Arts & Entertainment
“The Metromaniacs” Opens at Spreckles in Rohnert Park November 24
The Metromaniacs
Written by David Ives
Directed by Kevin Bordi
November 24 – December 17
Fri. & Sat. at 7:30pm
Sunday matinee at 2:00pm
It’s springtime in Paris,1738. Poets are the rock stars of the day, and young people like Damis have gone metromanie–crazy for poetry. So verse-crazed is Damis, he falls in love with his favorite poetess, not knowing that his idol is actually a wealthy, middle-aged gentleman writing under a pen name! As said gentleman looks to marry off his sexy but dimwitted daughter, we are off and running in a breathless series of complications, plot twists, and mistaken identities. Soon, scheming servants, verbal acrobatics, and mistaken identities launch a breathless series of twists and turns in this breezy translation/adaptation of a rediscovered French farce by comedic master David Ives.
“A marvel of old and new, with punchlines that glisten with classical flair and contemporary savvy! Frisky, competitive wordplay, and high-octane mix-ups…almost criminally enjoyable.”
–Washington Post
Considerations: Sexual innuendo and mild adult language.
All PRICES REFLECT $2 FACILITY FEE
General $34
Senior (62+) $28
Student $22
Child (18-) $18
ROHNERT PARK RESIDENTS
General $26
Senior (62+) $24
Student $22
Child (18-) $12
Occidental Center for the Arts welcomes the Leading Lady of West Coast Folk & Bluegrass, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands Nov. 26
Sunday November 26 @ 4 pm. Occidental Center for the Arts welcomes the Leading Lady of West Coast Folk & Bluegrass, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands! Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/fiddler/educator Laurie Lewis joins forces with the virtuosic talents of The Right Hands at OCA’s acoustic sweet spot! From foot-stomping instrumentals to heartfelt ballads, Laurie Lewis and her Right Hands take you on a musical journey that’s as diverse as it is captivating. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of bluegrass or just looking for a delightful way to spend your afternoon, this concert promises to be a joyous celebration of music and community. $30 GA/$25 OCA Members at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org; or at the door. Fine refreshments, art gallery open. Accessible to mobility-challenged patrons. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA 95465 707-874-9392. Become an OCA Member for discounts to all events.
“Elf – The Musical Opens at 6th Street Playhouse November 24
Elf The Musical is a must-see holiday musical based on the 2003 hit film starring Will Ferrell!
One Christmas Eve, a young orphan crawls into Santa’s bag of toys and is unknowingly transported to the North Pole. Buddy the Elf, grows up unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities make him face the truth. With Santa’s blessing, Buddy travels to New York City to discover his true identity and find his birth father. Upon learning that his father is on the naughty list, and that his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy becomes determined to win over his family and help New York rediscover its Christmas spirit.
This box-office-record-breaking musical combines vintage comic style and high-energy contemporary music and delivers jolly holiday entertainment for the whole family!
Elf The Musical
November 24 – December 17, 2023
GK Hardt Theater
book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin music by Matthew Sklar lyrics by Chad Beguelin
director Aja Gianola-Norris, music director Ginger Beavers, choreographer Rachel Wynne
Thursday | Adults $29 Under 30 (18 – 29) $28 Youth (5 – 17) $19 |
Friday Evenings & Saturday Matinees | Adults $41 Value Seats $35 Under 30 (18 – 29) $28 Youth (5 – 17) $19 |
Saturday Evenings | Adults $41 Value Seats $35 Under 30 (5 – 29) $28 |
Sunday | Adults $51 Under 30 (18 – 29) $28 Youth (5 – 17) $19 |
Run time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission
ADA Seats: If there are no ADA seats online, please contact the Box Office.
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
December 1, 2, 3, 9 & 10 Occidental Community Choir Winter Concerts 2023: “Comfort and Joy
December 1, 2, 3, 9, 10. Occidental Community Choir Winter Concerts 2023: “Comfort and Joy.” Directed by Gage Purdy.
Born around an Occidental bonfire in the winter of 1978, our west county chorale is pleased to present a joyous winter concert of songs and spoken word that soothe and inspire, celebrate resilience, tradition and community, and make us laugh and cry in these fraught times. We offer our own choir composers’ ‘ Music from Home’, blended with contemporary and classic compositions spanning many genres and cultures – plus poetry and theatrics – to spread ‘Comfort and Joy’. Tickets are $25.@ occidentalchoir.org/tickets. Kids 12 and under $1 with online seat reservation. Be sure to get your tickets in advance so you don’t miss out!
Friday, Dec. 1 @ 7 pm – Community First Night $10; Saturday, Dec. 2 @ 7 pm; Sunday, Dec. 3 @ 3 pm; Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7 pm concerts will be held at Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Ct., Occidental, 95465. Sunday, Dec 10 @ 3 pm concert will be at Glaser Center , 547 Mendocino Ave. Santa Rosa 95401 .
Ariel Marin & James Earley at Occidental Center for the Arts Amphitheater October 15
Sunday, October 15 @ 4 pm. Ariel Marin & James Earley at Occidental Center for the Arts Amphitheater. Ariel Marin is a powerhouse singer/songwriter on track to be the next global superstar. She is on a mission to invigorate and inspire the world through music and creative expression. Multiplatinum MC Hammer producer James Earley is responsible for some of the biggest hits you know and love. Ariel & James play it all: Funk, Rock, Soul, Pop, Folk, Country, R&B, Motown, Gospel, & Jazz! Don’t miss this exciting show in our outdoor theater. Tickets are $30 GA/$25 OCA Members at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org; or at the door. Rain moves concert indoors. Please bring your own seat cushion or low-backed chair. Reserved seating at ground level is available for mobility-challenged patrons – email [email protected] . Fine refreshments available, art gallery open during intermission. OCA is a non profit arts organization with volunteer staffing.
‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Starts a Four Weekend Run at 6th STreet Playhouse October 13
Perfectly timed for the Halloween season, 6th Street Playhouse is presenting The Legend of Sleepy Hollow like it’s never been seen, or felt, before. Playwright John Minigan has adapted Washington Irving’s 1820 classic into a one-man play that is storytelling at its best. Directed by Marty Pistone (To Kill a Mockingbird), with an original score by Nate Riebli (The River Bride), this spellbinding theatrical experience combines humor, suspense, romance, and the supernatural. It is perfect for audiences of all ages. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow runs Friday, October 13 through November 5, 2023 in the Monroe Stage.
“Splendid…Captures both the thrill of the spooky story and its moral…With subtlety and finesse…Minigan manages to give this familiar tale a fresh eye.”—Terry Byrne, The Boston Globe
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is an entertaining adaptation of the tale of the Headless Horseman that is both humorous and frightening. Staged in an abandoned New England pub some years after the Revolutionary War, Washington Irving tells the story through a single actor embodying the many (20) particular characters that inhabit Sleepy Hollow.
Gangly, awkward and arrogant Ichabod Crane is a poor and superstitious schoolmaster who moves to the secluded village of Sleepy Hollow. It is a town known for its haunting legends, particularly the one about the terrifying Headless Horseman, a ghostly figure said to roam the woods at night in search of his lost head
Ichabod loses his own head over his student, the flirtatious heiress Katrina Van Tassel, and attempts to maneuver his way into her good graces to satisfy his huge appetites. However, he finds himself in competition with another suitor, the brawny and boisterous Brom Bones.
After attending a harvest party at the Van Tassel farm, Ichabod experiences a solitary, spine-tingling ride home, through the dark woods…until he encounters the Headless Horseman, and a heart-pounding chase ensues! He’s in for the ride of his life!
The play adaptation of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” focuses on the suspenseful and supernatural elements of the story. It delves into themes of the perils of misinformation, the corrupting nature of gluttony and greed, rivalry, superstition and the power of folklore, making it a thrilling and atmospheric one-man show that captivates audiences with its haunting tale.
This production is in the capable hands of director Marty Pistone. His 6th Street Playhouse directorial credits include The River Bride, To Kill a Mockingbird, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown!, Stage Kiss, Anna of the Tropics, The Graduate, and The Mystery of Irma Vep. Previously he directed the world premiere of Galatea at Spreckels Theater which won Best Stage Direction, Best Actor, Best Set Design, Best Projection and Best Entire Production in the Bay Area.
Pistone’s vision for this production focuses on the nature of storytelling which encourages the audience to use their vivid imaginations. He references artists like Harry Chapin and Alfred Hitchcock, who would thrill audiences by showing them something suggestive and then let their own imaginations fill in the blanks.
“Nothing is scarier than what’s in your own mind,” said Pistone.
An expert technical team, which includes Costume Designer Mae Heagerty-Matos, Lighting Designer April George, Projectionist Eric Katsuleres, Sound Designer Ben Roots, Composer Nate Riebli, and Set Designer Guilio Perrone, will support the storytelling by providing immersive sound effects and captivating visuals to leave you spellbound.
This show will linger in your mind long after the final curtain call.
Adapted from the story by Washington Irving by John Minigan, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow premiered at the Greater Boston Stage Company on October 21, 2022, as part of the Don Fulton New Works Project and was directed by Weylin Symes.
Playwright John Minigan’s plays include The Queen of Sad Mischance, Closing Doors, Breaking the Shakespeare Code and Tall Tales from Blackburn Tavern. His work has been presented in New York by Circle Rep, Urban Stages, and Shelter West and his new plays are developed and workshopped internationally. His full-length comedy, Noir Hamlet, most recently seen at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, was named a Best of Boston Theater for 2018 and a 2019 nominee for the Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding New Script. He is a 2020 winner of the New American Voices Festival, a 2019 winner of the Clauder Competition for new plays, and a finalist for the 2018 O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Minigan’s work is published by Applause, Smith & Kraus, True Acting Institute, YOUTHPlays, and New World Theatre.
The Cast of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is as follows:
Washington Irving – Skylar Evans played Macbeth at Petaluma Shakespeare, Max/Cecil in The One-Act Play That Goes Wrongat Left Edge Theatre and performed for years with the improv for children troupe: The Chalkboard Players. Up next, Skylar will be directing Everybody.
Washington Irving Alternate – Nic Moore played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at The Curtain Theatre and has performed with many companies in the Bay Area including: Sonoma Arts Live, Alter Theater, New Conservatory Theater Center, Theatre Rhinoceros, and Novato Theater Company.
Dates/Times:
October 13 – November 5, 2023
Preview Performance—Thursday, October 12 at 7:30pm — $24
Opening Night— Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm, Champagne reception to celebrate the show with your friends, the cast and artistic team.
Runs Thursdays—Sundays (see website for details)
Run Time: 90 minutes plus a 15-minute intermission.
Tickets cost $24 – $37 and are available online at 6thStreetPlayhouse.com
or by calling the Box Office at (707) 523-4185.
Mill Valley Film Festival, October 5 – 15, Offers Many LGBTQI+ Features, Documentaries and Short Films
FEATURE FILMS
The Disappearance of Shere Hite (US, documentary feature, dir. Nicole Newnham) Shere Hite’s
1976 bestselling book, The Hite Report, liberated the female orgasm by revealing the most private
experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Her findings rocked the American
establishment and presaged current conversations about gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy.
So how did Shere Hite disappear?
Fancy Dance (US, narrative feature, dir. Erica Tremblay) Following her sister’s disappearance, a
Native American hustler (Lily Gladstone, The Unknown Country, MVFF 2022) kidnaps her niece
from the child’s white grandparents and sets out for the state powwow in hopes of keeping what is
left of their family intact. Ages 15+ – Bay Area Premiere
Housekeeping for Beginners (North Macedonia / Sweden / Kosovo / Poland / Serbia / Croatia,
narrative feature, dir. Golan Stolevsky) From acclaimed filmmaker Goran Stolevski comes a story
exploring the universal truths of family, both the ones we’re born into and the ones we find for
ourselves. Dita never wanted to be a mother, but circumstances force her to raise her girlfriend’s
two daughters, tiny troublemaker Mia and rebellious teen Vanesa. A battle of wills ensues as the
three continue to butt heads and become an unlikely family that must fight to stay together. In
Macedonian with English subtitles – US Premiere
Maestro (US, narrative feature, dir. Bradley Cooper) Maestro is a towering and fearless love story
chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) and Felicia
Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan). A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is
an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.
Monster (Japan, narrative feature, dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda) Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda
(Shoplifters, MVFF 2019) returns in this Rashomon-like tale of a troubling school incident that
proves much less clear-cut than initially believed. When her young son Minato starts to behave
strangely, his mother feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is
responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what’s going on. But as the story
unfolds through the eyes of mother, teacher and child, the truth gradually emerges. In Japanese
with English subtitles – West Coast Premiere
National Anthem (US, narrative feature, dir. Luke Gilford) Dylan (Charlie Plummer), a 21-year-
old construction worker in New Mexico, joins a community of queer rodeo performers in search of
their own version of the American dream. While working on a communal ranch in the breathtaking
and poetic expanse of the American Southwest, they contend with the undeniable powers of
nature, family, and love. – West Coast Premiere
Nyad (US, narrative feature, dirs. Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi) From acclaimed
documentarians Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (The Rescue, MVFF 2021), Nyad
tells the remarkable true story of athlete Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) who, at the age of 60
and with the help of her best friend and coach (Jodie Foster), commits to achieving her life-
long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida.
The Persian Version (US, narrative feature, dir. Maryam Keshavarz) Coming from two countries
at odds with each other, Iranian-American Leila (Layla Mohammadi) strives to find balance and
embrace her opposing cultures, while boldly challenging the labels society is so quick to project
upon her. When her family reunites in New York City for her father’s heart transplant, Leila
navigates her relationships from arm’s length in an effort to keep her “real” life separate from her
family life. However, when her secret is unceremoniously revealed, so are the distinct parallels
between her life and that of her mother, Shireen (Niousha Noor). Winner of the U.S. Dramatic
Audience Award and Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. –
West Coast Premiere
Robot Dreams (Spain/France, animated feature, dir. Pablo Berger) Based on the popular graphic
novel by North American writer Sara Varon, Robot Dreams is the first animation film by the
award-winning director Pablo Berger (Blancanieves). A story about friendship, its importance, and
its fragility. DOG lives in Manhattan and he’s tired of being alone. One day he decides to build
himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the
rhythm of 80’s NYC. One summer night, DOG, with great sadness, is forced to abandon ROBOT
at the beach. Will they ever meet again? Ages 10+ – California Premiere
Rustin (US, narrative feature, dir. George C. Wolfe) Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo) was the
architect of 1963’s March on Washington. He challenged authority and never apologized for who
he was, but was forgotten despite making history. Rustin spotlights the man who, alongside
Martin Luther King Jr., dared to imagine a different world and inspired a movement. – West
Coast Premiere
Saltburn (US, narrative feature, dir. Emerald Fennell) Academy Award winning filmmaker
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) brings us a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and
desire. Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan)
finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi),
who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be
forgotten.
SHORT FILMS
binary. (Milan Mackenzie Wood & Maddie Barbiee, US 2023, 14 min) In this intimate look into the
life of a young transgender person inspired by androgynous rockstars, a teen struggles to
understand who they really are while facing conflict with those around them.
Farther (Een Saam) (Josh Hundermark, South Africa 2022, 15 mins) A father faces some difficult
truths when he revisits the past with his daughter. In Afrikaans with English subtitles
Mist (Niebla) (Leonardo Romero Zarza, Colombia 2020, 10 min) When Nicolas and his family
move from the city to a new house next to a forest, his perception of his new environment starts
to change thanks to mysterious encounters with native animals. In Spanish with English subtitles
No More Longing (Connor Lee O’Keefe, US 2022, 16 mins) Seven years after moving from
Brazil to California to pursue his love of music and four years after starting testosterone, Jaime
Jobim searches for his new voice. In English & Portuguese with English subtitles
Once Was (Lilian Bowden, US 2023, 11 min) A reunion with a former romantic partner spurs a
moment of reflection.
An Ordinary Day (Ju-yeon Gim, South Korea 2023, 19 min) Two female friends — one blind, the
other in a wheelchair — find that this day they decided to spend together is anything but ordinary.
In Korean with English subtitles
Paul McCandless/Christian Foley-Beining Collaboration at Occidental Center for the Arts Amphitheater October 1
Sunday, October 1 at 4 pm. Paul McCandless/Christian Foley-Beining Collaboration at Occidental Center for the Arts Amphitheater. Guitarist Christian Foley-Beining has been performing at OCA for many years, bringing his talented bandmates for an impressive show. Don’t miss out on a lovely afternoon jazz performance in our shade-cooled amphitheater, celebrating the release of his new CD ‘Cascade Terrace’. Featuring: Christian Foley-Beining, Paul McCandless, Tom Shader, and Tom Hiyashi. Tickets are $25 GA, $20 for OCA Members at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org; or at the door Please bring your seat cushion or low-backed chair. Reserve seating for mobility-challenged is available by emailing [email protected]. Doors at 3:30 PM, fine refreshments for sale, art gallery open during intermission. Become an OCA Member and get discounts for all events! 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465. 707-874-9392.
Holly Near and Friends at Occidental Center for the Arts, Friday, September 29
Friday September 29 at 7 pm. Holly Near and Friends at Occidental Center for the Arts. The legendary Holly Near returns to OCA with her multi-talented collaborators Jan Martinelli, Tammy Hall and Christelle Durandy for a special performance! Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Holly and friends as they celebrate 50 years of honoring the human spirit through music. Tickets are $40 GA/$35 OCA Members at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. Get your tickets early as this show may sell out! Doors open at 6:30 pm. Fine Refreshments for sale, art gallery open during intermission. Accessible to patrons with mobility challenges. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465 . 707-874-9392. Become an OCA Member and get discounted admission to all events.