CAMILLE GAVIN: Webb back in director's chair
| Wednesday, Nov 11 2009 06:17 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Nov 11 2009 06:17 PM
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'On Golden Pond'
When: Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. today through Saturday; doors open at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, show at 2 p.m.
Where: Stars Restaurant Theatre, 1931 Chester Ave.
Admission: $50 to $54; show only, $25
Information: 325-6100
'Reigning Cats and Dogs'
When: Opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Younger Gallery, 1430 Truxtun Ave.
Admission: $10 to $15
Information: 324-9000
BC Jazz Ensemble
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bakersfield College Indoor Theatre, 1801 Panorama Drive
Admission: $8, general; $5, students and seniors
Information: 395-4240
CSUB Jazz Ensemble
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dore Theatre, 9001 Stockdale Highway
Admission: $10, general; $6, students and seniors; children under 12, free
Information: 654-3093
G0 & DO
After a long hiatus, Hank Webb has jumped back into the local theater scene in a big way. In January, the retired Bakersfield College drama professor did a fine job of portraying a World War I veteran in "Heroes" at Stars. This month he's directing "On Golden Pond," which opens this evening for a two-weekend run at the same theater.
"This is my first directing job in over 12 years and I'm having lots of fun," Webb said. "That's because I've got great people to work with; Jim Fillbrandt and Nancy Arslan are old pros and they're absolutely wonderful together."
Fillbrandt and Arslan, he explained, play a couple who have been married for 48 years. The same characters were portrayed by Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn in the movie version of Ernest Thompson's play. Although the story is about a couple who have been married for 48 years, Webb said it's not a sentimental journey.
"There are a lot of edgy, uncomfortable moments in the play, a lot of emotional undercurrents," Webb said. "The husband is a cantankerous old guy who takes delight in playing with people's minds."
Also in the cast are Laurie Howlett, Jake Wattenbarger and Gary Johnson.
Art benefits animals
The Arts Council of Kern hopes to pile up a big stack of blankets in the Younger Gallery during Friday's opening reception for the "Reigning Cats and Dogs" exhibit. Guests are asked to bring a new or used blanket, which will be given to the SPCA to help provide warmth during the winter months for cats and dogs housed in outdoor kennels.
And the collection isn't a one-night-only affair. Nicole Browning, spokeswoman for the council said donations can be dropped off through Jan. 10. The gallery's regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
All artwork on display pertains to cats or dogs and each piece is for sale. A portion of the proceeds will benefit both the Arts Council and the SPCA.
Two jazz ensembles
Jazz fans can take their pick of two different concerts on Saturday evening -- one in the northeast part of town, the other in the southwest.
The Bakersfield College Jazz Ensemble, directed by Kris Tiner, will feature both classic and modern music, including a new work by local composer Jordan Herbst. Also on the program will be pieces by such well-known composers as Thelonious Monk, Joe Zawinul, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Charles Mingus, Sun Ra, Thad Jones and Andrew Durkin.
On the same evening, the Cal State Bakersfield Jazz Ensemble will perform a program that includes Billy Strayhorn's "Take the A Train," which will feature Jeff Slaughter on trombone; Mark Manda, trumpet; Daniel Saldana, guitar; and Schuyler Johnson, piano. Also in the spotlight are three members of the saxophone section: David Baron Stevens, Chris Nguyen and Mat Willis.
Mathey and 'Chatsworth'
Roger Mathey, formerly the general manager of Spotlight Theatre, is splitting his time between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. Here in town he's substitute teaching; in L.A. he's directing playwright Matt Robertson's "Chatsworth," which he did earlier this year at The Empty Space.
"A producer contacted me after seeing the Bakersfield run," Mathey said in an e-mail, "and is paying for it to go up in Sherman Oaks at the Whitefire Theater. I'm using a few people from Bakersfield in it as well and have done some rewrites as we hope to find financiers to turn it into a movie."
I asked Mathey to fill me in on the "few people from Bakersfield" and it's an impressive list. Here, slightly edited, is what he wrote:
Alyssa Bonanno, who was last seen at the Empty Space in "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told" and is now attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in L.A.
Lorenzo Salazar, who has done shows for Bakersfield Community Theatre, Spotlight, Gaslight Melodrama Theatre and the Empty Space and is now working on an acting career in L.A.
James Kopp, whose shows at the Empty Space include "Project Sin," "The Pinter Plays," "Fool for Love" and his own original work, "The Super-Villain."
Emily Schaub, who has done shows in Bakersfield like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at BCT, "Angels in America" and "Closer" at the Empty Space and has been doing shows in L.A. for the past few years.
Two of the understudies are also Bakersfield natives: Natily Ray, who is a board member and actor at the Empty Space, and Paul Sosa, who has done shows for Spotlight and the Empty Space and is currently working as an actor in L.A.
Final performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Nov. 25 at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. For ticket information, visit plays411.com/chatsworth.
