Arts & Events

Arts Calendar

Thursday November 06, 2008 - 12:23:00 PM

THURSDAY, NOV. 6 -more-


Berkeley Playhouse Stages Children’s Classics

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday November 06, 2008 - 10:19:00 AM

Roald Dahl’s classic story, Big Friendly Giant, is onstage now at the Ashby Stage, produced by Berkeley Playhouse; Fiddler on the Roof opens this weekend, produced by Youth Musical Theater Co. (YMTC) at the Julia Morgan Center. -more-


Merce Cunningham in Residence at Zellerbach

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday November 06, 2008 - 12:24:00 PM

Choreographer Merce Cunningham—whom the New York Times has called “the high priest of the dance avant-garde,” and who, approaching 90, is one of the last great living figures of the postwar generation of American artists—will be making appearances beginning this afternoon (Thursday) in a two-week Berkeley residency. -more-


‘Mrs. Pat’s House at La Peña Cultural Center

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday November 06, 2008 - 12:25:00 PM

Jovelyn Richards of Richmond, a lifelong tale-spinner with her own twist on the traditional style of African-American storytelling, is staging her brand-new narrative with music, Mrs. Pat’s House, the story of a Midwestern Depression-era madam, in an unusual East Bay performance at La Peña Cultural Center, 8 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 15. -more-


More Japanese Classics on DVD

By Justin DeFreitas
Monday November 10, 2008 - 04:50:00 PM

If your impression of Japanese cinema consists entirely of samurai films, Pacific Film Archive's "Cinema Japan" series, running through Dec. 17, should set you straight. But these 24 films, which embody the breadth and depth of Japanese film in the post-World War II era—great as they are—may only whet the appetite. For viewers interested in delving further, three recent DVD releases from Criterion offer a great place to start. -more-


Japanese Cinema Classics at Pacific Film Archive

Thursday November 06, 2008 - 12:22:00 PM

Pacific Film Archive is presenting “Cinema Japan,” a series of two dozen classic Japanese films as a tribute to Kashiko Kawakita, who along with her husband under the auspices of the Kashiko Film Institute, played a major role in bringing Japanese cinema to the attention of the western world. -more-


East Asian Influences in Contemporary Art

Thursday November 06, 2008 - 12:23:00 PM

A symposium with with Jacqueline Baas, curator and former director of the University Art Museum, William T. Wiley, artist, Fred Martin, artist, writer and Dean Emeritus of the San Francisco Art Institute, Mark Levy, professor and author, and others, from 1 to 5 p.m. at JFK University Arts & Consciousness Gallery, 2956 San Pablo Ave., 2nd Floor. Enter at Ashby Ave. 649-0499. www.jfku.edu/asian -more-


Starry Plough 35th Anniversary Party

Thursday November 06, 2008 - 12:23:00 PM

The Starry Plough, South Berkeley’s Irish pub, celebrates its 35th anniversary this weekend. Festivities begin at 9:30 p.m. Friday with the Buffalo Roam Reunion Show and continue with live music all day Saturday. $10. 841-2082. 3101 Shattuck Ave. -more-


About the House: Have a Prioritized Plan for Home Maintenance

By Matt Cantor
Thursday November 06, 2008 - 12:25:00 PM

I have a terrible confession to make. I feel really bad about it, but it’s probably not going to change any time soon. I don’t care if your roof leaks. Okay, I know that I’m supposed to make a big deal about this sort of thing but I’m not going to. There, I said it and I feel a whole lot better. -more-


Community Calendar

Thursday November 06, 2008 - 10:06:00 AM

THURSDAY, NOV. 6 -more-