Arts Alive San Antonio

Fiesta is not an art-event but there are art components – music, dance and a few exhibits. So, let’s get to that. Here’s what’s coming up:
Annual Fiesta Exhibit: A World of Inspiration, at the Witte Museum. It’s a show of Order of the Alamo Fiesta Gowns from the museum’s collection, plus some gowns that are temporarily loaned to the Witte. (Open through Oct. 1, 2023; Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway; admission $!3-$14, $10 for kids.
www.wittemuseum.org)

Annual Fiesta Concert by the San Antonio Symphonic Band. (April 30 at 2 p.m.; 228 S. Laredo St., 78207; free; 210-545-5654, www.sanantoniosymphonicband.com)

Fiesta Artisan Show on the River Walk. Dozens of artisans display their art, jewelry and other artifacts; free access. (April 28-30; San Antonio River Walk, 849 E. Commerce, 78205)

Fiesta Family Blues Festival, which is the premier fundraising event for the San Antonio African-American Community Archive and Museum, will feature the Keeshea Pratt Band and the San Antonio band Eddie and the Allniters. In addition, performers include Saul Paul, Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws, with a special appearance by southern soul artist, Latimore. (April 28, 5-11 p.m.; the Espee Pavilion, 1174 E. Commerce, 78205; tickets $45-$150, through Ticketmaster)

Fiesta Jazz Band Festival, organized by St. Mary’s University Department of Music. The announcement promises educational musical opportunities and a special Fiesta concert. (April 29, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; One Camino Santa Maria, 78228; free admission)

Ford Mariachi Festival includes music and dance, by high-school and college musicians and dancers.
(April 26-27, San Antonio River Walk, 849 E. Commerce St., 78205, free)

Mission Fest will take place over two days at Mission San Jose. The event supports the Mission San Jose Catholic Church. Country and Western music on Saturday, Tejano on Sunday. (April 29-30, noon to 11 p.m.; Mission San Jose, 701 E. Pyron, 78214; $10)

Praise Dance Celebration will feature performers from age 5 to age 90. The event is presented by the Alpha, Tau Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. According to the announcement, VP Kamala Harris is a member of this sorority. (April 30, 4-6 p.m.; Carver Community Cultural Center., 226 N. Hackberry, 78202; free and open to the public)

Festival de Cascarones, which will feature pop and country singer Cassadee Pope this year, is mostly a family and student affair with some 6000 cascarones to play with. (April 30, 1-8 p.m.; Texas A&M, One University Way, 78224; free)

Now, let’s see what else is going on!

The San Antonio Philharmonic will present a “celebratory community concert” to highlight the Old Spanish Trail Cultural Corridor designation, for part of Fredericksburg Rd. San Antonio songstress/song writer, Azul Barrientos, will join the musicians. (May 3 at 6:30 p.m.; San Pedro Playhouse, 800 W. Ashby; free.)

And the orchestra will also participate in the El Cinco de Mayo celebration, again with Barrientos, and the wonderful Guadalupe Dance Company. The audience will hear for the first time the song “Divino Amor” by Barrientos, in addition to symphonic arrangements of Mexican folk songs by San Antonio’s Jose Irizarry. These will be performed by Azul and the orchestra. The philharmonic will also dazzle the audience with classics by Geronimo Gimenez, Franz von Suppe, and Jose Pablo Moncayo. And then the dancers will dazzle some more with traditional Mexican folkloric dances. It sounds like an evening of music and dance not to be missed. (May 5 at 8 p.m.; Plaza Guadalupe, 1327 Guadalupe St., on the near West Side, free but registration is required at www.saphil.org/event/cinco-de-mayo.) The concert is funded in part by Bexar County.

The Agarita chamber music quartetis ending its season with a concert at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word. “Embracing the resonance of the chapel’s glorious ornate space,” the group will offer a variety of works on a variety of instruments, including Bach’s works on harpsichord and organ, which will benefit from the church’s acoustics. In addition, they will play modern works by Arvo Part, Shostakovich and Caroline Shaw. The young musicians of YOSA will join them in the concert finale – Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in F minor. (April 29 at 7:30 p.m.; Chapel of the Incarnate Word on the campus of the Incarnate Word College, 4503 Broadway, 78209; free but reservations recommended; www.agaritachamberplayers.com)

The chapel, which is really a fairly large church, will also host another promising concert next week: the season finale of the Caritas Concert Series, featuring the San Antonio Chamber Choir, led by artistic director, Rick Bjella. They will perform a concert titled “The Musical Soul of Jake Runestad” highlighting works by Runestad as well as pieces by composers who have influenced him. That list includes 12^th century composer Hildegard von Bingen, early 20^th century composer Herbert Howells, and contemporary classical composers Dominick Argento and folk artist Joni Mitchell. The choir will also present the world premiere of Runestad’s “How’ll You Know.” The latter is a series of haunting existential questions posed by a pack of wolves. (Yes, you read that correctly) Both the composer and the librettist, Todd Boss, will give a pre-concert talks. (May 6 at 8 p.m. and May 7 at 3 p.m.; Chapel of the Incarnate Word, see address above; free)

Kerrville-based, Symphony of the Hills, will present a concert titled “Orchestral Fire” at its home, The Cailloux Theater, with a program that includes Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, and Arutiunian’s
Trumpet Concerto, featuring Schreiner University faculty member, Brandon Pauley, as the trumpet soloist. This will also be the opportunity to announce the orchestra’s next season. Though the price per seat will increase in the fall, the symphony will honor current pricing for those who renew their subscriber packages. (April 27 at 7:30 p.m.; pre-concert season announcement at ^ p.m.; Cailloux Theater; 830-896-9393, tickets start at $25; for more info visit www.symphonyofthehills.org)

The amusing musical, “Tootsie” will stop at the Tobin Center, for two shows next week. Described by Rolling Stone as “a musical comedy heaven,” the musical tells the story of a difficult-to-deal-with actor who cannot find work due to his behavior. He solves the problem by adopting a new identity as a woman. The show premiered in Chicago in 2018. (May 2-3 at 7:30 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets start at $39.60; 210-223-8624, tickets@tobincenter.org)

At the Majestic Theater, you can catch the Josh Turner 20^th anniversary of Long Black Train Tour. Turner has sold more than six million records and has become a favorite of country radio. (April 28 at 8 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston; tickets start at $42.50; 210-226-3333, www.majesticwmpire.com)

Also at the Majestic, you can see “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a recent play based on Harper Lee’s famous novel by the same title. The show is part of the Broadway in San Antonio stage productions. (May 2-7, Majestic Theater (see address above); tickets $45 -$$160; 210-226-3333, www.majesticempire.com)

Speaking of theater, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center has announced its summer theater production for Grupo Animo, its resident youth theater company, consisting of youth, ages 13-18. Under the mentorship of professionals, the youth company members are guided through a 4-week theater experience. The program ends with a student showcase created by Grupo Animo members. To register, visit https://guadalupeculturalarts.org/classes/theater/ You can also call the center at 210-271-3151 or contact theater arts director Jorge Pina at jorgep@guadalupeculturalarts.org.

Young aspiring actors – as well as everyone else – still have a chance to see ”Schoolhouse Rock Live”  at the Magik Theatre. (Through June 4, 2023; 420 S. Alamo, 78205; 210-227-2751 or info@magiktheatre.org)

The Wonder Theatre Academy will present the inspirational musical Disney Newsies JR at the Woodlawn Theater, which has been its home for a number of years but one that they intend to leave by the end of the year to move into new digs at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall. Plans have changed several times, so it may happen again. (Opens May 4, Woodlawn Theatre, 1920 Fredericksburg Rd., 78201; tickets $10, online or in-person at the box office. Call 210-267-8388 to buy over the phone.) And they have Fiesta Medals, too. www.woodlawntheatre.org)

The Public Theater of San Antonio is now selling subscriptions to its 2023-24 season that starts Oct. 6, 2023 with “Twelfth Night.”  Other upcoming productions are “A XMAS Cuento Remix,” “Spring Awakening,” “Intimate Apparel,” and “Once Upon a Mattress.” (Adult tickets $50, with discounts for older adults, military, First Responders and youth. (Public Theatre, 800 W. Ashby; boxoffice@thepublicsa.org)

Gallery Prudencia has just opened a new exhibit, “From Life” that features paintings by San Antonio artist Vikki Fields. (2518 Main Ave.; 210-422-8681., www.prudenciagallery.com)

Renowned photographer, Lynn Gilbert, will share her story, “How a Portrait Became Iconic” during a presentation at the Roosevelt Library. The New York City-based photographer will speak about her process as she was photographing famous women, like artist Louise Nevelson, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Julia Child, Billie Jean King and Alice Neel. Gilbert’s portrait of Nevelson became the face of the 2022 Venice Biennale. Nevelson was also the inspiration for Gilbert’s book “Particular Passions: Talks with Women Who Have Shaped Our Time.” On view at the Roosevelt Library gallery is the exhibition of her photos of women. (presentation May 4 at 7 p.m., followed by dinner; Roosevelt Library, 311 Roosevelt Ave., cost $45 for reception-presentation; $125 including dinner.; www.rooseveltlibrary.com; 210-862-1062.)