Arts Alive San Antonio

Let’s start with theater news! Several openings are scheduled on San Antonio stages in the next few days. The Public Theater of San Antonio is opening “The Pajama Game,” a musical created a while back, in 1954. The original creative team included directors Jerome Robbins and George Abbott – who was also one of the writers – and choreographer Bob Fosse. The story is based on Richard Bissel’s novel “7 ½ Cents.” It deals with a labor strike at the Sleep Tite Pajama Factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that was called to achieve a 7 ½ cents hourly raise. But there’s a love story in there as well, namely between Sid, the new plant superintendent, and Babe Williams, a union activist. Songs include “Steam Heat” and “Hernando’s Hideway.”

The press release from the Public has a warning: “…this production recognizes the sexism, misogyny and racism of that time and will address the issues throughout the production.”

The musical is directed by Diana Wyenn, with choreography by Kellie Hodges, and music direction by Jaime Ramirez. The main roles are played by Alyx Irene Gonzales and Grant Bryan, a member of the Actors’ Equity Association. (Opens March 31 at 7:30 p.m.; runs through April 23; 800 West Ashby, 78212; 210-733-7258; tickets $45; $30 for military and students, and $15 for children under 12; boxoffice@thepublic.org)

Over at the Woodlawn Theater, you can see a new staging of Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music,” presented by the UTSA Lyric Theatre. The theater’s director, William McCrary, explained that his company needed a real thespian stage and environment to perform, something it did not have on the UTSA campus, where they usually perform in the Recital Hall. He said, his actors were all excited to perform at the Woodlawn, thanks to the generosity of Wonder Theater, which is the resident company at the Woodlawn, though it will soon move to new digs at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall.

“Little Night Music” is set in 1900 Sweden. The musical deals with the complicated romantic world of the characters, including middle-aged lawyer, Fredrik Egerman, his young bride Anne, his son Henrik – who is in love with Anne – and his former mistress, the actress Desiree Armfeldt. Also part of the scene, are Desiree’s current lover and his suicidal wife, and Desiree’s mother, a former concubine of various members of the nobility. All are “enjoying” a weekend at the country house of Desiree’s mother.
The student actors will perform accompanied by a full orchestra conducted by Troy Peters, who is also the artistic director of YOSA. (March 30-April 2 at 7:30 p.m., with the Sunday show starting at 3 p.m.; 1920 Fredericksburg, 78201, 210-8388; tickets at https://music.utsa.edu/index.php/tickets with discounts for students, seniors and military.)

The Overtime Theater is known for new original work and that’s what the company is presenting right now. Titled “Tune In,” the show was written by TV actor and playwright, Carlos Lacamara, best known for TV sitcoms from the 80s, including “Nurses” and “Family Ties.” He was also the father on the Nickelodeon sitcom, “The Brothers Garcia.” His play centers on a psychology professor named Samantha Albert, who battles the “patriarchy of a male-dominated university.” She also conducts experiments on a new wonder drug – LSD (March 24 – April 15, Fridays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 2 at 3 p.m.; Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Rd., Suite 205; tickets are $18, or $12 for military and students.; available at the door or online at www.theovertimetheater.org)

Opera is the art form that blends theatrical action and music, often in ways that enhance the impact of both. This weekend, Opera San Antonio (OSA) will give you the opportunity to experience that impact in person at the Tobin Center, if you go to see its production of “Romeo & Juliet.”  Everyone knows the story of the young lovers whose families have been at war for years. As their love blooms so does the hatred between their elders. “This opera brings an unmistakable passion to what is already a fiercely emotional story,” commented OSA’s general and artistic director E. Loren Meeker, who is also the stage director for this production.

The music was composed by French composer Charles Gounod, based on the libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carre. The singers will be supported by a full orchestra provided by the Classical Music Institute and conducted by OSA’s music director, Francesco Milioto. Lyric soprano, Jacqueline Echols will be Juliet, and tenor, Duke Kim, will portray Romeo. A chorus and six ballet dancers from Ballet San Antonio will also grace the stage. (March 30 at 7:30 and April 1 at 5 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets start at $40 and go to $300+; tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624)

Camerata San Antonio continues its remarkable season with “Quartets” by Mozart, Beethoven and Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz, at three locations as they usually do:
– March 31 at 4 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 800 Jefferson St., Kerrville
– April 1 at 3 p.m., San Antonio Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit; 11093 Bandera Rd., San Antonio
– April 2 at 3 p.m., University of the Incarnate World/UIW Bennack Concert Hall, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio. (Tickets are $20 and can be reserved at www.cameratasa.org)

The San Antonio Philharmonic is involved in a couple of events this weekend. Some 700-900 third-through-fifth graders will take part in the SA Phil’s final Young People’ Concert of 2023 by playing recorders, singing, and dancing with the orchestra in selected pieces they have learned and practiced. The orchestra will also play selections without student participation. (March 30, 9:50 to 10:40 a.m. and March 31 at the same time.; Alamo Heights High School Auditorium, 6900 Broadway.) The events are part of the educational mission of the Philharmonic and the concerts are for school children only.

The Philharmonic’s Brass Ensemble will take part in Viva Poesia: Palabras, Musica y Cultura, presented by the City of San Antonio’s World Heritage Office and the Department of Arts& Culture at Mission Marquee Plaza. Not one but two poets laureate will be there as well: Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson and the newly nominated Nephtali De Leon. The event inaugurates National Poetry Month 2023. Our editor, Jasmina Wellinghoff, will participate in a poetry reading at the Central Library on April 8, with a group of women poets.

Poetry Month traditionally starts with Slam the Town, a DIY Poetry Event for Everyone. The idea is to send a poem to as many people as you wish, either your own poem or a poem that you love. That happens on April 1. You can see a list of main events on the city’s Department of Art & Culture site.

In connection with that, you’ll also be happy to hear that our red Central Library is finally ready to re-open! (More about NPM to follow)

If you like spectacle, and specifically spectacle on ice, you’ll probably want to attend “Disney on Ice Presents: Frozen & Encanto” at the Alamodome. (March 30-31 at 7 p.m.; April 1 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; April 2 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. tickets $25-$100; Alamodome, 100 Montana St.; www.alamodome.com)

Jazz lovers have a whole new series of concerts to enjoy. All take place at the Buena Vista Theater downtown. The Theater is part of the UTSA downtown campus. (April 1 at 7:30 and 9 p.m.; Kirk Whalum – Jazz on the Water; 501 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd 78207)

A band that takes you back a few decades, Eddie and the Valiants, cultivates the sounds of San Antonio’s West Side in a retro cool style that many still enjoy. (April 1 at 8 p.m.; Little Carver, behind the main Carver Center building, 226 N. Hackberry; tickets $25; 210-207-2234, www.thecarver.org)

For laughs, there’s the Heather McMahon Comeback Tour, which will stop at the Empire Theater for two shows this weekend. Her podcast, “Absolutely Not – with Heather McMahon” was named one of the ten best podcasts in 2021 by Entertainment Weekly. (April 1-2 at 7 & 8 p.m., Empire Theater, 226 N.St.Mary’s St., tickets start at $45.75; via Ticketmaster.)

Comedian Katt Williams is in town as well with his 2023 and Me Tour (April 1 at 8 p.m.; Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston, 78219; tickets are $87-$234 through Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com)

The Contemporary at Blue Star has announced the new group of Berlin Residency artists. They are:
Christie Blizard, Juan Carlos Escobedo, Theresa Newsome, and Rubio. The residency program is a partnership with the Berlin-based Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, a prestigious international residency studio
program in Berlin. Each year KB hosts some 25 artists from around the world. The Contemporary at Blue Star is the only U.S. partner.

The On & Off Fredericksburg Road Studio Tour continues this weekend. It’s a great opportunity to meet artists in person and buy unique art pieces, directly from the artists. (For more info, read out two articles published this past Monday and the previous Monday, on this site.)

The Briscoe Western Art Museum pairs two of its most popular programs this weekend for families to enjoy various activities and its new exhibit of Western Art. Free Locals Day is combined with the popular Full STEAM Ahead program, making this the first free for the entire family weekend. The current exhibit is the annual Night of Artists exhibitions that features the best Western artists from all over the U.S. and the world. Given that April is National Poetry Month, visitors will be invited to create their own poems inspired by a painting, or part of the large painting by Kim Wiggins: “Fiesta Day on the Plaza.” (April 2; Briscoe Museum, 210 W. Market St., on the Riverwalk; 210-299-4499; www.briscoemuseum.org)

Here’s good news from the city’s Arts & Culture Department: Artists of all disciplines – performers, filmmakers, musicians, poets and visual artists are invited to apply for an Individual Artist Grant of $5,000 for the creation of new work. You have to apply by April 14. For detailed information go to:
https://www.getcreativesanantonio.com/grants#239474088-artists-grants.