Arts Alive San Antonio

This is the season of music. There are concerts for every taste and preference.

Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW) is bringing to town a lively and highly praised group that promotes itself as a “Klezmer rock band.” It will present ”Mostly Kosher,” at the San Fernando Cathedral on Sunday. Based in Los Angeles, the band reconstructs Judaic and American cultural music through “ravenous klezmer beats and harmonious Yiddish refrains, blending jazz, Latin, rock and folk traditions”
That sure sounds like a tall order! Entertaining as they are, “their voices resound with messages of social justice, human dignity and mutual understanding.” (Oct. 29 at 7 p.m., San Fernando Cathedral, 115 Main Plaza; free but tickets required; to reserve go to https://sfcmostlykosher.eventbrite.com)

Camerata San Antonio will partner with the YOSA Philharmonic (Youth Orchestra of San Antonio Philharmonic) this weekend in a concert featuring “Urban Legends” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Abels, a work written for a string quartet and orchestra. This will be part of YOSA’s concert focused on Music from the Movies. The “Urban Legends” music is from a scene from Jordan Peele’s 2022 film “Nope.” (Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts; 100 Auditorium Circle; for tickets – $5-$24 – go to www.yosa.org/events)

Sabrina Adrian, organist at First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, will perform a Halloween concert titled
“Phantoms and Fairy Tales,” also on Sunday. “I plan on presenting a spooky repertoire on the awe-inspiring, and occasionally terrifying Jehmlich pipe organ in the church,” she saidin the press release. And she will appear as her alter-ego – The Phantom. The music selections sound great, from “fiery toccatas by Back and Mignan to “Winter” by Vivaldi, “Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg, and more.
If you don’t mind driving to Kerrville, this sounds like a delightful concert. (Oct. 29; First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville; free)

The fabulous, world-famous Gipsy Kings will not perform at the Tobin this weekend. The show has been postponed. We sure hope they will come to San Antonio sometime soon. But there are always good choices at the Tobin. Scotty McCreery will be there “live in concert” Friday.  Four of his albums have debuted at No. 1 on a Billboard Album Chart. McCreery won the 10^th season of “American Idol” in 2011, and was named the ACM New Artist of the Year for that year. And he has multiple other awards and successes. (Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $19.75 – $89.50; 210-223-8624; tickets@tobincenter.org)

At the Majestic Theater you can catch the 48^th Anniversary Spectacular Tour of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The original film will be screened with a live shadow cast on stage, and audience participation. Plus, there will be a memorabilia display. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and greet Barry Bostwick, the actor who portrayed Brad Majors in the movie. (Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.; tickets are $35-$111; www.majesticempire.com/events)

Also, Joe Bonamassa will perform at the Majestic Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.; tickets are $55-$254.

For something different, you may want to check out the Taylor Swift Laser Dance Party at the Espee. No, Taylor is not going to be there but her music will be all around you as you dance the night away surrounded by synchronized lasers and lights. This dance party is a national touring show with a live DJ playing all of Swift’s hits. (Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.; tickets at 1-888-246-3185 or at  www.theespee.com/boxoffice/boxoffice)

Speaking of dance, there will be a celebration next Thursday at the Guadalupe Center to honor the departed. It will take place outdoors at Plaza Guadalupe, featuring the Guadalupe Dance Company and its companion Mariachi group, plus young dancers from the Guadalupe Academy. Community altars will be displayed. That exhibit will be up for a month. (The outdoor event is scheduled for Nov. 2 at 6:30, 1327 Guadalupe St. To view the altars, stop by nearby at 7235 Brazos. Public viewing is Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

For something different again, you may want to opt for Aretha to Beyonce: Under the Stars at Terrace on 5th downtown. No stars will be there but their songs will be there performed by local talent, whose names are not given in the announcement. Terrace on the 5^th is at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio Riverwalk. (Oct. 28 at 8 p.m.; to contact organizers call 402-249-2445 or write to fever@eventvesta.com;
for tickets https://eventvesta.com/events/50228/tickets)

On the theater front: The always active Magik Theater will close its run of “Carmela Full of Wishes” with a free show supported by Hemisfair. The show is an adaptation of the book by the same title and this last performance will take place during the 11^th annual Dia de Los Muertos Celebration at Hemisfair. The story is about a little girl who makes a wish just before blowing away the “white stuff” on a dandelion. Carmela wishes for a candy machine, a fancy bed for Mami and for Papi to come back home soon.
(Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.; seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis; Magik Theater, 420 S. Alamo, 78204; free but you can reserve your seats in advance at https://www.magiktheatre.org)

Another very active theater is the Overtime Theater, that mostly produces original productions about contemporary themes for adult audiences. A new play is opening this weekend. Titled “That Night,” the show intertwines movement and dialogue while following two people “in an ethereal tapestry of friendship, memories and promises of seeing each other again soon.” Playwright, Catie Carlisle, says that the play explores themes of connection, ambition and the struggle to overcome one’s own inner demons.”  The play is directed by Ariel Rosen and performed by actors Michael Roberts and Lucy Perez.
(Opens Oct. 28 and runs through Nov. 18.; Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee, Nov. 12 is at 3 p.m.; 5409 Bandera Rd., Suite 205; just south of the Bandera-410 intersection. General admission tickets are $18 with discounts for military and students. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at
www.theovertimetheater.org)

Coming up is a new production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Tobin Center. (Nov. 17 and 18, with tickets starting at $44. We are looking forward to it. (For tickets call 210-223-8624 or go to tickets@tobincenter.org)

The Classic Theater of San Antonio will open its new production of “On Golden Pond” next Thursday, Nov. 2. It’s directed by talented and experienced, Tony Ciaravino, and starring two other talented and experienced thespians, Allan Ross and Terri Pena Ross. (Nov. 2 -19, the Cellar Theater at the San Pedro Playhouse., 800 W. Ashby Ave., 78212; Friday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.; for tickets call 210-733-7258, https://thepublicsa.org; the Classic and the Public Theater have joined forces.)

A new exhibit, “Explore Your World” is opening this weekend at the Witte Museum. The press release says that teachers and parents are looking for ways to encourage children’s love of geography and global environment.  “Explore Your World is the ideal exhibition to spark this enthusiasm and help children develop important navigation and mapping skills to complement their natural curiosity about the world around them,” said CEO Marise McDermott.

Created by Scitech in Perth, Australia, and produced by Imagine Exhibitions, this exhibit includes special quest stations where visitors solve puzzles to collect different layers of their own map, which can be viewed and brought to life through augmented reality. Visitors will use different methods of navigation to escape a virtual building and pilot a simulated underwater exploration vehicle, and more. This sounds like pure fun! (Opens Oct. 28; Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, 78209, www.wittemuseum.org)

They are “cooking up” something different for you at the McNay. “We are thrilled to invite all 21+ ghosts and goblins to Mayhem at the Mansion!” says the press release.  This year’s Halloween Party will include access to the main exhibit – “Dreamland/ Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,”-  light bites, drinks and a “fun dance party.” Come dressed for the costume contest!” (Oct. 27, 7-10 p.m.; Leeper Auditorium; $50 for members; $75 for others.)

The Centro Cultural Aztlan is continuing its tradition by presenting its 46^th annual Dia de Los Muertos exhibition, Altares y Ofrendas.  The event illustrates the artistic, cultural and religious facets of this popular pre-Columbian tradition, where death is seen as a natural part of life that people approached with humor and celebration. It’s a chance to see artist-made altars, see and buy artisan-made craft items, sample traditional Pan de Muerto and enjoy Mariachi Music. Eight artists are participating, plus students from the St. Anthony Catholic School. (Open through Nov. 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday; free and open to the public.)

Bihl Haus Arts is planning an interactive session between artists and art lovers to foster a community of shared appreciation. “This event promises profound insights, meaningful connections and a renewed sense of wonder for the world of artistry,” says the announcement. On and Off Fred Artists are expected to meet and greet and connect with each other and others who appreciate art. (Oct. 27, 7 -9 p.m.; Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Rd.; Call 210-339-8982 ext.3 for more information.

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