Hi friends,
Visited the new “Whale Bridge” this week, and I can’t say I recommend it. There wasn’t a single Starbucks or juice stand or Dippin’ Dots booth to be found on the whole bridge. The view is of the boring old freeway. Who wants to see that? The whales themselves are merely two-dimensional, and make no cool whale sounds. And, what really boiled my bacon, I couldn’t even drive my car over the darn thing. I had to walk the whole way! Do better, RTC!
Now, on with the show.
THIS JUST IN
Last week’s concert at UC Santa Cruz featuring the supergroup known as Stick Men was canceled because of illness, but it’s already been rescheduled for Dec. 9 at the UCSC Music Center. All tickets purchased for last week’s show will be honored at the new date. Blues/rock guitarist and singer Samantha Fish lands at Felton Music Hall on Nov. 20. French jazz pianist Jacky Terrasson will perform at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on Dec. 4. The famously costumed rockers The Aquabats are coming to The Catalyst on Nov. 14. Also at the Catalyst, Americana artist Todd Snider plays Nov. 8. The locally written and performed comedy show known as “Karen with a K” comes to the Kuumbwa on Sept. 13. And Santa Cruz composer (and longtime Tandy Beal collaborator) Jon Scoville is the subject of a career retrospective show called “Futurespective” on Nov. 14 at Kuumbwa.
Be sure to check out Lookout’s carefully curated and constantly updated planning guide, Down the Line, for the staggering riches and amazing choices awaiting Santa Cruz audiences. It’s our look ahead at the best shows, concerts and events through the rest of the year at clubs, stages and venues all over the county.
Cabrillo Festival set for kickoff
The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is not quite Medicare-aged, but it’s getting there. At 63, the two-week music festival has been treating adventurous audiences with the work of many of the finest living composers in America and abroad. This summer, the Cabrillo Festival officially kicks off Aug. 1. But next week, the festival gets revved up with both a series of open rehearsals, and a free concert featuring under-30 composers titled “In the Works.” The free concert takes place on Tuesday at the Civic Auditorium, and includes compositions inspired by the Orion Nebula, Chinese immigration at Angel Island, and the Earth’s water cycle.
Later that week, on Friday, Aug. 1, the festival kicks off in earnest with its opening-night show titled “Lumina.” The festival’s first weekend will be led by guest conductor Daniela Candillari. The Serbian-born conductor has performed widely in concert halls and opera houses around the world. Cabrillo’s music director and conductor, Cristian Măcelaru, returns for the festival’s second and final weekend.
Remembering J
A few dozen people showed up at Santa Cruz’s Cowell Beach on Wednesday morning for a paddle-out to honor the late Wallace J. Nichols, known throughout the community as “J.” Nichols, a well-known marine biologist and author of the book “Blue Mind,” died a year ago. But supporters of Nichols declared Wednesday “World Blue Mind Day.”
Nichols coined the term “Blue Mind” as a kind of catch-all to illustrate what he contended were the mental and emotional benefits for being “in, on or near” large bodies of waters, like oceans, lakes and rivers. So it certainly made sense that he would be memorialized on the water.
Paddlers ventured out into Monterey Bay to greet two large boats, an O’Neill catamaran and the Chardonnay II, carrying close friends and family of Nichols. From a spot near the end of the Santa Cruz Wharf, I could just make out a loudspeaker paying tribute to Nichols. “J taught us to find our way home, back to Mother Ocean,” it said.
What Jana says
The big summer theater season is underway, and our new theater critic is off and running. My longtime friend Jana Marcus might know as much about Santa Cruz theater as anyone alive, and we now have her telling us about the new season at Santa Cruz Shakespeare and Cabrillo Stage.
Before buying your tickets, be sure to check out Jana’s illuminating reviews of “Sweeney Todd” (at Cabrillo Stage) and “Into the Woods” (at Santa Cruz Shakespeare). Next week, we’ll have her take on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and the week after that on Shakespeare’s “Pericles.”
CHECK THIS OUT
Best 9: Top events for the week ahead in Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, July 24-31
THIS WEEK IN A&E
Catalyst Club building, one of the oldest in downtown Santa Cruz, goes on the market
The property at 1009-1011 Pacific Ave. that’s been home to music venue The Catalyst since 1976 is for sale for $4.55 million, listed by the heirs of the building’s former owner, Randall Kane.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare goes ‘Into the Woods’ — and strikes gold
Santa Cruz Shakespeare goes musical — and nails it, Lookout theater critic Jana Marcus writes. “Into the Woods” at the outdoor Audrey Stanley Grove is bold, funny and pure summer magic.
Revenge served cold: Cabrillo Stage’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ cuts to the bone with powerful performances
Cabrillo Stage’s “Sweeney Todd” is sharp and strikingly relevant, delivering powerhouse performances and Stephen Sondheim’s brilliance, even if the gore stays on the back burner.
Midsummer Ensemble to put on reimagined production of ‘Pride and Prejudice’
For two weekends in August, the Midsummer Ensemble theater troupe, primarily made up of LGBTQ+ and gender-queer individuals, is putting on a reimagined production of “Pride and Prejudice,” ignoring traditional gender roles.
Puppeteers for Fears bring cyberpunk puppet musical to Felton
Oregon-based comedy troupe Puppeteers for Fears will bring its original sci-fi puppet rock musical “Robopocalypse: The Musical” to Felton Music Hall on Aug. 21.
Scotts Valley art, wine and beer festival returns in August
The Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival is back at Skypark on Aug. 16 and 17, promising two days of art, music, food and family fun.
That’s all I got, friends. Come at me with comments, ideas, complaints, or thundering insights. Thanks to all Lookout members for your faith and support, and please, spread the word on what we’re doing.