April 2010 Events Check back in late March for other events during this month.
Thru Apr 18: San Jose Rep presents Ain’t Misbehavin.’ Revisit the Golden Age of Jazz of the 1920s and 1930s with this swinging tribute to the challenges and triumphs of the African American experience during the Harlem Renaissance. The music of the legendary Fats Waller gets the joint jumpin’ as five phenomenal artists and a jazz band bring this sexy, funny musical to life with such famous tunes as “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, “Black & Blue,” and “I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling.” (San Jose: 101 Paseo de San Antonio; 408/367-7255; www.sjrep.com)
Thru Apr 18: City Lights Theater Co. presents Cyrano. Frank Langella’s thrilling adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac follows the eponymous poet and swordsman whose giant nose makes him feel insecure and unworthy of true love. He agrees to help his handsome friend Christian woo the beautiful Roxanne, the woman they both love, but as she falls for Christian’s good looks and Cyrano’s beautiful words, the men are left wondering who Roxanne truly loves. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm (Apr 1 & 11). (San Jose: 529 S. Second St.; 408/295-4200; www.cltc.org)
Apr 2: Black Eyed Peas. This chart-topping pop and hip-hop group plays funky hits from the new album The E.N.D. 7:30pm. (San Jose: HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St.; 408/287-7070; www.hppsj.com)
Apr 2-4: International Gem & Jewelry Show. Glittering jewels, beads and baubles are the stars at this popular event, which features hundreds of exhibitors from around the world offering jewelry at discounted prices. (San Mateo: County Expo Center, 2495 S. Delaware; 800/338-3976; www.intergem.com)
Apr 7-May 2: TheatreWorks presents To Kill a Mockingbird, the classic coming-of-age story by Harper Lee. When a black man is accused of assaulting a white woman on weak evidence, Atticus Finch stands up for truth in the face of racism while his daughter, Scout, learns the hard truths of the adult world. It’s an utterly engaging tale of heartache and joy, innocence and integrity. Previews Apr 7-9, 8pm; Tues-Wed, 7:30pm; Thurs-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2 & 8pm; Sun, 2 & 7pm. (Mountain View: Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.; 650/463-1960; www.theatreworks.org)
Apr 7-May 2: San Jose Stage Co. presents Dirty Blonde. Mae West’s saucy quotes and bawdy double entendres raised more than a few eyebrows in her heyday, making her one of most celebrated comedic actresses of all time. This Tony-winning play traces her career, starting from her vaudeville days to the height of her status as a Hollywood sex symbol. Part musical, love story and amusing reflection on the cult of celebrity, this is an apropos tribute to cinema’s most colorful figures. Wed-Thurs, 7:30pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. (San Jose: 490 S. First St.; 408/283-7142; www.sanjosestage.com)
Apr 8-11: Ballet San Jose presents Spring Repertory 1. Enjoy a dynamic selection of works: the folksy and fun Square Dance by George Balanchine, set to Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto Grosso in B Minor; Dennis Nahat’s dazzling Moments, a joyful showcase of movement to Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49; and the company premiere of Salut D’Amour, a ballet for three couples featuring the music of Sir Edward Elgar. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 1:30pm. (San Jose: Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd.; 408/288-2800; www.balletsj.org)
Apr 9-11: Santa Clara Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo. Avid coin and stamp collectors flock to this semi-annual showcase, which features more than 1,000 dealers, auctions, seminars and even a treasure hunt for young numismatists. Thurs, 11-7; Fri-Sat, 10-7; Sun, 10-3. (Santa Clara: Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy.; 805/962-9939; www.santaclaraexpo.com)
Apr 10: Cirque Le Masque. Step into the colorful world of Cirque Le Masque, which stuns the audience with amazing acrobatic acts, beautiful costumes and enthralling physical feats. Watch as performers fly, bend, swing and balance, leaving you wondering, “How did they do that?” 8pm. (Campbell: Heritage Theater, 1 W. Campbell Ave.; 408/866-2700; www.ci.campbell.ca.us/heritagetheatre)
Apr 11: Taylor Swift. The ingénue country-pop superstar’s meteoric rise to fame continues to reach new heights with her Fearless Tour. 7pm. (San Jose: HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St.; 408/287-7070; www.hppsj.com)
Apr 16-18: 27th Annual Pacific Fine Arts Festival. Stroll through downtown Menlo Park and browse a wide selection of art from more than 90 artists, including photography, paintings, sculptures and more. Fri-Sat, 10-6; Sun, 10-5. (Menlo Park: Santa Cruz Ave. at El Camino Real; 209/267-4394; www.pacificfinearts.com)
Apr 18: Sundays with the St. Lawrence. The foursome teams up with contrabassist Tony Manzo and pianist Pedja Muzijevic to play a program comprising Lanner’s Waltzes, Britten’s String Quartet No. 2 and Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A Major “Trout.” 2:30pm. (Palo Alto: Stanford University, Dinkelspiel Auditorium; 650/725-ARTS; http://livelyarts.stanford.edu)
Apr 21: Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. This rising star dance company champions works by emerging national and international choreographers, blending classical ballet with cutting-edge physicality. 8pm. (Palo Alto: Stanford University, Memorial Auditorium; 650/725-ARTS; http://livelyarts.stanford.edu)
Apr 23-25: 7th Annual RoboGames. See as the best creative minds from across the world compete in more than 70 events with a variety of robots, from soccer bots, sumo bots, kung-fu fighting androids, walking humanoids and more. (San Mateo County Event Center: 2495 S. Delaware St.; 206/789-5333; www.sanmateoexpo.org)
Apr 23-25: Hillsborough Antiques & Decorative Arts Show & Sale. If you’re looking for that perfect vintage touch, you’ll probably find it at this annual show, which features hundreds of dealers from all over the country offering art, furniture, collectibles and much more. Fri, 11-8; Sat, 11-7; Sun, 11-5. (San Mateo: Event Center, 2495 S. Delaware St.; 208-629-0891; www.hillsboroughantiqueshow.com)
Apr 24: Spark of Being. Jazz trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas and experimental filmmaker Bill Morrison use Stanford Univerisyt’s unique resources to create Spark of Being ,a monumental work that brings together film screenings with live musical performance. 8pm. (Palo Alto: Stanford University, Memorial Auditorium; 650/725-ARTS; http://livelyarts.stanford.edu)
Apr 24-25: Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival. This annual festival honors Cupertino’s sister city of Toyokawa, and features all-day live entertainment, cultural displays and demonstrations, Japanese food and drink, and a vendor marketplace offering arts, crafts and clothing. Enjoy the festivities in the park against the backdrop of the 200 blooming cherry trees that Toyokawa gave to the city of Cupertino. (Cupertino: Memorial Park, Stevens Creek Blvd. at Mary Ave.; 408/257-7424; www.cupertinotoyokawa.org)
Apr 25: Pacific Coast Dream Machines. Fans of all things automotive will flock to Half Moon Bay once again for this annual showcase of machinery from the 20th and 21st centuries, from rare cars, motorcycles and trucks to historic military aircraft and helicopters. Headline attractions include a thrilling freestyle motocross exhibitions; a display of “green machines,” or clean tech/alternative energy vehicles; a unicycle dirt drag race; and 2,000 driving, flying and working machines on display. Live music, food and kiddie amusements round out the fun. 10-4. (Half Moon Bay Airport on Hwy. 1: 650/726-2328; www.miramarevents.com)
Apr 25: Nikkei Matsuri Festival. An annual affair celebrating Japanese-American culture, the Nikkei Matsuri is a much anticipated event featuring traditional performances on two stages; delicious food and drink; a showcase of arts and crafts; and vibrant cultural displays, all in the heart of historic Japantown. (San Jose: Japantown, corner of Fifth and Jackson Sts.; 408/241-0900; www.nikkeimatsuri.org)
Apr 27: Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight! Holbrook’s uncanny theatrical personification of Mark Twain has garnered critical acclaim for his pioneering one-man show, which has earned him a Tony and Emmy award. 8pm. (Palo Alto: Stanford University, Memorial Auditorium; 650/725-ARTS; http://livelyarts.stanford.edu)
Apr 29: Anoushka Shankar Project. The acclaimed sitar player and composer, whose father is the legendary Ravi Shankar and whose sister is the celebrated Norah Jones, has made a name for herself by weaving traditional Indian music with a variety of musical genres, such as jazz, flamenco and electronica. 7:30pm. (Saratoga: Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Rd.; 408/961-5858; www.montalvoarts.org)
