Is there anyone who isn’t ready to welcome the merry month of
May? The rain has ended. At last, we can look forward to sunshine,
flowers splashing color across landscapes and events on the local
art scene.
Is there anyone who isn’t ready to welcome the merry month of May? The rain has ended. At last, we can look forward to sunshine, flowers splashing color across landscapes and events on the local art scene.
The Gilroy Arts Alliance will present it’s third annual fundraiser “On Broadway” Saturday, featuring some of South County’s finest vocalists and instrumentals by the outstanding Martan Mann Trio. The Alliance has created an art center in the old Salvation Army building at the corner of Monterey and Seventh streets. Art shows, concerts, theater, artist gatherings and activities for youth are ongoing at the center. “On Broadway” will benefit the group’s endeavors and help keep the center up and running.
In addition to entertainment, wine, no host bar and hors d’oevres, there will be a silent and live auction. Auction items include a week in Cabo San Lucas, a beach condo in Florida, a Chardonnay Harbor cruise, wine tasting for 10 and much more.
Ted Sanchez – a Gilroy favorite – will perform selections from “South Pacific” and “Camelot”. He will dedicate the performance to two people who made an impact on his singing career: Gayle Glines and Chuck Myer. In the early ’80s, Glines asked Sanchez to sing the national anthem at the first Gilroy Special Olympics. He continued to sing at the event for 16 years. He now sings with the 22-piece South Bay Swing Band, the Swing City jazz band and is often on the road with his group, Ted Sanchez and Friends.
“It’s not about the money,” Sanchez said. “It’s about keeping other musicians working.”
Sharing the spotlight with the Martan Mann Trio, Patti Lemon will perform jazzy, feel good tunes and Sandra Marlowe will give us a preview of her soon-to-be released CD. Lemon and Marlowe, who also sing with the South Bay Swing Band, will join Sanchez in an arrangement of a golden oldie you don’t want to miss.
Beverly Blount, nurse by day and concertmaster of the South Valley Symphony, will likely bring down the house with Soundheim selections from “Follies”.
Reprising his Don Quixote role – which he has performed in eight different productions – Paul Myrvold will treat us to the beautiful “Dulcinea”, as well as a lullaby from “Shenandoah”.
“On Broadway” also features Karen McConachie, whose soaring soprano voice will tingle your spine, Gilroy’s master choir director, Phil Robb, singing “Edelweiss”, Don “Elvis” Prieto, Alan Hoshida, Carol Harris, and emcees Kevin Heath and Bill Tindall.
Songwriter’s Showcase, featuring original and wonderfully performed live music at the Gilroy Center for the Arts, will be held May 14. Organized by local songwriter Tom Hepner, the concert will feature Amanda West, whose voice has been likened to that of an angel, The Coffis Brothers from Ben Lomond and Adriel Berger and The Relief, who mix blues and folk with heart felt lyrics. This is a bring-your-own-dinner event and at $15 for adults and $10 for students, it’s an affordable date night or family night out.
South Valley Civic Theatre and producers Jonathan Bass and Scott Lynch will open “Curtains”, the musical comedy whodunit, on May 13. Featuring catchy music by Kander and Ebb (“Cabaret” and “Chicago”), the musical garnered eight Tony Award nominations when it opened on Broadway in 2007. Morgan Hill attorney Rob Christopher, whose credits include Harold Hill in “The Music Man” and Frank Butler in “Annie Get Your Gun”, will be featured in the role of Lt. Frank Cioffi, a police detective who solves crimes and moonlights as a musical theater fan. Chris Souza plays the outrageous campy director, Christopher Belling. Also featured are Gilroyans Mary Beth Anderson, Aaron Nasser, Dale Haluza, Brittini Bombino, Stephanie Marquez, Haylee Merrill and the father/daughter pair of Doug and Laura Doughty. Megan Griffin, who wore the unique garlic costume in the recent Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen competition, plays the hopeful starlet Bambi. A highlight of the SVCT production are the high-energy dances created by Gilroy’s talented choreographer, Mitzi Imagawa.
***
May Events
– “On Broadway”: Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Concert: 7:30 – 10 p.m. at Hecker Pass Winery, 4605 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy
$45, $50 at door
(408) 472-3292
– “Curtains”: May 13,14,20,21, June 3,4,10,11 at 8 p.m.; May 22 & June 5 at 2:30 p.m. at Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey St., Morgan Hill
(408) 842-SHOW
– South Valley Symphony: Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at Mission San Juan Bautista
southvalleysymphony.org
– Songwriter’s Showcase: May 14, 7 p.m. Bring-your-own-dinner; 8 – 10 p.m. Concert. At Gilroy Center for the Arts, 7341 Monterey St., Gilroy
$15 adults/$10 students
– Art, Wine & Chocolate Festival: Saturday, May 21, noon – 5 p.m. at Fernwood Cellar, end of Redwood Retreat Road, Gilroy
