Arts Events Jan. 24-31, 2019

Paradise Square @ Berkeley Repertory
New musical about the 1860s Black and Irish-populated Five Points district of New York (Book by Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, and Larry Kirwan; Music by Jason Howland and Larry Kirwan, Lyrics by Nathan Tysen; based on the songs of Stephen Foster). $40-$115. Thru Feb 17. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. www.berkeleyrep.org

Solo Performance Festival @ Potrero Stage
PlayGound's annual showcase of two dozen-plus performers' shows, including Marga Gomez, Matthew Martin, Nina Wise, Michael Phillis and others. $31-$93 (full pass). Thru Feb 10. 1695 18th St. www.playground-sf.org

Richard Schwarzenberger @ Green Arcade Books
Author of City of Disappearances discusses and reads from his novel. 7pm. 1680 Market St. www.TheGreenArcade.com

The Secret Emchy Society, The Muddy Roses @ The Lost Church
Two folk-Americana bands perform music from new albums, and favorites, at the intimate performance space. $10-$15. 8pm. 65 Capp St. http://www.emchy.com/ https://www.thelostchurch.com/

SF Sketchfest @ Multiple Venues
The annual comedy, film & TV festival includes live appearances by dozens of comics, funny actors and celebrities; thru Jan 27. https://www.sfsketchfest.com/

Skating @ Safeway Holiday Ice Rink
The Union Square ice rink is open, with hourly rates, skate rentals, and special events through Jan. 21. $13-$18. 333 Post St. www.unionsquareicerink.com

Stop AIDS Now or Else @ GLBT History Museum
Protest as Community Catalyst, a panel discussion of the 1989 SF AIDS activist protests. $5. 7pm-9pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

FRIDAY 25

Aurora Sexton @ Oasis
Comic actress performs her Melania Trump parody show, Let Them Eat Cake! Diary of a First Lady. $30-$40. 7pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Border People @ The Marsh
Dan Hoyle's new solo show embodies multiple characters based around the U.S./Mexico border wall controversies; thru Feb 23. $25-$100. Thu & Fri 8pm, Sat 5pm. 1062 Valencia St. www.themarsh.org

Carson Cressley, Kristine W
@ Feinstein's at the Nikko
The Queer Eye celeb and the pop singer share a night of Stand Up With a Twist. $50-$90 ($20 food/drink min.) pm. Also Jan 26. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. https://www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com/

Creditors @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley
August Stringdberg's drama (powerful psychodrama about a sexual triangle taken to destructive extremes) is performed in a new version by David Greig. $35-$70. Thru Feb 24. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. www.auroratheatre.org

King of the Yees @ SF Playhouse
Lauren Yee's comic play about a Chinese American family, a missing father, and a 150-year-old men's club. $25-$125. Tue-Thu & Sun 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru March 2. 450 Post St. 2nd floor. www.sfplayhouse.org

Kronos Quartet @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley
The acclaimed Bay Area music ensemble performs Fifty for the Future, a program of new commissioned works by diverse international cohort of stellar composers. $24-$68. 8pm. UC Berkeley campus. https://calperformances.org

Late Company @ New Conservatory Theatre Center
Jordan Tannahill's gripping family drama about antigay bullies, redemption and anger, gets its West Coast-premiere in the gay theatre company's new production. $20-$50. Wed-Sat 8pm Sun 2pm. Thru Feb 24. 25 Van Ness Ave, lower level. www.nctcsf.org

Older and Out @ North Berkeley Senior Center
Weekly group discussion about problems for elders in the LGBT community. 3:15pm. 1901 Hearst Ave., Berkeley. www.pacificcenter.org

Queer Yoga @ Love Story Yoga
All-level weekly classes in an LGBT space. $11. 6:30pm-7:30pm. 473 Valencia St. at 16th. http://www.lovestoryyoga.com/

Reverend Horton Heat @ Great American Music Hall, Slim's
The terrific rockabilly band performs two nights. $25-$50 (with dinner) 9pm, and Jan 26 at Slim's; both nights with Big Sandy, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Delta Bombers. $25-50 with dinner. 9pm. 333 11th St. https://slimspresents.com

Sweeney Todd @ Hillbarn Theatre, Foster City
Stephen Sondheim's award-winning gruesomely dramatic musical, based on the penny dreadfuls about the 'demon barber of Fleet Street' and his pie-making accomplice, gets an East Bay production. $20-$40; thru Feb 10. 1285 Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. www.hillbarntheatre.org

SATURDAY 26

Animation Exhibits @ Walt Disney Museum
Exhibit of animation art by the prolific artists. 104 Montgomery St, The Presidio. $5-$25. 10am-6pm. Closed Tue. http://wdfmuseum.org/

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi
The musical comedy revue celebrates its 45th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25-$160. Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. Wed-Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm & 9pm. Sun 2pm & 5pm. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd. (Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Cirque du Soleil @ AT&T Park
The amazing acrobatic circus returns for an extended stay with their new show, Volta. $54 and up; various times and dates thru Feb 3. www.cirquedusoleil.com

Come From Away @ Golden Gate Theatre
Touring production of Irene Sankoff & David Hein's Tony-winning Broadway musical about stranded passengers who landed in Newfoundland. $56-$256. Tue-Thu 7:30pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat & Sun 2pm, thru Feb 3. 1 Taylor St at Market. www.shnsf.com

Films @ BAM/PFA
Artistic and award-winning films, including international features, and documentaries about artists; ongoing. 2155 Center St., Berkeley. www.bampfa.org

Frost/Nixon @ Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
Peter Morgan's stage adaptation of the dramatic TV interview gets a local production by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. $40-$100, thru Feb 10. 500 Castro St., Mountain View. www.TheatreWorks.org

A History of World War II @ The Marsh
Prolific playwright and director John Fisher's new solo show's subtitled The D-Day Invasion to the Fall of Berlin. $20-$100. Thu 8pm, Sat 8:30pm. Extended thru Feb 2. 1062 Valencia St. www.themarshsf.com

LGBTQ Histories from the WWII Home Front
@ Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center, Richmond
Park indoor exhibit that showcases the lives of historic LGBT people. Open daily 10am-5pm. 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond. https://www.nps.gov/rori/index.htm

Masako Miki @ Cult: Aimee Friberg Exhibitions
Shapeshifters, the artist's whimsical exhibit of paintings and sculptures. Thru Feb 23. 1217-B Fell St. www.cultexhibitions.com

Other Cinema @ ATA Gallery
Weekly screenings of wacky, unusual, short, documentary and animated films; free books, vinyl, VHS and wine. $7. 8:30pm. 992 Valencia St. www.othercinema.com

Seascape @ Geary Theatre
Edward Albee's prize-winning satirical comedy about a retired couple's beachside encounter with a pair of talking lizards. $15-$110. Thru Feb 17. 415 Geary St. www.act-sf.org

Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels
Wheeled fun at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the "Godfather of Skate," including Saturday's Black Rock night (Burning Man garb encouraged). 7pm-10pm. Sat afternoon sessions 1pm-2pm and 3pm-5pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5. Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com

Then They Came For Me @ Futures Without Violence
Incarceration of Japanese Americans During WWII and the Demise of Civil Liberties, a touring multimedia exhibit documenting the terrifying period in U.S. history when the government scapegoated and imprisoned thousands of people of Japanese ancestry, including photographs by Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams, alongside works by incarcerated Japanese American artists Toyo Miyatake and Min� Okubo. Free. Wed-Sun 10am-6pm. 100 Montgomery St. https://thentheycame.org/

Various Exhibits @ NIAD Art Center, Richmond
Exhibits of art by visiting professionals, and art made by developmentally disabled people. Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. 551 23rd St. Richmond. (510) 620-0290. www.niadart.org

Various Exhibits @ SF Public Library
Portal: Group Show of Speculative Fiction, thru Feb; Shaped: Sharing HIV/AIDS Photos Essentially Deaf, thru Feb 1; Art/Work: Art Created by the Staff at SFPL, thru Mar. 8; SF Wildlife: Photography by Jouko van der Kruijssen, thru Mar. 28. 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Wanda Sykes @ The Masonic
The brilliant lesbian comic tells it like it is on her 'Oh, Well' tour. $39-$55. 8pm. 1111 California St. http://sfmasonic.com

Wild SF Walking Tours @ Citywide
Enjoy weekly informed tours of various parts of San Francisco, from Chinatown to the Haight, and a 'radical' and political-themed LGBT-inclusive tour. Various dates and times. $15-$25. www.wildsftours.com

The World of Charles and Ray Eames @ Oakland Museum
Exhibit of the innovative designers' works, including furniture, toys, and rare prototypes; thru Feb 17. Also, Cruisin' the Fossil Coastline, Ray Troll's colorful illustrations paired with paleontologist Kirk Johnson's research. Also, Take Root: Oakland Grows Food and other exhibits. Friday night events 5pm-9pm. Free/$15. 1000 Oak St. http://museumca.org

SUNDAY 27

Choreographies of Disclosure
@ Pro Arts Oakland
Choreographies of Disclosure: What the Mind Forgets, an LGBT-artist group exhibit (Eliza Barrios, Cassandra Clark, Oriana Doria-Quesada, Leslie Dreyer, Angela Hennessy, Lydia Greer, Jo Howard, Vanessa Rochelle Lewis, LeahAnn Mitchell #lamfemmebear, Quinn Peck, Reaa Puri, Azin Seraj, Jadelynn Stahl) about sexual violence, thru Feb 15. 150 Frank H Ogowa Plaza, Oakland. https://proartsgallery.org

Ecstatic Dance @ Sacred Heart Church
Weekly group freeform dance with a spiritual flavor at the former church-turned event space. $15. 9am-12pm. Also Wed. and Fridays in Oakland and Fairfax. 554 Fillmore St. www.ecstaticdance.org

Expedition Reef @ California Academy of Sciences
Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth; Deep Reefs, Giants of Land and Sea, Gems and Minerals, and more. $20-$35. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Gay Sunrise Contributors @ Dog Eared Books
The Green Arcade and Ithuriel's Spear present Gay Sunrise:Writing Gay Liberation in San Francisco 1968-1972 with editor James Mitchell and contributors Bruce Boone and Bob Gl�ck. 5pm. 489 Castro St. www.dogearedbooks.com

Lew the Jew and His Circle @ Contemporary Jewish Museum
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo, an exhibit of the prolific tattoo artist's work, tools and life; thru June 9. Also, In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art—Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler, thru July. 736 Mission St. https://thecjm.org/

Mads Tolling @ Yoshi's Oakland
The Grammy-winning jazz violinist is joined by vocalists Spencer Day and Tiffany Austin. $26-$60. 6pm & 8pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. www.yoshis.com

La Milonga Invierno @ Great Northern
Tango dancing night, with lessons, DJ Felipe Martinez. $12-$15. 7:30pm-12am. 119 Utah St. https://www.thegreatnorthernsf.com/

Neil Patrick Harris @ Palace of Fine Arts
The accomplished gay actor-singer (Hedwig, A Series of Unfortunate Events) and author in conversation onstage; part of SF Sketchfest. $45. 4pm. 3301 Lyon St. https://palaceoffinearts.org

Plant Exhibits @ Conservatory of Flowers
Artfully arranged plant and floral exhibits. 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, Golden Gate Park. https://conservatoryofflowers.org

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley
Same-sex partner tango dancing, including lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30pm-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. www.finnishhall.org

Rent Viewing @ Oasis
Viewing party for the TV broadcast of a new live production of the Broadway musical; donations go to the LGBT Asylum Project. 8pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus @ New Arts Center
The Chorus performs a benefit for Paradise Wildfire victims, with songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine, Shawn Howell and special guests. $25 and up. 5pm. 170 Valencia St. www.sfgmc.org

SF Hiking Club @ Black Mountain
Join GLBT hikers of the SF Hiking Club for a 6-mile hike at Black Mountain in the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve on the Peninsula. First, a relaxing cruise through grasslands, up past the backpacker camp to the peak. Then down Indian Creek Trail to the shady canyon of Stevens Creek on the Stevens Creek nature trail. From the peak at 2,800 feet, a clear day offers spectacular views of Santa Clara Valley and the Mount Hamilton Range, as well as the coast. Bring water, lunch, hat, layers, sunscreen, good hiking shoes. Carpool meets at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores, 8:45am. 650-740-9849 sfhiking.com

Sprightly @ SF Public Library
Weekly hangout for LGBTQ youth, with crafts, snacks and activities. Dec 16: Jessie Sisannah Karnatz, aka money Witch, leads a financial workshop. 12:30pm-2:30pm. James C. Hormel Center, 3rd floor, 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

That Don Reed Show @ The Marsh Berkeley
The acclaimed solo performer and playwright's sketch variety show, with stand-up, storytelling and music. $20-$100. Sat 8:30, Sun 5:30 thru Feb 2. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.themarsh.org

Various Exhibits @ Asian Art Museum
Contemporary works by Kim Heecheon and Liu Jianhua; also, exhibits of sculpture and antiquities. Sunday caf� specialties from $7-$16. Free-$20. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. http://www.asianart.org/

Various Exhibits @ Chabot Space & Science Museum, Oakland
Space, science and planetary exhibits, including planetarium shows and the Observatory; special nighttime events like meteor shower shows. Free-$18. 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. www.chabotspace.org

MONDAY 28

Cabaret Cirque @ Great Northern
A Sext Circus Cabaret featuring gorgeous acrobats, featuring artists from Kinky Boots on Broadway, Paramour, The Seven Fingers and various Cirque shows and alumni of L'Ecole Nationale Du Cirque and Decca, L'ecole. Proceeds benefit the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation. $30-$100. 7:30pm. 21+. 119 Utah St. https://ono-cirque.eventbrite.com

Come From Away Cast
@ Feinstein's at the Nikko
Performers in the touring production of the hit musical perform a concert benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. $20-$40. 7pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. https://www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com/

Jason Brock @ Martuni's
The powerhouse crooner performs at the intimate martini bar, with accompanist Dee Spencer. $5. 6pm, Also Feb 4. 4 Valencia St. www.jasonbrockvocals.com

A Picture is a Word: The Posters of Rex Ray @ GLBT History Museum
Exhibit of vibrant works by the late gay artist; thru Feb 3. The Briggs Initiative: A Scary Proposition, thru Jan 20. $5. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Modern Art @ SF MOMA
Wayne Thiebaud, Etel Adnan, Alexander Calder, Donald Judd, Louise Bourgeois and many classic Modern works. The Sea Ranch: Architecture, Envioronment and Idealism (thru April 28). Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory, thru March 31. Free/$25. Fri-Tue 10am-6pm. 151 3rd St. www.sfmoma.org

Magnificent Magnolias @ SF Botanical Garden
Visit the lush gardens with displays of trees, flowers and shrubs from around the world, including the annual Magnolia bloom. Monthly plant sales, plus art exhibits and gift shop; library art exhibit of landscapes by Heath Massey thru April. Free entry with SF proof of residency. $5-$10 for others. 7:30am-closing. 9th Ave at Lincoln Way. https://sfbotanicalgarden.org/

Westward @ City Hall
Exhibit of large-scale photos by women photographers focusing on West Coast communities. Thru May 2019. North Light Court, Ground Floor, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett
Place. www.sfartscommission.org

William Blake in Color @ William Blake Gallery
Exhibit of classic plates in the new gallery of historic art by the 18th- and 19th-century poet and illustrator. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Sat 11am-5pm. 49 Geary St. #205. www.williamblakegallery.com

TUESDAY 29

East Meets West @ Legion of Honor
Jewels of the Maharajas from the Al Thani Collection, thru Feb 24. Also, S�raphin Soudbinine, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Framing the Body, Mummies and Medicine and other exhibits of classical and modern art. Free/$30. Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave. https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/

Friendly Fire @ Wessling Gallery
Group exhibit of vibrant works in various media by 14 artists. 440 Brannan St. http://wesslinggallery.com/

Jessalyn Ragus-Glasgow @ Strut
Tarot Erotique, the artist's exhibit of Tarot card art; thru Jan. 470 Castro St. www.strutsf.org/

Various Exhibits @ The Beat Museum
Enjoy exhibits, a bookstore and gift shop that celebrates the era of 'Beatnik' literature (Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, etc.), with frequent readings, walking tours and other events in North Beach. $5-$8. Daily 10am-7pm. 540 Broadway www.kerouac.com

WEDNESDAY 30

Black Refractions @ MOAD
Highlights from The Studio Museum in Harlem, a new traveling exhibition showcasing a century of artworks. Thru April 14. Free/$10. Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St. www.moadsf.org

Eternal Boy Playground @ Telematic
Liat Berdugo and Emily Martinez' multimedia installation that playfully explores the cultural tropes surrounding crypto-currencies like Bitcoin; thru Feb 2. 323 10th St. https://tttelematiccc.com/

Gaugin: A Spiritual Journey @ de Young Museum
New exhibit of the French painter's Tahitian paintings, and works by artists who influenced him. Thru April 7. Also, Contemporary Muslim Fashions, an exhibit of stylish fashions in the Muslim world; thru Jan 6. Also, modern and historic art, including embroidery, Maori portraits and installations. Free/$15. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. www.famsf.org

Looking Through the Lens @ Diane Wilsey Center for Opera
The Glory of San Francisco Opera, Past and Present, an exhibit of historic productions photos from the San Francisco Opera's many productions. Free. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm. Veteran's Building, 401 Van Ness Ave. www.sfopera.com

Tender is my Loin @ Pianofight
Punk nightlife chanteuase Bambi Lake performs with Scrumbly Koldwyn and his Cirque du Scrumbello in a musical revue and homage to The Tenderloin of San Francisco. $20. 8pm. 144 Taylor St. https://www.pianofight.com/

Tracy K. Smith @ JCCSF
Poet Laureate of the U.S. reads from and discusses her writing. $25. 7pm. Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St. https://www.jccsf.org/

Various Events @ Oakland LGBTQ Center
Social events and meetings at the new LGBTQ center include film screenings and workshops, including Bruthas Rising, trans men of color meetings, 4th Tuesdays, 6:30pm. Film screenings, 4th Saturdays, 7:30pm. Game nights, Fridays 7:30pm-11pm. Vogue sessions, first Saturdays. 3207
Lakeshore Ave. Oakland. https://www.oaklandlgbtqcenter.org/

THURSDAY 31

Exclusion @ Presidio Officers Club
Exhibit documenting the Presidio's Japanese-American incarceration during World War II; other exhibits show the history of the former military base and the SF peninsula. Free, Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Thru Spring 2019. 50 Maraga Ave. https://www.presidio.gov/officers-club/exhibitions/

Friends Live @ Oasis
The popular '90s sitcom gets a double drag (king/queen) parody performance of a few episode scripts, with Nancy French, Sue Casa Steven LeMay and other talents. $27-$50. Thu 8pm, Fri & Sat 7pm. Thru Mar. 2. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Lena Hall @ Feinstein's at the Nikko
The Tony-winning Broadway and touring costar of Hedwig and the Angry Inch performs her new cabaret concert, Art of the Audition: From Falling Apart to Nailing the Part to Feinstein's at the Nikko. $55-$85 ($20 food/drink min.) 8pm. Also Feb 1 & 2. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. https://www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com/

The Life and Times of Jo Mora @ Cartoon Art Museum
New exhibit of drawing, maps, paintings and ephemera by the prolific illustrator of American culture (1876-1947). Thru April 28. 781 Beach St. www.cartoonart.org

Literary Speakeasy @ Martuni's
James J. Siegel's monthly author, poet, music night, this time with Keith Donnell, Laurie Ann Doyle, Elizabeth Gonzalez James, Miah Jeffra, and Emily Pinkerton. 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

The Match Book @ Tenderloin Museum
Tenderloin Historical Ephemera Project showcases artfully designed bar matchbooks through the neighborhood's history; thru March 31. Also, Urban Abstracts, Patricia Araujo's exhibit of urban paintings, thru Feb 3. 398 Eddy St. http://www.tenderloinmuseum.org/

Tosh Berman @ City Lights Bookstore
The author of the fascinating memoir Tosh: Growing up in Wallace Berman's World, about his assemblage-artist Beat-era father, in a talk with Natalia Mount and Roman Coppola. 7pm. 261 Columbus Ave. www.citylights.com Also Feb 1, 7pm at Moe's Books, 2470 Teelgraph Ave, Berkeley. https://www.moesbooks.com/

Two-Spirit Voices: Returning to the Circle @ GLBT History Museum
Opening reception for the Native American queer exhibit of the Bay Area organization on its 20th anniversary, including the annual Two-Spirit Powwow organized by BAAITS, indigenous medicine and responses to HIV/AIDS, and Two-Spirit meaning within indigenous communities. $5. 7pm-9pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org


To submit event listings, email [email protected]
Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication.