It’s hard to believe that summer is already winding down and
school will start up in just a few weeks. However, summer arts are
alive and well and promise plenty of opportunities to enjoy local
entertainment.
It’s hard to believe that summer is already winding down and school will start up in just a few weeks. However, summer arts are alive and well and promise plenty of opportunities to enjoy local entertainment.
There are three more concerts in the Gilroy Arts Alliance Fifth Street Live series. Tonight, the John Garcia R&B Band will play from 7 to 9 p.m. Garcia, a Gilroy native son, has been entertaining and performing as a guitarist and vocalist for more than 30 years. He has played lead guitar with Paul Simon, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Winters, Bo Diddley and Huey Lewis and the News, and while on a worldwide tour with Hooker and the Coast to Coast Blues band, he performed at Carnegie Hall. Garcia has been on the staff of the Gilroy Music Academy since 1996 and also teaches at the San Jose School of Blues.
Rounding out the summer series are The Usual suspects on Aug. 13 and The Dave Allen band on Aug. 20. Plan a picnic dinner with family and friends while enjoying a summer evening on Fifth Street but don’t forget your folding chairs, sweaters and maybe even a blanket.
There is still time to stop by the new Gilroy Center for the Arts office building on the corner of Monterey and Seventh Street to view the art show gallery. Open from 2 to 5:30 p.m. every day through Aug. 10, the gallery features works of 12 local artists.
The Gilroy Arts Alliance will offer a preview party from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday. In addition to the art show gallery, there will be live musical entertainment by The Amazing Doctor Zarcon’s Breathing Machine Jug Band.
If you enjoy musical theater don’t miss South Valley Civic Theatre’s production of “The King and I”, opening tonight at the Morgan Hill Playhouse. The show runs weekends through the end of August. Director Andrew Cummings has honed a visually beautiful and delightful show. The voices of Sharon Maxwell, as Anna, and Mary Anne Stanislaw, as Lady Thiang, are equal to any that have been heard on professional stages. Edmond Kwong, as the King, is remarkable in the role of a ruler transformed by the woman who teaches his children more than just English lessons.
Daniel Corpus, a recent Gilroy High School graduate and product of Phil Robb’s Chamber Choir and voice training by Karen McConachie, appears in the role of Lun Tha opposite Naomi Longshore as Tuptim. Their duets are sure to melt your heart. Also worthy of mention is the vibrant color design of costumes and set pieces by local interior decorator, Bill Tindall, and the detailed scenic painting by Hollister artist, Glynis Crabb.
Pintello Comedy Theater presents its First Annual Comedy With Kids, “Curtain Going Up”, for two weekends in August. The play within a play stars a blend of funny people of all ages and is about a fictional community theater production that may never get to opening night.
If you’re familiar with the Pintello’s theater, you know the family enjoys all aspects of the theater business and often swap jobs. This time Rod and Marion are producing, and daughter-in-law, Stephanie, is directing. Granddaughters, Mary and Shelby McClelland, share the stage with Acacia Alvarez, Josh Chappell, Katie DeSantis, Tina Elder, Jacob Garcia, Cassidy Gilmore, Zach Green, Matt Haluza, Kevin Heath, Simon Pintello, Dillon and Eden Romero, and Lane Young.
Director Stephanie Pintello is a graduate of Ohlone College and has been on the staff of the college as a sign language interpreter for 17 years. She has been interpreting at Bay Area theaters for the past 10 years. Her first speaking role, in “Anything Goes” at the Pleasanton Playhouse, sparked a passion for theater and she has since appeared on the stage of Ohlone College, SVCT and Pintello Comedy Theater. Last year, she made her directing debut with SVCT’s “Annie Get Your Gun”. Excited about directing for her family’s theater and working with kids, Pintello says she just can’t get enough of making people laugh and looks forward to “teaching moments” as she directs this comedy.
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August events
– Gilroy Arts Alliance Art Show Gallery, through Tuesday, 2 to 5:30 p.m.
Preview Party for Gilroy Center for the Arts offices, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
– Monterey at Seventh Street, Gilroy, Fifth Street Live
Sunday – John Garcia R & B Band; Aug. 13 – The Usual Suspects; Aug. 20 – Dave Allen band
– “The King and I”
Aug. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8 p.m.; matinees Aug. 15 & 22 at 2:30 p.m.
Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, Monterey at Fifth Street, (408) 842-SHOW
– “Curtain Going Up”
Aug. 20, 21(interpreted for American sign Language), 27, 28 at 7 p.m.; matinees Aug. 22, 28 at 2 p.m.
8191 Swanston Lane, Gilroy, (408) 337-1599
– “Wild”
El Teatro Campesino Playhouse, Fourth Street, San Juan Bautista, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m., Aug. 7 at 4 p.m.
(408) 612-2057
