Songs full of emotion and gorgeous harmonies from five consummate professionals alternate tales of poignant ghost stories with a variety of gorgeous music ranging from classical to country to folk to jazz and more in Oakland Theater Project’s “Ghost Quartet,” running through Nov. 24 in Oakland and Dec. 5-7 in San Francisco.
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The cello played brilliantly by Ami Nashimoto helps create an ambiance for all the tales, with Michael Perez combining his acting and singing talents by playing a variety of percussion instruments. The Grammy Award-winning Rinde Eckert brings his extensive experience to the production, alternating acting and singing with playing piano, organ, slide guitar and percussion. Monica Rose Slater plays glockenspiel, accordion, harp and percussion in between her impressive vocals while Veronica Renner interchanges accordion, autoharp and percussion with her acting and vocal skills.
The various instruments, especially percussion, punctuate the unfolding stories aided by Dr. Stephanie Anne Johnson’s lighting (which includes a ceiling full of stars at times) and Trevaj “True” Siller’s chilling sound effects. Curtains softly blowing through the open French doors add to the ghostly atmosphere.
When given percussion instruments for one song, the audience joins their own beat to the music.
Each story is unique — some scary, others angry or funny, while one praises different kinds of whiskey. Another about a father and son arguing happens to the pulsing beat of the drums and is filled with discordant notes. One about two sisters is achingly beautiful while yet another tells of a man who serenades a ghost each night hoping to be forgiven for a nameless offense.
For tickets to this innovative performance experience in Oakland on 1501 Martin Luther King Jr Way, call 510-646-1126 or go to oaklandtheaterproject.org/ghost. For tickets to the San Francisco performances on 3153 17th St., call 415-549-8534 or email boxoffice@odc.dance.
Alameda: Larissa Fasthorse has quite a premise for her satirical comedy “The Thanksgiving Play,” where four white, insensitive theater artists attempt to write a politically correct elementary school play for Native American Heritage Month.
In their attempt to be politically correct, the four characters spend more time tripping over their own biases much to the pleasure of the audience. Unfortunately, the insensitive gags are often more offensive than funny.
Performing through Nov. 24 at Altarena Theatre, the show is directed by Kimberly Ridgeway, who adds many comedic touches.
The show features Will Livingston as Jaxton, a semi-professional actor committed to yoga moves and deep breathing with Cary Ann Rosko as Logan, his girlfriend and the director of the play. She is also a vegan who gets sick when an improv involving the slaughter of turkeys is done by the actors she’s hired. Tyler Iias is Caden, a playwright and historian with tons of irrelevant facts and Anna Kosiarek plays Alicia, a beautiful professional actor from Los Angeles whom Logan hired for her Native American heritage. As it turns out, Alicia isn’t Native American at all and was hired off one of her headshots where she dressed as an Indian.
The cast embrace their roles with lots of enthusiasm, with Alicia especially impressive as her seemingly simplistic actions keep her in the present while Caden, Logan and Jaxton overthink everything.
One of Ridgeway’s nice additions is Caden and Alicia turning to watch Logan and Jaxton fight while enjoying a bowl of popcorn.
For tickets, call 510-523-1553 or go to altarena.org.
Antioch: Now in its 22nd year, “Christmas at the Biltmore” returns for the holidays. The story of hope and discovery written by Steve Kinsella follows three families who decide to escape something at home by spending the holidays at the Biltmore hotel. They discover, however, the very thing they wanted to avoid waiting for them at the Biltmore.
Full of lots of laughter thanks to the antics of the hotel staff, the show runs Nov. 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Black Diamond Middle School theater on 4730 Sterling Hill Drive.
To reserve tickets, go to brentwoodteentheater.com.
Brentwood: “Arsenic and Old Lace” invites audiences into the world of the eccentric Brewster family where charm and mayhem blend seamlessly. Here two lovely elderly sisters put lonely old men out of their misery with homemade elderberry wine while their brother thinks he’s President Teddy Rosevelt. Their nephew Mortimer, a New York drama critic, finds himself grappling with his unconventional relatives while pursuing a romance with the pastor’s daughter.
Produced by Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, the quick-witted comedy runs through Sunday at The Theatre at Edna Hill on 140 Birch St. For tickets, go to ghostlightte.org.
Piedmont: Festival Opera’s final recital of the season happens Sunday at 4 p.m. at Piedmont Center for the Arts on 801 Magnolia Ave. It features baritone Zachary Gordin and pianist Daniel Lockert. Go to festivalopera.org for tickets.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.