Not to be missed On Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9, Bach Collegium presents the finale of its San Diego season with “A Tale of Two Cities.” No, not the Charles Dickens – this is a musical exploration of Giacomo Carissimi’s oratorio “Jepthe” and Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s miniature tragedy in music, “Actéon.” It all starts at 7 p.m. May 8 at St. James by the Sea Episcopal Church, La Jolla, and May 9 at San Diego History Center, Balboa Park. $25-$45 (students, $10). bachcollegiumsd.org/web/events.aspx. There are exciting plans in the works for Darko Tresnjak, former artistic director of the Old Globe Shakespeare Festival. In May of 2016 at his home-theater Hartford Stage, Tresnjak (who got the Tony Award for “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”) will direct a new musical titled “Anastasia.” The story concerns an exiled/reportedly dead Russian princess who surfaces in Paris in the 1920s. The book is by Terrence McNally. The lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens and the music by Stephen Flaherty – the duo that brought us “Ragtime.” Tresnjak will stage “Kiss Me, Kate” at The Old Globe in July. Five-time Tony Award winner McNally (“Love, Valour, Compassion”) wrote the libretto for Jake Heggie’s new opera, “Great Scott,” which premieres in Dallas this fall and plays at San Diego Opera next season. Directing “Great Scott” is another familiar talent, Jack O’Brien, former artistic director of The Old Globe. Stephen Adly Guirgis, whose works have been produced in local theaters, has just received the Pulitzer Prize for drama for his latest, “Riverside and Crazy.” His other plays, all produced in San Diego, include “Our Lady of 121st Street,” “In Arabia, We’d All Be Kings,” “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train,” “Little Flower of East Orange” and “The Motherfucker with the Hat.” Devlin moves on Recent inspiration: Actress, singer and cabaret artist Devlin returned to Martinis Above 4th with her cabaret act, titled “Moving On.” I believe I first heard her as the Witch in New Village Arts’ “Into the Woods” in 2010, and I have been following her on Facebook ever since. Devlin has been reinventing herself (strong women do this several times in a lifetime) after a devastating loss suffered in 2013. She incorporates her arduous journey into a narrative that offers hope, jazz, blues, pop and Broadway tunes and incorporates lots of self-deprecating humor. Devlin’s extreme vocal technique allows her to perform feats of magic with each phrase. Her ease makes such a journey, harrowing as it is, endurable and uplifting and gives a measure of courage to all survivors. She was accompanied by pianist Richard James. Martinis Above 4th | Table + Stage is located at 3940 4th Avenue in Hillcrest. Martinis affords local performers an opportunity to perform in their own town. Some, like Devlin, have an avid following eager to fork over the price of a ticket plus consume a minimum amount in food and beverage just to hear her. I am one. What a great thing for a critic to do on her night off. Check martinisabovefourth.com for future events. Everybody’s talkin’ about this A bonus was being seated at Table No. 10, next to choreographer Javier Velasco, who co-conceived (with Steve Gunderson) and stages San Diego Rep’s upcoming show, “Everybody’s Talkin’ : The Music of Henry Nilsson,” a world premiere “musical event” that explores the composer’s music with performers Gregory Jbara and Alice (“Next to Normal”) Ripley. The piece opens May 23 (sdrep.org/showinfo.php?showid=164). Another local phenom is Art of Élan, which just completed its eighth successful season at San Diego Museum of Art. Founded by violinist Kate Hatmaker and flutist DeMarre McGill, the organization utilizes top Southern California instrumental artists to explore contemporary music by the likes of Missy Mazzoli, Giya Kancheli, Chris Brubeck, Gavin Bryars and Judd Greenstein. Hatmaker announced a forthcoming collaboration with Greenstein’s New York-based record company, New Amsterdam. Stay tuned for further developments (artofelan.org). Next up is “Crossfire” at the Glashaus in Barrio Logan, Thursday, June 4.
