Arts & Events

THURSDAY, APRIL 23 -more-

Founded 35 years ago in Paris by artists Archana Horsting, coming from California, and Yuzo Nakano, from Japan, the Kala Art Institute has succeeded beyond their early expectations. Originally a print workshop, it has grown to be a very special place for the production of art in all media, including photography, book arts, video, three-dimensional work and digital processes. By providing professional working facilities in a unique creative environment, it has attracted artists from this country and abroad. Kala provides both established and emerging artists with opportunities to develop and exhibit traditional, as well as cutting-edge artwork and serves as a forum for international dialogue between artists engaged in creative innovation and exploration. -more-

The young steward to Squire Robert de Baudricourt, military commander in Champagne, sloughs off his master’s inferences as to why there are no eggs in the henhouse at the beginning of Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan, staged by David Bogdonoff with a cast of 17 at El Cerrito’s Contra Costa Civic Theatre. No one would steal the eggs, the steward asserts; the hens won’t lay because the area is under a spell. Then, he mentions, “The Girl from Lorraine is at the door.” -more-

The Pacific Boychoir, Oakland’s only professional all-male youth choir, will perform with the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra in an unusual program of material this weekend. The performance takes place at 7 p.m., Friday, April 24, at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, and at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church -more-

Lyric Escape, paintings by San Francisco poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, most of them done over the past decade, are on exhibit at the Berkeley Art Center through May 10 with an opening reception tonight (Thurday) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. -more-

The rough-hewn art of John Cassavetes -more-

Active Arts for Young Audiences has teamed up with the San Francisco Circus Center for an intriguing and fun circus version of Alice in Wonderland. 2 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 296-4433. activeartstheatre.org. -more-

TheatreFIRST's excellent production of Harold Pinter's OLD TIMES—with Peter Callendar, Julia McNeal and Zehra Berkman—is being held over, running Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Addison. 436-5085. www.theatrefirst.org. -more-

As an inspector, there are certain phrases that catch my ear and cause me to run some little macros that I’ve been cognitively building over these many years looking at houses. One of them is some version of, “The sellers did all this work for themselves and were planning on living here for many years.” -more-

THURSDAY, APRIL 23 -more-