Arts Alive San Antonio

Ballet San Antonio is launching its 2022-23 season this weekend with a brand-new version of the ballet “Cinderella” which is, of course, based on the familiar old story. The first balletic version was staged in Russia back in the 1940s, danced to the original score by the prolific composer Sergei Prokofiev. BSA will use the same score but its new production departs from more traditional versions you might have seen in the past. Choreographed by well-known California-based choreographer, Conny Mathot especially for BSA, this version tweaks the story a bit here and there, and introduces a more natural way of both dancing and acting. 

In interviews with the leads, Michael Agudelo and Buse Babadug, both dancers emphasized this more authentic dance vocabulary, which, they felt, would appeal to today’s audiences, especially kids. (There are four performances: Friday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $36-$117 at box office, by phone 210-223-8624, or tickets@tobincenter.otrg) To learn more, see our story from Oct.12 on this site.)

The Public Theater of San Antonio is also opening a new musical show, albeit one that’s a bit different from most theatrical musicals you’ve seen so far. To begin with, the title is a mouthful: “A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes.” Written by Kate Benson, the play was described by the New York Times as “a quirky comedy that cleverly transforms an extended family’s Thanksgiving dinner into a fiercely fought competitive sport.” And they mean what they say. Be warned! This will be a regional premiere of the show, directed by Allison Price. Executive Artistic Director, Claudia de Vasco is quoted as saying, “I knew that this first season should reflect the transformation we are undergoing by featuring shows that are shaking things up, or showing us new ideas and forms.” In the case of “A Beautiful Day…” the form is the novelty. (Opens Oct. 14 and runs through Nov 6; Cellar Theater, at the Public Theater of San Antonio, 800 W. Ashby Pl., 78212; Fridays-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.; tickets are $17-$47; 210-733-7258; boxpffice@thepublicsa.org)

A different event will take place in the upstairs main theater of the Public: The San Antonio thespian community will be celebrating itself during the 31^st annual Alamo Theater Arts Council GLOBE AWARDS SHOW, the 31^st award ceremony since it was founded by Jasmina Wellinghoff, the current editor of ARTS ALIVE SAN ANTONIO. Back when this project started, she was the theater critic for a daily newspaper and in that role, had a pretty good overviews of theater in San Antonio. And there was a lot of it. With the help of ten other people, she created the nonprofit Alamo Theater Arts Council, which is still “recognizing and celebrating the work of San Antonio theater artists.” Awards are given in 25 categories, plus the Jasmina Wellinghoff Award for Special Contribution to the Theater. Multiple performances are included, plus a reception. (Sunday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.; doors open at 5:30 p.m.; Public Theater of San Antonio, 800 W. Ashby; 78212; at the San Pedro Playhouse;  $32 at the door or at https://tinyurl.com/ATAC-TIX)

The Extended Run Players, a group of veteran thespians, are presenting “What You Will: Seniors Tackle Shakespeare,” subtitled “A sampling of the best of the Bard.” They do it in a readers theater format and they probably know Shakespeare’s most famous scenes inside and out. Proceeds benefit the University of the Incarnate Word’s theater scholarship fund. (Oct. 20 & 21 at 7 p.m.; Louise Bannack Music Building, Seddon Hall, UIW at Broadway and Hildebrand; $10 at the door.)

This being Halloween time, the Harlequin Theater is staging “The Rocky Horror Show,” the musical about the mad scientist, Dr. Frank. N. Furter, who welcomes a couple, Brad and Jane, who are lost, to his very unusual home where they meet a houseful of wild characters.  (Oct. 14-29 at 8 p.m.; Fort Sam Houston Theater, 2472 Stanley Rd., inside Fort Sam Houston; 210-222-9694)

For sheer laughs, you may want to see Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” as staged by the San Antonio College Theater. (Oct. 13-16 and Oct. 20-23, McCreless Hall, 799 W.Dewey Pl, 78212; Oct. 14- 16 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 16 at 2 p.m., and Oct. 20-22 at 7 p.m., Oct.23 at 2 p.m.;  $5-$12; box office 210-486-0947;

The “Eddie & Vinnie” world premiere is about to open at the Magik Theatre. Commissioned by Celebrate Dyslexia founder and executive director Jasmin Dean, and written by playwright Jenny Millinger from Childsplay Arizona, the play is about a boy with dyslexia who “desperately wants to raise his grades to avoid attending summer school.” (Oct. 15 – 28, Magik Theater, 420 S. Alamo, 78205; 210-227-2751; Interactive workshop for educators is on Oct, 22, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. www.magiktheatre.org)

Classical music lovers will be happy to hear that The San Antonio Chamber Music Society is bringing to town the famed Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras, which was formed in 1967. The Dallas Morning News described the group as “an ensemble of first-rate musicians, technically superb, generously expressive, and obviously enjoying themselves.” They will perform music by Purcell, Brahms and Enescu. The ensemble consists of eight musicians – four violinists, two violists and two cellists.  (Oct. 16 at 3:15 p.m.; Trinity Baptist Church; tickets $25 at the door; students & active duty military free)

The Tuesday Musical Club is also bringing to town great musicians. Its new season starts with a concert by the Rolston String Quartet from Canada, featuring the three-time GRAMMY nominated clarinetist David Shifrin. On the program: Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A Major, Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op. 115, and Joerg Widmann’s String Quartet No.3, known as “Jagdquartett.” The Rolston Quartet has won competitions and awards, including the Cleveland Quartet Award from Chamber Music America. (Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.; Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, 227 W. Woodlawn; tickets $25 at the door or in advance at www.satmc.org)

More glorious music will be presented by the Caritas Concert Series at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word. UTSA-based composer S. Andrew Lloyd’s “Magnifat and Nunc Dimittis” for choir and organ, will receive its world premiere. The program also includes two pieces by J.S. Bach. Yoojin Muhn will conduct the UTSA Chamber Singers, a choir of 36-40 singers. Caritas Concerts was established in 2021 by Mary Ann Winden, an organist and choir director, and “friend of the Chapel of the Incarnate Word.” (Oct. 16 at 3 p.m.; Chapel of the Incarnate Word, 4503 Broadway. The chapel is the motherhouse of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word; free)

Two San Antonio museums have just opened significant new exhibits.

The San Antonio Museum of Art is opening “Traitor, Survivor, Icon: The Legacy of La Malinche,” a large, multi-gallery show that examines the historical and cultural legacy of a woman known as La Malinche, who served as Hernan Cortes’ translator and cultural interpreter, as well as his mistress and mother of his first-born son. She was an indigenous girl who was enslaved by Cortes. According to press info, this is the first museum exhibition to present a comprehensive visual exploration of this legendary personality. The exhibition was originally organized by the Denver Art Museum, curated by Victoria Lyall, curator of Art of the Ancient Americas at the Denver Museum, and independent curator Terezita Romo.

We attended the press preview and found the exhibit multi-layered and well-presented. We plan to go back and we’ll tell you more. The show features almost 70 works by nearly 40 artists from across Mexico and the U.S. (SAMA, 200 W. Jones Ave., 210-978-8140, https://samuseum.org)

San Antonio composer Nathan Felix has composed a new chamber opera about La Malinche, called
“La Malinche: Traitor/Savior that will have its premiere Friday, Oct. 14 at SAMA, 7-8 p.m. Felix has had a long-standing creative partnership with SAMA where he has premiered a number of hos works.

At the McNay, you’ll find two new exhibits: True Believers: Benny Andrews & Deborah Roberts, and “Blurring Borders” that features the work of Margarita Cabrera. The former examines the similarities between two black artists, separated by a generation – namely Andrews and Roberts -who explore similar themes about the experience of African-Americans in the U.S., and tend to use similar techniques in their work, including textiles and collage. The Cabrera exhibit is visually very different and her theme is embodied in the title – border experiences, birder stories. (McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels, 78209; 210-824-5368, www.mcnayart.org)

San Antonio Poet Laureate, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, will screen a taping of the “Echo Project,” on Oct. 20. This free screening, presented by the city’s Department of Arts & Culture, “is a recording of student poets reading their original works that were inspired by various notables who have influenced San Antonio Culture.” Each poet laureate is expected to create a legacy project, and this one is Sanderson’s “signature initiative.”  After serving as Poet Laureate for three years, Sanderson will conclude her tenure March 31, 2023. She has been a very active PL, who has participated in many, many events, always ready to lend a hand to arts and culture initiatives. (Screening of the “Echo Project”, Oct. 20, the Little Carver Civic Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., doors open at 6:30 p.m., program starts at 7 p.m.; free and open to the public; for info contact the Carver 210-207-7224)

And here’s a fiesta to conclude the Hispanic Heritage Month: Hispanic Trails Cultural Festival. The 8-hous event will feature a Latin Talent Show, folkloric dances, arts and crafts, and lots of music. Many cultures will be represented, including Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Panama and, yes, Spain. (Oct. 5, 12 noon – 8 p.m.; Wonderland of the Americas Mall, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd., 78201; free)