Southern Sonoma Country Life

Broadway Under the Stars - 2013 Season at Jack London State Park

Photo By Candy Glass Productions

Cast members from the "Broadway Under The Stars in Jack London State Park" 2012 season.  The concert series returns this summer for 14 nights of performances from June 28th through August 31st, 2013.

Photos By Ryan Daffurn

Each evening begins with pre-show picnicking on the great lawn, alongside the vineyards of the park (with multiple wineries pouring and food and wine available for purchase), and concludes with an evening of inspirational entertainment. Concerts start at 7.30 pm. 

Transcendence Theatre’s “Broadway Under The Stars” in Jack London State Park is a series of award winning concerts featuring professional Broadway and Hollywood performers in the majestic open-air winery ruins in Sonoma's Jack London State Historic Park.

Last year’s season won the award for Best Special Theater Event from Broadway World San Francisco and included Broadway performers from Wicked, Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, Chicago, Gypsy, Hairspray, White Christmas, Mary Poppins and more. 

A portion of every ticket is given to benefit Jack London State Park and the success of these concerts plays a vital role in the sustaining of the threatened park for generations to come.  

Visit the website for more information and tickets www.BroadwayJackLondon.com

Transcendence Theatre’s “Broadway Under The Stars” Concert Series:  June 28 - August 31 2013.

"Fly Me To The Moon" June 28, 29, 30, July 5,6  "Fantastical Family Night" July 19, 20 "Dancing Through Life" August 9,10,15, 16, 17  "Gala Celebration" August 30, 31.

Jack London State Park is located at Sonoma County 2400 London Ranch Road Glen Ellen, CA 95442,  1 877 424-1414.

Tickets - $29 - $117.

 

Half Hour Lunch Break with British Singer/Songwriter, Michael Kiwanuka at Cotati's Redwood Cafe

Myself and maybe a hundred or so lucky country cousins squeezed in to Cotati's Redwood Cafe for a Wednesday lunch time musical treat of an intimate half-hour showcase set with one of the foremost rising stars of Britain's best singer/songwriters. 

Muswell Hill, North London-raised Michael Kiwanuka fit right into the casual, Nor Cal vibe in the Redwood Cafe with his rootsy, folk-inflected modern soul style. This fortuitous little mini-gig courtesy of KRUSH Radio and the Redwood Cafe followed a previous night's set opening for The Alabama Shakes, at the Fox in Oakland.

Currently touring the U.S. with the Alabama Shakes, this is a first time in the Bay Area and Sonoma County for Kiwanuka. "It's really nice around here," he said. "I'll have to come back for my holidays!" Having previously supported Adele on her 2011 tour, the super talented, grounded and soulful artist seemed every bit at home in the corner of the Redwood Cafe as in a major venue.

Twenty-four-year-old Kiwanuka was influenced as a young musician by Hendrix, Dylan and Redding and his well crafted songs that emerged from an early start as a session guitarist playing the London pub scene, have won him the spotlight of the British music scene. Most recently, Kiwanuka (a son of Ugandan parents who fled the Amin regime), won the coveted BBC's Sound of 2012 Listeners Poll. 

His first studio album, Home Again, released in 2012. 

   

Head Out to the Country with Petaluma's Foxiest!

Those foxy chicks from Petaluma are headlining out at Rancho Nicasio this Sunday evening, March 3rd, so head out to the hills for some sweet sounds and stellar refreshments!

Foxes in the Henhouse will be playing an early evening show 6pm to 8pm, so you'll be able to take in the scenery en-route through the countryside.

To ensure a performance in the big room, the Foxes need at least 50 of their Fabulous Fox Fans to call ahead for a reservation. Looks like they're almost there with reservations, but the more the merrier. Call ahead and book your table, today: 415 662 2219. Oh, and be sure to tell Mike the Foxes sent ya! 

Who's Boss? SoCo Musician Amy Hogan's New Video

Check out the latest video of "Who's Boss" from super talented Petaluma singer/songwriter/pianist and guitarist Amy Hogan's recent performance at Studio 55 Marin.

Amy grew up in Wallingford, Pennsylvania surrounded with the soprano voice of her mother and musical tastes of her older siblings. She studied piano throughout her school years competing in piano competitions, accompanying choirs, composing her own music and also joining a Top 40 band, S.R.O., in high school.

Her love of piano continues to provide a vehicle for vocal expressions to come alive. Working with several different bands allows Amy to explore many different song styles and genres while continuing to write her own music. Her song writing has recently won her a West Coast Songwriting "Best Song" award. Singer-songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine recorded "Between the Lines", a duet with Amy on his most recent album, "Home", and invited her to join his band for his CD release party last October.

With her husband, Ed who plays in the Amy Hogan Trio with her, Amy enjoys devoting her non-musical time to her four children and three dogs.

Canticle of Joy - Celebrate the Reason for the Season at A Free Christmas Carol Concert

Cinnabar Theater's New Year's Eve Gala - A Rollicking Account of Frank and Malachy McCourt's Journey from Limerick to Brooklyn

Photo by Eric Chazankin
 

WHO:  Cinnabar Theater
 
WHAT: "A Couple of Blaguards" - New Year's Eve Gala
By Frank McCourt and Malachy McCourt
 
Cinnabar Theater presents its annual New Year's Eve Gala featuring "A Couple of Blaguards," a rollicking, funny cabaret show, featuring Irish tunes and ballads, plus a hearty stew of interesting characters recounting Frank and Malachy McCourt's life in poverty-stricken Limerick and their journey to Brooklyn.
 
Professional actors Tim Kniffin and Steven Abbott portray the McCourt brothers and a collection of characters from relatives to rogues, fools to petty tyrants.
 
This special New Year's Eve Gala includes treats, desserts and wines and performance of "A Couple of Blaguards," followed by champagne and party favors at midnight.
 
Directed by Sheri Lee Miller
Musical Direction by Jim Peterson
 
WHEN:  9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012
 
TICKETS: $65 to $75
$75 General; $65 Seniors 65 & over; $60 Age 22 & under. Admission include treats, desserts & wines and performance of "A Couple of Blaguards," followed with champagne and party favors at midnight. New Year’s Eve performance tickets are $65 to $75. $75 General; $65 Seniors 65 & over; $60 Age 22 & under.
Reservations recommended.
 
LOCATION:   Cinnabar Theater
3333 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952
 
PHONE:    707-763-8920
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday or purchase at the door.
Reservations highly recommended.
 
WEB SITE:   www.cinnabartheater.org

World Premiere of So Nice to Come Home To: A World War II Musical Now Playing at Petaluma's Cinnabar Theater

Pictured (L to R) are Michael Van Why, Valentina Osinski and Stephen Walsh performing a musical number in a USO Canteen scene featured in the world premiere of "So Nice to Come Home To: A World War II Musical," playing through Nov. 11 at Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma. Photo by Eric Chazankin

Pictured above: Elly Lichenstein as Kate and Michael McGurk as 2nd Lt. Kenneth Downey in a scene from the world premiere of "So Nice to Come Home To"

Set in New York City in 1944, it's a time of innocence, uncertainty, humor and optimism - but the stresses of war are affecting soldiers and civilians alike. This touching, sweet, funny and thought-provoking musical tells the story of a middle-aged woman’s determination to become an essential part of America’s war effort.

The musical features original songs evoking the era with every style of music from the 1940s represented including ~ a patriotic anthem, tuneful nods to New York City and Carmen Miranda, sweet ballads, waltzes and foxtrots.
 
Cinnabar Theater commissioned this world premiere musical comedy from the creators of "The Playboy of Balyduff."
 
Ann Woodhead, Stage Director
Mary Chun, Music Director
 
WHEN:  Oct. 26 to Nov. 11, 2012
8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 4 and Nov. 11
 
TICKETS:  $25 to $35
$35 General; $32 Seniors 65 & Over; $25 Age 22 & Under
 
LOCATION:   Cinnabar Theater
3333 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952
 
PHONE:    707-763-8920
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday or purchase at the door.
Reservations highly recommended.
 

CAST:
 
Kate..................................................         Elly Lichenstein
Kenneth............................................       *Michael McGurk
Jean / Eleanor....................................     Valentina Osinski
Al......................................................        Stephen Walsh
Harry..................................................     Bill Neely
Tombs / Bill Brannigan......................... Michael Van Why

*Member, Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors
 
This production commissioned by Cinnabar Founder Jan Klebe

Don't Miss This Rare Opportunity to Experience A Thunder Tower Benefit Concert for PEF at Exclusive Oliver Ranch Sunday, Oct 7, 2012

Oliver Ranch is an "invitation-only" 100 acre ranch located near Geyserville and is really quite impossible to describe. If you have an interest in Art (there are 23 commissioned art installations), Music (Tower Thunder is a soundscape with unique acoustical components creating a musical sonic storm), Architecture (the concert takes place in internationally acclaimed visual artist, Ann Hamilton's award-wining Tower) and a ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE, you won't want to miss this concert next Sunday!

This musical experience features an original composition by renowned musician Tony Zilincik, performed by Mr. Zilincik, the professional Tower Brass Ensemble and invited students from Petaluma and Saint Vincent High Schools. This event is made possible through the Oliver Ranch Foundation and Community Foundation of Sonoma County in partnership with the Petaluma Educational Foundation to benefit Music Programs in Petaluma Schools.

Hamilton is known worldwide for the sensory surrounds of her large-scale multi-media installations. Regarded as one of contemporary art's most influential voices, she earned her Master's degree in fine arts from Yale University in 1985. Hamilton has been honored with the Heinz Award for the Arts and Humanities, a recipient of the 1989 Guiggenheim Fellowship in Painting, Sculpture and Installation Art, received the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship in 1999 and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009. Hamilton is a professor in the department of art at Ohio State University in Columbus.

The tower was the realization of Hamilton's desire to go beyond the ephemeral nature of much of her oeuvre and create a work of performance of her own design, a solid but living conduit for an ever-changing range of sensory projects and performances. The tower is Hamilton's first permanent installation anywhere in the world. It took 3-1/2 years to complete, after 14 years of discussion and design.

In 2009, the scenic, art-studded sheep ranch owners, Steve and Nancy Oliver partnered with Community Foundation Sonoma County to create the Oliver Ranch Foundation as a supporting organization of the Community Foundation. This partnership assures that the Olivers’ vision for the ranch continues into perpetuity and allows the Olivers to leave the ranch in local hands. As of 2009, the Olivers contributed to the Oliver Ranch Foundation an undivided interest in the land and the sculptures affixed to the land, with plans for the remaining interests in the land and sculptures to go to the Foundation over the Olivers' lifetimes.

The Foundation is committed to celebrating the voice and vision of artists with deep and abiding respect for the transformative power of art. Excellence and respect for artistic integrity guide all endeavors at the ranch. The Foundation encourages innovative philanthropy by bringing artists, arts organizations and art supporters together to share the creative experience. The Foundation does not give general arts grants outside the ranch programs, but offers non-profit organizations fundraising opportunities through tours and performances at the ranch. Grants are awarded to artists or art organizations in order to create original site-specific performance works for the tower.

The Tower is a unique, acoustic environment and a new type of entertainment space defined by two staircases built in a double helix form. One entrance and staircase is for the audience and the other is for the performers. Each staircase is composed of 128 steps that provides seating for the audience. Several openings in the wall allow the body to inhabit the thickness of the wall while in repose. As such, the audience staircase could seat as many as 150 individuals, however 100-125 is the most comfortable. Each performance in the tower are made available by the Oliver Ranch Foundation to benefit non-profit organizations.

Visit the Tower Thunder website and enter the special code "PEF" to enjoy the magic of Tower Thunder for  $50 - a 50% reduction from the ticket price. 

Click here for more info on Oliver Ranch.

For further information call: 707-778-4632

Art, Beer, Music - What More Could You Ask for on a Monday Evening?

Southern Sonoma County Shindig Season - More Than A Hint of Fall in the Air

“There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been."

Poet, Percy Shelley,

Can't beat the The Hoovers' & friends annual 'Wetstock' festival under the oaks