Winter Stages

A wide variety of upcoming shows, and sad news

(Jan. 19, 2012) There’s been a lull on local stages since the holidays, but that’s about to change. Over the next month or so there’s a parade of comedy (including commedia) and drama (classic, modern and contemporary), all beginning with a radio show.

This coming Saturday (Jan. 21) Redwood Curtain presents the latest in this locally favorite form in its fifth annual fundraiser, appropriately titled A Fifth of Zounds! Artistic Director Clint Rebik describes it as Prairie Home Companion meets Saturday Night Live, with a Humboldt County twist. It’s presented in the Sapphire Palace at the Blue Lake Casino (along with drinks and dinner) and broadcast live on KHUM.

Eboni Session stars in Venus COURTESY OF HSU DEPT. OF THEATRE, FILM & DANCE

GALLERY >

Participants include Pamela Lyall, James Floss, Randy Wayne, Bonnie Halverson, Ron Halverson, Terry Desch, Steve Carter and Christina Jioras. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Information and tickets at www.redwoodcurtain.com. “Last year’s event was a virtual sell-out,” Rebik adds, “so we encourage folks to purchase tickets quickly.”

The following weekend North Coast Repertory Theatre opens the Neil Simon comedy, Laughter on the 23rd Floor. In a way it’s a sequel to Simon’s autobiographical trilogy (Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, Broadway Bound) since it is based on his “big break” job, writing for the early 1950s television hit, Your Show of Shows, starring Sid Caesar. NCRT’s production opens on Thursday, Jan. 26, with the usual gala benefit for cast and crew. It runs through Feb. 18. Information and tickets: 442-6278, www.ncrt.net.

Also that weekend, the Young Actors’ Guild juniors and seniors of Northcoast Preparatory Academy present Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale: A Retelling, directed by Jean Heard Bazemore. It’s a limited run: just Friday and Saturday (Jan. 27 and 28) at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. It’s at the Arkley Center in Eureka, which is also handling the tickets at the box office, by phone (442-1956) or online (arkleycenter.com) — but be advised, there’s a hefty service charge for online purchase.

The annual VDAY Humboldt benefit happens on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4, with the first North Coast performances of Any One of Us: Words From Prison by Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues. These are also monologues based on stories that originated in a writing group Ensler conducted with 15 women prisoners, combined with writing from women in other prisons.

The cast includes Vanessa Pike-Vrtiak, Jamie Carroll, Savannah Edwards, Jennifer Bravo, Gina Figueroa, Nichole Umayam and Sistah Soul. Performances are at 7 p.m. at the Native American Forum on the HSU campus. Proceeds go to the North Coast Rape Crisis Team and the Prison University Project. Information: 530-448-9458.

Also that weekend, Dell’Arte students present their Commedia dell’arte Finals, Feb. 2 through 4 in the Carlo Theatre at 8 p.m. Box office: 668-5663, dellarte.com.

1 2 NEXT PAGE >SHARE