Joni Morris comes to Placerville in June

Joni Morris
Imagination Theater photo


Announcement from Imagination Theater (Placerville):

Joni Morris, well-known for her own special tribute to country music queen Patsy Cline, has been playing to sold out crowds across the country for over 15 years. On Friday, June 26, at 8:00 p.m., Joni returns to Imagination Theater with her tribute show entitled “Legendary Ladies of Country Music.”

Joni and her band, “After Midnight,” will perform unforgettable hit songs by Kitty Wells (“Honky Tonk Angels”), Loretta Lynn (“You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man”), Patsy Montana (“Cowboy’s Sweetheart”), Tammy Wynette (“Stand By Your Man”) and many more classic hits. You can also expect to hear a few of Joni’s own original songs in every show. She adds comedy, eye-catching costumes, and audience interaction to each performance.

The critics love Joni, love her voice and love her shows. “A double-barreled voice that can belt, sob, exult… We’re transported back into the Golden Years of the late 50’s and 60’s,” says Holly Johnson of the Sacramento Bee.

“A loving portrait… a polished, rollicking and often soulful country-western music show,” states Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Joni Morris has traveled nationally performing with her talented “Jordanaires-singing-style” band. She is accompanied by Kevin Jachetta, keyboard, bass and vocals, Keith McKee, drums and vocals, and Fred Treece, lead guitar and vocals.

This is a show no country music fan should miss! All seats are $25. Tickets can be purchased with a Visa or Mastercard by phone. Contact Imagination Theater now to get the best seats:
Imagination Theater on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds Box Office: T - F, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 530-642-0404

Frida Kahlo extened at Cal Stage

Announcement from California Stage

FRIDA KAHLO EXTENDED TWO WEEKS: May 7- 17

Due to sold out houses we will extend this intriguing play about the great artist and her husband, Diego Rivera, in The Wilkerson Theater The extension will be in English on May 7 and 8 (9 is already sold out), 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17. TICKETS: $20, $15; Groups (6 or more): $12.

Call for reservations: 916-451-5822. For more information and news, go to http://www.calstage.org.

A famous hypocrite comes to Carmichael

Rodger Hoopman, Richanne Baldridge

Chautauqua Playhouse photo

The 17th century’s Moliere is France’s most enduring comedy playwright. And his play “Tartuffe,” a.k.a. “The Hypocrite,” is probably his most popular play. Tartuffe is a pious fraud, faking religiosity to bamboozle a house run by suckers. And we get loads of laughs as we see how he works his spell and finally gets his comeuppance.

The version now at Carmichael’s Chautauqua Playhouse was commissioned 30 years ago by Rodger Hoopman, Chautauqua’s artistic director, and adds contemporary gags to liven up the action, though they take away from some of the play’s dark side. Yet the script still follows the plot closely.

“Tartuffe” continues through May 3 at the Chautauqua Playhouse, 5325 Engle Road at the La Sierra Community Center in Carmichael. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission is $17 general and $15 for students, seniors, children and SARTA members. Call (916) 489-7529 (PLAY). See also http://www.cplayhouse.com/.

For a detailed review of “Tartuffe” see this week’s Village Life of El Dorado Hills or go to http://villagelife.com/story.php?id=692.0&pt=photo.

“Big Boys” takes swipe at corporate corruption

l to r: David Pierini, Howard Swain
photo: Jennifer Freyer

To close its current season, B Street Theatre brings audiences a timely farce that helps purge the venom of our resentment about the folly and greed that got us into today’s economic mess. “Big Boys” is a two-character satire by Rich Orloff, “one of the most popular unknown playwrights in the country.” It pits a modest, competent and principled business employee against his lunatic and self-serving boss,

A timid Norman Waterbury undergoes a job interview with the flamboyant and morally questionable Victor Burlington, who starts off with a test: rolling two metal balls into the eye sockets of a clown in a child’s toy, something Victor himself can’t do. Norm’s success, though, turns into a strike against him. Victor is flagrantly corrupt. “I never hold a grudge unless it’s financially agreeable,” he declares. As for capable employees, his policy is to “give them a bonus and deduct it from their salaries.”

But the exchanges don’t depend only on witty zingers. Instead the arguments come off like vaudeville routines, reminiscent of Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on first?” classic. And along with the ingenious perversity there’s the acid of satire.

Victor claims he can “ferret meaning as well as, well, better than a ferret” and calls on his secretary to fetch him a ferret. He then commands Norm’s opinion on how well he badgers, squirrels and beavers. Victor is also a fountain of contradictions. He presents Norm with an idiotic business plan, then demands Norm’s approval.

Obviously unimpressed, Norm asks if Victor wants him to lie. To this Victor explains, “I want you to believe you’re telling the truth whether you are or not.”

The play’s movement evolves through Victor’s efforts to corrupt Norm, using impertinent questions about his sex life plus attempted invasions of his social activities. The tension increases as Norm hesitates between resistance and concession, even to the point of trying to quit his job. The play ends with an ambiguous irony.

Contributing to the play’s success is a fine cast, with B Street veteran David Pierini as Norm, this time playing straight man to newcomer Howard Swain, a Bay Area import with a long resume that includes experience on film, TV and stage, including off Broadway. We identify with Norm while Swain, as Victor, steals focus with outrageous behavior, long white hair, and long shiny teeth specially created for the show.

Director Buck Busfield deserves special mention for his canny treatment of theater in the round on B Street’s Mainstage. The largest piece of furniture is Victor’s huge desk. It partly obscures the scene from a section of the audience, especially when Victor drapes himself over it. So Busfield rotates the revolving stage a quarter of a turn during scene changes, allowing the entire audience to share the varying perspectives. Busfield also compensates nicely for the opening and closing of invisible doors by using sound effects.

“Big Boys” runs through June 7 at 2727 B Street, Sacramento, behind the Stanford Park Baseball Field. Performances are Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 5 and 9 p.m., with matinees Wednesday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18-$30. Call (916) 443-5300. See also http://www.bstreettheatre.org/.

Children of Light at California Stage

Announcement from California Stage

Janis Stevens directs "Children of Light" by Rick Foster

"Children of Light" brings timeless conflicts of Greek tragedy to bear on the issues of today. Seven years ago, Princess Elektra’s father was murdered by her mother to avenge his sacrifice of their older daughter ---which the Gods demanded before they would let him go to fight the Trojan War.

Last year Elektra was thrown out of the palace and forcefully married to a Ditch Digger. She is half-crazy in her longing for revenge. She prays that her brother, Orestes, will return and kill their mother, along with the mother’s lover.

This is the background as presented by Euripides in his play called "The Elektra." Of all the writers in ancient Athens, Euripides was most sensitive to the suffering of women under brutal male rule. But even he could not imagine that Elektra might fight through the sickness of her condition to discover and follow a calling that was entirely out of bounds for a woman of that era.

"Children of Light" dramatizes the struggle of a young woman who was born to be a leader, who has a natural political genius, but who is stifled in every way by the culture she inherits. Think of such a woman today ruled by the Taliban, or a daughter of Osama bin Laden.

Janis Stevens, who directs, is coming off two huge hits at Capital Stage – least year’s "Fool for Love" and the recent "American Buffalo." A year ago her direction of Foster’s "Love, Isadora" at California Stage won her an Elly Award for Best Direction, Drama. She and Foster have teamed up numerous times over the years, most famously for their "Vivien," in which Stevens’ acting has won honors in San Francisco and New York and which was a sold-out hit at Sacramento Theatre Company in 2007-2008.

Stevens will also play the role of Klytemnestra, alternating with Mary Beth Barber.

"Children of Light" will be at California Stage, 2509 R Street (25th and R), in midtown Sacramento from May 15 to June 14, Fridays/Saturdays 8 pm, Sundays 2 pm. Get reservations at 916-451-5822 or seeaplay.com. Regular admission: $20. Students, Seniors, SARTA: $15. Groups of 6 or more: $12.

CAST
The Ditch Digger………………….…....Eric Baldwin
Achillea............................................ ….Lauren Nardozzi
Daphne……………………………….…Acacia Fisher
Irene.................................................................... Sara Sells
Elektra....................................... Brittaleigha Baskerville
Orestes....................................................... Jammy Bulaya
Pylades.......................................................... Eric Baldwin
Klytemnestra.............. Janis Stevens/Mary Beth Barber

Capital Stage makes (or unmakes) history

Received from Capital Stage in Sacramento

The Complete History of America (abridged): May 9 - June 21, 2009

"What the 'Daily Show' might be like if it were hosted by the Marx Brothers." Boston Herald

Sacramento, CA -April 23, 2009 - Capital Stage will bring 600 years of American history to the stage when "The Complete History of America (abridged)" opens on Friday, May 15, 2009.

Cast members Eric Wheeler, Gary Martinez and Jonathan Rhys Williams return to Capital Stage to take audiences on a rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History. Who really discovered America? Why did Abe Lincoln free the slaves? How many Democrats does it take to screw in a light bulb? History has never been this much fun. Or as delightfully, ridiculously mutilated as in the hands of Eric, Gary and Jonathan, covering 600 years of our nation's history in under two hours in this irreverent send-up!

Performances will begin with three previews on Saturday, May 9, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, May 10, at 2 p.m.; and Thursday, May 14, at 8 p.m. Opening day is Friday, May 15, at 8 p.m., and the show continues through June 21.

Showtimes will be Thursdays through Sundays: Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets prices are $24-$32. Discount tickets are available as follows: preview tickets $15, Thursday student tickets $12, Sunday matinees senior tickets $18. Group rates available for groups of 15 or more. Tickets are currently on sale at the Capital Stage Box Office, 916-995-5464, or online at www.capstage.org.

The Pilothouse Restaurant offers a specially priced menu for theatre patrons. Reservations can be made through the box office.

The Complete History of America (abridged) is directed by Stephanie Gularte and is sponsored by The Davidsen Group and Wells Fargo.

Another Extension at Thistle Dew

Announcement from Thistle Dew

"Last Resort Trailer Park," by local playwright Laura Sheperd has been once again extended, this time until May 16. Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

This show must offer something special. It may continue until everybody in California has seen it! Shepard won an Elly Award for her drama "Annie's Story."

ALL TICKETS ARE $20 (includes dessert, coffee and tea).

Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre, 1901 P Street; (916) 444-8209; Reservations are required. Local playwright Laura Sheperd, winner of an Elly Award for her drama Annie’s Story, has written a comedy. “Combine a handful of talented local character actors with a light, character-based comedy and the result is this laughfest full of, well, character,” says Kel Munger, Sacramento News & Review.

Directed by Julie Greene, the cast includes Keith Letl as ‘Buk,’ Noemi C. Rios, as ‘Nadine,’ Gloria Jones as ‘Rhonda,' Paula Campanella as ‘Charline’ and Charley Cross as ‘Hank.'

NEW PERFORMANCE DATES: Fri 4/24, Sat 4/25, Sun 4/26, Fri 5/1, Sat 5/2, Sun 5/3, Fri 5/8, Sat 5/9, Sun 5/10, Fri 5/15, and closes (?) 5/16.

COMING UP: The Thistle Dew Playwrights group requests submission of your 5-7 minute monologues for production in September, 2009.