PITTSBURG
Pittsburg Theatre Company will stage Neil Simon’s beloved classic comedy “The Sunshine Boys” from June 14 through June 23 at Pittsburg’s California Theatre.
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“The Sunshine Boys” is the story of Al (George Doerr) and Willie (Kevin Burns), who, as “Lewis and Clark,” were top-billed vaudevillians for more than 40 years. Animosity between the partners has grown to the point where they haven’t spoken in 12 years.
When CBS requests they appear in a “History of Comedy” retrospective, Willie’s nephew (Michael Wilson), a theatrical agent, attempts to reunite the feuding former vaudevillian greats. This grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries and laughs.
The two men try to remaster their most famous “The Doctor is In” sketch but have much to work out before they are ready to return to the public eye.
Dianna Schepers directs. Other cast members include Leasa Hart as Willie’s nurse, Atessa McAleenan-Morrell as Miss McIntosh the sketch nurse, John Holst as the patient, Ava Duran as Eddie the stage manager and Kyle Jacques as the CBS director.
For tickets, now available for $22 to $30 through the California Theatre box office, visit tickets831.com online or call 925-427-1611. The theater is at 515 Railroad Ave. in Pittsburg.
— Pittsburg Theatre Company
ISLETON
Crawdad Festival will return June 15-16 to city’s downtown
The 33rd annual Crawdad Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 15 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 16 in downtown Isleton.
Entertainment on four stages will include Whoville, Ruben Moreno, Huckleberry, Buck Ford, Element, Beaufunk, Delta Wire, Groovy Judy, the Sugar Hill Gang, Delta OG, Dirty Chops Brass Band, Terminous and more.
Cooking demonstrations will be at 1:30 p..m. Saturday, when and a marching band also will perform on Main Street. In addition, more than 30 food vendors will be on-site, along with a car show and carnival.
A shuttle will be available to take visitors from the parking lot to the festival for $20. General admission is $20 or $15 for seniors and military members. For more information, visit theisletoncrawdadfestival.com online.
— Isleton Crawdad Festival
DANVILLE
‘Moonlight Movies and Music in the Park’ series announced
The Town of Danville has announced its summer entertainment lineup for the “Moonlight Movies and Music in the Park” series, with a free concert or movie each week from June 14 through Aug. 3.
The Moonlight Movies series will return at 6:30 p.m. June 14 on the Town Green at 420 Front St. with games and activities for families to enjoy followed by 2018’s “Aquaman” (rated PG-13) when the sun goes down. The rest of the movies scheduled are on June 28: “Aladdin” (2019, PG); July 14: “Angels in the Outfield” (1994, PG); and July 26: “Super Mario Bros.” (2023, PG).
The concerts will return June 22 to Oak Hill Park at 3005 Stone Valley Road from 6 to 8 p.m. The final concert, however, will be on the Town Green. The concert schedule is June 22: MomoTomboSF, featuring former members of Malo and Santana (Latin Rock); July 6: Jackson Michelson (country); July 20: Judd Hoos (alternative/Indie/rock); Aug. 3: Unauthorized Rolling Stones (classic rock).
These concerts and movies are free and open to the public. Food and beverages are permitted, and guests are encouraged to bring blankets and/or chairs to sit on. For more information, contact John Dunn, the town of Danville’s performing arts coordinator, at jdunn@danville.ca.gov or 925-314-3418.
— Town of Danville
See ‘California, Places & People’ at Village Theatre Art Gallery
The Village Theatre Art Gallery is hosting “California, Places & People,” an exhibition through June 21 from the California Watercolor Association. Thirty-seven artists from the association have selected paintings of favorite places they have visited in California or people they have seen in the Golden State for the display.
The show also includes abstract watercolor works inspired by a person or place in California. This exhibition supports the watercolor association’s mission to create, foster and sustain artistic growth and interest in water media. The Village Theatre Art Gallery is at 233 Front St., Danville. For more information, including hours and artists, visit danville.ca.gov/arts.
— Village Theatre Art Gallery
‘Sweeping Passions’ theme of 2024 Eugene O’Neill Festival
Danville’s Tao House will get caught up in the theme of “Sweeping Passions” this fall, with the Eugene O’Neill Festival 2024, which will be centered around one of the playwright’s most dramatic and adventurous creations, “Mourning Becomes Electra.”
O’Neill’s great American take on Greek tragedy is an action-packed epic featuring all the hallmarks of a captivating soap opera: jealousy, adultery, revenge, murder, incest, suicide and more murder. All it offers that’s horrible to experience in real life can be horribly entertaining when watching fictitious characters.
The trilogy of one-act plays that make up “Mourning Becomes Electra” also highlights O’Neill’s trademark insight into the desires and struggles of the human condition as well as a haunting musical score. The setting for the play is the exterior and interior of the temple-like Mannon house.
September’s production will be performed in the Tao House courtyard as well as in the Old Barn theater a short walk away. Directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes, “Mourning Becomes Electra” will run Sept. 14-29, with ticket sales beginning in July. For more information, visit eugeneoneill.org online or contact taohouse.eonf@gmail.com.
— Eugene O’Neill Foundation
ANTIOCH
‘Phantom Returns’ June 9 with legendary actor D’Ambrosio
El Campanil Theatre at 2 p.m. June 9 will present “The Phantom Returns” starring Franc D’Ambrosio, a masterful performer combining an impeccable voice, signature storytelling and unmatched charisma that brings audiences around the world to their feet.
Best-known for his impressive portrayal of the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning musical “The Phantom of the Opera,” D’Ambrosio performed as the famed masked man more than 2,100 times.
Affectionately known as the “Iron Man of the Mask,” he held the title of “The World’s Longest-Running Phantom” for more than a decade, bringing more than 5 million theater-goers to their feet in a 6½-year run.
That distinction just scratches the surface of an illustrious career spanning decades, though, including D’Ambrosio’s emotional portrayal of the opera-singing Anthony Corleone, son of Al Pacino and Diane Keaton’s characters in the seven-time Academy Award-nominated film “Godfather III.”
He also has released three successful solo CDs, one of which has the unique distinction as the chosen soundtrack for Barry Manilow’s daily workout. In addition to his one-man shows, he is also currently touring the world with “The Four Phantoms In Concert.”
Visit elcampaniltheatre.com online for tickets, which are $32 for general admission, $29 for seniors and $15 for youths. The theater is at 602 W. Second St. in Antioch.
— El Campanil Theatre
TRACY
Grand Theatre to host solo show by Oakley artist Roberts
“Color Songs: Paintings by Nancy Roberts” is featuring the well-known Oakley artist in a solo show now through July 27 in Tracy’s Grand Theatre Center for the Arts at 715 Central Ave.
The show will include about 75 paintings in her collection, giving viewers a colorful tour of her bold art over the years. An artist’s gallery talk will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. June 22, and a painting demonstration will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. July 17.
The gallery is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 209-831-6278 or visit atthegrand.org online.
— Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
WALNUT CREEK
See artist’s watercolor paintings on synthetic surface Yupo
Now through June 24, the Valley Art Gallery is exhibiting work from artist Juanita Hagberg, who paints watercolors reflecting her experiences and emotional responses to nature, using the synthetic surface Yupo.
Yupo “paper” brings interesting properties to watercolors, as it is smooth and provides an inherent brilliance of color. Hagberg is self-taught, often painting “en plein air” and then further developing her paintings into a more abstract expression of her feelings. Her paintings have been in many juried shows and featured in a variety of publications. She also conducts workshops and gives demonstrations about painting watercolor on Yupo.
The gallery also has a new display of unusual fine crafts and artist-designed gift cards. Gallery staff area available by phone or email to discuss any work that may have sparked your interest — or to arrange a no-obligation, one-on-one gallery appointment at a time of your choosing.
All two-dimensional work is available for sale or rent through the gallery’s “No Regrets” rental option. The gallery is at 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek. For more information, go online to valleyartgallery.org or call 925-935-4311.
— Valley Art Gallery
ORINDA
Gallery’s ‘Ekphrasis Exhibition’ to be displayed until June 28
The Lamorinda Arts Alliance, Lamorinda Arts Council and California Writers Club, Mount Diablo Branch, have collaborated to present “Ekphrasis Exhibition” in the Orinda Library’s art gallery from now through June 28.
The exhibit’s organizers say “ekphrasis” is a Greek word defined as writing that describes, explains or is inspired by another art form, a literary device that began with Plato and Aristotle, and that beautiful things happen when the arts intertwine.
The arts groups, along with the writers club branch, developed this creative project as an exhibition of fine artworks that inspire literary works, which will be on display to be enjoyed by the public, art and literary enthusiasts and collectors.
Visitors to the exhibit will be immersed in the inspired works of more than 90 talented visual artists and authors showcased in a diverse range of literary expressions, including prose/flash in fiction, nonfiction, memoir, essay and poetic forms. The visual artwork is in mixed media, glasswork, sculpture, paintings, photography and porcelain.
The library’s art gallery at 26 Orinda Way in Orinda is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on Sundays. For more information, visit laa4art.org online.
— Lamorinda Arts Council
Submit area arts-and-entertainment On Tap items to Judith Prieve at jprieve@bayareanewsgroup.com.