Category: Arts

Look before you march

Kudos to the Bee for burying in the middle of Metro this story about a protest outside its doors regarding its coverage of local theater. Among organizer’s Jackie Schultz’s beefs was that the paper lacked a forum for readers to respond to its coverage of local arts. As you probably know, reader, the Bee has had comments on articles now for several weeks. Luckily Schultz had a few understudy arguments ready to go.

Library adds downloads

Speaking of our city’s habit of combining old and new web technologies, the Sacramento Public Library today unveiled its Digital Download Catalog. You can now download e-books and audiobooks if you have a library card. Note, however, that the audiobook files are not compatible with Macs or with the popular iPod device–PC or Mac (take that, guy from “Ed”).

Everybody’s Working for the Weekend

Kenny Loggins, Loverboy, Boyz II Men, REO Speedwagon, Sinbad, Village People, Rick Springfield, Ted Nugent and Tesla. The cast of a new reality show where washed up celebrities go on diets or blind dates? NO. The soundtrack to your upcoming high school reunion? NO. The leftover Karaoke choices at the end of a long night on a cheesy cruise to Ensenada (she asks from experience)? Alas, no.

My friends, these are the headline acts for the California State Fair starting this Friday. Are we not California? Can we not do better than this? It’s bad enough that it will be hot and the parking overpriced but really, Tesla?

Free family movies!

Regal Cinemas, operators of Natomas Marketplace 16 and Laguna Village 12, has free G and PG rated movies at 10:00 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this summer. So if the heat comes back and you need something cool to do with the kiddies they’ve got “Rugrats In Paris The Movie” and “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” (I think this is the Burton one, because the Gene Wilder one is a G and it’s actually titled “Willy Wonka and…” according to IMDB) this week, and “Muppets From Space” and “Two Brothers” (I assume it’s this one) next week.
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When you’re a Monty you’re a Monty all the way…

According to a friend of the Rag who is involved in Runaway Stage‘s fall production of the musical version of “The Full Monty” the theater troupe is still looking to fill 5 roles: two guys (one must be a black guy), a female, and a 10-12 year old boy.

My source is pretty sure that the male character is a semi-lead and at some point would need to be willing to bare it all (or, due to the use of trick costumes) bare it “most.” Runaway Stage is also looking for tech folks, so if you look good in black sweats and are free September 1-24 this is a great opportunity to get involved in community theater. The production will be located at the 24th Street Theater at the Sierra 2 (a nostalgic spot for the Rag).

Interested parties should contact Bob Baxter, director/producer at 206-2466 or Anne-Marie Trout, Asistant Dir. at 202-4788.

Arena chat, part III

As someone who was privy to a behind-the-scenes tour of ARCO Arena today, I can say with 100% certainty that we need a new venue this moment, and I will lobby hard for this cause. Until today, I thought the arena was just fine, and I’ve been there for a wide variety of events many times over the years.

Here are some hard facts and recent observations:
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Tommy Tune Hearts Sacramento

Has anyone else been to see Dr. Doolittle on the Broadway Series? I saw it last night. The cuteness of the show was enhanced by the cuteness of all the little children in the audience cracking up at the animal jokes. Very fun. I’m actually not a musical theater buff but I hear that Tommy Tune who played Dr. Doolittle is big in that world. He was outstanding. Just in case I didn’t get the child-friendly jokes and dialogue I had a woman sitting behind me who was clever enough to guess the punchlines and shout them out before the actors could. I’m sure she was trying to be helpful. For example when Dr. Doolittle had an epiphany and realized aloud that although he had learned every animal language he had neglected to learn the most important language of all, the woman behind me was kind enough to volunteer, “the language of the heart” which indeed was his next line. Way to go lady. At the end of the play the cast gathered round and Tommy Tune addressed the audience, saying that he loved Sacramento and noting that we are all so lucky to have so many trees. Then he hung around to sign autographs. Very sweet. Anyone else see it or any other plays here lately?

Sacramento’s flying carpet

When passengers “deplane” (could this be the only word in the English language coined by flight attendants?), their first sense of what their destination is like comes from what they see in the airport. Many cities go to great lengths to convey to travellers the essence of their locales through the architecture and art that is displayed in the terminals.

Sac International is no different in that regard. As part of their expansion/renovation, they’ve had displayed a “flying carpet” by artist Seyed Alavi:

This project consists of an aerial view of the Sacramento River that is woven into a carpet for the floor of a pedestrian bridge connecting the terminal to the parking garage. This image represents approximately 50 miles of the Sacramento River starting just outside of Colusa, California and ending about 6 miles south of Chico.

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