Jazz
Farrell Family Jazz at the Athenaeum is selling subscriptions now. The 2017 version of the popular summer series features four leading combos, the Chris Potter Quartet on Wednesday, June 7, the Linda Mau Han Oh Quartet on Thursday, June 1, Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet on Wednesday, June 21, and Shai Maestro Trio on Tuesday, July 11. Series tickets cost $76 for members and $96 for non-members. Single tickets cost $21 for members and $26 for non-members. Reservations are strongly recommended. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, located at 1008 Wall St. For more information, call 858-454-5872 or visit www.ljathenaeum.org/jazz-at-the-athenaeum.
Family fun
Families are sometimes operatic. It’s their nature. But this one is operatic in an unusual way. Three members of the same family, San Diego Opera (SDO) debutantes Luretta Bybee and Emma Grimsley, and 17-year SDO veteran, bass-baritone Greer Grimsley – mother, daughter, husband/father – will play major roles in San Diego Opera’s production of “Pirates of Penzance,” running from Oct. 14 to 22 at the Civic Theatre. Mezzo-soprano Bybee will portray Ruth, Gilbert and Sullivan’s “maid of all work,” Emma sings the ingénue role of Mabel (“Poor Wand’ring One”), and Greer plays the swashbuckling Pirate King. Subscriptions to the 2017-18 season are on sale now. Theatre
From June 3 to July 2, La Jolla playwright, screenwriter and author Stephen Metcalfe’s “Loves and Hours” plays at Scripps Ranch Theatre, located at 9783 Avenue of the Nations.
Director Fran Gercke says, “Metcalfe is my kind of playwright because his characters always feel like next-door neighbors.” The play concerns a newly divorced empty nester, at a loss what to do with the rest of his life, which woman to choose, trying to do what’s best for his autistic son. Metcalfe’s recent novel, “The Practical Navigator,” addressed a similar theme and is a great read.
For more information, call 858-578-7729 or visit www.scrippsranchtheare.org). Outer Critics Circle Awards and more
New York Outer Critics Circle announced winners of awards to be presented May 25 at Sardi’s restaurant. Among the awardees is the La Jolla Playhouse-initiated musical “Come From Away” which wins for outstanding new Broadway musical, outstanding book of a musical (Irene Sankoff and David Hein), outstanding director of a musical (Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley), outstanding sound design (Gareth Owen), outstanding choreographer (Kelly Devine), and outstanding featured actress in a musical (Jenn Colella). “Come From Away” is nominated for the following Tony Awards (June 11): best musical, best book, best original score, best feature role (Colella), best lighting (Howell Binkley), best direction (Ashley) and best choreography (Devine). UC San Diego alumnus Jefferson Mays is nominated for leading role in a play for “Oslo,” and Old Globe associate artist Douglas W. Schmidt, for best scenic design (‘The Front Page’).
Leonard as Richard Great breaking news. Robert Sean Leonard (‘House’) will take the title role in “King Richard II” at the Old Globe’s Shakespeare Under the Stars, running from June 11 to July 15. To follow that, artistic director Barry Edelstein will stage “Hamlet” from Aug. 6 to Sept. 10. So soon after seeing the National Theatre Live production of Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” that should be great fun. Seen at the “R and G” screening May 9 in Clairemont were a plethora of theater critics and actors, including Richard Baird of New Fortune Theatre Company (most recently ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ at San Diego Repertory Theater). New Fortune is having a “Philanthropic Hobnob” fundraiser in La Jolla on May 20. For tickets, and more information, visit http://www.newfortunetheatre.com.
Dance
Malashock Dance presents “Minor Fall/Major Lift,” a bicoastal collaboration featuring all-new choreography by John Malashock set on music by Judd Greenstein and composers affiliated with New Amsterdam Records, played live by New York City’s NOW Ensemble, Art of Elan’s ensemble in residence. The show runs from June 1 to 3 at the Lyceum Theatre. For more information, call 619-544-1000 or visit www.malashockdance.org.
