Arts Alive San Antonio

Let’s start with theater this week. Companies are getting more active and the range of stage offerings is exciting.
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Arts/Teatro Salon will present “La Carpa de Frontera,” written and performed by CARPA San Diego, a touring Mexicano vaudeville show from San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. Now marking its tenth anniversary, the show will include San Antonio on its touring schedule for the first time. CARPA stands for Cultural Association Representing Performing Artists, led by Samuel Valdez and Guillermo “Memo” Montez. The group will perform outdoors at the Plaza Guadalupe, and will be joined by the local Grupo Animo, the resident company at the Guadalupe Center. The event is sponsored by the city’s Department of Arts and Culture, and the Texas Commission on the Arts, as well as others, including the National Latinx Theater Initiative. Issues addressed include immigration, human rights, labor rights and culture, spiced up with comedy.

The show is described as a site-specific vaudeville bilingual play which can be taken “into any community in need of healing following the pandemic situation.” (March 23 at 7:30 p.m., Plaza Guadalupe, 1327 Guadalupe St., 78207; admission is free but only 200 chairs will be available, so get there early: 210-271-3151 ext. 250; https://guadalupeculturalarts.org)

The Overtime Theater has a new play: “Good Diner” by Oded Gross. The character named John wakes up naked in a field, unable to remember who he is and how he got where he is. He falls in love with Hazel, the woman who finds him. But there is a surprise encounter down the road that will change their lives. (March 22-April 13, Fridays-Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee April 7 at 3 p.m.; 5409 Bandera Rd., #205, 78238; 210-557-7562, www.theovertimetheater.org)

The play, “Bethany” by Laura Marks, will have its “Industry Night Reading” on March 18 at the Tobin Center. Last fall, the Tobin created its own theater producing enterprise called 100A, and this play is – we believe – the third show produced by that new entity. The “industry readings” are meant primarily for theater artists and producers in town but anyone can buy a ticket. (March 18 at 7:30 p.m., Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater; tickets are $13.50-$15; 210-223-8624, tickets@tobincenter.org)

At the Magic Theatre, you can still catch “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus,” the musical. It’s a feather-filled extravaganza based on Mo Willems’ bestselling books. When the bus driver has a crisis that is likely to make her passengers late, the wily bird sees his chance to grab the wheel. “The musical is an interactive and joyous experience,” says the press announcement. (Through March 17; Sunday at 3 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m.; Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo, 78205; 210-227-2751 or info@magiktheatre.org)

Teatro Audaz, a relative new-comer on the thespian scene in San Antonio, cultivates Latinx creatives and stories. The current production is “I-DJ” the story of a gay Mexican youth who is a D.J. (March 7-17; The Cellar Theater at the San Pedro Playhouse; tickets are $15-$35
 at www.onthestage.tickets/show/teatro-audaz

The Jump-Start Performance Company is planning another Brunch of Champions which is an occasion to celebrate three “outstanding families for service” to the company and the arts. The 2024 champions are:
-Ruby Nelda Perez and Jorge Pina, with daughters MayaLuna and Alma Victoria Pina;
 -Lilla Geisler Bernal and children, Robin and Carlos Bernal,
 -Suzanne Martinez & Michael Berrier with daughters Philippa and Ruby Martinez-Berrier.

Each family has a history of arts and culture advocacy and has been a friend to Jump-Start. The celebratory event takes place Sunday, March 17 at 11 a.m.; $25. Los Nahuatlatos will provide entertainment while the guests enjoy breakfast. It’s not clear where the party will take place but get more info by calling 210-227-5867 or email info@jump-start.org.

The Chamber Music Ensemble, AGARITA has a lot of news. For one thing, the group has found a permanent home, named the Agarita Loft, where it can present its own programming and also exhibit visual art by San Antonio artists. Several events are coming up.
1. Harmony: The Keys to Deeper Expression in Classical Music with pianist and AGARITA member, Daniel Anastasio. He will share his thoughts on the role of harmony in classical music, with examples from Bach, Beethoven Debussy and other composers. His demonstration aims at helping you deepen listening skills. (March 19 at 6:30 p.m., AGARITA Loft, 724 S. Alamo #2.)
2. That will be followed by Trios of Resonance, a concert by AGARITA members performing powerful works for string trio “that evoke resilience, determination and reflection.” Included composers: Andrea Casarrubios, Missy Mazzoli and Ludwig van Beethoven. (March 27 at 6:30 p.m.; address above.) Tickets are free but must be reserved at www.agarita.org one week before the event. We will tell you about other upcoming concerts in a timely way.

“El Gato con Botas” is a new version of “Puss in Boots,” produced by the UTSA Lyric Theatre. This is an operatic version of the tale, an adaptation by Charles Perrault with music by Spanish composer Xavier
Montsalvatge, who composed it in 1947. The UTSA version is double cast and will be sung entirely in Spanish. The show is directed by Jourdan Laine Howell with student director Justin Chappell.
(March 21-24, UTSA Recital Hall, Main Campus; you can purchase tickets at https://colfa.utsa.edu/tickets)

Mandy Patinkin In Concert: Being Alive will be at the Tobin Center this weekend. He’s a multi-talented artist who has developed a career in theater, the concert stage, film, TV and as a recording artist. He won a Tony Award for his role of Che in Lloyd Webber’s super popular musical “Evita.” (Match 16 at 8 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets start at $49.50; tickets at box office, 210-223-8624 or tickets@tobincenter.org)

An interesting show will be at the Majestic Theater Friday, unfortunately for a single night. Titled
“Come From Far Away,” the show takes you into the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. It’s a heartwarming story that has become a musical written by Tony Award nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein, directed by another Tony winner, Kelly Devine. (March 15 at 2 and 8 p.m.; tickets are$ 45-$145; www.majesticempire.com/events/come-from-away/

At the Aztec Theater, you can catch a show featuring Geoff Tate and Adrian Vanderberg. Tate is known for touring the world.  The theater has no seats; it’s standing room only. (March. 16 at 8 p.m.; Aztec Theater,104 N. St Mary’s, 78205;210-812-4355; tickets are $33-$60 at www.concerts.livenation.com)

The 2024 Tejano Conjunto Festival is coming up and organizer, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, has a new poster for the 42^nd annual fest. The winning poster was designed by Anna Arce, drawing inspiration from the Mexican bingo loteria. It will be used for all promotion in 2024. The actual fest will take place in Rosedale Park with three days of performances and merriment in mid-May. More about the festival closer to that date.

For jazz lovers, the Austin Traditional Jazz Society has something for you: Colin Hancock and the
Joymakers. Hancock is a jazz historian in addition to playing a number of instruments. He was also recently nominated for a Grammy Award. The Joymakers specialize in the music of college jazz bands of the 1920s. (March 17, 2-5 p.m.; Ben Hur Shrine Temple. 7811 Rockwood Lane, Austin, Texas, 78757; 512-942-7997; to reach the jazz society call 512-942-7997 or email info@atjs.org)

And there’s exciting news on the dance front, too. Arte y Pasion, the San Antonio based flamenco company founded by Tamara Adira will present an international star of the famed Spanish dance style: Belen Maya: Yo Quiero Ser Humana (I Want to be Human). The show is a one-woman performance by Belen Maya in dance and spoken word. “Humana” shows Belen’s experiences in life and dance, telling the story of discipline, repetition, triumph, failure, pain, emptiness, fear and overcoming. Maya was born into a family of dancers and has been called one of the most important flamenco dancers of this century (March 21 and 27 at 7 p.m.; Brick at Blue Star, Blue Star complex, 108 Blue Star, 78204; social hour is at 7 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. for tickets:https://arteypasion.ticketleap.com/belen-maya; to call for info:210-241-2771)