‘The Pirates of Penzance’ at Merced venue
Playhouse Merced hopes to be the very model of a modern major-general with its production of “The Pirates of Penzance.”
The comic opera by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan begins its three-week run in Merced today and will play through Feb. 1.
The show follows a young pirate apprentice named Frederic (played by Jacob Williams) who falls for a major general’s daughter named Mabel (Jasmine Swalef).
The Merced production is directed by Noelle Chandler, musically directed by Dennis Brown and also stars Jeshamon Volkerts as Stanley, Ronald Daily as the king, Brad Reed as the major general and Tracy Jones as Ruth.
Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15-$22 for adults. Call (209) 725-8587 or visit www.playhousemerced.com.
Gabriel Iglesias
Nationally headlining comic Gabriel Iglesias will play at the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton on March 26.
The stand-up comic, known for his nickname, “Fluffy,” will stop in Stockton on his Unity Through Laughter tour. Iglesias is one of the most popular and successful comics working today. He has had multiple comedy specials and appeared in TV and film. Some of his more recent screen work includes the new sitcom “Cristela” on ABC and the sequel “Magic Mike XXL” coming out this summer.
Tickets to his Stockton show go on sale at 10 a.m. today and range from $30-$65. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit www.stocktonlive.com.
‘Auntie Mame’
The Modesto Film Society brings the Oscar-nominated comedy “Auntie Mame” to the screen Sunday.
The 1958 comedy was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture. Rosalind Russell reprises her role as the titular character from Broadway in the film about a boy who goes to live with his free-spirited, bon vivant aunt.
Modesto’s Kyle Barker will present a pre-film organ concert, and those attending are encouraged to dress like a character from the film or as they would have when the film was originally released. Tickets are $8 and the film starts at 3 p.m. Call (209) 527-4697 or visit www.thestate.org.
‘Two Trains Running’
Modesto’s King-Kennedy Memorial Center Director Tommie Muhammad steps into another directing role with the production of “Two Trains Running” opening this weekend.
The Inner City Theater production at Stockton’s Gran Phinale Hall opens Friday and runs through Jan. 31. The play by August Wilson looks at the civil rights movement and American dream while following the lives of some inner-city Pittsburgh residents.
Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15 general and $12 students/seniors. Call (209) 464-2313.
MJC ceramics exhibit
The Modesto Junior College Art Gallery presents the ceramics exhibit “Pictures of the Past.” The show opens Tuesday and will feature the work of Rebekah Bogard, an associate professor of ceramics at University of Nevada, Reno.
The display will run through Feb. 12 at the MJC Art Gallery on the East Campus, 435 College Ave. Admission is free and the gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
A free public reception with the artist will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the gallery. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call the gallery at (209) 575-6819.
Women’s Fest show
The Northern California Women’s Music Festival’s next concert will be Feb. 6.
Performers for that show, dubbed “A Night to Remember,” are Amy Obenski, Francesca Bavaro, Karmen Butler, Lovecore, Randy Mirandy and Bethany Joseph.
The concert will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Feb. 6 at Deva Cafe, 1202 J St., Modesto. Admission is $10 to the all-ages show.
The group gave a $500 check to Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus County after its last show in October, which represented 5 percent of its proceeds; the remaining proceeds will go toward a grant program that would allow area women to apply for funding for arts projects.
Merced Art Hop
The Merced Art Hop returns for its first event of the new year. The community arts celebration will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday in downtown Merced. There will be art, music and more at over two dozen locations. The event is free. For more, visit mercedarthop.org.
Columbia Jazz Series
The Columbia Jazz Series returns for a celebration of Latin jazz Saturday.
The show will feature guitarist Johnny Valdes and Cuban percussionist Carlos Caro with the Columbia Big Band and Mario Flores Latin Jazz Band starting at 2 p.m. in the Dogwood Theater. Tickets for reserved seating are $15 and the remaining seats will be available at the door. Call (209) 588-5211 or visit www.gocolumbia.edu/jazz.
This story was originally published January 14, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "‘The Pirates of Penzance’ at Merced venue."