This is your arts and nightlife captain; please stand by as we navigate through abrupt closings, postponements —and even a few openings— around the Bay Area this week.

San Francisco stages are now hosting two of the more unorthodox musicals to hit big on Broadway in recent years, one subtle and poetic ('The Band's Visit'), the other boisterous and participatory ('Freestyle Love Supreme').

It's one step forward and two steps back in the local arts scene as theater companies close their doors yet again, a comedy festival is postponed, and the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus gets funding from Amazon.

James Magruder is a funny guy. His wonderfully wicked sense of humor comes through in his plays, and in his new novel, 'Vamp Until Ready.'

We've got live theater and comedy, art exhibits in a diverse array of genres, plus movies, dance concerts or music shows in-person and online.

In Robert Sokol's May 14, 2009 interview with the late Joan Rivers, the celebrated comedian talked of her career and threw in plenty of timely jokes, which were very much of that age.

This year's Kung Pao Kosher Comedy show is producer/comic Lisa Geduldidg's 29th edition, and offers an all-female line-up. In addition to hosting, Geduldig will perform, as will her mom, 90-year-old Arline Geduldig.

'The Woman In Black,' a ghost story, is now on stage at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater. Thousands of goosebump-loving audience members who have made this play a huge hit in London.

SF Ballet's new production of Helgi Tomasson's 'Nutcracker' shines, with principal dancers and soloists even in minor roles acting on a par with the dancing. Also, advance coverage of Mark Morris Dance Group this weekend at Zellerbach Hall.

Playwright Martin Sherman's intergenerational 'Gently Down The Stream,' now at the New Conservatory Theatre Center, brings a simultaneous valedictory for the gay past and benediction of queer generations to come.

A packed audience braved the rain and filled the Castro Theater on Sunday Dec. 12 for a free screening of Steven Spielberg's reimagining of the classic musical 'West Side Story,' and a special Q&A with legendary actress Rita Moreno.

Malvina Reynolds's "Little Boxes" expands to a performance arty stage event, while SF Playhouse's one-act version of Shakespeare comedy of errors is colorfully anachronistic.

Heading up the arts features in our June 23, 2005 edition, Adam Sandel gets good quotes from comic actor Alec Mapa, who was a celebrity Grand Marshal at that year's Pride events.

Robin de Jesús discusses his new more mature role in the film 'tick, tick... Boom,' plus his earlier work onstage and film in 'Rent,' 'The Boys in the Band' and 'In the Heights.'