COMING SOON
To Stages Near You!

By Taylor Templeton

The beginning of 2007 holds bigtime entertainment opportunities for the city and beyond. San Antonio and its neighboring communities will play host to hundreds of performances in the first quarter of the year from concerts
to comedy, symphony to live theatre, opera to dance, and all things in between including outstanding children’s programming.

Let’s get things started with a run through of offerings from the San Antonio Symphony. By the way, if you haven’t heard our symphony perform recently, it’s your loss. Music Director Larry Rachleff brings out the best in this assemblage of tremendously talented musicians while being an extremely entertaining figure himself. An evening at the symphony, whether classical or pops, is a musical treat. The 5 Browns kick off ’07 with a onenight only performance on Saturday, January 20. See Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae Brown, five pianoplaying Juilliard-trained siblings, as they take the stage with the symphony to play the 440 keys of five black Steinways. Following this comes Pink Martini on the weekend of January 26-27, Dances and Fantasies with pianist Robert Levin on February 2 and 3, Lyn Dillies in Magic at the Symphony from February 16-18, and Snowy Vistas, featuring pianist Awadagin Pratt, on February 23 and 24. The month of March brings Bugs Bunny On Broadway to the symphony stage from 9- 11 and Sombreros, Saint-Saëns, and the Sea, with cellist Alban Gerhardt, from 23- 24. Concluding the month’s schedule will be a Sunday afternoon performance of An American Symphony, with Larry Rachleff conducting, on March 25. All performances are at The Majestic.

Other musical performances of note in the first quarter of the year are Camerata San Antonio’s Double Trouble in Kerrville on January 12 and San Antonio on January 14, The Camerata Recital on February 25 in San Antonio only, and Americana in Kerrville on March 30 followed by a San Antonio performance on April 1. Check the Camerata website for times and venues. The San Antonio Chamber Music Society also offers a triple-header in the first three months of the year with Vertavo String Quartet on January 21, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet on February 11 and Borodin Quartet on March 18. All performances are on Sunday afternoons — 3:15pm at Temple Beth-El. Violinist Baiba Skride comes to San Antonio for a Tuesday Musical Club performance on February 13. TMC also presents the Kavafian, Schub, Shifrin Trio on March 13. Both performances are on Tuesdays (of course) at 2pm in the Trinity Baptist Church on Mulberry. The Mid-Texas Symphony, under the direction of David Mairs, has two performances scheduled within the first three months of 2007. On Sunday, February 18 they will perform at the Civic Center in New Braunfels at 4pm, and on March 25 the orchestra will play at Jackson Auditorium in Seguin, also at 4pm. The Symphony of the Hills, under the direction of Dr. Jay Dunnahoo, will perform on March 1 at the Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater in Kerrville. The performance is at 7:30pm.

Coming soon concerts are in abundance. The Majestic features Johnny Mathis on January 4 with B.B. King on January 23. AT&T Center welcomes to its stage The Cheetah Girls on January 7, Eric Clapton on March 3, Red Hot Chili Peppers on March 6 and Josh Groban on March 22. From February 1-18, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo features Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, The Beach Boys, Lynard Skynyrd, Big & Rich, Willie Nelson and many more big-name entertainers. Check the Arts & Entertainment section in Bravo! for a complete listing.

Turning to live theatre, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee plays The Majestic February 6-11. According to those who have seen this clever Tony award-winning musical in other cities, it’s of the “you don’t want to miss it” variety. So, don’t miss it! Rent is next at The Majestic from March 2-4. Community theatre presentations in early ’07 include Hair and The Crucifer of Blood at San Pedro Playhouse, Visiting Mr. Green at the Sheldon Vexler Theatre, The Actor’s Nightmare and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All plus Gone To Texas at the Church Bistro and Theatre, The Mousetrap and Bus Stop at Harlequin Dinner Theatre, and Shirley Valentine at Steven Stoli Playouse. This by no means represents the full offering of community theatre during this time period, but rather just examples.

Area performing arts presenters have much to offer in the first quarter of the year as well. For example, Arts San Antonio presents Swan Lake (performed by the Moscow Festival Ballet) at the Lila Cockrell Theatre on Monday,February 5. During the same week, San Antonio Opera brings The Pirates of Penzance to the Lila from Friday, February 9 – Sunday, February 11. The Kerrville Performing Arts Society is particularly active during January, February and March, starting with Time For Three on January 13-14. After this comes The Vienna Choir Boys — February 25, The Glenn Miller Orchestra — March 6-7, and Trinity Irish Dancers — March 18. All performances are at the Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater in Kerrville. The KPAS website has times and additional information. The Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre in New Braunfels gives audiences the opportunity to see Jim Wilson on January 20, Wood’s Tea Company —February 2, Three Men and a Tenor —February 17 and The Lowe Family — March 22.

Comedy highlights during the first part of the year include appearances by Ron Shock, Robert Schimmel and Tommy Chong at Rivercenter Comedy Club. Jim Gaffigan also comes to town to play The Empire on February 24.

In the children’s arena, Kathy Miller’s Children’s Fine Arts Series offers Willy Wonka by the Kennedy Center Chamber Players on January 24 at Laurie Auditorium, Give A Mouse A Cookie by Omaha Theatre at The Empire on January 26 and Harry The Dirty Dog at The Empire on February 22. Magik Theatre and Backyard Theatre @ Steven Stoli Playhouse also have outstanding children’s performances on a continuing basis.Check their websites for information.

Great live performances are coming to stages near you. Here’s hoping you will attend and enjoy.