Thanks to theater-lover donors, the shows WILL go on at Cal Shakes

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (August 13, 2024) — Thanks to the generosity of over 700 donors, California Shakespeare Theater can open its 50th anniversary production this September. The company already had the sets and costumes designed and the show cast when a funding shortfall of $350,000 put their production of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” in jeopardy.

Executive Artistic Director Clive Worsley immediately started a GoFundMe campaign and a little over a week later, the shortfall was covered.

“We are so grateful to all those who contributed to our campaign,” said Worsley. “We had over 700 incredible donors from people we know and others we haven’t met yet, but whom I hope will come to the show and see what we’re all about.”

Directed by Elizabeth Carter, “As You Like It” features Sofia Ahmad, Catherine Castellanos, Sam Jackson, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, Alicia M. P. Nelson, Jed Parsario, Jessica Powell, Stacy Ross, Nic Sommerfeld, Chris Steele and Wiley Naman Strasser.

For tickets and additional information, go to calshakes.org.

Human Error

Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre offers a new look at the ideologies fracturing our country with Eric Pfeffinger’s “Human Error.”

The intriguing comedy introduces two very different couples – one identifies as blue-state liberals, while the other purports to be NRA-cardholding, red-state conservatives. While they don’t know each other, both couples are trying to have a baby and happen to be attending the same fertility clinic.

Thanks to a blundering doctor, the conservative wife is impregnated with the liberal wife’s fertilized embryo. You can imagine the comedic possibilities as they try to get through nine months of gestation without killing each other.

“Eric Pfeffinger’s hilarious play invites us all to take a step back, enjoy a hearty laugh at our collective quirks and perhaps discover new perspectives,” said Director Richard Perez.

The cast features Mark Anthony, Kyle Goldman, Flannery Mays, Melody Payne and John Charles Quimpo.

Town Hall Theatre is located at 3535 School Street, Lafayette. For tickets, click here.

Improv for Good

The Campbell Theater also offers lots of laughs in August with Spontaneous Mind’s “Improv for Good.” Taking place Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m., the improv troupe will perform scenes and games based on audience suggestions. Proceeds go to a local charity partner.

Then on Sept. 6, Plotline Theatre Company presents Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at the Campbell. Expect lots of laughs as a fussy, cantankerous novelist finds himself haunted by the ghost of his late wife. Needless to say, his current wife isn’t amused!

For more information on both productions, go to www.campbelltheater.com.

Ronstadt Revolution

The “Ronstadt Revolution” comes to Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. with the seven-piece “Linda Ronstadt Tribute Band.” The band, which features local vocalists Marisa Barley and Natalie Amaya, will sing the award-winning artist’s hits in both English and Spanish.

For tickets, go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

Audition

Warm up those vocal cords and get ready to sing! Diablo Women’s Chorale is looking for singers and will hold auditions on Mondays, beginning Aug. 19 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3051 Putnam Blvd., Pleasant Hill, from 7-9 p.m. Contact Nancy Hickman at 925-899-5050 or hickmandg@gmail.com. For more information on the chorale, go to www.diablowomenschorale.org.

Send comments to sallyhogarty@gmail.com.