News Roundup, Aug. 18, 2022
The classical music scene is rather quiet at this time of the year, but the Olmos Ensemble tries to fill the void. It starts its season with three August concerts, the second of which will take place Sunday at their performing home, The Laurel Heights United Methodist Church. Dubbed “Treasures of the Baroque,” the program includes the big stars of the period – Bach, Vivaldi, Rameau and Telemann. For this occasion, the ensemble will consist of four musicians: violinist Eric Gratz, flutist and the group’s artistic director Mark Teplitsky, and guest artists, cellist Qizhen Liu and harpsichordist Evan Kory. (Aug. 21 at 2 p.m.; Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, 227 West Woodlawn, 78212; 210-733-7156; to contact Olmos call 210-269-1925; www.olmostensemble@gmail.com; free but donations encouraged.)
The pop-rock scene stays pretty lively.
The classic rock band, Kansas, will perform Saturday at the Real Life Amphitheater. 38 Special will open. (Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.; Real Life Amphitheater, 16765 Lookout Rd.; Tickets $39.50 – $ 89.50, at the Tobin Center’s box office; tickets@tobincenter.org)
Mexican pop/rock star Gloria Trevi’s current world tour, Isla Divina, stops here Sunday. Often referred to as “the Madonna of Mexico,” the singer/songwriter/actress and businesswoman, who now lives in S. Texas, will wow her fans with all her hits. (Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.; Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston; tickets $22-$623 through Ticketmaster or in-person at the AT&T Center box office; also, at
www.freemancoliseum.com/ticket-box-office/)
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band will spend an evening with you at the Majestic Theater, probably serenading you with hits from the past and new numbers from the artist’s latest album “12th of June.” (Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Majestic Theater; 224 E. Houston; tickets start at $55; 210-226-3333, info@majesticempire.com)
Sunday is going to be a busy day! My Chemical Romance, a New Jersey-based band known for its alternate rock, pop punk and emo genres,will be at the AT&T Center. (Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $79.50 – $229.50 at AT&T center’s box office; www.attcenter.com)
And again, on Sunday, The Stadium Tour featuring Def Leppard, the Motley Crue, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, will perform at the largest San Antonio venue, the Alamodome. (Aug. 21 at 4:30 p.m.; Alamodome downtown; tickets $49 – $700+)
There are new shows at several local theaters.
Teatro Audaz will present “Bad Hombres/Good Wives,” described as “a show that puts the idea of machismo on trial in a hilarious and effective way.” Written by Herbert Siguenza and directed by Carlos Calderon, the production aims at to end the 2022 season with a grand finale. (Opens Aug. 25; performances Thursdays-Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Runs through Sept. 4; Cellar Theater at the Public Theater, 800 W Ashby Pl; 361-444-3931; Tickets are $15-$25; boxoffice@teatroaudaz.com)
And more laughs are in store for theatergoers at the Overtime Theater which will open “Pirates vs Ninjas: The Musical” next week. This is how playwright, Scott McDowell, described his show: “There are Pirates. There are Ninjas. They will face one another in the heat of battle, knives clenched in their teeth! And then – they will burst into song! Because that’s how it goes in San Texania, home of the warring Pirate and Ninja clans. Silly good family fun for everyone!” (Opens Aug. 26; performances Fridays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.; $18 general admission with discounts for SATCO members, the military and students with an ID; 5409 Bandera Rd., Ste 205; 78238, just inside 410. Tickets are available at the door or online at www.ShowTix4u.com, 210-577-7562; www.theovertimetheater,org)
Also at the Overtime: Friday Night Improv House Party at 10:30 p.m. through Aug. 26th, and The Denials Improv Comedy at 10:30 p.m. Saturdays.
At the Woodlawn Theater, catch a performance of “A Chorus Line,” that no other San Antonio production company could pull off at this time. (Runs through Sept. 4; Fridays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.; Woodlawn theater, Fredericksburg Rd., 78201; 210-267-8388; www.woodlawntheatre.org)
And here’s something a bit unusual: The Possibilities of Books, an online event organized by the San Antonio Public Library. The presentation by artist, Alan Sobrino, will provide an overview of the history of books as a background to talk about small presses and the publishing scene. Sobrino is co-founder of Errant Press, “a micro-press that publishes and supports bilingual books from “LATAM” artists.” Its mission is “to free literature from its rectangular cages and to propose new physical spaces that can be inhabited by stories.” (Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.; virtual event; 210-207-2500, www.mysapl.org)
An important exhibit is opening Saturday at the Musical Bridges Around the World Gallery. The organization that was founded years ago to bring musicians from around the globe to play in San Antonio, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a special JUBILEE show, featuring the artists -local, and others – who have exhibited in that space since the gallery opened in 2013. (Opening reception id Aug. 20, but the show will remain in the space through the end of the year. (To learn more about the exhibit and the MBAW Gallery, see our article, “JUBILEE Exhibition Celebrates MBAW’s 25th Anniversary” from Aug.17, on this site.)
There are several exhibitions at Artpace right now, but the Main Space show, “Every Time We Say Goodbye” is an especially charming one. You will have an opportunity to hear the artist behind the work, Michael Guerra Foerster, talk about his art and artistic process Saturday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. (Artpace, 445 N. Main, 78205; 210-212-4900, https://artpace.org)
Two major festivals are coming our way: Fotoseptiembre USA is already underway. Check out the FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA 2022 Online Gallery, and find out which galleries around town and beyond are participating. Detailed info is posted on the festival’s website at https://fotoseptiembreusa.com/fotoseptiembre/2022-fotoseptiembre/.
The other festival is the misnamed 7th Annual World Heritage Festival,* which will start with a press conference and festival preview to which the community is invited too, not just the press. The event will feature guest speakers and special cultural performances. After that opening salvo, a number of events will follow in September, and we will tell you more about them. (*Why “misnamed”? because it is not a festival of world cultures and heritage. It’s a celebration of our own heritage, part of which – The Spanish Missions – was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Cultural Site. So, let us suggest a new name: “The San Antonio Missions Festival” or “The Celebration of Heritage Festival.” Readers, any other suggestions?
URBAN-15 has issued a call for entries for its 2022 Josiah Film Festival, which is a fest for young filmmakers, 21 and younger, from across the world. It was founded in 2007 to honor Josiah Miles Neundorf, a promising San Antonio filmmaker who died of bone cancer in 2006. Deadline: Aug. 31. (URBAN-15 Studios, 2500 S. Presa, San Antonio, TX 78205; www.urban-15.org)
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is fast approaching the closing of its unique exhibit, “Sons of Charlie Russell: Cowboy Artists of America” but there’s still time to “Saddle up for End of Summer Fun.” On Saturday, Aug 20, the focus will be on windmills with “Full STEAM Ahead: Whimsical Windmills.” Windmills were the first home innovation powered by an alternative energy source. The special 2-hour program invites families to create their own alternative energy homes using recyclable materials. (Aug. 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) The Briscoe is also presenting a summer film series beginning with “Wind River,” on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. And, of course, you get to see the exhibit which is closing in early September. (Briscoe Museum, 210 W. Market St., 78205; 210-299-4499; kids under 12 enjoy free admission www.briscoemuseum.org)
The mighty local choral organization, The San Antonio Mastersingers, that often performed with the San Antonio Symphony, needs new members. Auditions will be held every Saturday through Aug.27, at the University United Methodist Church, 5804 De Zavala, 78249 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (For more info call 210-260-2082 or go to http://www.samastersingers.org)
And at least two other organization are recruiting, so to speak. Both Ballet San Antonio and the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, are ready to audition young dancers for their respective, upcoming “Nutcracker” productions. Ballet San Antonio is holding auditions on Sundays – Aug. 21 and 28 – at the company’s school, ages 5 to 18. (For details go to www.balletsanantonio.org)
Auditions for CBSA are scheduled for Aug. 27, from noon to 6 p.m.; Dance Center of San Antonio, 126 W. Rector, Suite 120, 78216; https://www.childrensballetofsanantonio.org/audtions.