Smuin company gets head start on holidays with ‘Christmas Ballet’
Smuin Contemporary American Ballet: Few holiday programs are as entrenched in the Bay Area as the company’s annual “Christmas Ballet” show. An amalgam of traditional and contemporary ballet, tap, jazz, Latin and other styles, the show delivers a blend of sass, humor and poignancy, with a dancing Christmas tree and what is claimed to be the world’s longest feather boa thrown in for good measure. This year’s program boasts world premieres by choreographer-in-residence Amy Seiwert and company dancers Erica Felsch and Rex Wheeler as well as such company longtime favorites as late company founder Michael Smuin’s “Santa Baby.” If this show can’t put you in a holiday mood, you’re desperately in need of some “It’s a Wonderful Life” remedial therapy.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek; Dec. 1-2 at Sunset Center, Carmel; Dec. 6-10 at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts; Dec. 14-24 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco; $25$89; www.smuinballet.org.
“The Daisy Theatre”: This is a puppet show that is not for kids. It was created in 2013 by Ronnie Burkett, who improvises each performance from scratch with a revolving cast of some 40 puppets that are apt to say and do some naughty things and occasionally get nekkid. The performance style touches on everything from Broadway to French cabaret to Vegas revue. Burkett’s “Daisy Theatre” has landed at Stanford University’s Bing Concert Hall Studio for a five-night run.
DETAILS >> Presented by Stanford Live; through Sunday; $15-$55; live.stanford.edu.
Sonoma Laugh and Lovefest: This twoday mini-festival of comedy and improv theater is a fundraiser for Sonoma County wildfire victims. Acts include the acclaimed sketch duo known as We Are Thomasse, the Seattle comedy team Villains and several stand-up comedians from across the country. Visitors are also invited to donate unwrapped toys and gifts for kids.
DETAILS >> 7 p.m. Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday; Notre Dame de Namur University Theater, Belmont; $31$36; sonomalaughfest.com.
The Kingston Trio: The band born in Palo Alto in 1957 helped turn folk songs into a commercial juggernaut and changed popular music forever. After some legal wrangling earlier this year, the outfit has a new lineup that features Josh
Reynolds, son of founding member Nick Reynolds. The trio comes to Livermore’s Bankhead Theater on Friday.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m.; $40$80; 825-373-6800, lvpac. org.
So You Think Can Dance Live: This version of the touring production born from the hit TV show features such popular show finalists as Robert Green, Logan Hernandez, Lex Ishimoto, Koine Iwasaki, Dassy Lee, Kaylee Millis and more. The tour’s making two stops in the Bay Area.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m. Tuesday at City National Civic, San Jose; $55-$75; sanjosetheaters.org; 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Warfield, San Francisco; $59.50-$79.50; www.axs.com.
Ren Geisick: The San Jose singer is earning a lot of positive buzz for her new album “Ren, Love Song,” which serves up a romantic blend of jazz and Americana. You’ll probably hear a lot of the album if you catch Geisick’s free gig Tuesday at San Jose’s Five Points nightspot, part of San Jose Jazz’s winter concert series.
DETAILS >> 9 p.m.; sanjosejazz.org.
Caissie Levy: The singer and actress has appeared in such musical blockbusters as “Rent,” “Wicked” and “Hair,” and next year she’ll be on Broadway playing Elsa in the Broadway stage adaptation of “Frozen.” That’s a pretty heady resume. This week, you can catch her performing show tunes in an intimate cabaret setting.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m. today through Saturday; Feinstein’s at the Hotel Nikko, San Francisco; $38.50$75; www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com.
“Vincent”: This solo show about the famed artist Vincent van Gogh was created in 1981 by “Star Trek” icon Leonard Nimoy, who performed it around the world to great acclaim. Since 1994, the role has been entrusted to Jim Jarrett, who brings the show to Palo Alto’s Oshman Family JCC on Saturday for one performance. DETAILS >> 7 p.m.; $35-$55; paloaltojcc.org.
ChoreoProject Awards: This event hosted by sj DANCE co since 2005 has choreographers and dancers from around the Bay Area performing new works and competing for prizes. It’s open to the public and a good opportunity to see what some of the area’s most talented dance makers are up to.
DETAILS >> 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, San Jose State’s dance theater, San Jose; $18-30; 408-520-9854, www.sjdanceco.org.
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“Lavender Country” Post: Ballet’s latest work, created by artistic director Robert Dekkers and resident choreographer Vanessa Thiessen, is inspired by the 1973 self-titled record album widely credited as being the first gay-themed album in country music history. The band, led by Patrick Haggerty, will be on hand to perform as “Lavender” plays this weekend at Z Space performance complex.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; $35-$50; www. zspace.org.