Arts Alive San Antonio

Theatergoers will have good choices this weekend and beyond.

The Classic Theater of San Antonio is opening “Fences,” a powerful drama written by August Wilson, the playwright who lived the life that his characters often struggle through. He’s been referred to as “Theater’s poet of Black America” and two of his plays, including “Fences” won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Actress, Viola Davis, who appeared in the movie version of the play explained why his work is so powerful. “He captures our humor, our vulnerabilities, our tragedies, our traumas… and he allows us to talk,” she said, according to reports.

“Fences” is a story of a Black family dominated by Troy, a disappointed and bitter father who once was a star of the Negro baseball league but now works as a garbage man. As a Black man, he could not play in the major leagues when he was still in top playing form. His anger and frustrations often make life difficult for both his caring and hard-working wife, Rose, and his younger son, Cory, who wants to have his own sports career and who is being recruited by a college football team.

For Dallas-based actor, Sean Massey, who will portray Troy, “It is an honor to perform a classic piece of literature from a Black playwright. As an actor, you are bringing to life a piece of history, he said. As a father of a son himself, he was also interested “in the cycle of father and son,” as presented in the play.

“Fences” is directed by San Antonio theater veteran, Antoinette Winstead and features Nerryl Williams as Rose, Ty Price as Cory, Terence Henderson as older son Lyons, a son that Troy had with another woman; and Tony Campbell as Troy’s pal Jim Bono. (Feb. 8-26; Thursday-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.’ Carver Community Cultural Center (Little Carver), 226- N. Hackberry St. 78202; for tickets call the Carver box office 210-207-7211)

Another interesting but very different production, is “We Sail On In Darkness,” a physical theater presentation that focuses on four female mystics of Christian history: Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Angela of Foligno, Perpetua, and the so-called Desert Mothers. Though physical theater is not the first format that would come to mind in connection with these pious women, it sure makes us curious. The creator of the play, Ruthie Buescher, is herself a devoted Christian. (Feb.9-18 (times vary); St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 315 E. Pecan St.; tickets $25 at https://wesailonindarkness.com; to learn more, see our feature article on this site.)

Another stage production this weekend is Opera San Antonio’s “Maria de Buenos Aires,” featuring the music of tango master- composer Astor Piazzolla, and soprano Catalina Cuervo in the title role. For more info, see our feature story from Feb.6, on this site. (Feb.10-11, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts; ticket sold quickly, so check with box office if any are available; tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624.)

The Wonder Theatre (former Woodlawn Theatre) is having a fundraising event that, naturally, includes lots of performances, and, in this case, numbers from the upcoming show, “Ragtime.” The performers are: Megan DeYoung, Antonio Cruz, Myles Harris, Sami Serrano and Rene Sandoval Jr. (Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.; Paesanos 1604, 2622 Paesanos Parkway, 78231; $75 – $300 for a table for four; for tickets and info write to info@woodlawntheatre.org)

There are always good choices on the music front. The San Antonio Chamber Music Society is bringing to town the Sandbox Percussion ensemble, a widely praised group that will perform both classical and contemporary pieces, written or arranged specifically for the quartet. The ensemble “thrills audiences with outstanding visual and auditory performances along with unique interpretations of chamber music,” says the press announcement. (Feb. 12 at 3:15 p.m.; Temple Beth-El, 211 Belknap Place, 78212; tickets are $25 at the door, students & military free; 210-733-9135; email@sacms.org, https://www.sacms.org/)

The Agarita Chamber Players are inviting music lovers to their fundraising event, a Valentine’s Dinner & Concert, at the Roosevelt Library. This group presents free concerts throughout the year, so if you can help them financially, that would benefit hundreds of concertgoers from all walks of life. Plus, you get to meet them and enjoy another concert, dinner and more. A nice Valentine’s Day outing! (Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.; Roosevelt Library {an event venue, not a library}, 311 Roosevelt Ave., $250 per person;
www.rooseveltlibrary.com/agarita-valentines-concert-and-dinner)

If you have never heard Azul Barrientos sing, here’s another opportunity. The Mexican-born, San Antonio-based singer will have one of her monthly concerts Saturday & Sunday at her usual venue – the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Accompanying musicians are Aaron Prado, George Prado, Dan Carillo and Joe Guerra. What she will be singing is not in the announcement, but whatever she sings is worth listening to. The concert is named Noche Azul- Divino Amor. (Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 12 at 3 p.m.; Esperanza Center, 922 San Pedro, 78212, 210-228-0201; tickets are sold the day of the concert, starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. www.esperanzacenter.org)

For a different type of music, there’s the trash metal band, Anthrax at the newly renamed Boeing Center at Tech Port, formerly called Tech Port Center & Arena. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. Ian is still with the band. Over the years, Anthrax had both gold and platinum records, and remains popular. Appearing with them will be the Black Label Society. (Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.; Boeing Center at Tech Port, 3331 General Hudnell Drive.78226; Tickets are $$30.50 to $80.50; www.boeingcentertechport.com)

The Disney musical “Aladdin” is still playing at the Majestic Theater. It’s all spectacle, glitz-and-blitz, and according to the reviewers, “a big eye-popping show.” And the magic carpet ride is in there, too.
(Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. and Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston; tickets start at $45 via Ticketmaster; the show lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes; for info call 210-226-3333.)

The “South American sensation,” Malevo, will be at the Tobin Center on Tuesday. Created by director, choreographer and dancer, Matias Jaime, the all-male group specializes in Malambo, a traditional Argentine folk dance of great virility and dexterity, while bringing to it a modern, avant-garde approach.
(Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets start at $35; tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624)

At the Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University, the college’s students will welcome new school president, Vanessa Beasley, Ph.D., with a concert by the school’s jazz and wind ensembles, which is open to the public. (Fe. 10 at 7 p.m.; Laurie Auditoroim, One Trinity Place, 78212’ 210-999-8059, https://events.trinity.edu; free)

Fans of flamenco dancing will be happy to hear that Arte y Pasion, San Antonio’s premier flamenco company, is presenting a new production, CONTRA/TIERRA Wednesday. Two artists from Madrid, Spain, El Caballero and La Nerea, will be in the show, with Arte y Pasion founder, dancer Tamara Adira, singer La Memphi, and Jose Manuel Tejeda. The two Spaniards are young, rising stars on the flamenco scene in Madrid. (Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.; Brick at Blue Star, in the Blue Star complex on S. Alamo St.; tickets $30; $15 for standing room only; for info call 210-241-2771 or visit www.arteypasion.com)

On the visual arts front, there’s usually more news that we can fit in a single Roundup. The city’s Arts & Culture Department has been very active organizing a number of exhibits, including the latest: “Soy de Tejas”  at the Centro de Artes Galley in Market Square. Curated by San Antonian, Rigoberto Luna, the show features more than 40 contemporary artists of Latin American descent who live in Texas. They explore the now usual themes of identity, cultural history, myth, pop culture and modern socio-political concerns. (The exhibit will be on view through July 2; Centro de Artes, 101 S. Santa Rosa St., in Market Square; free admission)

The Contemporary at Blue Star also has a new exhibit: JooYoung Choi’s “Cosmic Womb” a colorful and dynamic multiverse world exploring themes of belonging, trauma and resilience. Additional new exhibits feature the work of Hiromi Stringer, Juan de Dios Mora, and Zeke Pena, plus People’s Homes, a collaborative project by artists Emily Fitzgerald and Molly Sherman. We’ll tell you more after we see all these exhibits. (The Contemporary at Blue Star is located in the Blue Star Complex at 116 Blue Star, 78204; 210-227-6960, www.contemporarysa.org)

“Celebrando el Amor con Arte” is an exhibit-and-sale organized by Mujer Artes Cooperativa de Esperanza.  Members of the group – all women – “have shaped clay into historic snapshots of their lives as Chicana/Mexicana women.” You can visit their studio at 816 Colorado St., Monday through Friday, 9a.m. to 5 p.m.; this week it will also be open Saturday to make it easy to buy Valentine’s gifts. (210-228-0201; www.esperanzacenter.org)

And for kids, there’s a new exhibit at the DoSeum: Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit.  In this play-and-learn exhibit, visitors step into the pages of Eric Carle’s colorful picture books. Kids will become The Very Hungry Caterpillar; weave a spider web; compose a night symphony with the Very Quiet Cricket, etc. (Exhibit runs Feb.11 to April 16; The DoSeum, 2800 Broadway, 78209; 210-212-4453, https://www.thedoseum.org)