Part of the Arts and Ideas series of performances, lectures and conversations, The Friend Center for the Arts at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) presents a wide array of Performing Arts programming from January through June of 2012. Highlights include performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company, the West Coast premiere of Up From the Stacks and the musical, The Man that Got Away.
THEATER
L.A. Theatre Works presents THE RIVALRY
Sunday, January 29, 4 pm
The Rivalry, Norman Corwin’s riveting depiction of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, uses original dialogue to bring to life the fierce competition between the future President and the incumbent Senator as they tackled the most controversial issues - slavery and the American concept of freedom. Robert Parsons, who starred in the acclaimed production of The Rivalry at Ford’s Theatre in Washington last year, will recreate the role of Abraham Lincoln. Stephen Douglas will be played by the fine television and film actor JosH Clark who has a long list of roles in Heroes, Star Trek: Voyager, Pretty Little Liars, and All My Children. As the 150 anniversary of the Civil War is commemorated, The Rivalry raises questions of values and rights that are still being debated and remain unresolved at every level of our society: race, social and economic inequity, states’ rights and the role of the government in the lives of its citizens. Tkts: $42 - $55
Theatre and Bookfest
West Coast Premiere
Newly commissioned by the New York Public Library and Lincoln Center this season.
UP FROM THE STACKS New music-theater from Ben Katchor and Mark Mulcahy
Thursday, February 23, 8 pm
Set in the New York Public Library circa 1970, Up From The Stacks is the story of Lincoln Cabinee, a college student working part time as a page retrieving books from the library’s 43 million item collection. This mundane job unwittingly thrusts the protagonist into the treacherous crosshairs of scholarly obsession and the businesses of amusement and vice flourishing on 42nd street. The intellectual life of the city and the happiness of a young man hang in the balance. Tkts: $35 - $48
MAGIC THEATRE’S VIRGIN PLAY SERIES Monday, January 23 – February 13, 7 pm
The Magic returns with a new round of readings of in progress scripts performed before a live audience. Four plays will be read by local actors, who will engage with the playwright and audience following each reading. This rare experience has theatergoers take part in the creative process. Tkts: $12 - $15
WORD FOR WORD OFF THE PAGE SERIES presents
Selections from Peter Orner’s Esther Stories.
Monday, February 27, 7 pm
JCCSF proudly welcomes back San Francisco’s premiere producer of short stories on stage, Word for Word, as they perform selections from local writer Peter Orner’s collection Esther Stories. Word for Word presents Orner's family tales, in a stylized staged reading. Suggested donation $10 - $15
COMEDY
THE GRAND PERFORMANCE
THE Capitol Steps Sunday, March 18, 2 & 5 pm
With the presidential primaries looming, who knows what these masters of political satire have up their collective sleeves? Which Republicans will be left standing? With hits from their latest CD entitled “Desperate Housemembers,” only the Capitol Steps know for sure. The Friend Center happily brings back Cap Steps each spring for a brand new, rousingly funny take on the American political scene. Tkts: $46 - $55
AN EVENING WITH Bruce Vilanch Saturday, April 23, 8 pm
One of the funniest men alive, Bruce Vilanch is best known from his days on “Hollywood Squares” and his Broadway and San Francisco starring role as Edna Turnblatt in Hairspray. TV audiences have been laughing for years at his hysterical writing for the Oscars, years of Comic Relief specials starring Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, the American Comedy Award TV specials, The People’s Choice Awards and many Bette Midler performances. Tkts: $40 - $55
