Palo Alto Players really outdid itself with the grandiose set for this show. Scenic designer (as well as production manager and master carpenter) Patrick Klein had a masterful plan of creating the sprawling two-story living room that is representative of 1930s homes in New York. There’s a sturdy stairway that the actors frequently climb to go to the upstairs rooms, but what brings the set closer to the audience are the downstage sofa and chairs that are used extensively when several Sycamores and their long-term (and short-term) guests interact throughout the play. An authentic-looking wood console radio blares out well-known tunes from the era.
In the end, host Cat Deeley said that 10 dancers from the Chicago auditions won tickets to the L.A, call-backs, Then it was on to Los Angeles, uh, Hollywood, since it was the auditions, not the call-backs, This is getting confusing — why didn’t they try another city, like San Francisco or Oakland? Oh well, Nigel and Mary were joined by actress Christina Applegate, who knows a thing or three about tripping the light fantastic, Standouts for me included JaJa Vankova, a personalized fairy princess ballet soft dolly hot pink tutu, wings & toe shoes dancer from the Czech Republic now living in Chatsworth, She brought her female version of animation/crumping, and she really did it well, As Cat said in a short interview, “As a girl, I imagine it’s quite difficult.” But JaJa got a standing ovation from the judges and a ticket to the call-backs..
“Every dollar that comes in goes out to the community,” said Max. “We don’t have any administrative costs.”. Proceeds from the film festival are donated to various nonprofit endeavors, including the Wheelchair Foundation, the Contra Costa Food Bank, End Polio Now and the Asante Africa Grant. The Rotary Club website states that two-thirds of the money stays local and one-third is donated to international projects. Donation is a minimum of $50; there is no admission at the door, Max said. To reserve a spot, go to http://www.blackhawkfilmfestival.com/ and be sure to print the confirming invitation to bring to the event, he advised.
“There are so personalized fairy princess ballet soft dolly hot pink tutu, wings & toe shoes many talented photographers out there, professional and amateur, and so many of them are inspired by our Coastside beauty and environment,” said Wittke, a highly acclaimed photographer himself, in a publicity release, “We hope many will join us and submit images for the contest.” Entries must be submitted by email to BradleyWittke@gmail.com, Contest details and submission requirements are available online at www.sosseafest.org, The SOS Seafood Fest: Sustaining Our Seas, an event honoring the Half Moon Bay Coastside’s major fishing industry and world-class fishing fleet out of Pillar Point Harbor, will take place from 10 a.m, to 5 p.m, Jan, 30 in the vast lots surrounding Half Moon Bay Brewing company, 390 Capistrano Road, in Princeton-By-The-Sea, Half Moon Bay..
Meklit has kept the sound of surprise central to her music by recruiting some of the region’s most creative jazz musicians, like Wiley, who’s thrived on the challenge of learning Ethiopian rhythms and harmonic structures. A player with an affinity for sumptuously soulful vocalists (he’ll start Saturday night across the street from the Rickshaw Stop at the SFJazz Center playing with Bay Area jazz great Mary Stallings), he sees a deep connection between Meklit’s songs and African-American church music, as both are “cultural music” with specific sonic parameters.
