SF Life: Renegade Crafts, Hunchback, Ethnic Dance, Alan Cumming
The Expansive Bay area creatives are at it again at the annual, exceptional Renegade fair at Fort mason. The classic tale of Quasimodo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is now a stage musical and WOW, this one will leave you with a smile on your face and hope in your heart. and it opens this weekend. The SF Ethnic Dance festival returns, jump for joy! And lastly Alan Cumming, you know good ole Eli from The Good Wife, is here for one night only. LOL moments assured!
SF Ethnic Dance Festival
Two full weekends of amazing dance are heading to SF. Celebrating its 40th year the Ethnic Dance Festival returns with dances performed July 14th and 15th and July 21st and 22nd. The stunning War Memorial Opera House is the location to view the featured dance and music ensembles. They will showcase the best of the Bay Area’s magnificent artistic community.
If you are a newcomer to Flamenco, you will witness the best of that genre the first weekend. Other entertaining and enlightening acts consist of dance and traditions celebrating the Afro-Cuban culture, Bolivian Folklore, Alaskan Eskimo singers and dancers, Philippine folkloric dance, and Congolese Traditional among others. That is just a portion of the exciting works you will see the first weekend.
Other ensembles coming up the second weekend will represent Bolivia, Cambodia, Liberia and more. If you are in the area and just want a sneak peek, there will be preshow performances on Saturdays at 6:45 and Sundays at 12:45 right outside the Opera House! Tickets can be found here. http://www.worldartswest.org
Jul 7-Aug. 5. Hunchback of Notre Dame
We all know the Victor Hugo classic tale that begins with the tolling of the bells of Notre Dame and Quasimodo the deformed bell-ringer. If you are a Tomato with children you will know it, if not from the original book, at least from the Disney musical (watched hundreds of times in my house!) Now a new stage musical has arrived, and the SF premiere will be playing at the Victoria Theatre presented by Bay Area Musicals.
Founder and Artistic Director Matthew McCoy says it best, “The sheer scale of this production – the story, the music, the set and the orchestra – create a luscious, epic spectacle that beautifully retells Victor Hugo’s timeless story for a whole new medium. In a time where we are inundated with articles and news items that speak of cruel racial judgment and hateful conduct, here is a story that teaches compassion, empathy, love and forgiveness.” Sounds like a winner – positivity reigns! July 7th – August 5th.For more info: http://www.bamsf.org/hunchback.
July 14-15. Renegade SF
Fort Mason will bring together the Bay Area creative community for a weekend of exceptional craft and design. You have to love Fort Mason Center’s sun-drenched digs. This marketplace offers us the chance to discover new artists and shop, shop, shop. Innovative designs, the likes of which you won’t find at your usual stomping ground (ie. Target!) are aplenty at this event. You will find artists and makers who will tempt everyone.
There are food vendors including Eliot’s adult nut butters, yum, jewelry makers, clothing designers, the art of plants – honestly the mix is amazing. And new immersive features will have you coming back for more. Of course there are exceptional food trucks for the grumbling tummies when you need a break from the immersion of beauty.
Local DJ’s will keep you moving and grooving to get in those 10,000 steps and should you last until the end of the day, enjoy a cocktail with fellow art lovers. Check out the participants and get your tickets now. www.renegadecraft.com/city/sanfrancisco
July 11. Alan Cumming at the Palace of Fine Arts
Tomatoes probably know Alan Cumming from his turn as political operative Eli Gold on The Good Wife, and now on the drama Instinct. However, he first captured my eye as the funny mad genius, Fegan Floop, in the Spy Kid’s movies. His talent knows no bounds and his numerous awards are well warranted. One of his stand-out roles was as The Emcee from Cabaret on Broadway– a bit creepy, yet mesmerizing! He now returns to SF with his new concert Legal Immigrant featuring a set list as eclectic as Alan himself.
Time magazine named Cumming one of the most fun people in show business. He is authentic and hysterical in person and his humor is delightful and engaging. Cumming is a champion for LGBT, civil rights and HIV/AIDS and nine years ago Alan was made an OBE in the Queen’s Honors List by his homeland Scotland. This one-night-only engagement at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre talks place on Wednesday July 11th at The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. http://www.palaceoffinearts.org
Kim Selby, the SF life editor of The Three Tomatoes, is your gal for info on what’s hot and happening in the beautiful bay area. Having lived on the Left Coast for 27 years, after almost a decade in NYC, she has explored and continues to have adventures all over the San Francisco area. Passionate about fashion, formerly with GLAMOUR magazine and Fashion Director at Saks Fifth Avenue , Palo Alto, Kim produced fashion shows in the bay area for over 20 years. She now creates events to empower, delight and inspire women, aka “Tomatoes”. Learn more about Kim at www.kim-selby.com
