Arts in brief: ‘The Elephant Man’ on Modesto stage
The Modesto Junior College Theatre Department brings “The Elephant Man” to the stage starting next week.
The show opens with a student preview night on Thursday, March 24, and then will run two weekends, Friday and Saturday, March 25-26, and Thursday-Sunday, March 31-April 3, at the MJC Main Auditorium, Performing and Media Arts Center, on the East Campus. The drama by American playwright Bernard Pomerance is based on a real-life man, called John Merrick in the play, who has a rare skin and bone disease and became a sideshow attraction.
Noah Thompson will play Merrick, with Billy Ollis as Frederick Treves, Dean Medek as Carr-Gomm, and Bev Barney as Miss Kendall. The MJC production is directed by theater professor Michael Lynch. Shows are at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee April 3. Tickets are $5 for student preview night, and $8 for students, $10 general. Call 209-575-6776 or visit http://mjc.tix.com.
Modesto Community Concert Association
The Modesto Community Concert Association presents an afternoon of big band jazz.
The concert series brings in the Columbia Big Jazz Band with director and saxophonist Rod Harris on Sunday, March 20. A music teacher at Columbia College, Harris has built a strong following for the band throughout the region.
Show starts at 3 p.m. at Gallo Center for the Arts in downtown Modesto. Tickets are $15-$30. Call 209-338-2100 or visit www.galloarts.org.
Merced Shakespeare
Merced Shakespeare Festival will stage the Bard’s famous tragedy “Macbeth” this weekend.
Now in its 15th season, the series will put on a production of William Shakespeare’s famed tragedy about a Scottish nobleman consumed with power and ambition. Local actors Colton Dennis and Traci Sprague will play the lead roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the play directed by Heike Hambley.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 18-19; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at the Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre. Tickets are $15 general, $10 students. Call 209-381-0500 or visit www.mercedtheatre.org.
Women’s History Month show
An evening of Latino music will celebrate Women’s History Month in Modesto this weekend.
The Mike Torres Band will perform a show dedicated in memory of the late local DJ Alma Garza. The show will feature the Modesto Area Music Association Award-winning band performing along with a no-host bar. The show will be from 8 p.m. until midnight at the Red Event Center Bar & Grill in downtown Modesto. All female guests are free before 10 p.m. Otherwise tickets are $20 at the door. Call 209-499-1731.
Jewish Comedy Night
Congregation Beth Shalom presents the “You’re Funny, But You Don’t Look Jewish!” show Saturday, March 19.
The evening of comedy and wine will include performances by stand-ups Mike Capozzola, Gina Gold, Samson Koletkar and Joe Nguyen. The comedians, who come from different backgrounds and ethnicities, will share their insights on being so-called “undercover members of the tribe.” Show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom. Tickets are $25 advance, $30 at the door. For more information, visit http://jewishcomedynight.brownpapertickets.com.
Styx concert
Classic rockers Styx are set to play Stockton’s Bob Hope Theatre on Sunday, March 20.
The six-man group continues to play more than 100 dates a year after four decades of creating music together. The band’s hits include “Come Sail Away,” “Renegade,” and “Mr. Roboto.” Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $47.50-$85. More at www.stocktonlive.com.
Tim Flannery
Major league baseball player and coach Tim Flannery is bringing his musical talents to the Turlock Community Theatre this weekend.
Flannery was part of three World Series championship San Francisco Giants teams and spent more than 30 years in the major leagues. Known as “Flan” to his fans, the athlete also had an artistic side. Now a prolific singer and songwriter, he performs around the country with his band The Lunatic Fringe. Flannery has been joined on stage in the past by the likes of Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby, Garth Brooks and Jimmy Buffett.
His show will start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Turlock Community Theatre. Tickets are $26-$36. Call 209-668-1169 or visit turlocktheatre.org.
Ironstone shows
The Ironstone Amphitheatre has announced more shows to its summer concert series.
In addition to its previously announced show featuring Hootie and the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker on July 14, the outdoor venue has added the Goo Goo Dolls and Collective Soul with Tribe Society on July 15; Sublime with Rome and Dirty Heads with Tribal Seeds and Bleeker on July 27; Train with The English Beat on Aug. 6; Lynyrd Skynyrd and Peter Frampton on Aug. 21; and Bad Company on Sept. 4. More shows will be announced soon. For more information or tickets, visit www.ironstoneamphitheatre.net.
This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 10:06 AM with the headline "Arts in brief: ‘The Elephant Man’ on Modesto stage."