Arts Alive San Antonio

Here we are, in the new year! The arts scene is still a bit slow as everyone is recovering from the
“holiday-ing.” But there are events to look forward to.

If you are missing symphonic music, you only have to drive to Kerrville to enjoy “Pops and Popcorn: A Night at the Movies,” a concert of film music performed by the Symphony of the Hills. Conductor and artistic director, Eugene Dowdy, will conduct. The program includes music from “Dances with Wolves,” “Band of Brothers,” “Wonder Woman,” the Batman Theme, Star Wars Suite and others. (Jan. 6 at 7 p.m., Cailloux Theater, 910 Main, Kerrville. A wine reception for ticket-holders begins at 6 p.m.; tickets start at $34, available at www.dymphonyofthehills.org)

Also in Kerrville, you can catch Landon Lloyd Miller, who is credited with inventing his own brand of American roots music. (Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.; Arcadia Theater, 717 Water Street, Kerrville, 78028; boxoffice@thearcadialive.org; more info at www.thearcadualive.org)

The Carver Community Cultural Center Center will present Haley Reinhart, of “American Idol” fame.
(Jan. 4 at 8 p.m.; 226 N. Hackberry St.; tickets are $36 at www.thecarver.org)

Two prominent San Antonio choir ensembles – The San Antonio Choral Society and the Mastersingers are holding auditions for new singers. The Mastersingers need tenor and bass voices. (Auditions Jan 6, 8 a.m. – 2p.m.; University Methodist Church, 5084 DE Zavala Rd.; to reach the Mastersingers call 210-260-2082; more info at https://www.samastersingers.org). The Choral Society requires appointments. Auditions will take place at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Jan. 6 &7, 2-4 p.m.; email: director@sachoralsociety.org)

The Cactus Pear Music Fest has good news for music lovers. All tickets for the summer fest’s concerts will be free this year. You’ll still have to register, however. Donations are, of course, welcome. If we understood correctly, all concerts will be in the same location. Both changes are likely to please concertgoers. (For more visit https://www.cpmf.us)

Looking for other music events during this quiet time, we came across this: The Bluegrass Jam in Boerne. You can bring your instrument and join the concert or just come and enjoy the music. (Jan. 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Boerne Agricultural Museum and Art Center, 102 City Park Rd.; located by the soccer fields and the Boerne City Pool; 210-445-1080)

The big Chinese classical dance spectacle, Shen Yun is making another visit to San Antonio this month.
The dancing is outstanding, the costumes are beautiful and the tech elements add some unexpected visual effects. (Jan. 13, at 2 p.m., and at 7 p.m.; Jan. 14 at 1 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; $84; for tickets call 210-223-8624 or tickets@tobincenter.org)

Coming up at the Tobin on Jan. 18, is another dance show: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo; very different from Shen Yun. More about that in later Roundup.

And there are a few things taking place in the theaters. You may not know that the Tobin Center has its own theater production company called 100A. The shows produced will employ San Antonio directors, actors and designers. Prior to the opening date, the company organizes readings and discussions. Such a reading for local thespians – called Industry Night Reading – is scheduled for Jan. 8 for “Sweat,” a play by Lynn Nottage. The story focusses on factory workers who are faced with losing their jobs, as their jobs are being transferred to other countries as a result of the NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. It’s a pretty powerful play.  

If you are a thespian and would be interested to become part of this production on stage or behind the scenes, you can submit an “artist inquiry” at www.tobincenter.org/sweat. (tickets for the reading are $13.50 to $15 at box office 210-223-8624 or tickets@tobincenter.org)

A new play is opening at the always bustling Overtime Theater: “Murder She Barked” by San Antonio playwright Scott McDowell. It’s a “comedy/noir mystery. The main character is Debbie Steele, a dog walker, detective and former TV star from the 70s and 80s. She is retired in the sleepy town of Port Cove where she solves mysteries with her newly found power – the ability to talk to animals. She and her three dogs tackle a murder case. (Through Feb. 13; The Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Rd., Ste 205, 78238, 210-557-7562; tickets are $18; http://theovertimetheater.org)

The Jump-Start Performance Co. is gearing up for its annual Performance Party: Teatro EXTRANO, curated and produced this year by sisters Sarah and Lilith Tijerina. The show will feature brief performances by a number of artists, including Amalia Ortiz, Stephan Gaeth, Jacque Salame, Anna DeLuna, Kimberly Montford, Clint Taylor, Marisela Barrera and others. “Extrano” means “weird/strange.”
(Jan. 6, 2024 at 8 p.m., at SAY SI, 1310 S. Brazos St.; tickets $0 – $25; www.jump-start.org)

The hilarious show, Late Nite Catechism, returns to the Empire Theater next week. (Jan. 13 at 7 p.m.; Empire Theater, tickets are $35-$110; www.majesticempire.com/events/)