Curtain Calls: ‘Paradise Blue’ club’s story to open Jan. 27 in Berkeley

Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre will start 2023 with the cool, jazz-infused drama “Paradise Blue.”

A part of playwright Dominique Morisseau’s “Detroit Trilogy,” the play tells of a gifted trumpeter who contemplates promoting his once-vibrant nightclub in Detroit’s Blackbottom neighborhood. It’s 1949, and concrete renewal is at hand as Morisseau exhibits the challenges of constructing a greater future and what it does to these left behind.

Directed by Daybreak Monique Williams, “Paradise Blue” options Michael J. Asberry (Corn), Rolanda D. Bell (Silver), Kenny Scott (P-Sam), Anna Marie Sharpe (Pumpkin) and Titus VanHook (Blue).

“There are such a lot of wealthy textures to this play: there’s the bebop; the haunted spirits in all these characters and there’s the girl Silver who arrives on the membership and disrupts everybody’s life,” mentioned Williams. “There’s an enormous level of satisfaction with me that Aurora would produce this play.”

“Paradise Blue” begins Jan. 27 with reside performances within the Aurora Theatre at 2081 Addison St. in Berkeley. Submit-show discussions will happen Feb. 3, 7, 15 and 23. The present may also be streamed Feb. 21-26. For tickets, name 510-843-4822 or log on to auroratheatre.org.

Additionally in Berkeley: The extremely entertaining “Natasha, Pierre and The Nice Comet of 1812” has been prolonged once more at Berkeley’s Shotgun Gamers. Dave Malloy’s Tony Award-winning hit now runs via Feb. 25 on the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. Based mostly on a piece of Tolstoy’s “Warfare and Peace,” this musical extravaganza follows a younger girl who arrives in Moscow eager for her fiancé.

To inform the story, Shotgun has turned the Ashby Stage right into a nineteenth century Russian nightclub, full with cabaret tables for some fortunate viewers members. For tickets, go to shotgunplayers.org/on-line/article/great-comet.

“Claybourne Park”: Like Aurora Theatre, Pittsburg Theatre Firm (previously Pittsburg Group Theatre) additionally takes up altering neighborhoods with its manufacturing of the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Claybourne Park,” operating Jan. 28 via Feb. 5 in Pittsburg’s California Theatre at 351 Railroad Ave.

Bruce Norris’s thought-provoking work ingeniously units the motion in 1959 in a residential neighborhood the place white neighborhood leaders try to cease the sale of a house to a black household. In Act Two, the identical home units the stage for present-day motion. Now, nonetheless, the home exists in a predominantly African American neighborhood the place residents battle gentrification.

Directed by Gregory Brown, Pittsburg’s manufacturing options Jason Anthony, Bri Andrews, David Ghilardi, Kyle Jacques, Safira McGrew, Edward Natenburg and Natalie Tichenor. For tickets, go to pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org.

Pittsburg and Brentwood: Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, in collaboration with Pittsburg Theatre Firm, presents the completely wacky “Full Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised)” in two places.

The fast-paced comedic romp via the Bard’s performs takes place Jan. 20-22 in Brentwood. Go to ghostlightte.org for location and ticket info. The energetic present will then be carried out Feb. 24-26 in Steeltown Espresso and Tea at 695 Railroad Ave. in Pittsburg. Helen Dixon directs the favored comedy revised for right this moment’s audiences.

Walnut Creek: A crumbling American dream seen via the eyes of an 11-year-old begins the brand new yr for Middle Repertory Firm. Looking for a method to belong in a divided nation, the kid fixates on a pink bike that represents all the probabilities the world has to supply.

“Pink Bike,” Caridad Svich’s imaginative, extremely choreographed story, runs Feb. 4-25 in Walnut Creek’s Lesher Middle for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive. Set in an unnamed American city in financial decline, “Pink Bike” takes the viewers on a 90-minute experience because the youngster beneficial properties a brand new consciousness of the native neighborhood.

Svich had by no means created a play with a toddler narrator earlier than, and in an interview in “American Theatre” she defined why she did so for this play.

“I used to be eager about the present political panorama and that there are such a lot of legal guidelines being enacted that can have an effect on kids as adults,” Svich mentioned. “I needed to place somebody on the middle of the story who logistically and legally can’t struggle for any of that however is probably the most susceptible and in danger.”

The function of the genderless youngster will be performed by one, two or three individuals. In Middle Rep’s manufacturing, directed by Jeffrey Lo, actors Adrienne Kaori Walters and Amy Lizardo will play the kid.

Finishing Rep’s 2022-23 season is the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Sweat,” operating March 25 via April 15, adopted by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Within the Heights,” slated for Could 27 via June 24. For tickets to Middle Rep exhibits, name 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.

San Ramon: Diablo Girls’s Chorale invitations those that like to sing and have enjoyable to audition Jan. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m.

“We encourage any girl with a love of music and spirited firm to audition,” mentioned Jennifer Mack. “Choral expertise and music-reading skill are a plus however not required.”

For extra info, name Nancy Hickman at 925-899-5050 or electronic mail her at hickmandg@gmail.com. For extra info on the San Ramon group, go to DiabloWomensChorale.org/join-us.

Sally Hogarty will be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Learn extra of her critiques on-line at eastbaytimes.com/creator/sally-hogarty.