Here’s a baker’s dozen of highlights to get you started, but there’s way, way, way more going on than can possibly be listed here, including A-List out-of-town performers, local comedy heroes and more sketch, improv and standup than you can shake your head ruefully at. We’re skipping shows in this roundup that are already sold out.

For the full schedule and tickets, visit www.sfsketchfest.com

The Black Version: African American comedians from the Groundlings improvise “the Black version” of popular films suggested by the audience. Performers include creator Jordan Black, Karen Maruyama, Cedric Yarbrough (“Reno 911!”) Nyima Funk and Gary Anthony Williams of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and Phil LaMarr and Daniele Gaither of “Mad TV.”

Details: 7:30 and 10 p.m. Jan. 20; Brava Theater Center; $30-$40.

Upright Citizens Brigade — “ASSSSCAT”: UCB’s signature long-form improv show features founders Matt Besser and Ian Roberts alongside guest improvisors such as Tim Meadows of “SNL” and guest monologist Nichole Sakura of “Superstore.”

Details: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21; Sydney Goldstein Theatre; $35-$55.

Celebrity Autobiography: Enjoy hilarious excerpts from the memoirs of celebs such as Matthew McConaughey and Mariah Carey as performed by an all-star cast of funny people including Beverly D’Angelo, John Michael Higgins, Laraine Newman, Oscar Nunez, Andy Richter, George Wendt and creator Eugene Pack.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $45-$65.

Stop Joking for 100 Years and Other Requests from My Kid: Comedians swap stories about their own childhoods or parenting experiences. Eugene Mirman chats with Janeane Garofalo, Bobcat Goldthwait, Dana Gould, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Baron Vaughn at the early show and Nore Davis, Natasha Leggero, Bobby Tisdale, Reggie Watts and Jenny Yang at the late one.

Details: 7:30 and 10 p.m. Jan. 27; Swedish American Hall; $45.

Futurama vs COVID-3019!: The cast and head writer of TV’s “Futurama” assemble for a live episode reading about a somehow even more horrific pandemic of the future, followed by an audience Q&A.

Details: 1 p.m. Jan. 28; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $45-$65.

SF Sketchfest Tribute: An Evening with Elliott Gould: The Long Goodbye: Silver screen legend Elliott Gould discusses a life in the pictures after a 50th anniversary screening of perhaps the most unusual film adaptation of a Raymond Chandler mystery, Robert Altman’s “The Long Goodbye” with Gould as detective Philip Marlowe.  Details: 5 p.m. Jan. 28; Castro Theatre; $20-$35.

The SF Sketchfest Roast of Bruce Campbell: The iconic “Evil Dead” star and his iconic chin subjects himself to loving mockery from comedic pals including Cassandra (Elvira) Peterson, Ted Raimi, David Alan Grier, Kevin Pollak, Dana Gould, Dana DeLorenzo and Peaches Christ.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28; Sydney Goldstein Theatre; $35-$55 ($20 streaming).

SF Sketchfest Tribute to Cheech & Chong: Legendary stoner comedy duo Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong celebrate their 50th anniversary in a conversation moderated by journalist Ben Fong-Torres. The honorees of other tributes this year include David Alan Grier of “In Living Color,” original “Saturday Night Live” cast member Laraine Newman and “The State” spinoff “Viva Variety.”

Details: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31; Sydney Goldstein Theatre; $45-$65.

Play Date with Puddles, Dave Hill and Steve Agee: The sad clown with the golden voice Puddles Pity Party teams up with other music-comedy double threats Dave Hill (“The King of Miami”) and Steve Agee (“Peacemaker”) to form a strange sort of supergroup.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3; Swedish American Hall; $50.

Bruce and Friend Kevin with Bruce McCulloch and Kevin McDonald: The two “Kids in the Hall” members with “Mc” in their names that aren’t Mark McKinney get up to whatever comedic hijinks they deem right and proper, joined by guitarist and fellow Canadian Allyson Baker (Dirty Ghosts, Red Room Orchestra).

Details: 4 p.m. Feb. 4, 1 p.m. Feb. 5; Gateway Theatre; $30-$40.

Yo, Is This Racist?: “Star Trek: Lower Decks” star Tawny Newsome and “That ’90s Show” writer Andrew Ti answer voicemail questions about micro and macroaggressions in this live version of their podcast, joined by Eugene Cordero (Pillboi on “The Good Place”) and standup comedian Mohanad Elshieky. Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $30-$40.

John Hodgman & Adam Savage — Spin-a-Wheel Conversation: The name says it all. Professorial “Daily Show” contributor and expert in all things John Hodgman and insatiably curious “MythBusters” tinkerer Adam Savage have a probably hilarious conversation about whatever topic chance dictates through a spin of the wheel.

Details: 4 p.m. Feb. 5; Great Star Theater; $35-$45.

Riffapalooza: “Mystery Science Theater 3000” veterans Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, J. Elvis Weinstein and Mary Jo Pehl, and Sketchfest cofounder Cole Stratton, unite for improvised live mockery of some movie that almost certainly deserves it. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 5; Great Star Theater; $35-$45.

El Campanil Theatre’s Lobby Series starts this year at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 with Nashville, Tennessee, recording artist Andy Kahrs and “Always On My Mind: A Country Songbook.”

A cross-country move to San Francisco deepened the love and longing for his Southern roots and now, comfortably based in Nashville, a seasoned blend of blues, country, and bluegrass can be heard in his recorded music and live shows. Visit elcampaniltheatre.com online for tickets, which are $20 each.

— El Campanil Theatre

BRENTWOOD

Community chorus seeks new members for spring season

The Brentwood Community Chorus, under the direction of Susan Stuart, is preparing for its spring season and looking for new members. The chorus meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Brentwood Community United Methodist Church and is open to all ages and abilities.

If it sounds like fun, but you’re afraid you can’t commit to every Tuesday, organizers have a solution. Rehearsal tracks are provided when you register so you can practice on your own. Registration information is available online at brentwoodcommunitychorus.com.

— Brentwood Community Chorus

WALNUT CREEK

Audition Jan. 23 for Diablo Women’s Chorale’s new season

Diablo Women’s Chorale begins its new season on Jan. 23, and will hold auditions by appointment that evening from 6 to 9 p.m. The group encourages any woman with a love of music and spirited company to audition. Choral experience and music-reading ability are pluses but not required.

Full rehearsals are Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave. For information on membership and auditions, visit DiabloWomensChorale.org/join-us online or contact membership chair Nancy Hickman at 925-899-5050 or hickmandg@gmail.com.

— Diablo Women’s Chorale

See Valley Art Gallery’s ‘Wintermission’ exhibit till Feb. 4

“Wintermission,” Valley Art Gallery’s new show-between-shows, features selected works by gallery artists designed to warm and brighten even the longest, darkest winter days. Reflecting a wide range of styles, prices, motifs and media, it continues the gallery’s mission of presenting the best of the best from more than 100 East Bay artists.  Also on hand is a juried selection of locally created, one-of-a-kind fine crafts and jewelry. It will continue through Feb. 4.

“Wintermission” will be followed by an exhibit featuring the well-known East Bay artist Maralyn Miller. Miller works primarily in oils and pastels, painting the golden, rolling hills of California and depicting the rhythm of the lights and shadows as they sweep across the horizon. Her show will open Feb. 7 and run until March 18.

At 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, in Walnut Creek, the Valley Art Gallery is free and open to the public from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, go to valleyartgallery.org, call 925-935-4311 or e-mail valleyartgallery@gmail.com.

— Valley Art Gallery

Bedford Gallery to host Fong’s ‘Sensation of Color’ exhibit

The Bedford Gallery will soon present “Erin Fong: The Sensation of Color,” an exhibition that explores how the world’s myriad hues inform day-to-day experiences in subtle, often unconscious ways.

Through dedicated experimentation, the Bay Area artist and letterpress printer delves into how color affects emotional responses. “The Sensation of Color” will transform the Bedford Gallery into a vibrant lab full of the artist’s prints, paintings and installations. Visitors will be invited to tap into their individual and collective experience as they are immersed in hues across the spectrum, considering how colors make people feel and how they foster human connection.

This exhibition will feature several immersive installations, including “The Color Corridor,” a 17-foot maze that gradually changes color, allowing viewers to gauge how their feelings and mood change as they journey through it; and “Color Communion,” a large-scale sensory experience that incorporates light and sound components to let visitors further connect with themselves and the colors that surround them. Paintings and prints from Fong’s studio practice will also be highlighted.

The exhibit is on view from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday now through April 2 at the Bedford Gallery inside the Lesher Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. For more information or to purchase tickets ($5 for general admission and free for Bedford Gallery members and children younger than 13), visit bedfordgallery.org online. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

— Bedford Gallery

ORINDA

‘My Sailor, My Love’ showing for a week starting Friday

The Orinda Theatre will present the premiere of “My Sailor, My Love,” a co-production from Finland and Ireland, for one week starting Friday. Klaus Haro (“The Fencer,” “Elina”) directed this touching English-language film.

“My Sailor, My Love” is a story about a guilt-affected daughter-father relationship, but it’s also a love story between two elderly people, proving that a new beginning is never too late. The film centers around Howard, a retired sea captain who refuses any help from his daughter, Grace. When she hires Annie as domestic help for him, Howard unexpectedly falls in love. He gives all his affection to Annie and her family but rejects his own daughter. For more information, go to internationalshowcase.org.

— International Film Showcase

DANVILLE

Art gallery’s clay art, technology exhibit to open Jan. 21

The Village Theatre Art Gallery will start the new year with an exhibit featuring examples of different applications in clay alongside detailed information on the process of how they were made and how they are used.

“From Sand to Silicon Chip: New Technology in Clay” will open Jan. 21 and will be curated by longtime Bay Area resident John Toki, who has had a robust career as an artist, arts educator and lecturer and has been the recipient of many accolades and awards.

The exhibit will feature a comprehensive examination of the many uses of clay, how technology has been used to advance clay and vice versa. “From Sand to Silicon Chip” will run through March 18 with an artists’ opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Village Theatre Art Gallery at 233 Front St. in Danville. Toki will be at the reception along with exhibiting artists and engineers. A date for a panel discussion will be announced in January.

The Village Theatre Art Gallery is open Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Viewings are available by appointment Monday and Tuesday. For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at 925-314-3460 or mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov. Exhibit details are available online at danville.ca.gov/artgallery.

— Village Theatre Art Gallery

LIVERMORE

Bankhead Theatre offers taste of Broadway this month

Livermore Valley Arts is continuing a January packed with hits in the new year with a taste of the Great White Way (the iconic lights of Broadway) in the Tri-Valley. From a comedy stacked with Broadway-level talents in “Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 to a current Broadway star, Jessica Vosk from “Wicked” at 8 p.m. Jan. 27, the Bankhead will bring some dazzling live theater offerings for the community in this first month of the year.

Both of these performances will be at the Bankhead Theater. Tickets are $2 to $80 for “Lucy Loves Desi” and $55 to $65 for the Vosk show. Call 925-373-6800 or go to livermorearts.org/event-list.

— Livermore Valley Arts

Submit area arts-and-entertainment On Tap items to Judith Prieve at jprieve@bayareanewsgroup.com.

In fact, Motta is a human through-line for the evening as a character in each of the short plays (Act I) and Randy Anger’s original radio drama “Murder One” (Act II). Motta hits his comedic heights in Alice Gerstenberg’s “Fourteen” as the very proper butler forced to deal with an ever-changing number of dinner guests.

While he doesn’t have a lot of lines, Motta says plenty with his perfectly timed facial expressions and movements. Melynda Kiring adds much to the comedy as the ambitious lady of the house dealing with her uncooperative daughter, well played by Erin Hurley.

In Act II the pace changes from comedy to murder as Anger’s “Murder One” takes over. Set in 1937 San Francisco, the action follows murder of the understudy to the male lead in a local theater. A nice twist, having the understudy killed. Usually, it’s the lead who dies with the understudy then stepping into the coveted role. This understudy, however, had also been sleeping with the star’s wife. Enter Detective Gene Trent, a Sam Spade-like character, who takes charge of the investigation.

Dressed in 1930s attire, the cast includes Hurley (Trent’s secretary/girlfriend), Motta (switching hats and voices for multiple roles), Jaime Rich (leading lady), Randy Wight (Trent) and Keith Williams (leading man/police officer). Anger has opted for recorded sound effects rather than the folio sound associated with radio dramas. The recordings work well, especially the mood music that helps set each scene.

One drawback inherent with radio dramas is that the cast must read their lines, forcing them to often look down. I’d love to see more facial expressions and hope that as the show continues, the cast can look at each other and the audience more. For tickets to the Martinez Campbell Theater (636 Ward St. in Martinez), go online to campbelltheater.com.

Lafayette: Town Hall Theatre’s “New Voices” series continues with Molly Olis Krost’s “Nanay,” running Jan 20-28. The lightly produced play follows Angela, who has traveled to her twin sister’s home to congratulate her on her new baby. The play, however, takes a dark turn as Krost delves into sisterhood, trauma and healing while also incorporating Filipino mythology and tradition.

“At the heart of ‘Nanay’ is the love and bond of Eve and Angela,” said Krost. “While I don’t have any sisters myself, I grew up surrounded by my mom and aunties. The messy beauty of their relationships with each other and seeing all the highs and lows they’ve gone through together is the lifeline of this play.”

Yari Cervas directs a cast that includes Sam Topacio, Ann Warque and Lore Gonzales.

Lafayette’s Town Hall then moves to a very different evening of entertainment with a screening and sing along of the uber-popular musical “Grease.” It all happens Feb. 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a trivia contest, raffle prizes, a signature cocktail and a fun pack that will help movie viewers become part of the Rydell High experience.

At 8 p.m., a costume contest takes place followed by the screening of “Grease,” featuring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. For tickets to “Nanay” or “Grease,” call 925-283-1557 or go to townhalltheatre.com.

San Francisco: Obie Award-winning Bay Area playwright Christopher Chen’s “The Headlands” comes to American Conservatory Theater on Feb. 9. In Chen’s play, true crime fan Henry Wong digs for evidence in his father’s unexplained death. During his investigation, he’s haunted by the myths and misdirection of his own family history as the play explores the flawed narratives we tell ourselves.

“I am excited to explore this deeply personal story of family, memory and the city all in the spirit of a true S.F. noir,” said ACT Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon. “Moral ambiguity and the chase of the American Dream abound. Chris Chen has written a play for our moment.”

The show runs Feb. 9 through March 5 at A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theater (formerly Geary Theatre, 415 Geary St. in San Francisco). Call 415-749-2228 or go to act-sf.org for tickets.

Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.

It started in 2002 when then-San Francisco State University students David Owen, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney brought six Bay Area troupes — including their own, Totally False People — for a sketch comedy festival at San Francisco’s Shelton Theatre.

“We sold out every show,” Varney recalls. “And it’s really grown grassroots from there. We added more performers from other places and all different kinds of comedy and reunions and music, essentially things that we are all fans of, that we can sort of nestle into the comedy subheading.”

This year Sketchfest celebrates its belated 20th anniversary and its return to live shows, after a modest virtual event in 2021 and a canceled 2022 fest largely carried over to this year. For the first time, a handful of events will be livestreamed as well.

Events for the festival running Jan. 20-Feb. 5 include a screening of the 1973 satirical film “The Long Goodbye” with star Elliott Gould; a “A Mighty Wind” cast reunion; a roast of “Evil Dead” star Bruce Campbell; and tributes honoring Cheech & Chong, David Alan Grier and original “Saturday Night Live” cast member Laraine Newman.

“The first year, we didn’t even know there would be a second year,” Owen says. “And then the second year we somehow managed to talk Fred Willard and the Upright Citizens Brigade into coming. That felt like such a big deal to us, that we actually got some known comedians from outside of San Francisco to come and play at the festival. I think the third or fourth year we managed to get one of the Kids in the Hall. The next year it was another Kid in the Hall, and a couple years later it was all of the Kids in the Hall. Every year there’s a pinch-ourselves moment of, oh my God, we never thought we’d get this person or this act.”

“We’re so sore from pinching ourselves and each other,” Varney quips.

Many comedy stars quickly get hooked and return to Sketchfest over and over again.

“We look at it as like a playground for them to do whatever they want to do,” says Stratton. “If they want to try some new stuff out or do different kinds of shows that they wouldn’t want to take on the road for a tour.’

“A lot of these performers know each other, but they’re not often in the same city together, and to have them populate each other’s shows and hang out in an amazing city together, I think that’s been a big reason why this thing has kept going,” Stratton adds. “And they tell their friends, and we just keep growing out what we consider to be a giant comedy family at this point.”

Among the frequent returnees is comedian Janeane Garofalo, star of many a ’90s film (“Reality Bites,” “Mystery Men,” “The Truth About Cats and Dogs”). Garofalo has kept coming back since her first Sketchfest in 2009.

“I’m not sure how many Sketchfests I’ve been to, but I always hope to be invited,” she says. “I think I annoy Janet Varney by getting in touch with her and prodding her to please invite me.”

Garofalo will be headlining a standup show and participating in events including “The 6 Year Anniversary of the 10 Year Anniversary of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival” (alongside Bobcat Goldthwait, Sarah Vowell, Reggie Watts and others); “Stop Joking for 100 Years and Other Requests from My Kid (Stories of Parenting and Childhood)”; “Tinder Live with Lane Moore”; and “Hound Tall with Moshe Kasher Farewell Show.”

During an interview, she admits the “Stop Joking” parenting-themed show is news to her. “Oh, am I doing that?” she says. “I don’t have children! I haven’t parented.”

It’s unsurprising, because Garofalo loves the serendipity of doing whatever oddball Sketchfest event she’s invited to participate in.

At home in New York, Garofalo often does standup seven nights a week in various venues. But being part of the concentrated hotbed of comedic energy at Sketchfest is a particular delight.

“You get to reconnect with your friends,” Garofalo says. “You get to see new comics you might not have seen before. And San Francisco is one of one of the greatest cities to do this in. The audiences are phenomenal. They’re very literate, they’re very supportive, they’re very interested in comedy. I’m always thrilled to go to San Francisco anyway, but to have the luxury of being in San Francisco, being in a hotel with your friends and getting to see great shows and perform in great shows with your friends, it really could not be a better situation as far as I’m concerned.”

Contact Sam Hurwitt at shurwitt@gmail.com, and follow him at Twitter.com/shurwitt.

SF SKETCHFEST

When: Jan. 20-Feb. 5

Where: Various San Francisco venues

Tickets: Prices vary by show; www.sfsketchfest.com

Do you fancy yourself a king? A queen? A court jester? If so, the new Drama Factory production may be for you. “The Death of Triboulet (A Comedy)” has all that and more.

The play centers around Triboulet, the court Jester to the king of France, in his own comedy of errors as he tries to save the king from certain death, all the while hoping to save his own life in the process. Auditions are Jan. 17-18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Nick Rodriguez Theatre in Antioch at 213 F St. Auditions will be held in open-call style. Drama Factory staff will take a photo of each auditioner, who will fill out a couple of papers and briefly read aloud from the script for the director.

The Drama Factory is seeking 15 adults or teens to fill the roles for this original new play. The rehearsal schedule will be Tuesday through Thursday evenings with performances in March. More information is online at www.dramafactory.org. Current proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all cast and crew members.

— The Drama Factory

ORINDA

‘My Sailor, My Love’ showing for a week starting Jan. 20

The Orinda Theatre will present the premiere of “My Sailor, My Love,” a co-production from Finland and Ireland, for one week starting Jan. 20. Klaus Haro (“The Fencer,” “Elina”) directed this touching English-language film.

“My Sailor, My Love” is a story about a guilt-affected daughter-father relationship, but it’s also a love story between two elderly people, proving that a new beginning is never too late. The film centers around Howard, a retired sea captain who refuses any help from his daughter, Grace. When she hires Annie as domestic help for him, Howard unexpectedly falls in love. He gives all his affection to Annie and her family but rejects his own daughter. For more information, go to internationalshowcase.org.

— International Film Showcase

LIVERMORE

Bankhead Theatre brings dazzling offerings this month

Livermore Valley Arts is continuing a January packed with hits in the new year with a taste of the Great White Way (the iconic lights of Broadway) in the Tri-Valley. From a comedy stacked with Broadway-level talents in “Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 to a current Broadway star, Jessica Vosk from “Wicked” at 8 p.m. Jan. 27, the Bankhead will bring some dazzling live theater offerings for the community in this first month of the year.

Both of these performances will be at the Bankhead Theater. Tickets are $2 to $80 for “Lucy Loves Desi” and $55 to $65 for the Vosk show. Call 925-373-6800 or go to livermorearts.org/event-list.

— Livermore Valley Arts

WALNUT CREEK

See Valley Art Gallery’s ‘Wintermission’ exhibit till Feb. 4

“Wintermission,” Valley Art Gallery’s new show-between-shows, features selected works by gallery artists designed to warm and brighten even the longest, darkest winter days. Reflecting a wide range of styles, prices, motifs and media, it continues the gallery’s mission of presenting the best of the best from more than 100 East Bay artists.  Also on hand is a juried selection of locally created, one-of-a-kind fine crafts and jewelry. It will continue through Feb. 4.

“Wintermission” will be followed by an exhibit featuring the well-known East Bay artist Maralyn Miller. Miller works primarily in oils and pastels, painting the golden, rolling hills of California and depicting the rhythm of the lights and shadows as they sweep across the horizon. Her show will open Feb. 7 and run until March 18.

At 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, in Walnut Creek, the Valley Art Gallery is free and open to the public from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, go to valleyartgallery.org, call 925-935-4311 or e-mail valleyartgallery@gmail.com.

— Valley Art Gallery

Bedford Gallery to host Fong’s ‘Sensation of Color’ exhibit

The Bedford Gallery will soon present “Erin Fong: The Sensation of Color,” an exhibition that explores how the world’s myriad hues inform day-to-day experiences in subtle, often unconscious ways.

Through dedicated experimentation, the Bay Area artist and letterpress printer delves into how color affects emotional responses. “The Sensation of Color” will transform the Bedford Gallery into a vibrant lab full of the artist’s prints, paintings and installations. Visitors will be invited to tap into their individual and collective experience as they are immersed in hues across the spectrum, considering how colors make people feel and how they foster human connection.

This exhibition will feature several immersive installations, including “The Color Corridor,” a 17-foot maze that gradually changes color, allowing viewers to gauge how their feelings and mood change as they journey through it; and “Color Communion,” a large-scale sensory experience that incorporates light and sound components to let visitors further connect with themselves and the colors that surround them. Paintings and prints from Fong’s studio practice will also be highlighted.

The exhibit will be on view from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday from Jan. 14 through April 2 at the Bedford Gallery inside the Lesher Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. For more information or to purchase tickets ($5 for general admission and free for Bedford Gallery members and children younger than 13), visit bedfordgallery.org online. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

— Bedford Gallery

ANTIOCH

‘Wizard of Oz’ to be shown in theater’s Classic Film Series

El Campanil Theatre will show “The Wizard of Oz” in its continuing Classic Film Series at 2 p.m. Jan. 14.

One of the most stunning musicals of all time, filled with such songs as “If I Only Had A Brain,” “The Merry Old Land Of Oz” and the iconic “Over The Rainbow,” it’s appropriate for the whole family. Tickets are $10 each or $8 for seniors and youth. The theater is at 602 W. Second St. For tickets or more information, visit us.patronbase.com/_ElCampanilTheatre/Productions online.

— El Campanil Theatre

LAFAYETTE

Sustainable Contra Costa benefit concert set for Jan. 14

The Jim Ocean Band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at Creekside Commons in Lafayette as part of a benefit bash for the group Sustainable Contra Costa. The band will treat the audience to a live performance of their new album, “FrankenClime” — a humor-infused rock ‘n’ roll monster mash spotlighting the environmental challenges of these times.

In addition to the music, this lively action-packed event will include a special message from activist/thought-leader Bill McKibben, a “trashy fashion” show, the “Green Meanies” dance troupe, “FUNdraising” games and an interview with the “Zero Waste Events” queen, Green Mary. Premium beer, wine and tasty snacks and desserts will be available for sale. Plan to bring an item for the sustainability-in-action “Bring a gift, take a gift” table — a fun way to upcycle a like-new, no-longer-needed household item or that unwanted holiday gift.

Sustainable Contra Costa is a community of citizens, educators, innovators and organizations designing and building pathways to ecologically sustainable, economically vibrant and socially just communities for all. Since its inception in 2007, Sustainable Contra Costa has grown into one of the broadest-reaching nonprofits in Contra Costa County, providing tools and resources that help people take action. Learn more at sustainablecoco.org.

This concert is part of the band’s “Fossil Fools Tour” in support of the FrankenClime project. Tickets are available online at PartyForThePlanet22.eventbrite.com.

— Sustainable Contra Costa

DANVILLE

Art gallery’s clay art, technology exhibit to open Jan. 21

The Village Theatre Art Gallery will start the new year with an exhibit featuring examples of different applications in clay alongside detailed information on the process of how they were made and how they are used.

“From Sand to Silicon Chip: New Technology in Clay” will open Jan. 21 and will be curated by longtime Bay Area resident John Toki, who has had a robust career as an artist, arts educator and lecturer and has been the recipient of many accolades and awards.

The exhibit will feature a comprehensive examination of the many uses of clay, how technology has been used to advance clay and vice versa. “From Sand to Silicon Chip” will run through March 18 with an artists’ opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Village Theatre Art Gallery at 233 Front St. in Danville. Toki will be at the reception along with exhibiting artists and engineers. A date for a panel discussion will be announced in January.

The Village Theatre Art Gallery is open Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Viewings are available by appointment Monday and Tuesday. For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at 925-314-3460 or mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov. Exhibit details are available online at danville.ca.gov/artgallery.

— Village Theatre Art Gallery

Submit area arts-and-entertainment On Tap items to Judith Prieve at jprieve@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Directed by Dawn Monique Williams, “Paradise Blue” features Michael J. Asberry (Corn), Rolanda D. Bell (Silver), Kenny Scott (P-Sam), Anna Marie Sharpe (Pumpkin) and Titus VanHook (Blue).

“There are so many rich textures to this play: there is the bebop; the haunted spirits in all these characters and there is the woman Silver who arrives at the club and disrupts everyone’s life,” said Williams. “There’s a huge point of pride with me that Aurora would produce this play.”

“Paradise Blue” begins Jan. 27 with live performances in the Aurora Theatre at 2081 Addison St. in Berkeley. Post-show discussions will take place Feb. 3, 7, 15 and 23. The show can also be streamed Feb. 21-26. For tickets, call 510-843-4822 or go online to auroratheatre.org.

Also in Berkeley: The incredibly entertaining “Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812” has been extended again at Berkeley’s Shotgun Players. Dave Malloy’s Tony Award-winning hit now runs through Feb. 25 at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. Based on a section of Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” this musical extravaganza follows a young woman who arrives in Moscow longing for her fiancé.

To tell the story, Shotgun has turned the Ashby Stage into a 19th century Russian nightclub, complete with cabaret tables for some lucky audience members. For tickets, go to shotgunplayers.org/online/article/great-comet.

“Claybourne Park”: Like Aurora Theatre, Pittsburg Theatre Company (formerly Pittsburg Community Theatre) also takes up changing neighborhoods with its production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Claybourne Park,” running Jan. 28 through Feb. 5 in Pittsburg’s California Theatre at 351 Railroad Ave.

Bruce Norris’s thought-provoking work ingeniously sets the action in 1959 in a residential neighborhood where white community leaders attempt to stop the sale of a home to a black family. In Act Two, the same house sets the stage for present-day action. Now, however, the house exists in a predominantly African American neighborhood where residents battle gentrification.

Directed by Gregory Brown, Pittsburg’s production features Jason Anthony, Bri Andrews, David Ghilardi, Kyle Jacques, Safira McGrew, Edward Natenburg and Natalie Tichenor. For tickets, go to pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org.

Pittsburg and Brentwood: Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, in collaboration with Pittsburg Theatre Company, presents the totally wacky “Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised)” in two locations.

The fast-paced comedic romp through the Bard’s plays takes place Jan. 20-22 in Brentwood. Go to ghostlightte.org for location and ticket information. The energetic show will then be performed Feb. 24-26 in Steeltown Coffee and Tea at 695 Railroad Ave. in Pittsburg. Helen Dixon directs the popular comedy revised for today’s audiences.

Walnut Creek: A crumbling American dream seen through the eyes of an 11-year-old begins the new year for Center Repertory Company. Trying to find a way to belong in a divided country, the child fixates on a red bike that represents all the possibilities the world has to offer.

“Red Bike,” Caridad Svich’s imaginative, highly choreographed story, runs Feb. 4-25 in Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive. Set in an unnamed American town in economic decline, “Red Bike” takes the audience on a 90-minute ride as the child gains a new awareness of the local neighborhood.

Svich had never created a play with a child narrator before, and in an interview in “American Theatre” she explained why she did so for this play.

“I was thinking about the current political landscape and that there are so many laws being enacted that will affect children as adults,” Svich said. “I wanted to put someone at the center of the story who logistically and legally can’t fight for any of that but is the most vulnerable and at risk.”

The role of the genderless child can be played by one, two or three people. In Center Rep’s production, directed by Jeffrey Lo, actors Adrienne Kaori Walters and Amy Lizardo will play the child.

Completing Rep’s 2022-23 season is the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Sweat,” running March 25 through April 15, followed by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights,” slated for May 27 through June 24. For tickets to Center Rep shows, call 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.

San Ramon: Diablo Women’s Chorale invites those who love to sing and have fun to audition Jan. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m.

“We encourage any woman with a love of music and spirited company to audition,” said Jennifer Mack. “Choral experience and music-reading ability are a plus but not required.”

For more information, call Nancy Hickman at 925-899-5050 or email her at hickmandg@gmail.com. For more information on the San Ramon group, go to DiabloWomensChorale.org/join-us.

Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.

In the first one-act, “You Must Change Your Life,” the Austrian poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke begins a correspondence with a young military school cadet, Franz Kappus, who’s struggling with whether to pursue a career in the army or dedicate his life to poetry. In a series of letters, which formed the basis of one of Rilke’s most acclaimed works, “Letters to a Young Poet,” he offered inspiring advice on how a poet should feel, love, experience the word and engage in art.

Details: Jan. 7-29 at the Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia St. Tickets are $25-$35, themarsh.org.

The musical, which stands as one of the most beloved theater productions of all time, returns to the Bay Area for performances Jan. 10-15 at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose.

While many theater goers will have already seen “Annie” onstage at least once, there will be others experiencing the adventures of Annie, her canine pal Sandy and Daddy Warbucks for the first time. The musical has been around since the late 1970s — and inspired by a comic strip from the 1920s and a poem from the 1880s — but “Annie” consistently attracts new generations of fans.

A lot of that has to do with the steady stream of popular film/TV adaptions in 1982, 1999, 2014 and 2021. And then there’s that amazing soundtrack, featuring “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” and, of course, “Tomorrow.”

Actually, there are a whole mess of reasons to like “Annie.” So — leapin’ lizards! — you might want to head to downtown San Jose and catch the Tony-winning musical while it’s in town.

Details: Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10-12; 8 p.m. Jan. 13; 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 14; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15. Tickets are $30 – $103, broadwaysanjose.com.

Pittsburg Community Theatre will hold auditions Jan. 7-8 for “Ah, Wilderness,” a coming-of-age drama. The auditions will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 7 and 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 8 in the Church of the Good Shepherd at 3200 Harbor St. in Pittsburg.

Come with your audition application completed along with a headshot or snapshot. Familiarity with the script before the audition is strongly recommended, and COVID-19 vaccinations are required to participate.

Auditions will also be held for “It Shoulda Been You” from 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 8 and 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 9 at the same location. This play centers around the wedding of a Jewish bride and Catholic groom. Her mother is a force of nature, and his is a tempest in a cocktail shaker.

When the bride’s ex-boyfriend crashes the party, the perfect wedding starts to unravel faster than you can whistle “Here Comes the Bride!” It’s up to the sister of the bride to turn a tangled mess into happily ever after in this musical comedy for anyone who has ever had parents.

For an audition application, character descriptions, required monologues and production information or to sign up for any of the auditions, visit ptcca.org/auditions online.

— Pittsburg Community Theatre

ANTIOCH

‘Wizard of Oz’ to be shown in theater’s Classic Film Series

El Campanil Theatre will show “The Wizard of Oz” in its continuing Classic Film Series at 2 p.m. Jan. 14. One of the most gorgeous films ever to grace the silver screen will be presented in glorious 4K resolution to get the new year off to on a good start.

When a tornado blows through Kansas, young Dorothy Gale is whisked away to the wonderful world of Oz. To get back home, she’ll need to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, but she won’t be alone — a simple-minded scarecrow, a melancholy Tin Man and a lion in search of courage will help her along the way. One of the most stunning musicals of all time, filled with such songs as “If I Only Had A Brain,” “The Merry Old Land Of Oz” and the iconic “Over The Rainbow,” it’s appropriate for the whole family.

Tickets are $10 each or $8 for seniors and youth. The theater is at 602 W. Second St. For tickets or more information, visit us.patronbase.com/_ElCampanilTheatre/Productions online.

— El Campanil Theatre

LAFAYETTE

Sustainable Contra Costa benefit concert set for Jan. 14

The Jim Ocean Band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at Creekside Commons in Lafayette as part of a benefit bash for the group Sustainable Contra Costa. The band will treat the audience to a live performance of their new album, “FrankenClime” — a humor-infused rock ‘n’ roll monster mash spotlighting the environmental challenges of these times.

In addition to the music, this lively action-packed event will include a special message from activist/thought-leader Bill McKibben, a “trashy fashion” show, the “Green Meanies” dance troupe, “FUNdraising” games and an interview with the “Zero Waste Events” queen, Green Mary. Premium beer, wine and tasty snacks and desserts will be available for sale. Plan to bring an item for the sustainability-in-action “Bring a gift, take a gift” table — a fun way to upcycle a like-new, no-longer-needed household item or that unwanted holiday gift.

Sustainable Contra Costa is a community of citizens, educators, innovators and organizations designing and building pathways to ecologically sustainable, economically vibrant and socially just communities for all. Since its inception in 2007, Sustainable Contra Costa has grown into one of the broadest-reaching nonprofits in Contra Costa County, providing tools and resources that help people take action. Learn more at sustainablecoco.org.

This concert is part of the band’s “Fossil Fools Tour” in support of the FrankenClime project. Tickets are available online at PartyForThePlanet22.eventbrite.com.

— Sustainable Contra Costa

WALNUT CREEK

Bedford Gallery to host Fong’s ‘Sensation of Color’ exhibit

The Bedford Gallery will soon present “Erin Fong: The Sensation of Color,” an exhibition that explores how the world’s myriad hues inform day-to-day experiences in subtle, often unconscious ways.

Through dedicated experimentation, the Bay Area artist and letterpress printer delves into how color affects emotional responses. “The Sensation of Color” will transform the Bedford Gallery into a vibrant lab full of the artist’s prints, paintings and installations. Visitors will be invited to tap into their individual and collective experience as they are immersed in hues across the spectrum, considering how colors make people feel and how they foster human connection.

This exhibition will feature several immersive installations, including “The Color Corridor,” a 17-foot maze that gradually changes color, allowing viewers to gauge how their feelings and mood change as they journey through it; and “Color Communion,” a large-scale sensory experience that incorporates light and sound components to let visitors further connect with themselves and the colors that surround them. Paintings and prints from Fong’s studio practice will also be highlighted.

The exhibit will be on view from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday from Jan. 14 through April 2 at the Bedford Gallery inside the Lesher Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. For more information or to purchase tickets ($5 for general admission and free for Bedford Gallery members and children younger than 13), visit bedfordgallery.org online. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

— Bedford Gallery

DANVILLE

Art gallery’s clay art, technology exhibit to open Jan. 21

The Village Theatre Art Gallery will start the new year with an exhibit featuring examples of different applications in clay alongside detailed information on the process of how they were made and how they are used.

“From Sand to Silicon Chip: New Technology in Clay” will open Jan. 21 and will be curated by longtime Bay Area resident John Toki, who has had a robust career as an artist, arts educator and lecturer and has been the recipient of many accolades and awards.

The exhibit will feature a comprehensive examination of the many uses of clay, how technology has been used to advance clay and vice versa. “From Sand to Silicon Chip” will run through March 18 with an artists’ opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Village Theatre Art Gallery at 233 Front St. in Danville. Toki will be at the reception along with exhibiting artists and engineers. A date for a panel discussion will be announced in January.

The Village Theatre Art Gallery is open Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Viewings are available by appointment Monday and Tuesday. For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at 925-314-3460 or mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov. Exhibit details are available online at danville.ca.gov/artgallery.

— Village Theatre Art Gallery

Submit area arts-and-entertainment On Tap items to Judith Prieve at jprieve@bayareanewsgroup.com.

“We are thrilled to partner with Risa Jaroslow and the extraordinary dancers in ‘Talking Circle,’” said OTP Co-Artistic Director Michael Moran. “The piece is strikingly beautiful and includes various levels of dancing ‘expertise,’ and yet all participants are an equal part of the whole.”

Using a multigenerational cast and music by Bay Area vocalist/composer Amy X Neuburg, Jaroslow imagines a turning point in the life of a small community. In the process, “Talking Circle” comments on society, belonging and togetherness.

“There are many circles inside ‘Talking Circle,’ ” said Jaroslow. “In a circle, people can see each other. In this work, seeing and acknowledging one another’s differences while holding each other and remaining in community is its heart and soul.”

The cast includes dancers Anna Greenberg, Phoenicia Pettyjohn, Cauveri Suresh and Erin Yen. They’re joined by Pamela Wu Kochiyama and Sharon Dalke of The Elders Project at Oakland’s Destiny Arts Center. For tickets to “Talking Circle,” go online to oaklandtheaterproject.org.

Alameda: How many times have you been to a restaurant where it seemed like forever before your food came? Though unfortunately a common occurrence, Peter and Irene deal with that and more in Wendy MacLeod’s “Slow Food.”

Running Jan. 20 through Feb. 19 at Alameda’s Altarena Playhouse, the play tells of an empty-nester couple celebrating their anniversary with a trip to Palm Springs. Hardly the perfect vacation, the couple struggles with the rental car agency bungling their reservation and a not-so-perfect hotel.

Starving, exhausted and emotionally spent, Peter and Irene search for a nearby restaurant only to find all are closed except for Dmitri’s, a Greek restaurant. Their controlling waiter micromanages every part of their dining experience, except for actually serving the food.

Running 90 minutes with no intermission, “Slow Food” features Peter Marietta as Peter and Kimberly Ridgeway as Irene. Damion Clark plays the needy waiter. Director Katina Psihos Letheule said she has a “dream cast to work with. Great chemistry, and they are so funny.”

The Altarena Playhouse is at 1409 High St. in Alameda. For tickets, go to altarena.org or email boxoffice@altarena.org.

“Slow Food” is the first show in the Altarena’s 2023 season, which also includes “Ruthless” (March 24 through April 30), “A Soldier’s Play” (May 26 through June 25), “The Birds” (Aug. 11 through Sept. 10) and “Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley” (Oct. 20 through Nov. 19).

Berkeley: The topic of food also takes center stage at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, which opens two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage’s Tony Award-nominated play “Clyde’s” on Jan. 25. Previews begin Jan. 20.

The action takes place at a truck-stop sandwich shop where formerly incarcerated folk make up the kitchen staff. The feel-good comic drama follows their attempts at rebuilding their lives despite a difficult boss who slings insults faster than the processed food. The mysterious chef and sandwich guru Montrellous serves as a counterpoint to Clyde’s negativity, offering the young staff hope and an opportunity to create their own perfect sandwich.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Lynn [Nottage] who could create such a potent blend of politics, humor and a reminder that even in the most mundane tasks there exists the possibility of the transcendent,” said Berkeley Rep Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer. “It is a privilege to put this amazing play into the hands of director Taylor Reynolds, an extraordinary talent who I’m delighted to welcome to Berkeley Rep for the first time.”

The cast features Wesley Guimarães (Rafael), Cyndii Johnson (Leticia), Louis Reyes McWilliams (Jason), April Nixon (Clyde) and Harold Surratt (Montrellous).

“I’m looking forward to seeing how Bay Area audiences respond to ‘Clyde’s,’ a story of people looking to rebuild and transform their lives, which feels more relatable than ever,” said Reynolds.

Call 510-647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org for tickets.

Orinda: The Orinda Theatre welcomes Broadway’s Sam Gravitte, best known for his role as Fiyero in “Wicked.” Gravitte brings his 70-minute show to Orinda at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 as part of the “Live at the Orinda!” concert series.

“I hope the audience gets a glimpse into my childhood — growing up with actor parents with music as one of the rock-solid constants in my life — and that they enjoy an evening that explores a big old handful of genres,” said Gravitte.

For tickets, go to orindamovies.com.

San Francisco: The Tony Award-winning Best Musical “Dear Evan Hansen” comes to San Francisco’s “Orpheum Theatre” at 1192 Market St. from Jan. 24 through Feb. 19. The popular musical has won over audiences across the country with its deeply personal story about life and the way we live it. To get your tickets before they sell out, go to broadwaysf.com.

Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.