen Nelson, Lee Ann Payne, Jon Norman Schneider, Anna Marie Sharpe, Luisa Sermol, and Nicole Tung. Trailblazing trans activist/ powerhouse performer Shakina will take the stage as Joanne in 5 & Dime, the rollicking new musical for which she wrote the lyrics.
Based on Ed Graczyk’s classic play and film Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and featuring a book by Ashley Robinson (West End’s Brokeback Mountain) and music by Dan Gillespie Sells (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End’s Brokeback Mountain), 5 & Dime will receive readings in the 2024 New Works Festival ahead of its World Premiere at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.
Do not miss this unique opportunity of an extraordinary gift for all who love live theatre!
Information:
TICKETS: For Festival Passes ($65; $60 for Season 54 subscribers) and single event tickets ($25), the public may call (650) 463-1960 or visit theatreworks.org.
TheatreWorks at Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Photos: Mollie Bell, winner of the Bay Area Critica Award; Obie Award winner Timothy Near directs “Molly Bell’s Hysterical”; TheatreWorks Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli directs “5 & Dime” – courtesy of TheatreWorks
Elton John to Headline Salesforce’s “Dreamforce Tech Conference’ in San Francisco
September 17 – 19, 2024
He’s baaaack! The retirement lasted only 14 months (and that’s why I call it a graduation! And not a retirement! ) as the world’s most famous Rocket Man takes the stage at Salesforce’s Dreamforce Tech Conference in San Francisco. The amazing show will benefit the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, named after Marc Benioff, the Salesforce Founder.
Bringing high-touch to the world of high-tech is the guest speakers line-up of Kate Hudson, Dev Patel in addition to tech leaders like Anthropic co-founder Daniela Amodei and former Nvidia chief scientist David B. Kirk. Additional musical guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
Information
dreamforceregistration@salesforce.com
Tickets to attend Dreamforce start at $1,499
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Moscone Center in San Francisco
Image courtesy of Salesforce
“Opera in the Park” at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
September 8, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.
San Francisco Opera inaugurates its exciting new 2024-2025 season with the sounds of the best arias in the area at the popular “Opera in the Park” event, the annual free concert at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Just in time to remember Robin Williams on the 10 anniversary since we lost him.
Under the masterful baton of Maestra Eun Sun Kim the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and the artists from the 2024/2025 Season will present a beautiful program of arias, ensembles and orchestral music.
Bring your kids and the picnic baskets for this favorite al fresco community event attended by thousands of Bay Area residents and visitors each year. It is a priceless opportunity to enjoy the music and the opera arias performed by one of the best opera companies in the world. Sorry but your favorite pooches have to stay home.
Information
sfopera.com
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
Photo courtesy of San Francisco Opera
Time to discover the The French Market in Marin County
Now that the Paris Olympics made you sleepless for two weeks, but ignited your curiosity and yearning for all French, visit the French Market, located at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael, a much shorter and less expensive destination to reach than Paris.
Following the fascinating write-up by Martha Ross, an award winning journalist of Mercury News – I was sold! And now it is my recently discovered paradise for French antiques, including silverware, porcelain figurines, perfume bottles, furniture, vintage clothes and jewelry where over 100 vendors display, sell, and part with their treasured possessions.
And yes, the best croissants and French pastries are there to delight and accompany your Sunday morning coffee. Forget about the diet at least for a few weeks and have fun while pretending you are at the famous Saint-Ouen Market outside Paris.
And dogs are welcome!
Au Revoir and Bon Appetit! But you don’t have to speak French. I am just showing off…
Information
The French Market
Open from 9am to 3pm on the second Sunday of every month
Marin Civic Center Drive in San Rafael
Admission and Parking are free
Photos courtesy of Marin French Market
