The San Diego Union-Tribune: Arts & Culture - Spring Arts Preview special section

“Intheearlydaysofmy writing,Iverymuch limitedwhatIwould engagewithasfaras topics,tonesandideas. AsI’vebecomemore self-assuredinmyself andinmywriting, I’veexpandedthenumber ofthingsI’mwillingto engagewithonthepage andinthestorytelling.”

AuthorKierstenWhite

DEVINBLASKOVICH PHOTOSFORTHEU-T

KierstenWhite,picturedatherhomeinCarlsbad,istheauthorofthe“StarWars”novel“Padawan,”whichwillbereleasedthissummer.

KIERSTEN WHITE

Authorpoisedtobreakoutoftheyoungadultgenrewithnewbooks

BYSETHCOMBS

It’sdifficultnottogeekoutwith KierstenWhite.Forhardcore “StarWars”fans,thereareany numberofquestionsthey’dbe dyingtoasksinceDisneyand LucasfilmLtd.tappedWhiteto pen“Padawan.”Theyoungadult novel,settobereleasedinJuly, willcenteronObi-WanKenobi’s formativeyears.Tohearhertellit,the Carlsbad-basedwritersaysitwasn’ttoo longagothatshehadlittlehopeofwriting a“StarWars”book.

“Ihadgivenup,”saysWhite,whohad initiallymetwiththe“StarWars”storyboardteamoverfouryearsagotopitch ideas.“Ijustthoughtthey’dmovedon andthattheydidn’tfeellikeIwasagood fit.Thentheyaskedmetocontributea storytothisanthology,butevenafter thatIthoughtthatwasit.”

Theanthologyshereferenceswas

“FromaCertainPointofView:TheEmpireStrikesBack,”acollectionofshort storiesfromvariouswriterscenteringon monumentaleventsfromthe1980movie, buttoldfromtheperspectiveofasupportingorunknowncharacter.Then, earlylastyear,shegotanemailaskingher ifshe’dbeinterestedinwritingaboutone ofthefranchise’smosticoniccharacters.

“Iwaslike,‘Obi-WanKenobi,areyou kiddingme?’ItwasliketheonethingI couldn’tsaynoto,”Whitesays.

Untilshewasapproachedtowrite

“Padawan,”however,Whitesaysshewas attemptingtomoveawayfromYAdespitebeingonethemostsuccessfulwritersinthegenre.Overtheyears,she’s penneddozensofYAnovelsandseries, includingthebestselling“CamelotRising”and“AndIDarken”trilogies.She lovedpenningthesestoriesbuthadlong hopedtobreakoutoftheYAboxtostart otherprojects,includinganovelfor adults.

“IfeellikeI’vebecomealotbraver,” Whitesays.“Intheearlydaysofmy writing,IverymuchlimitedwhatIwould engagewithasfarastopics,tonesand ideas.AsI’vebecomemoreself-assured inmyselfandinmywriting,I’veexpanded thenumberofthingsI’mwillingto engagewithonthepageandinthe storytelling.”

Thosethingsincludesuspense,horror anddecidedlyadultthemesin“Hide,”her firstadultnovel,whichissettobereleasedMay24.She’dbeentoyingwiththe premiseofthebookforoveradecade afterreadingaboutareal-lifeadulthideand-seekcompetitioninItalyandhow “murdery”itsounded.

“Youinviteabunchofpeopletocome toanabandonedresorttowninthemiddleofnowhereandyoutellthemthey’re goingtoplayagameofhide-and-seek,” saysWhite.“I’msorry,butthatsounds likethebeginningofahorrormovieto me.”

ThereareanumberofreasonsWhite citesastowhyshewasreluctanttotackle “Hide”overtheyears.Somearepractical, everydaythingssuchasraisingafamily (shehasthreechildren),butsomeare morenuanced.First,there’stheelement thatit’ssometimesdifficulttobreakout

ofagenreonceanauthorisknownfor that.

“Foryears,Iwouldapproach‘Hide’ andbackoff,approachitandbackoff, untilIwasfinallyintherightspaceto fullycommit,”Whitesays.“I’vehadsuccessinyoungadult,andthat’sagenre thatisverymuchdominatedbywomen. It’sanareawherewomenwriterscando well,buttakethe‘AndIDarken”books— ifIwereamanandIhadn’tbeenpreviouslypublishedinYA,thosewouldhave beenpublishedasadultnovels.”

“It’saninterestingindustryinthe waythatthere’sthisassumptionthatif you’reawomanwriter,you’regoingtobe writingforchildren,”Whitecontinues. “There’stheideathatifyou’redoingwell inthis,whytakeariskonsomething else?”

TheotherreasonforWhite’sreluctancetotackleadultthemesisabitmore personal.Duringourinterview,shementionsthemoreconservativesideofher family,manyofwhomstillliveinUtah, whereWhitegrewupuntilmovingtoSan Diegointheearly2000s.Raisedinthe Mormonfaith,Whitesaysherfamilywas verysupportiveofherearlydreamsof becomingawriter,butaddsthatthe Mormoncommunityatlargehas“very rigidgenderroles.”

“MesayingIwantedtobeawriterwas acceptable,butformostwomenitwas like,‘Youhavetobeanurseorateacher,’” Whitesays.“Itwasthatperspectiveof, ‘Youhavetohavesomesortofnurturing jobifyouhaveajobatall,whichyouprobablyshouldn’t.’Thatwasthegeneral consensuswhenIwasgrowingup.”

Whitedoesn’tpracticeMormonism anymoreandsaysit’slikelymostofher familywon’tlike“alltheswearing”and subjectmatterin“Hide.”Still,shethinks someofthemwillfindsomethingtolikein her“SinisterSummer”books,anew seriesofmiddle-gradenovelsaboutaset oftwinssolvingmysteriesatvarious themeandresortparks.Thefirsttwo booksintheseries,“WretchedWaterpark”and“VampiricVacation,”arebeing releasedinJuneandSeptember,respectively.Shesayswritingforevenyounger audiencespresentedjustasmuchofa challengeaswritingforadults. “Middle-gradenovelsaremuchmore difficulttowritethanYAoradultbooks,” Whitesays.“It’salothardertofindthe righttoneandtherightpacing.Thatwas anotheronewhereIfeltthatIneededto getbetterasawriterbeforeIstartedit.”

Sowhileshe’dbeenputtingthese booksonthebackburnerforawhile, Whitesaysthepandemicgaveheralot morefreetimetotackletheseprojects. Andevenwiththeinternalandexternal voicestellingherthatsheshould,perhaps,simplystickwiththeYAgenre,she saysshe’spleasedthatshefinallyfulfilled alifelongdream—thatshe“foundthe couragetotakethatleapintosomething new.”

“There’spartofitthathastodowith thewayIwasraised,butIalsofeltthatI justwasn’tcapableofengagingwith certainideas,”Whitesays.“AsI’vegrown andmatured,IfinallyfeellikeIcan.” Combsisafreelancewriter.

Mysterious Galaxypresents KierstenWhite

When: 7p.m.May24

Where: MysteriousGalaxy, 3555RosecransSt.,No.107, MidwayDistrict

Tickets: Free Online: mystgalaxy.com

DEVINBLASKOVICH FORTHEU-T

Goodnews:PearlJam announcedthatits2020 tourdateshavebeenrescheduledforthisyear. Evenbetternews:Thattour kicksoffinSanDiegowitha May3concertatSanDiego StateUniversity’sViejas Arena. DuetoCOVID-19concerns,theSeattle-based rockbandcanceledits2020 touramonthshyofitsSan

SPRINGARTSPREVIEW

Diegoshow,originally scheduledforApril13,2020, atthesamevenue. Therescheduledtour promotesPearlJam’s11th studioalbum,“Gigaton”— releasedduringthepandemicinlateMarch2020 —andmarksmorethan30 yearsonstageforthegroup. TouringmemberJoshKlinghofferservesastheopening actfortheshowswithhissolo project,Pluralone. AfteritsSanDiegoshow,

PearlJamwillperformconcertsin16additionalcities acrosstheUnitedStatesand Canada.Sixofthosetour stopsareinCalifornia,with LosAngelesandOakland hostingtwoconcertseach. Thefirsthalfofthe NorthAmericantourwill startontheWestCoast duringthemonthofMay, thenresumeinSeptember. (InJune,PearlJamwill crossthepondandperform rescheduledEuropeantour

datesfortwomonths.) Threemembersofthe five-piecebandareformer SanDiegans,includinglead singerEddieVedder.Though PearlJamhasn’tperformed inSanDiegosince2013, VedderjustpaidElCajona visitlastmonthwithashow atTheMagnoliaalongside hisnewbandTheEarthlings. Additionally,Vedderand PearlJamwerebothheadliningactsatthe2021Ohana FestivalinnearbyDana

PointlastSeptember. TicketsfortheViejas Arenashowgoonsaleat10 a.m.March29.However,all interestedbuyersmustregisterasVerifiedFansthrough Ticketmasteratverifiedfan.ticketmaster.com/pearljambeforeMarch27tobe eligiblefortickets. Fortourupdatesand additionaldetails,visit pearljam.com. sara.butler@sduniontribune.com

EddieVedderandPearl JamwillbeinSanDiego forashowonMay3.

Monday,April11•7:30

KingGizzard&TheLizardWizard* withspecialguest Mildlife (GA/StandingOnly)

Wednesday,April13•7:30 Cuco* (GA/StandingOnly)

Saturday,April16•7:30

TheHU–BlackThunderTour* withspecialguest TheHaunt (GA/StandingOnly)

Thursday,April21•7:30 Wallows* | SOLDOUT withspecialguest TheRegrettes (GA/StandingOnly)

Friday,April22•7:30 HotChip* (GA/StandingOnly)

Sunday,April24•7:30

#IMOMSOHARD–TheGetawayTour–18+*

Monday,April25•7:30

OrvillePeck–BroncoTour* withspecialguest Teddy&TheRoughRiders (GA/StandingOnly)

Tuesday,April26•7:00 beabadoobee* withspecialguest LunaLi (GA/StandingOnly)

Wednesday,April27•7:00 MarcusKing–Livein2022* | SOLDOUT withspecialguest HannahWicklund (GA/StandingOnly)

MAY

Tuesday,May3•7:30 Kansas*

Saturday,May7•7:30

St.Paul&TheBrokenBones–TheAlienCoastTour* withspecialguest DaniellePonder (GA/StandingOnly)

Tuesday/Wednesday,May10/11•7:30

TheCult*

Friday,May13•7:30

CarlaMorrison*

Monday,May16•7:30

UB40featuringAliCampbell*

Wednesday,May18•7:30

Blondie* | SOLDOUT withspecialguest TheDamned

Thursday,May19•7:30

AnimalCollective* withspecialguest SpiritoftheBeehive (GA/StandingOnly)

Friday,May20•7:30

MatKearney–TheJanuaryFlowerTour* withspecialguest TheNationalParks

Sunday/Monday,May22/23•7:30

RainbowKittenSurprise* | SOLDOUT withspecialguest 99Neighbors (GA/StandingOnly)

Friday,May27•7:30

ZZTop–RawWhiskeyTour*

Sunday,May29•7:30

JessieJamesDecker* withspecialguest AdamDoleac

JUNE

Wednesday,June1•7:30

CultureClub

Thursday,June2•8:00

HerbAlpert&LaniHall

Friday,June3•7:30

AmosLee* | SOLDOUT withspecialguest NealFrancis

Tuesday,June7•7:30

BozScaggs–OutoftheBluesTour2022

Wednesday,June8•7:30

NekoCase*

Saturday,June11•7:30

StephenMarley (GA/StandingOnly)

Tuesday,June14•7:30

Gov’tMule (GA/StandingOnly)

Wednesday,June15•7:30

ChrisIsaak

Saturday,June18•8:00

AnIntimateEveningwithSarahMcLachlan

Wednesday,June22•7:30

IndigoGirls

Thursday,June23•7:00

TheDialogueTour featuring HowardJones* withspecialguest MidgeUre

Saturday,June25•8:00

TheFabFour–TheUltimateTribute

JULY

Friday,July1•7:30

TomPapa&RyanHamilton

Saturday/Sunday,July2/3•7:30

JasonMraz&RainingJane–lalalalivesongs

Tueday,July5•7:30

CAAMP–LavenderDaysTour* withspecialguest HeartlessBastards (GA/StandingOnly)

Friday,July8•7:30

America

Sunday,July17•7:30

TheTemptations/TheFourTops

Saturday,July23•7:30

TigNotaro–HelloAgainTour

Tuesday,July26•8:00

OneNightofQueenperformed byGaryMullen&TheWorks

Sunday,July31•7:30

MichaelFranti&Spearhead–withspecialguest Tropidelic

AUGUST

Friday,August5•7:30

TheAustralianPinkFloydShow*

Sunday,August7•7:30

TeoGonzalez–LosTresTristesTigres

Thursday,August11•8:00

SmokeyRobinson

Friday,August12•8:00

YachtRockRevue2022Tour*

Sunday,August14•7:00

LittleFeat–WaitingforColumbusTour withspecialguest HotTuna (acoustic)

Thursday,August18•7:30

ShakeyGraves* withspecialguest JadeBird (GA/StandingOnly)

Friday,August19•7:30

AnjelahJohnson-Reyes–

WhoDoIThinkIAm?Tour*

Monday/Tuesday,August22/23•7:00

TheHeadandTheHeart–

EveryShadeofBlueTour* | 8/22SOLDOUT withspecialguest Dawes

Thursday,August25•8:00

JesseCook

Saturday,August27•6:00

Lost80’sLive featuring AFlockofSeagulls, WangChung,TheEnglishBeat,MenWithout Hats,MissingPersons,StaceyQ,MusicalYouth, NakedEyes,Animotion,andKonKan

Tuesday,August30•7:30

ColbieCaillat* withspecialguest NickDavisson

Wednesday/Thursday,August31/September1•7:30

JacksonBrowne

SEPTEMBER

Saturday,September3•7:30

Hanson–RedGreenBlue2022Tour*

Tuesday,September6•7:30

AnEveningwithPeterHook&TheLight–JoyDivision:ACelebration* withspecialguest ElTenEleven

Friday,September9•8:00

LittleRiverBand

Sunday,September11•7:30

GeorgeThorogoodandTheDestroyers–GoodtoBeBadTour–45YearsofRock

Tuesday/Wednesday,September13/14•8:00

Chicago

Thursday,September15•8:00

IlDivo–GreatestHitsTour

Saturday,September17•8:00

RuPaul’sDragRace–WerqtheWorldTour2022*

OCTOBER

Tuesday/Wednesday,October4/5•7:30

LakeStreetDive withspecialguest DevonGilfillian

Saturday,October8•7:30

TheRighteousBrothers–BillMedley&BuckyHeard

Sunday,October9•7:30

AirSupply

Saturday,October15•7:30

GrahamNash–AnIntimateEvening ofSongsandStories

Saturday,October29•7:30

OingoBoingoFormerMembers, MissingPersons,Dramarama

NOVEMBER

Friday,November4•7:30

FelipeEsparza

Thursday,November17•7:30

PostmodernJukebox

PEARLJAMTOKICKOFFRESCHEDULEDTOURINS.D. BYSARABUTLER

GREGALLEN AP

BOOKSPICKS

Pandemic-relateddelayspushedbackalotofbig-namebooks,sothisseasonisfilledwithnewreleases.Andwith restrictionslifted,thatmeansalotofauthorsarecomingtotowntogivereadingsandsignbooksforlocalreaders.

MarcoE.LópezQuezada

TheSacramento-based writerandactivistwillread anddiscusshispoignant memoir“MyMarchWith César,”whichfollowsthe authorthroughhistime fightingalongsidefreedom fighterCésarChávezinthe 1960sand’70s. 6p.m.March

31.TurrentineRoomatthe EscondidoLibrary,239S. KalmiaSt.,Escondido. Free.(760)839-4683, escondidolibrary.org

bestknownforherrolesin filmssuchas“Samson andDelilah”and“Algiers.” 7p.m.March31. D.G.WillsBooks,7461 GirardAve.,LaJolla. Free.(858)456-1800, dgwillsbooks.com

StephenMichaelShearer Shearerisanactor,film historianandauthorwho specializesinfilmbiographies.He’llbemakingan appearanceatthequaint D.G.WillsBooksinLaJolla topromoteandtalkabout hislatest,“Glamourand Style:TheBeautyofHedy Lamarr,”aphotographic tributetothelateactress

SusanMeissner Thebestselling author,whogrewupin SanDiego,willbeon handtosignandread fromherlatestnovel, “TheNatureofFragile Things,”whichcenterson threewomenwhoselives intersectafterthedevastating1906SanFrancisco earthquake.Pricedreserveseatsareavailable.

7:30 p.m.April 18

Warwick’s,7812Girard Ave.,LaJolla.Free-$17. (858)454-0347, warwicks.com

MadhushreeGhosh Thelocalbiologist, politicalactivist,foodwriterandself-described “daughterofimmigrants” willsignanddiscussher hybridfoodmemoir/family history,“Khabaar:An ImmigrantJourneyof Food,Memory,andFamily.”Shewilldiscussthe bookwithfellowfoodwriter NinaMukerjeeFurstenau. 6p.m.April21.TheBook Catapult,3010-BJuniper St.,SouthPark.Free. (619)795-3780, thebookcatapult.com

around,hesetshissights onthecriminalunderworld ofNewEnglandandaman who’sdesperatetoescape it.Pricedticketsincludean autographedcopyofthe book. 7p.m.April26. BrownChapelatPoint LomaNazareneUniversity,3900Lomaland Drive,PointLoma.Free$38.99.(619)236-5802, libraryshopsd.org

Independent BookstoreDay

Dozensofindiebookstoresalloverthecounty willparticipateinthis annualeventthatfeatures authorappearances,popupevents,exclusivegiveawaysandotherpromotions.Seewebsiteforfull detailsandparticipating stores. Varioustimes, April30.Free.indie bound.org/independentbookstore-day

KimDower JustintimeforMother’sDay,theL.A.-based writerissettorelease“I WoreThisDressforYou, Mom,”acollectionof poetrythatcelebratesall thingsmaternal.Shewill bereadingafewofthe poems,discussingthe processandsigning copies. 7:30p.m.May5. Warwick’s,7812Girard Ave.,LaJolla.Free. (858)454-0347, warwicks.com

ViatLaJollaVillage islocatedrightin SanDiego’sculturalcenter. Whetheryou’relookingfor activitiestoenjoywithfamily orgoingoutwithyournew friends,ourcommunityisjust ashortdrivefromattractions liketheSanDiegoSymphony, LaJollaPlayhouse,SanDiego MuseumofArtandamyriad ofshoppinganddining options.Wealsoofferplenty ofartisticactivitiesonour campus,likeplayreadings, musicclassesandmore. Scheduleatourtodayand discoverViatLaJollaVillage.

8515CostaVerdeBlvd.•SanDiego,CA92122 888.996.1567•LaJolla.ViLiving.com

DonWinslow TheJulian-basedcrime thrillernovelist,best knownforhiscartel-focused“PoweroftheDog” seriesofbooks,isbackwith “CityonFire.”Thistime

KatieCotugno

Thebestsellingauthor knownforherwittyromcom-stylenovelswill discusshernewbook, “BirdsofCalifornia,” aboutaformerchild actresswhoisaskedto repriseherroleonaoncepopularTVshow. 7p.m. May24.Virtualevent throughBarnes&Noble. Free.barnesand noble.com

MinhLeandDanSantat

Thewriter-artistteam behindthehighlyacclaimedandaward-winning“DrawnTogether”and “Lift”arebackwithanew children’sbook,“TheBlur,” aboutayounggirlwith superpowers. 2:30p.m. May1.LaJolla/Riford Library,7555DraperAve., LaJolla.Free.(858)5521657,sandiego. librarymarket.com

RupiKaur Thepoet,bestknown forherinspirationalposts onInstagramandher bestsellingcollection “MilkandHoney,” makesararein-person appearancetoreadsome ofherworkandtalk aboutherjourney. 8p.m. June7.BalboaTheatre, 868FourthAve., downtown.$39-$99. ticketmaster.com Combsisafreelancewriter.

Theoldestfamily-ownedandoperatedbookstore intheUnitedStates,ishiring:

BOOKBUYER/OPERATIONSMANAGER

•AssistHeadBookBuyerandworkwithstore managementandpublishingpartnerstoachieve departmentalsales,inventorygoals,improveturn, profitandservice.

•Previousbookstoreexperience,preferablyinabuying capacity.

• ThisisaFTpositionwithbenefits—healthinsurance, vacation,sickleave.

Pleaseemailhr@warwicks.comforadetailedjob descriptionortosubmitacoverletterandresume.

CrimethrillernovelistDonWinslow,wholivesinJulian,willreleasehislatestbook,“CityonFire.”

MARKBOSTER FORTHELOSANGELESTIMES

FINDYOUR BEAT.FINDYOURTEAM.

FINDYOURSELF. FIND YOURSELF

Burstingwithvibrantdanceandelectrifying music, Bhangin’It:ABangin’NewMusical isanexhilaratingandjoyousnewmusical comedyforAmericatoday. Thecastof

“IthinkIthriveondisasters! Thatwasconfirmedwhen everythingshutdown. Ifeltmoreactivatedthanever.”

PianistandProject[Blank]co-founderBrendanNguyen

DEVINBLASKOVICH PHOTOSFORTHEU-T

CLASSICALMUSICPICKS

BYBETHWOOD

Thisspring,themanystellarclassicalmusicofferingsinSanDiegodemonstratetheresilienceofthelocalmusicscene. Foraficionadoshungryforauraltreats,herearesomeoftheseason’smostpromisingconcerts.(Checkwebsitesfor updatedaudiencehealthprotocols.)

ArtPower:ArielQuartet ThedynamicAriel

QuartetreturnstoconcludeitscompleteBeethovenCyclewiththeimmortalcomposer’slate-period quartets.FormedinIsrael nearly20yearsagowhenits memberswereteenagers, thestringquartetisnow basedattheUniversityof Cincinnati. 8p.m.April1. ConradPrebysConcert Hall,UniversityofCaliforniaSanDiego,9500 GilmanDrive,LaJolla. $22.50-$59.(858)534-8497, artpower.ucsd.edu

LaJollaMusicSociety: SilkRoadEnsemble SyriancomposerclarinetistKinanAzmeh andSyrianArmenian visualartistKevork

Mouradpresent“Home Within,”anemotional audio-visualexplorationof theconceptofhome.This SilkRoadEnsembleperformancewillincludefive musiciansonpercussion, oud,bass,violinandcello. 7p.m.April3.Conrad PrebysPerformingArts Center’sBaker-Baum ConcertHall,7600Fay Ave.,LaJolla.$36-$70. (858)459-3728,ljms.org

ArtofElan:AMOC (AmericanOperaCompany) Theever-adventurous ArtofElanhosts“With Care”bytheinterdisciplinarycollectiveAMOC.The four-personperformance wascreatedbyformerBatshevadancerBobbiJene Smithwithviolinist(and UCSanDiegoalum)Keir GoGwilt.AMOCco-founder MatthewAucoin,curatorof

SanDiegoSymphony’s2019 “HearingtheFuture”festival,composedthemusic. 7p.m.April13.Lyceum StageTheatre,79Horton Plaza,downtown.$15-$25. artofelan.org

SanDiegoSymphony: Mendelssohn’s‘Italian’ Thesymphonywilltakea country-hoppingmusical journey,startinginAlgiers. Then,principalbassist JeremyKurtz-Harriswill perform“DoubleBassConcertoNo.1”byTijuanabased/Argentina-born composerAndrésMartín. Theorchestrawillalsovisit Italy,whereFelixMendelssohnwrote“Italian,” inspiredbyhistriptherein

1830.

7:30p.m.April20, CaliforniaCenterforthe Arts,Escondido,340N. EscondidoBlvd.,Escondido,$25-$70,(619)2350804,sandiegosymphony.org.7:30p.m.April21,Joan B.KrocTheater,6611UniversityAve.,Rolando, $25-$55,(619)235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org.

2p.m.April23,PHAME PerformingArtsCenter, PatrickHenryHigh School,6702Wandermere Drive,DelCerro,$25-$55, (619)235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

LaJollaMusicSociety: ShekuKanneh-Mason& IsataKanneh-Mason ShekuKanneh-Mason, whofamouslyplayedcello atthe2018Britishroyal weddingofPrinceHarry andMeghanMarkle,is touringwithhisoldersister Isata,anaccomplished pianist.Thesiblings,bothin their20s,haveearnedacclaimseparatelyandasa chambermusicduo. 8p.m. April23.ConradPrebys PerformingArtsCenter’s Baker-BaumConcertHall, 7600FayAve.,LaJolla. $47-$87.(858)459-3728, ljms.org

SanDiegoEarlyMusic Society:DunedInConsort Anin-demandbaroque ensemblefromScotland, DunedInhasinspiredre-

viewerstousewordslike vigorous,dazzlingand joyous.Musicaldirector JohnButtleadsthe15membergroup,including foursingers,inBachcantatasandconcertos. 7:30p.m. April23.St.James-by-theSea,743ProspectSt.,La Jolla.$35-$45.(619)2918246,sdems.org

SanDiegoSymphony: JacobsMasterworksseries Thefinalmonthofthe SanDiegoSymphony’s 2021/2022JacobsMasterworksseriesbeginswith up-and-comingVenezuelaborn,NewYork-basedpianistGabrielaMartinezand conductorRuthReinhardt. They’llbefollowedMay14 and15byacclaimedpianist YefimBronfmanandsymphonyconductorlaureate JahjaLing,whoseMay2020 concertwiththeorchestra waspostponeddueto COVIDrestrictions. GabrielaMartinez:7p.m.May6 and5p.m.May7.Bronfman:5p.m.May14and15. RadyShellatJacobsPark,

200MarinaParkWay, downtown.$25-$108. (619)235-0804,theshell.org

Camarada:‘Hope’ Inthesecondofits“MusicoftheAmericas”series, theversatilechambermusic ensembleCamaradahonorsmusicfromourregionof theworld.CuratedbyAndrésMartin,theprogram willincludetango,contemporaryclassicalandjazz. 7:30p.m.May14.UCSan Diego@Park&Market, 1100ParkBlvd.,EastVillage.$40-$50.(619)231-3702, camarada.org

MainlyMozart:All-Star OrchestraFestival

MusicDirectorMichael Franciswillconduct concertmastersandprincipalplayersfromalloverthe U.S.Thisyear,Mainly Mozart’sJunefestivalcloses withMozart’s“Requiem,” featuringtheSanDiego MasterChorale. 7:30p.m. June10-18.DelMarSurf CupSportsPark,14989Via delaValle,DelMar.$49$100forpodticketsthat accommodateuptofour people.VIPtablesarealso available.(619)239-0100, mainlymozart.org

JAKETURNEY

LeSalondeMusiques: SeasonFinale Thisstage-freechamber musicseries—recently transplantedfromLos AngelestoLaJolla—is unique.EachconcertincludesabuffetwithChampagne,plusachancetotalk withthemusicians.Closing nightwillfeatureworksby Mendelssohn,Brahmsand theGerman-DutchcomposerJuliusRöntgen. 4p.m. June12.LaJollaWoman’s Club,7791DraperAve.,La Jolla.$45-$95.310-498-0257, lesalondemusiques.com Woodisafreelancewriter.

Ariel Quartet

MARCOBORGGREVE

MusicianKinanAzmeh

BENGABBE

CellistSheku Kanneh-Mason(right) andhissister,pianist IsataKanneh-Mason

BRENDAN NGUYEN

PianistandProject[Blank]co-foundersawthepandemicas‘asignaltopushharder’

BYBETHWOOD

BrendanNguyen haslivedalotof lifefora39-yearold. Thesonof Vietnameseimmigrants,hehas livedinEurope andNewYork.For decades,hewasaseriousstudentof musicandclassicalpianoperformance.WhilestudyinginAmsterdam aftergraduatingfromtheOberlin CollegeConservatoryofMusic,he hadaburnout-relatedbreakdown andreturnedtohishometownof Seattle.

Althoughhewaitedtablesthere foraliving,Nguyenalwaysfoundtime topracticepiano.ForfourconsecutivesummersinSkagway,Alaska,he workedasaserver,andduringhis off-hoursheperformedwithamusicaltheatertroupe.

Anoverachieveratayoungage, Nguyenstartedplayingpianoat4. Histeenagehalf-sisterstaughthim.

“Forlotsofimmigrantfamilies, musiclessonsareasignthatyour kidsaredevelopingwell,”saidNguyen,theonlyAmerican-bornmember ofhisVietnamesefamily.“Myparents aren’tartisticbutthoughtthat’swhat theyshoulddo.

“Mysistersdidn’tlikepiano,but theylikedteachingtheirbabybrother whattheywerelearning.Afterthey droppedout,Ikeptpracticingonmy ownandmyparentsnoticedthat.I startedlessonsat6.” In2008,Nguyenstoppedhistravelsandbeganhiseightyearsinthe UniversityofCaliforniaSanDiego’s graduatemusicprogram.

Fast-forwardtoMarch2020.He hadbuiltasuccessfulpianostudio here.ThelocalartsnonprofitNguyen co-foundedwithfellowUCSanDiego alumLeslieAnnLeythamin2018, Project[Blank],wasinitssecond season. Theorganization—whichaimsto produceuniquemusicalexperiences thatinvolveartistsfromavarietyof genres—waspreparingitsfirstopera. Whenpandemicrestrictionswere declared,Nguyenquicklychangedto virtualpianoinstructionandProject [Blank]sprangintoaction.It launchedthe“sofaseries,”avirtual galleryofinterviews(conductedby Leytham)andperformancesby artistsofmanymediumsfromallover thecountry.

Laterthatfall,Project[Blank] gatheredlocalartiststocreatea multi-genrevideoforanationalcompetition,organizedbyCatapultOpera,thatencouragedsociallydistancedoperaticperformances.Featuringmezzo-sopranoLeythamand pianist-arrangerNguyen,thevideo wonCatapult’sInnovationPrize. HowdidNguyenimmediately changegearswithoutgettingflustered?

“IthinkIthriveondisasters!”he saidwithalaugh.“Thatwasconfirmedwheneverythingshutdown.I feltmoreactivatedthanever.

“Thesechangesaffectedliterally everybody.Itookitasasignaltopush harder.”

Project[Blank]co-founder Leythamagreed.

“Becausewe’resmallandscrappy, itwasano-brainer,”shesaid.“People wereoutofwork,soweimmediately startedwaystogivepeopleastage.

“Ourprocessisplayful.Particularlyinthelastyear,thingsmight havefeltunattainableatfirst.Butit stillfeelslikeplaytime.Brendan alwaysthinks:‘WhatcanIdotomake thisbetter,onelittlepieceatatime?’”

WhileatUCSanDiego,Nguyen andLeythamdiscoveredthey“were onthesamepageaesthetically,”ashe putit.

Whentheyestablishedtheirnonprofitin2018,theynameditProject [Blank],inspiredbythealready taken“TabulaRasa”(cleanslate).

“Westartwithanideaandplan everydetail,”saidNguyen,speaking fromEastVillage,wherehelives withKlaus,hisminischnauzer. “Thenameisappropriatelyobtuse sothatwewouldn’tbepinneddown asfarasthegenreorstyle.Itrepresentsapromisetocreatesomeform ofunique.”

Thegroupplannedtwoproductionsforthisspringtohelpfulfillthat promise.“WorkingTitle,”athree-day multimediaeventatLaJolla’sSt. Jamesby-the-Sea,hasbeenpostponedfromspringbecauseofconstructiondelaysatthechurch.Itis nowsetforSeptember.

OnthelastweekendofMay,the organizationwillpresent“Paradise TBD”atBread&Salt.Theworldpremierechambermusicoperafeatureselectronicsandfivesingers, includingLeytham.Nguyenwill performandserveasproducerand musicdirector.WrittenandcomposedbyBaltimore-basedClint McCallum,“ParadiseTBD”explores theemotionalaftermathofnatural disasters.

OutsideofProject[Blank],Nguyenhasworkedcloselysincehisgrad schooldayswithanotherlocalarts organization,BodhiTreeConcerts. Hehashadcountless“ideassessions” withBodhiTreefoundersDianaand WalterDuMelle. “Theyareamazingpeople.They’re likefamilytome,”Nguyensaid. DianaDuMellesaidthefeelingis mutual. “Brendan’ssuchatechnicalwizard,heredefinedwhatamusicdirectoris,”shesaid.“He’safabulous pianist,trainedinbothclassicaland themostcurrentcutting-edgemusic. Andheistechnicallysavvy.He’san amazingcombination.”

BodhiTreewillpresenttheancientopera“Dido&Aeneas”Sept. 23-25atBread&Salt.Nguyenwill serveasmusicdirector. “Wearerespectfulofeverynote,”

DuMellesaid.“Butwepresentit throughamodernlens.Brendan willbringhisownspecialsomething toit.”

InJanuary,Nguyenpresentedthe firstin-personProject[Blank]performancesincethepandemic.The soloconcert,highlightingfemale composers,wasdedicatedtohis immigrantmother,ThaoPhuong Nguyen,andsistersLinda(whodied ofcancerthreeyearsago)andJulie.

“AtschoolIwasinAmerica,andat homeIwasinsomestrangehybrid Vietnam/America,”herecalled.“The foodwasdifferent.Nopizzaandlots offishsauce!”

Itwasn’tuntilhewasinhis20s thatNguyenheardhisparents’backstories.Hisfather,KhanhPhucNguyen,aSouthVietnamesenavalofficer, firstcametoCaliforniaandpicked strawberries,buteventuallybecame amanagerwithBoeinginSeattle.

Brendan’smotherworkedwiththe AmericanAttachéOfficeinVietnam. Shelostherfirsthusband,aSouth Vietnamesepilot,inthewar.Collectinghisremainsinthenorth,Thao Phuong,LindaandJuliemissedthe scheduledhelicoptertotakethemto theU.S.

Instead,theybecameboatpeople, spendingsixmonthsonanIndonesianisland,waitingtoimmigrate. TheyeventuallymovedtoSeattle, wheretheymetKhanhPhuc.Thao Phuongworkedasapharmacytechnicianuntilherretirementatthe UniversityofWashington.

“Whenmymomtoldmethedetails,itwasveryimpactful,”Brendan recalled.“IrealizedIwasdifferent fromtherestofmyfamily.Ididn’tsee thehorrorstheywitnessed.

“Myparentswerealwaysbusy makinglifebetterforus.Myfamily didn’tactlikepeoplewhohadbeen traumatized.Theymusthavetriedto shieldmefromthat.” Phonecallswithhisnow-retired parentsarein“Vietlish”—Vietnamese(them)andEnglish(him). Althoughacareerinmusicissomethingtheydidn’tunderstand,his parentssupporthischoice.

Decadesago,Nguyenstrovetobe atouringsolopianist,buthedisliked theintensepressureandmega-hours practicingalone.

“That’sstillaconundrum,”Nguyensaid.“WhenI’monstage,Ifeelso atpeace.ButwhenIperformaprogram,Iwanttoleaveitanddosomethingelse.Ihaveprojectsintheworks that,ifopportunitypresentsitself,I’d tour.Thesewoulddefinitelyinvolve anotherperformerortwo.”

Inthemeantime,Nguyenhasa characteristicallyhecticschedule.

Lastmonth,hetookhisfirstvacationsince2017.Arrivinghomefrom histriptoHawaiiwithhisboyfriend, Nguyensaidhelearnedakeylesson fromthelasttwoyears.

“Forsure,”hesaid,“Ineedtotake morebreaks.” Woodisafreelancewriter.

Project[Blank] presents‘ParadiseTBD,’ aworldpremiereopera

When: 7:30p.m.May27 andMay28;2p.m.May29

Where: Bread&Salt,1955 JulianAve.,LoganHeights

Tickets:$25generaladmission; $15seniorsandstudents Online:projectblanksd.org

BrendanNguyen,withhisminischnauzerathishomestudioindowntownSanDiego,startedplayingthepianoatage4.

DEVINBLASKOVICH FORTHEU-T

“I’vebeentoldbypeopleinmy dancecareerthatIwouldnever haveafull-timejob,thatIwould neverbeaprofessionaldancer. Idon’tlikebeingtoldthat. Thereisarebelinsideofmethat says,‘Oh,yeah?Watchthis.’”

ArtisticdirectorTerryWilson

DEVINBLASKOVICH PHOTOSFORTHEU-T

SanDiego’smovementartistsaremorethanreadytocelebratespringwithnewperformancesthatexpressthestirringsof thesoulthroughdance.Classicssuchas“SwanLake,”“Giselle”and“Coppélia”areinthelineup,alongwithcreativecontemporarydanceconcerts.(Checkwebsitesforupdatedaudiencehealthprotocols.)

SanDiegoDanceTheater: ‘Belonging:APlacefor

Everyone’ Pastandpresentcompanydancerscelebrate SDDT’s50thanniversary with“RhapsodyinBlue,” originallystagedbyformer artisticdirectorJeanIsaacs. Therealsowillbeworksby currentartisticdirector

TerryWilson,guestartist

KatieStevinson-Nolletand lastyear’sYoungChoreographer’sShowcasewinner, OdessaUno. 7:30p.m.Today.LightBoxTheater, 2590TruxtonRoad,Liberty Station.(619)225-1803, sandiegodancetheater.org

RBT:‘SwanLake’ Theindependenttouring companyRBThonorsthe traditionalRussianballetat twovenues,withanew productionshowcasing hand-paintedsets,bejeweledcostumesanddancers fromninedifferentcountries,includingUkraine, Japan,Italy,Russiaand Poland. March30atthe CaliforniaCenterforthe Arts,Escondido,340N. EscondidoBlvd.,Escondido,(800)988-4253,artcenter.org;andApril9, CivicTheatre,1100Third Ave.,SanDiego, sandiegotheatres.org

CityBalletofSan

Diego:‘Rhapsody inBlue’ Choreographer Geoffrey Gonzalezcreated“Rhapsody inBlue”lastyear forthecompany’s virtualseason,and nowtherivetingproductioncanbeseenlivealong withthejazzy,fast-paced “DansesConcertantes”and theballetmasterpiece“La Bayadere–Kingdomofthe Shades.” March25-26.

BalboaTheatre,868 FourthAve.,SanDiego. (858)272-8663, cityballet.org

SanDiegoCivicYouth Ballet:‘Coppélia’ DanikaPramik-Holdawaydirectstheclassic balletofjealousy,friendship andlovestarringanenchantingworldofcharacters,includingdoll-maker Dr.Coppéllius;hislifelike creationCoppélia; theclevervillage girlSwanilda;and hersuitor,Franz. April8-10.Casadel PradoTheater,1650El Prado,BalboaPark.

(619)233-3060,sdcyb.org

DiscoRiot:‘Spectra’ Themoderndancecompany’sspringshowfeatures worksinspiredbypersonal historiesandcultures, magicanddreamsbycompanyartistsMartyDorado, ZaquiaMahlerSalinasand ChelseaZeffiro,aswellas

guestartistAnnaBrown Massey.Ticketsareonly availableonline,andmasks arerequiredforallaudience members. April21-23.City HeightsPerformance Annex,3795Fairmount Ave.,SanDiego. discoriot.org

MojaletDanceCollective: ‘MixedSundryIII’ Thecompanycelebrates its30th-anniversaryseason withacollectionofchoreographicworksbyFaith Jensen-IsmayandPatricia Sandback.Thesweeping, athleticdancestellstories inspiredbyemotionalconnectionsinthecommunity. April30-May1.VineTheater,Mojalet’sPlaceforthe Arts,12540OaksNorth Drive,SanDiego.(858) 243-1402,mojalet.com

LITVAKdance: ‘BorderStories’ Themoderndancecompanyhascommissioned Mexican,MexicanAmeri-

canandChicanochoreographers—AngelArambula,MaríaJoséCastillo andAlexEscalante—to presentworkalongwiththe renownedTijuana-based companyLuxBoreal.The dancesareaccompanied withmusicbyMariachi ChampañaNevin. April9. TorreyPinesHighSchool PerformingArtsCenter, 3710DelMarHeights Road,SanDiego. litvakdance.org

CityBalletofSanDiego: ‘DonQuixote’ CityBalletclosesits seasonwiththelavish,fulllengthballet,completewith opulentcostumesandmovingwindmills.Theproductionischoreographedby ElizabethWistrichand basedonMigueldeCervantes’epicnovelthattellsofthe adventuresoftheerrant knightDonQuixoteandhis squire,SanchoPanza,who journeytofindthedreamy Dulcinea. May7-8.CaliforniaCenterfortheArts, Escondido,340N.EscondidoBlvd.,Escondido.(800) 988-4253,artcenter.org

LaJollaMusicSociety: JoffreyBallet

TheChicago-based JoffreyBalletoffersaprogramthatincludesLiam Scarlett’sabstract“Vespertine”andJoffreyballet masterNicolasBlanc’s poignant“UndertheTrees’ Voices.”Thecompanyalso integratesavarietyof dancestylesinchoreographerJustinPeck’slively “TheTimesAreRacing.” May14.SanDiegoCivic Theatre,1100ThirdAve., SanDiego.(858)459-3728, ljms.org

SanDiegoBallet:‘Giselle’ Thesettingofthisclassicproductiongetsanew twist.Ittakesplaceinthe pueblosandranchosof SpanishColonialCalifornia,whereasimple peasantgirlfallsinlove withthenoblemanwho betraysher. May21-22. BalboaTheatre,868 FourthAve.,downtown. (619)294-7378, sandiegoballet.org

Luttrellisafreelancewriter.

March26-April3,2022

SanDiegoCivicTheatre

TheoperaticretellingofShakespeare’sclassiclovestory.

CityBalletofSanDiegowillpresent“RhapsodyinBlue”March25-26. ANNASCIPIONE

DOUGMCMINIMY

JessicaConniffofSanDiegoBallet’s“Giselle.”

CANELA

TERRY WILSON

SanDiegoDanceTheater’snewartisticleadershepherdsthecompanyintotomorrow

BYMARCIALUTTRELL

Everoptimistic, TerryWilson’s positiveplaylist trackis“Don’t Worry,BeHappy.” Andthosewho tellherwhatshe can’tovercomeare confrontedwithher can-doattitude.

“Ilikeachallenge,”saysWilson, whobecameartisticdirectorofSan DiegoDanceTheaterayearago.

“I’vebeentoldbypeopleinmy dancecareerthatIwouldneverhave afull-timejob,thatIwouldneverbe aprofessionaldancer.Idon’tlike beingtoldthat.Thereisarebel insideofmethatsays,‘Oh,yeah? Watchthis.’”

SanDiegoDanceTheaterisa mainstayofthelocalcontemporary dancecommunity,knownforTrolley Dances,anannualproductioncreatedbyformerartisticdirectorJean Isaacs. Thenonprofitcelebratesits50th anniversarywithaconcerttodayat itsLibertyStationheadquarters— butitnearlymissedthathalf-centurymilestone.

BeforeWilsonbecameartistic director,shewasaformercompany dancerandthenservedasaboard memberfrom2016to2020.

“Ibecameanassociatedirector toJeanbecauseofsomeunfortunate thingshappeningwithherhealth,” Wilsonexplains.“IwantedtosupportthelegacyofSanDiegoDance Theater,andmydedicationtoJean ledmetoanaturaltransitionto artisticdirector.”

ButwhenWilsonacceptedthe leadershiprole,thecompanywasin jeopardy.Thepandemic’sextended impactnearlycrusheddance schoolsandperformancecompanies,alongwithanysportsorfitness organizationthatengagedinphysicalcontact.

“Therewasalotofpanic,”Wilson recalls.“Therewasnomoneycomingin,andtheonlywaytopaythe rentwasthroughgrantwriting.”

WilsoninvestigatedCOVID-relief funding,butaidsuchastheU.S. SmallBusinessAdministration’s ShutteredVenueOperatorsGrant (SVOG)programwasdesignedto supportlarge,indoorconcerthalls. “Theyareverydifferentfrom artisticgrants.Wehadtohavea

financialpersonsendthedocumentsthatshowedthedramatic changesinourbudget.”

Whilewaitingongrantacceptance,whicheventuallycame through,operatingexpensesremainedthesameformonths.

“Itwasastateofdesperation,” Wilsonrecalls. “Welostourexecutivedirector. Wecouldn’tmeettheneedsofher salaryorourrent.Ourboardturned over.Jeanretired.Itwasarevolving door,andthepeoplewhohadto moveonwasoneofthebiggest challenges.Wehadaconversation dailybecausewedidn’tknowwho woulddowhat.”

Wilsonassumeddutiesthat typicallywenttoothers,including cleaningthefloorsandwindowsof theLightBoxTheater.

“I’mcutfromthecloththatyou dowhatyouneedtodotomake somethinghappen,versusthinking, ‘I’mtheartisticdirectorandIwant tomakeart,’”shesays.

“Nojobistoosmallforme,andI thinkthatworksfornow.”

Wilsonwasalittlegirlwho couldn’tsitstillwhenherfamily movedfromCanadatoMichigan.

Saturdaydanceclassesinthe basementofachurchdirectedher energiesandexposedhertotap, jazzballetandtumbling.

WhenWilsonmovedtoCalifornia,sheattendedPalomarCollegeandtookeverydanceclass available.

Isaacsofferedherascholarship, andinthe1980sWilsonbegandancingprofessionallyforIsaacs,McCaleb&Dancers,whichIsaacs co-directed,whileearningadegree inpsychologyfromSanDiegoState University.

Inthe1990s,Wilsonreturnedto Michigantopursueamaster’sin dancefromtheUniversityofMichiganonfullscholarship.Whilein graduateschool,sheattendeda moderndancelecturebychoreographerTwylaTharp,whoasked, “Dowereallycareifpeoplegetit?If youwanttorunadancecompany, you’llhavetofigurethatout.”

“Thatbumpedrightintome,” Wilsonsays.

“Asanartisticdirector,yougetto choreograph,butyoualsohaveto thinkabouttheexperienceofthe audience.Wecaredeeplyabout whatwedoandwearehopingour arttouchestheheartofourpatrons.

Whatlingerswithmyaudienceis importanttome.”

InadditiontodirectingSan DiegoDanceTheater,Wilsonisa professorofdanceandco-chairof theVisualandPerformingArts DepartmentatSanDiegoCity College.Shesaysherexperienceat CityCollegeshapedhertobecomea leader,andsheisespeciallyproud thatanumberofherstudentswent fromclassroomtoacareerindance. ShealsoteachesIntroductionto DanceattheUniversityofCalifornia SanDiego,whichshedescribesasa historyclass.

HistoryisimportanttoWilson— shehasdevotedyearstoresearching thebeginningsofmoderndancein SanDiego.

LearningaboutthosewhocontributedtothesuccessofSanDiego DanceTheaterinspiredthetheme ofSDDT’s50th-anniversaryconcert,titled“Belonging:APlacefor Everyone.”

Theproductionpaystributeto theprogrammingofthepastalong withnewworks. It’sashowthatreflectsWilson’s manyconsiderations.

“Thingscan’tbetoolong.There shouldbeahintofcomedysomewhere,anditneedsdepth,amomentthattakesyoudeepintoyour ownexperiencewithwhateveris beingpresentedonstage.Youhave tothinkabouthowthingsflow,one danceintothenext.Youwantto takeyouraudienceonajourneyof emotionandjoyandpassionabout dance.”

Therepertoryincludes“RhapsodyinBlue,”originallystagedby Isaacsandperformedbypastand presentcompanydancers.There alsowillbeworksbyWilson,cofounderGeorgeWillis,KatieStevinson-Nolletandlastyear’sYoung Choreographer’sShowcasewinner, OdessaUno.

“Theearlyartisticdirectors wantedthesamethinginSanDiego thatIwantnowin2022,”Wilson says.

“Iwantpeopletoknowthereisa placetodancehereandthereisa placeforeveryone.

“Thecommunityitselfisrichand valuable,andthat’ssomethingIfeel stronglyabout.It’sjustsosimple.I lovedance.Andthattakesmeto whereIamnow.”

Luttrellisafreelancewriter.

SanDiegoDance

Theaterpresents

‘Belonging: APlaceforEveryone’

When: 2:30p.m.today

Where:LightBoxTheater, 2590TruxtonRoad,Liberty Station

Tickets: $15-$30,plusfees

Online: sandiegodancetheater.org

AVIPreceptionfrom1to2 p.m.attheHideawayTerrace oftheMonsarazHotelincludesonespecialtydrink, appetizers,valetparkingand reservedseating.$125per person.

TerryWilsonatSanDiegoDanceTheaterinLibertyStation.Wilsontookoverasthecompany’sartisticdirectorlastyear.

DEVINBLASKOVICH FORTHEU-T

BROADWAYSANDIEGOBRINGSMUSICALSNEWANDOLD

FivenewBroadway musicals—including“Beetlejuice,”“Disney’sFrozen,” “Six,”“Ain’tTooProud”and “Tina:TheTinaTurner Musical”—willbecomingto townoverthenext18 monthsaspartofBroadway SanDiego’s45thseason.

Thenewlineup,announcedTuesday,will includesevenregularseasonshowsandthreeadded events.Allshowswillbe presentedattheSanDiego CivicTheatre.

The45thseasonwillbe interlacedwitheightalready-announcedshows frompreviousseasonsthat havebeendelayedbythe pandemic.Thoseshowsare “Tootsie”(April12-17), “Rent”(April22-24),“Come FromAway”(May17-22), “Hadestown”(May31-June 5),“PrettyWoman”(July 26-31),“ToKillaMockingbird”(Nov.29-Dec.4), “MeanGirls”(Feb.28March5,2023)and“1776” (May9-14,2023).

“Wearethrilledtoget backtodoingwhatwelove,” saidVanessaDavis,general managerofBroadwaySan Diego,inanemail.“The muchanticipated45th Seasonincludescurrent Broadwayhits,showsthat arefreshontheroad,and returningSanDiegofavorites.Thisseasonhassomethingforeveryone,andwe areexcitedtoshareitwith SanDiegoaudiences.”

Here’sthelineupfor the45thseason,beginning withthesevenregularseasonshowsfollowedby addedseasonevents.The regularseven-showsubscriptionsarenowonsale beginningat$318atbroadwaysd.com.

“Hamilton”: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s2015Tony-, Grammy-andPulitzer Prize-winninghip-hop Broadwaymusicalabout revolutionaryleaderAlexanderHamiltonmakesits secondtriptoSanDiego. Nov.8-20,2022.

“Annie”: Anall-new holidayseasontourisbeing mountedforthisthisclassic Tony-winning1977all-ages musicalbasedonthecomic stripaboutanoptimistic

Depression-eraorphan hopingtogetafamilyfor Christmas. Dec.27,2022Jan.1,2023

“Ain’tTooProud:The LifeandTimesofthe

Temptations”: Nominated for12TonyAwards,this2018 jukeboxmusicaltellsthe insidestoryofthisrags-torichesDetroit-bornR&Bsoulvocalgroupandfea-

turesmorethan25songs.

Jan.3-8,2023

“Disney’sFrozen”: Postponedfrom2020dueto thepandemic,thistouring productionofthe2018Tony-

nominatedfamilymusical bringstolifethepopular Disneyanimatedfilmabout twoorphanedsisterstorn apartbyonesibling’smagicalabilitytofreezeanythingshetouches.

Jan.18-29,2023.

“Six”: Thishigh-energy, comicmusical,nowasoldoutsmashonBroadway, resurrectsthesixwivesof EnglishKingHenryVIIIas membersofacompetitive all-girlSpiceGirls-style vocalpopgroup. June27July9,2023

“Tina:TheTinaTurner Musical”: This2019jukebox musical,whichrecently relauncheditspandemicshutteredBroadwayproduction,hitstheroadinits firstnationaltour.Ittells thestoryofthestruggle, liberationandrisetosuperstardomofthefamedR&Bsoul-rocksingerandfeatures24ofhersongs. July25-30,2023

“Beetlejuice”: This Tony-nominated2018musicalwasinspiredbythe1988 TimBurtonfilmabouta comicallydemonicghost whohauntsthehomeofa NewEnglandfamily.It featuresanall-originalscore byEddiePerfect. Aug.15-20, 2023

Addedseasonevents

“Disney’sTheLion King”: Thisbig-cast,puppetry-enhancedDisney musicalaboutanAfrican lioncubcomingofagereturnstotheCivicforan extendedrun. Aug.24Sept.11,2022

“Cats”: Nowinits41st year,thisevergreenAndrew LloydWebbersong-anddancemusicaltellsthe storiesofagroupofLondon junkyardcats. Sept.27Oct.2,2022.

Riverdance’s25thAnniversaryShow: TheIrish stepdanceandmusicshow hasbeenreinventedina newtourwithupdated music,soundandlights. April11-13,2023 pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com

JOANMARCUS

DEENVANMEER Thefirstnationaltourofthemusical“Beetlejuice” willcometotheCivicTheatreAug.15-20,2023.

MATTHEWMURPHY

BYPAMKRAGEN

“Six,”thecomicpopmusicalaboutthesixwivesofHenryVIII,willplayinSanDiegoJune27-July9,2023.

Thenationaltourof“Disney’sFrozen”plays Jan.17-29,2023,attheSanDiegoCivicTheatre.

“Whenthepandemicstarted, IworriedabouthowIwould beabletopaymyrent. Everyonewasthinkingthe samething.ButIdidn’twant todwellonthat.Ithought, ‘Well,Ihaveallthese (technological)resources, thankfully,sowhydon’twe trylivestreamingandsee ifithelps?’”

GuitaristLouisValenzuela

DEVINBLASKOVICH PHOTOSFORTHEU-T

Barringanotherpandemicresurgence,expectarecordnumberofconcertsthisspring—hereandnationwide. Artistsandvenuesareeagertomakeupforallthetoursthatwerepostponedorcanceledoutrightoverthepasttwo years.Formusicfans,though,thebiggestchallengemaysimplybenarrowingdowntheirchoicesfromtheincreasingly dizzyingnumberofoptions.Hereare10especiallypromisingspringconcertscomingupinSanDiego.

SarahJarosz, withTaylorAshton ThisTexas-bredtroubadourisequallyrewarding whetherperformingonher ownorinthetrioI’mWith HerwithAoifeO’Donovan andSanDiego’sSara Watkins.ANewEngland Conservatorygraduateand mandolinandbanjoprodigy,Jarosz’slovinglycrafted Americanamusicisearthy, elegantandfreeoffuss. 8 p.m.March28.BellyUp, 143S.CedrosAve.,Solana Beach.$28-$30(mustbe21 oroldertoattend).(858) 841-8140,bellyup.com

SeanJones‘DizzySpellz,’ featuringBrinaeAli Fromtapdancingand hip-hop,tojazzandAfroCubanmusic,totheAmericanSouthandNewYork City.Thesearejustsomeof theelementsthattrumpeter SeanJonesanddancerand singerBrinaeAlidrawfrom for“DizzySpellz.”Their multimediacollaboration examinesvariousfacetsof theAfricanAmericanculturalexperiencethroughthe lensofthelatejazzgiant DizzyGillespie. 8p.m.April 14.TheLoftatUCSan Diego.9500GilmanDrive, LaJolla.$9-$40.(858)5348497,artpower.ucsd.edu

EubanksEvansExperience

Althoughit’sbeen24 yearssinceformer“The

TonightShowWithJay Leno”bandleaderKevin EubanksappearedattheLa JollaAthenaeum,guitar fansstillmarvelatthenuanceanddaringthat markedhis1998concert here.Expectnolesswhen Eubanksreturns—finally! —foraduoconcertwiththe sublimepianistOrrinEvans. 7:30p.m.April2.Joan &IrwinJacobsMusic Room,AthenaeumMusic &ArtsLibrary,1008Wall St.,LaJolla.$40-$45.(858) 454-5872,ljathenaeum.org

SonsofKemet EnglishsaxophonesensationShabakaHutchings andhistuba-anchored band,SonsofKemet,fuse calypso,jazz,funk,hip-hop, dub-reggae,trapandmore intoaninvigoratingwhole. Ontourtopromotetheir sociallyconscious2021 album“BlacktotheFuture,” theyperformwithequalfire andfinesseonsongsthat bristlewithinventionand improvisationalfire. 9p.m. April16.BellyUp,143S. CedrosAve.,SolanaBeach. $20-22.(858)841-8140, bellyup.com

Googoosh

Longhailedasthe“Voice ofIran,”Tehran-bornvocal legendFaeghehAtashin— whoperformsasGoogoosh —isavibrantforceforresiliency.Startingin1979,she wasforbiddenfromperforminginherhomeland(and fromleavingit)for21years. SincegoingintoexileinLos Angelesin2000,Googoosh hasmadeeightalbumsand touredtheworld.At71,she remainsasymbolofperseveranceanddefiance. 8 p.m.April17.BalboaThea-

MAY26-JUN19

InEveryGeneration

ByAliViterbi

DirectedbyToddSalovey &EmilyMoler

WORLDPREMIERE

Onefamily.Oneholiday.Four millennia.Thehighly-anticipated worldpremiereofanenthralling familysaga.

tre,868FourthAve., downtown.$92.50-$189. (619)615-4000, ticketmaster.com

TheHouseofMusic presents‘CubaLlego, ACelebrationofCuban

Music’

Formedin1969inHavana,LosVanVanhelped expandCubansonand charangamusicbyadding elementsofsalsa,rockand more.It’sasynthesisthatis nolessnotablenow,53 yearslater.The16-piece LosVanVanwillbejoined herebyHavanaD’Primera, a15-year-oldCubanensembleledbytrumpetand vocalsensationAlexander Abreu.Bothbandsare adeptatinspiringaudiencestorisefromtheirseats anddancewithabandon. 5 p.m.May1.RadyShellat JacobsPark,200Marina ParkWay,downtown. $95-$135.(619)235-0804, theshell.org

LilaDowns LogisticswillsadlypreventLilaDownsfrombringingthe176-pieceBanda MisteriosadeOaxaca— whichisfeaturedonher mostrecentalbum,“Al Chile”—hereforherBalboa Theatreconcert.Butthat won’thinderthisproudly eclecticartist,whoexpertly

singsinSpanish,English, MixtecandZapotec.Her musicfreelyjumpsborders andgenres,asbefitsaUniversityofMinnesotagraduatewhomajoredinboth classicalvoiceandcultural anthropology. 8p.m.May4. BalboaTheatre,868Fourth Ave.,downtown.$38-$83. (858)459-3728,ljms.org/ events

MC5,featuring WayneKramer Ifyouwanttocatchthe only2022Rock&RollHallof Famenomineethatwillbe performingina230-capacity SanDiegoclubthisspring, headstraighttotheSoda Bar.Dittoifyouwantto catchthelatestiterationof thisshort-livedbuthugely influentialDetroit-bred band,whichhelpedcreatea templateforpunkrockand forsuchpoliticallycharged artistsasRageAgainstthe Machine.Ledbyguitarist andMC5co-founderWayne Kramer,the2022editionof MC5includesaceSanDiego guitaristStevieSalas,bassistVickiRandle,singerBrad BrooksandJane’sAddiction drummerStephenPerkins. 7:30p.m.May15.SodaBar, 3615ElCajonBlvd.,City Heights.$40.38(mustbe21

ESCAPEINTOUPLIFTINGSTORIES OFOURPAST,PRESENTANDFUTURE SPRINGARTSPREVIEW

oroldertoattend).

(619)255-7224, sodabarmusic.com

Christone‘Kingfish’Ingram

Thehighlightoflast year’s11thannualAimLoan.comSanDiegoBlues Festival,this23-year-old Mississippidynamoisinjectingwelcomenewvigor intooneofAmerica’smost foundationalmusicgenres. Anelectrifyingguitaristand asoulfulsinger,heandhis bandsaluteandextendthe blueswithsufficientverve toappealtoveteranfansof themusicandneophyte listenersalike. 7:30p.m. May16.BalboaTheatre, 868FourthAve.,downtown.$21.50-$41.50.(619) 615-4000,ticketmaster.com

ChrisStapleton’s All-AmericanRoadShow, featuringDwightYoakam andMikeCampbell&The DirtyKnobs

ChrisStapleton’snononsenseblendofcountry, bluesandrockissoheartfeltandfreeofartificeand commercialcompromise thathealmostseemstobe fromadifferentplanetthan mostofhisNashville-based contemporaries.Healso hasexemplarytastein openingacts,asthelineup forhisJuneSanDiegoconcertattests.Itincludes DwightYoakam,achampionoftheBakersfieldschool ofcountrymusicpioneered byBuckOwens,andformer TomPetty&TheHeartbreakersguitaraceMike Campbell,nowamember ofFleetwoodMac. 7p.m. June9.NorthIslandCredit UnionAmphitheatre,2050 EntertainmentCircle, ChulaVista.$44-$119.75. (619)494-5600, livenation.com george.varga@sduniontribune.com

JUL28-AUG21

TwelfthNight

Conceivedby KwameKwei-Armah &ShainaTaub

Music&LyricsbyShainaTaub

DirectedbySamWoodhouse

Anenchantingandsoulful shake-upofShakespeare’s romanticcomedywithan originaljazz-funkscore.

AUG18-SEP11

TheCuriousIncident oftheDoginthe

Night-Time

BySimonStephens

BasedonthenovelbyMarkHaddon

DirectedbyToddSalovey

The‘life-affirmingand unmissable’(Time)smashhitshowaboutaboywithan extraordinarybrain.

OCT27-NOV20

GrandMasterFunk

ByHerbertSiguenza

DirectedbyThomasW.JonesII

WORLDPREMIERE

Anhilariousintergalactic adventurefueledbyscience, Afro-futurismandaninfectious 70’ssoundtrack.

TrumpeterSeanJonesandvocalist/dancerBrinae AliperformaspartofArtPower’s2021-2022season.

CONRADLOUIS-CHARLES

JONNAUGLE

Christone“Kingfish”Ingram

SarahJarosz AMYHARRIS AP

LOUIS VALENZUELA

Localmusicmainstay’spandemic-fueledpivottolivestreaminghelpedmanySanDiegoartists

BYGEORGEVARGA

LouisValenzuela becameoneofSan Diego’sbusiest guitaristsbetween 2010and2020,leadingweeklyjamsessionsandplaying jazz,gospeland R&Bgigs.

Hegotevenbusiersoonafterthe COVID-19pandemicshutdown broughttheperformingartstoan abrupthalttwoyearsagothisweek. Hisincreaseinactivityhelpedmany ofhisfellowmusiciansreconnect withlisteners—andearnsome money—atatimewhenvirtuallyall livemusicgigsevaporated.

Butratherthanrelyonhisguitar skills,this33-year-oldLakeside nativeutilizedvideocameras, microphonesandcomputersto createaconcertlivestreamingservice.

UsingthenameElectricLouieLand—inhonorofhisfavoritealbumbyJimiHendrix,1968’s landmark“ElectricLadyland”— Valenzuelaprovidedavitallifeline byfreelysharinghislivestreaming skills.

“HisservicetoourmusiccommunityduringthepeakofthepandemicwithElectricLouieLand reallysavedmostofoursoulshere,” saidtoptrumpeterGilbertCastellanos,thejazzcuratorfortheSan DiegoSymphonyandfounderof YoungLionsJazzConservatory.

“Louisgaveushopeandthe abilitytoperformforanaudience, online,whenweweren’tabletoin person.Heplayedsuchanimportantrolewithhislivestreaming.It helpedbringusalltogether,andI knowalotofothermusiciansfeel thatway.”

DanielAtkinson,theveteranjazz programcoordinatorfortheAthenaeumMusic&ArtsLibraryinLa Jolla,isequallyeffusive.

“LikeGilbert,Ihaveknownand admiredLouisforyearsnowasone ofthetopguitaristsonthejazz scenehere,”saidAtkinson,whois alsothefounderofSanDiegoJazz Ventures.

“Duringthepasttwoyears,when theentiremusicworldhadtopivot toonlineperformances,Louisdove intoacquiringmasteryofnewsoftwareandhardwareforbothvideo andaudio.

“Heswiftlybecamethego-to personforourentireregion,creatinghundredsofonlineconcerts withhighproductionvaluesand providinganessentiallifelinefor SanDiego’smusicalartiststhrough thedepthsofthepandemic.His workhasbeentrulyheroic.”

Castellanos,flutistHollyHofmann,pianistJoshuaWhiteand saxophonistChristopherHollyday areamongthebeneficiariesofValenzuela’slivestreamingexpertise. Butthelistisn’tlimitedtoSanDi-

ego’sjazzcommunity.

OtherElectricLouieLandartists haverangedfromblues-soulvocal dynamoWhitneyShayandrockfunkbandPsydecartosinger-songwriterIsraelMaldonadoandthe experimentaldancebandFresh VeggiesMicroBrass.

Ofcourse,Valenzuelahadnoway offoreseeingtheCOVID-fueled shutdownofliveevents.Butwhenit happened,hewasbetterprepared thanmostmusicianstopivotto livestreaming.

Throughtrialanderror,hehad beenhoninghisskillsbylivestreaminghisownperformancesandjam sessionspriortothepandemic.He hadalsograduallyupgradedhis equipment,addingGoProcameras, higher-qualityroutingsystems, studio-calibermicrophonesand bettersoftwareforhisdigitalaudio workstation.

“I’majazzmusician—Iresearch things!”saidValenzuela,thesonofa MexicanAmericanfatherandIraqibornmother.Heisamemberofthe jazzfacultyatbothMesaCollege andSanDiegoStateUniversity, whereheearnedhismaster’sdegree inmusic.

Whenthepandemicstruck, launchingElectricLouieLandwasa caseofbusinessasunusual.“The newnormal”hadyettobedetermined.

Asapart-ownerofChulaVista’s AvantGardeMusicCo.,Valenzuela hadaccesstoasuddenlyempty recordingstudio.ItbecameElectricLouieLand’slivestreamconcerts headquarters. Thestudio’sthreeadjoining rooms,partitionedbyplexiglass, enabledhimtoisolateoldermusicianswhowereatgreaterriskof gettingCOVID.Exceptforbrassand windplayers,maskswererequired. Sowerenegativetestresults.

“Thatmadeeveryonedoingthe livestreamsfeelmorecomfortable,” Valenzuelasaid.

WhenCastellanosbeganperformingsociallydistancedoutdoor dinnershowseachWednesdaynight atBalboaPark’sPanama66in March2021,Valenzuelawasonhand tolivestreamthem.

SanDiegoradiostationKSDSFMJazz88—whichatthetimehad shuttereditsstudiosandwasbroadcastingentirelyremotely—began airingValenzuela’slivestreamson Saturdayevenings.

Thestationnowdevotesanhour eachSaturdaytoairingacompilationofhisrecentlystreamedperformanceson“JazzNightSanDiego.”

“Whenthepandemicstarted,I worriedabouthowIwouldbeableto paymyrent.Everyonewasthinking thesamething,”Valenzuelasaid.

“ButIdidn’twanttodwellon that.Ithought,‘Well,Ihaveallthese (technological)resources,thankfully,sowhydon’twetrylivestreamingandseeifithelps?’Ididn’thavea

choice,really.Ifeltcompelledtodo this.”

Now,twoyearslater,heishappily backtodoinglivegigssixdaysa week,whilecontinuingtodo livestreams.

OnTuesdays,heplaysfrom7to9 p.m.withtheJohnReynoldsQuartetatMadisonOnParkinUniversity Heights.Thencomesagigfrom10 p.m.tomidnightthatheco-leads withtrombonistMattHallatSeven GrandinNorthPark.

WednesdaysfindValenzuela teachingonlineguitarandbass classestoMesaCollegestudentsby dayandstoppinginatCastellanos’ weeklyjamsessionsatPanama66 bynight.

Thursdaysaredevotedlargelyto video-editingworkduringtheday, followedbyValenzuela’sweeklyjam sessions—whichshowcaseGreat AmericanSongbookclassics—at BlindLadyAleHouseinNormal Heights.

Fridaysareusuallyopenfor whateverlast-minuteperformance opportunitiespopup,whileSaturdaysfindtheguitaristandHall doingtheirweeklybrunchgigatPali WineCo.inLittleItaly.Oncea monthonSaturdaynights,thetwo performattherestaurantHobNob HillinBankersHill.

OnSundays,Valenzuelaplays gospelmusicastheguitaristinthe housebandatTotalDeliverance WorshipServiceinSanDiego’s GrantHillneighborhood.Next Sunday,he’llplayguitaratthe monthly“SoulSunday”open-air concertatdowntown’sCourtyard. OnMondaymornings,Valenzuelateachesone-on-oneguitar classesatSDSU.OnMondaynights, heleadsall-agesjamsessionsat

AmplifiedAleWorksKitchen&Beer Garden’snewdownstairsbar,The AcidVault.Buthisjamstherehavea twist.

Insteadofusingwhatmusicians calla“fakebook,”whichcontains sheetmusicforhundredsofdecades-oldjazzstandards,Valenzuela hascreatedwhathecallsthe SDRealBook.Itfeaturescontemporarycompositionsbysuchtoparea musiciansastrumpeterCastellanos andpianistWhite.

“I’mputtingituponmywebsite, electriclouieland.com,andI’llconstantlybeupdatingit,”saidValenzuela,whoplanstorecordhislongoverduefirstsoloalbum.Creating andlivestreamingmusicremains hisdualfocus.

“Honestly,whenthepandemic began,itwasn’tlikeIthought, ‘Livestreamingconcertswillbethe answertoeveryone’sproblems,’” Valenzuelasaid.

“ImadewhatIthoughtwasthe bestchoiceinthemoment.Looking back,itwasthebestthing.Because, fromhereonout,I’llkeepdoing moreofthis.” george.varga@sduniontribune.com

‘SoulSunday,’featuring LouisValenzuela

When: 5p.m.March27

Where: Courtyard,1301Market

St.,downtown

Tickets: $15-$55 (mustbe21oroldertoattend)

Online: courtyard.com

LouisValenzuela,sittingathishomestudioinNorthPark,providedavitallifelinetolocalartistsbyfreelysharinghislivestreamingskills.

DEVINBLASKOVICH FORTHEU-T

“I’vebeenashamedofwho Iamforalotofmylife anddidn’tevenknowit. Icoveredmyselfbygoing tocollege,competingin pageantsanddoingthe wholerealityshowthing. Istilldon’tquitehaveit figuredout,butIsuream damnclosertofeeling comfortableinmyskin.”

ActorAriAfsar

DEVINBLASKOVICH PHOTOSFORTHEU-T

ARI AFSAR

Starof‘Bhangin’It’saysherroleinthemusicalistheclosestshe’severplayedtoherownidentity

BYPAMKRAGEN

Fouryearsago,SanDiego nativeAriAfsarfinished upatwo-yearruninthe Chicagoproductionof “Hamilton”playingEliza SchuylerHamilton,the musical’ssurpriselinchpincharacter,whodedicatesherlifetopreserving andtellingherlatehusband’sstory.

Today,Afsar’smissionistotellher ownstoryasasecond-generationAsian American,composer,singer,actorand politicalactivist.Shesaidit’sbeenalong journeytowardrediscoveringherself— andthelossofworkduringthepandemic madeherquestionhercareerchoices— butAfsarsaidshe’sgratefulforwhatshe haslearnedaboutherselfalongtheway. Onthebiographypageofherwebsite,she explainsherselfre-evaluationinher openingwords:

“I’vebeenashamedofwhoIamfora lotofmylifeanddidn’tevenknowit.I coveredmyselfbygoingtocollege,competinginpageantsanddoingthewhole realityshowthing.Istilldon’tquitehave itfiguredout,butIsureamdamncloser tofeelingcomfortableinmyskin.”

AfterplayingonlyWhiteandLatino charactersformostofherprofessional career,Afsarisnowplayingtheleadrole of“Bhangin’It:ABangin’NewMusical,” whichopenstonightinitsworldpremiere atJollaPlayhouse.ShestarsasMary,a second-generationAsianAmericanwomanstrugglingtofindandembraceher ownpersonal,racialandculturalidentity throughIndianBhangradance.

“ThisisthefirsttimewhereI’vebeen abletoplayclosertomyidentity,”she said.“Withthatcomesdifficulty.It’s amazingbutit’shard.Howdowecreate, howdoweinteractwhensomethingsare sopersonal?Icatchmyselfalot.The challengenowisfindingthedissimilarity withMary.”

Afsar,30,grewupanarts-lovingonly childinRanchoPeñasquitos.Herfather, animmigrantfromBangladesh,isan engineer.Hermother,aGermanAmerican,isanattorney.Ingradeschool,she landedthecovetedroleofCindy-LouWho intheOldGlobe’s“Grinch”musical.In herteensshewasapageantqueen,winningthetitlesofMissCalifornia,Miss America’sOutstandingTeenandMiss SanDiegoCounty.Andinhersenioryear atWestviewHighSchool,shewasamong thetop36contestantsonTV’s“American Idol”singingcompetition.

Butratherthanpursuemusicaltheaterincollege,shefeltaninternalpressure tohonorherparents’sacrificesbypursuingacareerinthesciences.Sheenrolled attheUniversityofCaliforniaBerkeleyas abiologymajor,thentransferredto UCLA,whereshestudiedbiologyfortwo moreyearsbeforefinallyfollowingher heartandearningadegreeinethnomusicologywithanemphasisinjazzin2013.

Sincethen,shehaspursuedacareeras anactor,singerandcomposer.Oneofher greatestpridesiswritingthescorefor“We Won’tSleep,”amusicalsheco-wrotewith playwrightandfellowfeministLauren GundersonaboutJeannetteRankin,who

becamethefirstwomanelectedtothe U.S.Congressin1916.

Itwas100yearsafterRankin’selection thatAfsarhadherownpoliticalawakening.“Hamilton”openedinChicagojust onemonthbeforethe2016presidential election.Alifelongfeminist,Afsarsaid shehadacrisisofconfidenceinthecareer pathshe’dchosenandwonderedwhether theartsreallymatteredinsuchtumultuoustimes.

“Igotreallydisheartenedaboutmy industryandhadaperiodofself-reflectionanddoubt,”shesaid.“ThenIstarted tothinkaboutwhatcanIactuallydoto help....InthatmomentIneededtosurroundmyselfwithbadasswomentofeel better.”

Sheparticipatedinthe2017Women’s March,joinedtheboardoftheACLUof Illinois,becameanadvocateforPlanned Parenthood,andraisedmoneyforprogressivewomenrunningforCongress.She alsoopenedforMichelleObamaatthe UnitedStatesofWomenSummitin2018.

Afterleaving“Hamilton,”Afsarmoved backtoCalifornia.SheandGunderson wereworkingtowardtheworldpremiere of“WeWon’tSleep”whenthepandemic struckin2020,capsizingthetheater industry.Fortunately,Afsarhadputaway asmallnesteggfromher“Hamilton” earnings,sosheboughtasmall,older houseintheCaliforniadesertthatshe renovatedherselftoearnsomerental income.

Shealsothrewherselfintomoreactivism.Withthreefellowwomenofcolor,she co-foundedUntilWeDoIt,anonprofit thatdistributedmorethan1millionface maskstounderservedcommunities.She alsoraisedmoneyforBroadwayforRacialJusticeandspokeoutagainstattacks onAsianAmericans.Afsarsaidshefound validationintheworkbutpushedherself sohardshebecameburnedout.

“Idobelievethat’showIcopewith things.Inallhonesty,it’smenotdealing withmyemotions,tryingtobeofsupport andhelp,”shesaid.“Saying‘I’msoaltruistic’isalie.There’sasenseoffeeling neededandfeelingbelongingthatneeds balance.”

“Bhangin’It”co-writerRehanaLew MirzasaidshepursuedAfsarfortherole ofMaryfornearlyfiveyearsagobecause shefeltAfsarwastheperfectrolemodel fortheprogressivemixed-racecharacter. AndAfsarsaidreturninghometoSan Diego—whereherfatherattendedmany oftheshow’srehearsals—hasbeena wonderfulfull-circlemoment.Afteryears ofstruggle,shameandself-reflection,she hascomebacktoherhometownfora musicaltheaterrolethatallowsherto re-embraceheridentityandcelebrate multiculturalism.

“There’stherealitythatwhenwestart inthearts,it’slikesomethingweloveand aregoodat,butthenwedon’tseebeyond theapplause,”shesaid.“It’scommon.We allhavetogothroughit.Ithinkwhat transformeditformeiswhereItruly, fromthebottomofmysoul,foundthat artchangescultureandculturechanges policy,andthat’sthepartoftheartsthat Iwanttobeapartof.”

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com

‘Bhangin’It: ABangin’NewMusical’

When: 7:30p.m.Tuesdaysand Wednesdays;8p.m.Thursdaysand Fridays;2and8p.m.Saturdays; 2and7p.m.Sundays.Through

April17

Where:MandellWeissTheatre, LaJollaPlayhousecampus,2910 LaJollaVillageDrive,LaJolla

Tickets: $25to$87

Phone:(858)550-1010

Online:lajollaplayhouse.org

AriAfsar,picturedatLaJollaPlayhouse,earnedadegreeinethnomusicologywithanemphasisinjazzfromUCLAin2013.

DEVINBLASKOVICH FORTHEU-T

STAGEPICKS

FromStephenSondheim’s“IntotheWoods”toBroadwaySanDiego’s“Hadestown,”SanDiegostagescomeback tolifethisspringwithabountyofproductions.

NewVillageArts&

OceansideTheatre

Company:“IntotheWoods”

TwoNorthCountytheatercompaniesareteaming uponthisco-productionof the1986musicalbythelate StephenSondheimandhis frequentcollaborator JamesLapine.It’sabittersweetstoryaboutfamily andparentingthatexamineswhathappenstofamousfairytalecharacters aftertheirsupposed“happilyeverafter.”Themusical willbepresentedatOceansideTheatreCompany’s artistichomewhileNew VillageArts’headquarters isunderrenovation. March 18throughMay1.Sunshine BrooksTheatre,217N. CoastHighway,Oceanside.newvillagearts.org

SanDiegoOpera:

“RoméoetJuliette”

Lastproducedherein 2010,thisnewproductionof the1867operawillfeature stunningsceneryfrom MinnesotaOperathat mixestraditionalelements withmoderntouches.SamoantenorPenePatiof NewZealandhassung Roméoallovertheworld, includingtwoseasonsago atSanFranciscoOpera underthebatonofconductorYvesAbel,whowilllead theSanDiegoSymphony forthisproduction.AmericansopranoNicoleCabell, winnerofthe2005BBC

SingeroftheWorldCompetition,makeshercompany debutasJuliette. Saturday throughApril3.SanDiego CivicTheatre,1100Third Ave.,SanDiego.(619) 232-7636,sdopera.org

TheOldGlobe: “BobFosse’sDancin’”

ThisBroadway-bound revivalofFosse’s1978revue “Dancin’”features18short scenesthatspotlightthe fameddirector-choreographer’suniquetheatrical

style.Itwillbedirectedand musicallystagedbyWayne Cilento,whostarredinthe show’soriginalBroadway company,witharevisedand updatedbookbyactress andplaywrightKirsten Childs. April19through May29.OldGlobeTheatre, 1363OldGlobeWay,BalboaPark.(619)234-5623, theoldglobe.org

MoxieTheatre: “MotheroftheMaid” This2015playbyJane Andersonretellsthestoryof JoanofArcfromhermother’sperspective.Asamom herself,Moxieexecutive artisticdirectorJenniferEve Thornsaidshewastouched byAnderson’sdescriptionof

theplaywhereshesaid: “WhenIwasagaygirlgrowingup,IlovedJoanofArc.... ButwhenIbecamea mother,Isuddenlyunderstoodhowharditmusthave beenformyownmotherto raiseastrangeandgifted daughter....It’shardtobea Joan,butlovingachildlike Joanisawholeotherthing.”

April24throughMay22. MoxieTheatre,6663El CajonBlvd.,SanDiego. (858)598-7620, moxietheatre.com

MoonlightStage

Productions:“Memphis”

Moonlightkicksoffits 2022seasonwiththisLaJolla Playhouse-bornmusical, whichwonfourTonyAwards in2010,includingbestmusical.WrittenbyJoeDiPietro andDavidBryan,“Memphis”wasinspiredbyreal-life WhiteradioDJDewey Phillips,whointroduceshis WhitelistenerstoBlack musicfromMemphis’undergrounddanceclubsinthe 1950sandhelpsspawnthe rock’n’rollrevolution. May 11-25.MoonlightAmphitheatre,BrengleTerracePark, 1200ValeTerraceDrive, Vista.(760)724-2110, moonlightstage.com

DiversionaryTheatre:

“Eighty-Sixed”

Basedonthenovelby DavidB.Feinberg,this worldpremieremusicalby JeremyJ.KingandSam Salmondisthestoryofagay mantryingtokeepthe partygoingin1986New YorkCityasAIDSdeaths aresoaring.Whenanexloverbecomesill,heis forcedtoredefinehislife. Theshow’screativeteam includesdirectorKevin NewburyandObieAwardwinningchoreographer RajaFeatherKelly. May12 throughJune12.DiversionaryTheatre,4545Park Blvd.,SanDiego.(619) 220-0097,diversionary.org

CygnetTheatre:“MudRow”

DeliciaTurnerSonnenbergdirectstheSouthern

CaliforniapremiereofDominiqueMorisseau’s2019 familydramaabouttwo generationsofBlacksisters, thefirstpairlivinginthe early1960sandtheother sistersinthepresentday. CygnetartisticdirectorSean Murraysaidit’sapowerful storyabouthealing,generationalchallengesandlifelong conflictasthesistersfind spacetohealandmove forward. May18through June19.CygnetTheatre, 4040TwiggsSt.,OldTown SanDiego.(619)337-1525, cygnettheatre.com

SanDiegoRepertory Theatre:“InEvery Generation” Ontheeveofthe2022 LipinskyFamilySanDiego JewishArtsFestival,Rep AssociateArtisticDirector ToddSaloveywilldirectthis newplaybyformerSan DiegoplaywrightAli Viterbi.It’sthestoryofone family’sPassovercelebration;inthiscase,onefamily overmanymillennia,who sharetheirsacredmeal whilegrapplingwithquestionsofthepast. May26 throughJune19.Lyceum Theatre,79HortonPlaza, SanDiego.(619)544-1000, sdrep.org

BroadwaySanDiego: “Hadestown” ThefirstnationaltouringproductionofthisAnaïs Mitchellmusical.Thepro-

Above:“Hadestown” beginsaruninSan DiegoonMay31.

Left:“MudRow”writer DominiqueMorriseau.

ductionwoneight2019 TonyAwards,including bestmusical,anditmakes itsfirstvisittoSanDiego thisspring.Themusicalisa mashupofthetwomythical talesofOrpheusandEurydiceandofKingHadesand hiswife,Persephone,ina post-apocalypticsetting. May31throughJune5.San DiegoCivicTheatre,1100 ThirdAve.,SanDiego. (619)564-3000, broadwaysd.com

LaJollaPlayhouse: “Lempicka”

Thisacclaimed2018 musicalwasinspiredbythe storyofbisexualPolish painterTamaradeLempicka,whofledtheRussian Revolutionin1917and flourishedinbohemian Pariswithhersensuous paintings.Then,whenthe GermansenteredParisin 1940,shefledagaintoLos Angeles.Firstproducedat theWilliamstownTheatre Festival,“Lempicka”featuresabookandlyricsby CarsonKreitzerandascore byMattGould.Itwillbe directedbyRachelChavkin, whowonaTonyin2019for directing“Hadestown.” June14throughJuly24. MandellWeissTheatre,La JollaPlayhouse,2910La JollaVillageDrive,La Jolla.(858)550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com

“BobFosse’s Dancin’” opens April19.

RACHELNEVILLE

CHARLESSYKES AP

JEMALCOUNTESS

DEVINBLASKOVICH FORTHEU-T

“Ifyoudon’thaveabunch ofmoneytoleanon, togiveyouthetimetofigure outyourselfandjustpaint, thenyouhavetobecreative inyourworkandpractice.”

PainterCharleneMosley

Withpandemicrestrictionsofficiallylifted,museumsandgalleriesaregearingupforanexcitingseasonofnewexhibitions andshows.AndwhetherreadersliveinEscondidoordowntownSanDiego,there’splentytoseethroughoutthecounty.

CaliforniaCenterforthe Arts,Escondido:‘Campus

Creatives:FeaturingSan Diego’sFineArtsFaculty’ Artseducatorsfrom localuniversitiesandcollegeswillbeshowcasing theirownworkatthis uniqueshowcaseofwork thatvariesinmediumsand styles.Notablenames includeTerriHughesOelrich(installationwork), SashaKoozelReibstein (sculpture)andPerry Vásquez(paintings).

March26throughMay15. CaliforniaCenterforthe Arts,Escondido,340N. EscondidoBlvd.,Escondido.$5-$8.(760)839-4138, artcenter.org

OceansideMuseumofArt:

‘JamesE.Watts:Storyteller’ Thelocalfabricatorand sculptor,whoworksoutofa GaslampQuarterstudio knownasTheJamesWatts InstituteofArtisticBehavior,willpresentnewworks basedonclassicliterature andcreatedfromrepurposedandsalvagescrap metal. April2toJuly9.

OceansideMuseumofArt, 704PierViewWay,Oceanside.Free-$10.(760)4353720,oma-online.org

QuintGallery:GaryLang andAdamBelt BothofQuint’sGirard Avenuelocationswillbe openingnewexhibitions fromtwoaccomplished regionalartists.First, Ojai-basedpainterGary Langwillshowcasesomeof hissignatureillusoryworks filledwithvibrantlight andcolor.Upthestreet, Carlsbadartist AdamBeltwillpresentsomeofhis highlyevocative installationart.

AdamBeltApril2to

May14.Gary LangJune4to July30.Quint Gallery,7655and 7722GirardAve.,La Jolla.Free.(858)454-3409, quintgallery.com

MingeiInternational Museum:‘Fold,Twist,Tie’ and‘NikiandMingei’ ThelocalloveforNikide SaintPhalleiswhatAprilis allabout(seeMCASD listingbelow).“Nikiand Mingei”focusesonthelocal sculptor’sdesignsforfurnitureandfurnishings. Speakingofsculpture,the concurrent“Fold,Twist, Tie”showsoffHawaiian artistMoses’intricate objectsmadefrompaper bags. April8toOct.2.

MingeiInternational Museum,1439ElPrado, BalboaPark.Free-$10. (619)239-0003,mingei.org

MuseumofContemporary

ArtSanDiego:‘Selections

FromtheCollection’and ‘NikideSaintPhalleinthe 1960s’ MCASDreopensits flagshipLaJollalocation afteramultimillion-dollar renovationandexpansion withtwonewexhibitions. Oneshowcasesworksfrom themuseum’spermanent collection,manyofwhich haveneverbeendisplayed before.TheotherisaselectionofpaintingsandsculpturesfromtheiconicFrench Americanartistwhoonce calledLaJollaherhome.

OpensApril9.Museumof

ContemporaryArtSan Diego,700ProspectSt.,La Jolla.Free-$10.(858)4543541,mcasd.org

SanDiegoMuseumofArt:

‘Terra:Fernando Casasempere’and ‘ArtAlive’ InadditiontoSDMA’s recentlyopened“Monetto Matisse:Impressionist MasterpiecesFromthe BembergFoundation” exhibition,visitorsshould definitelytaketimetovisit “TERRA,”aseriesofimmersiveinstallationsfrom ChileanartistFernando Casasemperethatdealin themesofenvironmentalismandclimatechange. Theexhibitionopensthe sameweekas“ArtAlive,” theannualfour-dayshowcaseoffloralinterpretationsofthemuseum’svast collection. “Terra”runs April29throughSept.5.

“ArtAlive”happensApril 28throughMay1.San DiegoMuseumofArt,1450 ElPrado,BalboaPark. $8-$20.(619)232-7931, sdmart.org

MissionFedArtWalk AfterafewCOVID-

“Serpent LadyPink” vasebyNiki deSaint Phalle(2000, polyester resin)

MCASD

relatedpostponements andvirtualeditions,the annualvisualartsevent isbackasanin-person event.Thetwo-day

festivalfeaturesdozensof localandregionalartists sellingtheirwares,aswell asentertainment,food vendorsandmore. 11a.m.

to6p.m.April30;10a.m.to 5p.m.May1.Between JuniperStreetandA Street,LittleItaly.Free. (619)615-1090,artwalksandiego.org

AthenaeumMusic&Arts

Library:‘Timeless:Black& WhitePortraitsofJoan AgajanianQuinn’ AshowcaseofphotographsandartfromtheLos Angelesjournalistand collector.Spanningfive decades,theexhibition featuresworksfromAndy Warhol,EdRuscha,Helmut Newtonandmore. May7to June11.AthenaeumMusic &ArtsLibrary,1008Wall St.,LaJolla.Free.(858) 454-5872,ljathenaeum.org

MuseumofPhotographic

Arts:‘NickBrandt: ThisEmptyWorld’and ‘Encounter:Photographs byJedFielding’ MOPAhastwostellar photographicexhibitions openinginMay.FirstisNick Brandt,anEnglishphotographerbestknownforhis starkpicturesofwildlife dealingwiththerapiddisappearanceanddestructionofthenaturalworld. Thenthere’stheworkof photojournalistJedFielding,whospecializesinspontaneousstreetportraiture inplaceslikeNaples,Italy, andMexicoCity. Nick Brandt:May8toOct.2.Jed Fielding:May12toSept. 25.MuseumofPhotographicArts,1649ElPrado, BalboaPark.Paywhatyou wish.(619)238-7559, mopa.org

SanDiegoNaturalHistory Museum:‘ExpeditionBaja’ TheNatopensabrandnewgalleryonthetopfloor withthisnew,ongoingexhibitionthatfeaturesimmersivedioramas,rare specimensandresearcher storiesfromtheBajaPeninsula. OpensMay27.San DiegoNaturalHistory Museum,1788ElPrado, BalboaPark.Free-$19.95. (619)232-3821,sdnhm.org Combsisafreelancewriter.

CHARLENE MOSLEY

PainterchannelsheruniqueAmericanjourneyintoasoloexhibitionatSparksGallery

Iwasjoking.”

BYSETHCOMBS

Alittleoverfiveyears ago,CharleneMosley triedtoraiseMonarch butterflies.

Tohearhertellthe storyatherNorthPark studio,theprocessof maintainingthecreaturesthroughout theirlifecycleprovedtobetoodifficult.The experience,however,didendupinspiring theworkshe’scurrentlyproducingforher first-eversoloexhibition.

“It’saboutpollinatorsbothintheliteral andsymbolicsense,”Mosleysays.“It’s aboutfocusingmoreonthethingsthatare solittleandthatwethinkarefragile,but thataresoimportanttoeverythingelse.”

Still,it’salsoeasytoseethepaintings Mosleyisproducingforherexhibition,aptly titled“Pollinators”andopeningMay15at SparksGalleryindowntownSanDiego,as somethingrepresentativeoftheartist’sown journey—amultiyearmetamorphosisthat hastakenherfromaworking-classgirlhood inGermanytoahustlingartist’slifeinSan Diego.

“Ifyoudon’thaveabunchofmoneyto leanon,togiveyouthetimetofigureout yourselfandjustpaint,thenyouhavetobe creativeinyourworkandpractice,”Mosley says.

Combiningmethodsofportraitureand figurativeartwithelementsofnatureand thefantastical,Mosley’sworkhasbeen poppingupalloverthecity,fromgroup showsatgalleriestomuralsonstorefronts andatSanDiegoStateUniversity.Aglance atherartisticrésumérevealssomeonewho hasrarelyturneddownashoworajob,a testamenttoherdiligentworkethicsince movingtoSanDiegowhenshewas17and almostimmediatelyhavingtogetajobto helpsupportherfamily.

“I’vedefinitelygonethroughsomeofthe hardesttimes,andthisisnotexactlythe bestcareerchoiceforakidofasingle motherwhenwecouldbarelygetrenttogether,”saysMosley,whowasbornand raisedinBerlinbeforehermothermoved herandhersistertotheU.S.in2008.“My motherhasbeenverysupportivethroughout,butshehashadherdoubts.”

Oneofthesedoubtscameaboutseven yearsagowhenMosley,whohadjustfinishedstudyingartandmuseumstudiesat CuyamacaCollegeandSDSU,sawatrailer onYouTubesolicitingpaintersforananimatedfilmaboutVincentVanGogh.She saysshesubmittedherportfolioandthree weekslatershereceivedalate-nightphone callfromanunknowninternationalnumber.

“TheytoldmeIlookedtobeagoodfit andaskedmeifIcouldbethereonThursday,”Mosleyrecallsofthecall,addingthat whileshequicklytoldthem“yes,”shedidn’t quiterealizewhatshewascommittingto. “Theygavemetheaddressanditwasa Polishaddress.” Mosleyendedupaskingthepersonon thecallifshecouldhave24hourstodecide. Sheultimatelydecidedtogo,butstruggled withhowtotellherfamily.

“ThenextmorningIhadtobelike,‘Hey, Mom,IgotthisjobpossiblyinPolandandI needtobethereonThursday.’Shethought

Mosleybarelygotenoughtogetherfor theplaneticket(one-way),buttheproject sheendedupworkingonwas“LovingVincent,”agroundbreakingandultimately Oscar-nominatedanimatedfilmaboutthe iconicpainter.Alongwithmorethan60 otherartists,Mosleyworkedtirelesslyfor sixmonthsinaPolishwarehouse.

OnceshewasbackinSanDiego,she immersedherselfinthelocalartscommunity,showingworkwhereverpossible,attendingexhibitions,paintingmuralsand,ultimately,makingenoughconnectionsto whereshemadeanameforherself.

“It’shard.Youdefinitelyhavetobeactive andgooutandsearchforplaces;gooutto galleryeventsandmeetthosepeoplewho areinterestedinart,”Mosleysays.“You havetobeonitallthetime.”

MosleyconsidersherselftobeGerman American,afactthatoftenconfusesthose whofirstmeether,butsincemovingtothe U.S.,shesaysshe’shadtore-examinewhat itmeanstobebiracialinadifferentculture. Forthelastcoupleyears,Mosleyhasbeen collaboratingon“Kayla:AModernDay Princess,”aseriesofchildren’sbookswrittenbyKentucky-basedauthorDeedee Cummings.ThebooksfeatureaBlackgirl navigatingtheworldaroundher,andwhile thecharacterisn’tbasedonMosley,it’seasy toseeparallelsbetweenthetitularcharacterandsomeofMosley’sownexperiences.

“Deedeeisbiracialtoo,butIhavethis thingwhereIgrewupinthisWhite,German cultureandsoIlackthatfather’ssideofme, sosometimesIstrugglewiththat,”says Mosley,whosefatherwasnotinthepicture whileshewasgrowingup.“I’vehadtolabel myselfsincecomingoverhere.Younever havetodothatoverthere.Soinalotof ways,thiswaslikeacatalystformelearning moreaboutBlackcultureandthehistoryof BlacksinAmerica.I’vehadtoeducate myself.”

Soinmanyways,Mosley’sworkisreflectiveofauniqueAmericanexperience—an artistofcolorwhobelievedenoughinher worktoperseverethroughlanguagebarriersandfinancialhardships.Shewasrecentlycontactedbythecreatorsof“Loving Vincent”topotentiallyworkonanewfilm, butshesaysshemaybetoobusywithher ownartandcommitments.Shesees“Pollinators”asnotonlytheculminationofyears ofhardworkandcommitment,butasa uniqueopportunitytorepresentherfully formedidentity.

“Ican’trememberanytimegrowingup andseeingBlackorBrownpeopleinthe foregroundoftheexhibition,”Mosleysays. “SoIfeellikeIwanttoputthatintothe storefrontofSparksGallery.”

“Whenitcomestothesymbolismofit, it’stheideaofweaspeoplebeingpollinators ofnewconcepts,newideasthatareevolving,”Mosleycontinues.“Especiallywomen ofcolor.Havingdealtwithpeoplewhoare dealingwithracialissues,Ibeganlookingat myownselfandaskingmyselfifIjustoverlookedthingsovertheyearsthathavehappenedtomeandthinkingitwasnormalto notgetsomething.Justbeingmoreawareof things,lookingforward,becauseweall knowthathistoricallyBlackwomenhave notgottenthecredittheydeserved.” Combsisafreelancewriter.

‘CharleneMosley:Pollinators’

When: May15throughJuly3

Where: SparksGallery,530SixthAve., downtownSanDiego Phone: (619)696-1416

Admission: Free Online: sparksgallery.com

CharleneMosley,picturedatArton30thinNorthPark,wasoneoftheartistswhoworkedontheOscar-nominated2017animatedfilm“LovingVincent.”

DEVINBLASKOVICH FORTHEU-T

Honoringwomeneveryday

FeliciaShaw, directoroftheWomen’sMuseumofCalifornia,discussestheinstitution’srenewedfocusonspreadingthemessage

BYKRISTYTOTTEN

MarchisWomen’sHistoryMonth,and there’snobetterwaytolearnaboutit thanwithFeliciaShaw,executivedirector oftheWomen’sMuseumofCalifornia, basedhereinSanDiego.

Q:HappyWomen’s HistoryMonth!

A:Yes,hereweareagain. Oneyearlater,we’re stillstanding.

Q:Howareyouandthe museumcelebrating?

A:Thisisabigmonthfor us.What’sbiggerthan Women’sHistoryMonth whenyou’reawomen’s historymuseum?We’re doingalotofourannual events,thingsthatwe’ve beendoingforthepast20 years.ThebigoneistheSan DiegoCountyWomen’sHall ofFame.Andthisiswhen wecelebratetheaccomplishmentsofwomenwho arechosenbythecommunitybecauseoftheirlifetime achievements.Weinduct themataceremonyonthe 20th(today),andIthinkit’s abigdeal.We’veinducted over125womensincethe HallofFamebegan21years ago.

Q:Canyoutellmeabout someofthepeople whomadethelist?

A:Someofthepast peoplewhomadethe listarenamesyoumight know,likeSallyRide.These arewomenwhospenttime hereinSanDiego,butwe makeapointofcelebrating thoseunsungheroes,womenthatyoumaynotknow about.Thesearewomen whodon’tnecessarilycome frommoney,buttheyspend agreatdealoftheirlives goingbeyondthenormto doextraordinarythings.

Andintermsofactivism andbeingtrailblazers,we havealotofwomenwhoare thefirstintheirfield.We havewomenthathavejust beenreallygoodatbuilding ourcommunity,connecting peoplesothingscanhappen.Thosethingsdon’t makethenewsbecause they’rekindofunderthe radar,butthepeoplewhose livesareaffectedbywhat theydo,theyknow,andthey becomehouseholdnamesin thecommunity.

OnethatI’mreallyexcitedaboutbecauseIhappentoknowherpersonally, hernameisJosephineTalamantez.Josephineisbeing honoredinthehistorian category.She’sanactivist whohasdedicatedherlifeto defendingtheLogan Heightsneighborhood whereshegrewupasa child,andcontinuedtowork

Today: ActorHalLindenis91.Country singerDonEdwardsis83.Country singer-guitaristRangerDougofRiders intheSkyis76.BluesmusicianMarcia Ballis73.DrummerCarlPalmer(Asia; Emerson,LakeandPalmer)is72. GuitaristJimmieVaughan(Fabulous Thunderbirds)is71.GuitaristJim Seales(Shenandoah)is68.ActorAmy Aquino(“Bosch,”“BrooklynBridge”)is 65.ActorVanessa BellCallowayis 65. DirectorSpike Leeis65. Actor TheresaRussellis 65.ActorHolly Hunteris64. DrummerSlim JimPhantom (StrayCats)is61. ModelKathyIrelandis59.ActorDavid Thewlis(“HarryPotterandthePrisoner ofAzkaban”)is59.GuitaristAdrian OxaalofJamesis57.ActorJessica Lundy(“PartyofFive,”“Hopeand Gloria”)is56.ActorLizaSnyder(“Yes, Dear”)is54.ActorMichaelRapaport (“BostonPublic”)is52.ActorAlexander Chaplin(“SpinCity”)is51.ActorCedric Yarbrough(“Speechless,”“Reno911!”) is49.ActorPaulaGarces(“Haroldand Kumar”films)is48.MichaelGenadry (“Ed”)is44.ActorBiancaLawson (“PrettyLittleLiars”)is43.Comedian MikeyDay(“SaturdayNightLive”)is42. ActorNickBlood(“Marvel’sAgentsof S.H.I.E.L.D.”)is40.GuitaristNick WheelerofAll-AmericanRejectsis40. ActorMichaelCassidy(“Peopleof Earth,”“TheO.C.”)is39.ActorChristy CarlsonRomano(“EvenStevens,”“Kim Possible”)is38.ActorRubyRose (“OrangeistheNewBlack”)is36.Actor BarrettDoss(“Station19”)is33. Monday: ActorKathleenWiddoes(“As theWorldTurns”)is83.Singer-guitarist KeithPotgerofTheSeekersis81.Actor Marie-ChristineBarraultis78.SingerkeyboardistRoseStoneofSlyandthe FamilyStoneis77.ActorTimothyDalton is76.Singer-guitaristRayDorsetof MungoJerryis76.Singer-guitarist RodgerHodgson(Supertramp)is72. BassistConradLozanoofLosLobosis 71.SingerRussellThompkinsJr.ofThe Stylisticsis71.ComedianBradHall (“SaturdayNightLive”)is64.Actor SabrinaLeBeauf(“TheCosbyShow”)is

64.ActorGaryOldmanis64.Actor KassieDepaiva(“DaysofOurLives”)is

thereovertheyears.She waspartofthegroupthat helpedtofoundChicano Park.Sowhatweknowas ChicanoParktodaywasnot alwaysapark.Sheanda groupofactivistswere concernedaboutafreeway thatwastobebuiltright downthecenterofthat neighborhood.Andfrom thestorythatIhaveheard hertellme,thingsgottense downthereandsheanda groupofpeoplestoodinthe wayofthebulldozersas theywerecomingtostart building.

ShewenttoUCBerkeley, andIlaterwentontowork fortheCaliforniaArts Council.ButshekeptreturningbacktoBarrio Logananddoingtheworkof ensuringthatthepeoplein thatcommunityandthe cultureinthatcommunity couldremainandthatthey wouldnotbepushedoutby anythingandthatneighborhood,eventually—andthis iswhatshe’sworkingon now—establishingamuseumforChicanoPark.Isn’t thatcool?

Wealsoinductwomen whoarenolongerwithus. Onewoman,MarieHerney, actuallypassedawayin 1984.She’sknownasalegal authorityon,andanadvocatefor,women’srights.She wasthefirstwomanto practiceintheSupreme Court.

Anotherwoman,Dr. FrancineFosterWilliams, wasaneducatorwhoused herclassroomtoteach aboutcivilrights.AndIlove thestorythatsheisresponsibleforinspiringtheMartinLutherKingparadethat weholdinSanDiegotoday, whichisprobablyoneofthe biggestonesinthecountry.

Sotheycomefromall walksoflife.Somecelebrated,somenotsomuch, butweputthemonapedestal.Aftertheyareinductedintothehalloffame, wekeeptheirarchive,materialsabouttheirlives,atthe museuminourcollection. Sothatforgenerationsto come,ifanybodyeverwondered,whowerethewomen whomadeSanDiegogreat? Theycanfindtheminour collection.

Q:Whenyouthinkback tothebeginningof SanDiego’shistory,whoare someofthebighistoric names?

61.ActorMatthewBroderickis60. Actor-comedianRosieO’Donnellis60. ActorCynthiaGeary(“Northern Exposure”)is57.MusicianDJPremierof GangStarris56.MusicianMaximof Prodigyis55.KeyboardistJonas“Joker” BerggrenofAceofBaseis55.Guitarist AndrewCopelandofSisterHazelis54. ActorLauraAllenis48.ActorSonequa Martin-Green(“StarTrek:Discovery,” “TheWalkingDead”)is37.ActorScott Eastwood(“TheLongestRide”)is36. ActorJasminSavoyBrown(“Forthe People”)is28.ActorForrestWheeler (“FreshOfftheBoat”)is18.

Tuesday: ActorWilliamShatneris91. ActorM.EmmetWalshis87.Singer JeremyClydeofChadandJeremyis 81.Singer-guitaristGeorgeBensonis 79.NewsanchorWolfBlitzeris74. ComposerAndrewLloydWebberis74. ActorFannyArdantis73.Sportscaster BobCostasis70.Countrysinger JamesHouseis67.ActorLenaOlinis 67.Singer-actorStephanieMillsis65. ActorMatthewModineis63.Comedian Keegan-MichaelKey(KeyandPeele)is

51.ActorWillYunLee(“HawaiiFive-0”) is51.ActorGuillermoDiaz(“Scandal”) is47.ActorAnneDudek(“MadMen”)is

47.ActorColeHauser(TV’s“Yellowstone”)is47. ActorKellie Williams(“Family Matters”)is46. ActorReese Witherspoonis

46. Drummer JohnOttoofLimp Bizkitis45.Actor TiffanyDupont (“MurderintheFirst”)is41.Rapper Mimsis41.ActorConstanceWu(film’s “CrazyRichAsians,”TV’s“FreshOff TheBoat”)is40.GuitaristLincoln ParishofCageTheElephantis32. Wednesday: SingerChakaKhanis69. ActorAmandaPlummeris65.Actor CatherineKeeneris63.ActorHope Davis(“TheMatador,”“About Schmidt”)is58.ActorRichardGrieco (“21JumpStreet”)is57.Drummer KevinGriffinofYankeeGreyis57.Actor MarinHinkle(“TheMarvelousMrs. Maisel,”“TwoandaHalfMen”)is56. Singer-keyboardistDamonAlbarnof BlurandofGorillazis54.ActorKelly Perine(“KnightSquad,”“OneonOne”) is53.DrummerJohnHumphreyofThe Nixonsis52.BandleaderReggieWatts (“TheLateLateShowwithJames Corden”)is50.ActorRandallPark (“TheInterview,”“FreshOffTheBoat”) is48.ActorMichelleMonaghanis46.

Women’sMuseumof California:21stAnnual Women’sHallofFame

InductionCeremony

Who: Activist:RosaliaSalinas. CulturalBridgeBuilder: Dr.FrancineFosterWilliams. Empowerer:MarieM.Herney. Historian:Josephine Talamantez.Trailblazer: TamilaIpema

When: 2:30p.m.today

Where: Virtualevent

Tickets: Startat$25 Online: sandiegowomens halloffame.com/event

throughoutourhistory,but theyjustweren’tbeing talkedabout.Andthat hurtswomen,ithurtswomenbecauseyounggirlsneed rolemodels.

Weneedtoseeeachother doingthingsotherthan beinginservicetoothers. There’snothingwrongwith beinginservicetoothers,but alsoleading,creating,being involvedinpolitics,beingan artist,doingcreativethings, allkindsofthings.Sowe needthat.

ofwhathasbeenhappeningaroundwomen’sactivisminUnitedStateshistory, andparticularlyhereinSanDiego,”saidexecutivedirectorFeliciaShaw.

A:Ilovetotalkabout KateSessions.Kate Sessionsisconsideredthe motherofBalboaPark.She wasabotanist,andshe struckadealwiththecityof SanDiegotoallowherto puthergardeningcompany inBalboaPark.Andthey said,sure,butyou’llhaveto plantahundredtreesayear inexchangeforthisfree rent.Andthatiswhatshe did.Manyofthetreesthat youseeinBalboaparkare becauseofKateSessions.

Now,oneinteresting thingaboutKateSessions is,shehasastatueinthe park.Outofallthestatues thatwehaveinSanDiegoof importantpeople,and usuallythey’remen,she’sin askirtwithanapronanda basket.AndIthoughtthat wassotypical,thateven whenwegetheralded,the womenwhotendtomakeit areinsometypeofaservice industryorinserviceto others.Whatanamazing visionaryinKateSessions.

Q:Talktomeaboutthe Women’sMuseum andwhatyouhaveonexhibition.

A:TheWomen’sMuseum hasbeenintransition sinceCOVID-19hitin2020. Weshutourdoors,whicha lotofmuseumsdid,andafter

ActorKeriRussellis46.ActorBrandon J.Dirden(“ForLife”)is44.Gossip bloggerPerezHiltonis44.SingerPaul MartinofMarshallDyllonis44.Actor NicholleTom(“TheNanny”)is44. CountrysingerBrettYoungis41.

Thursday: HarmonicaplayerLeeOskar ofWaris74.SingerNickLoweis73. BassistDougieThomsonofSupertrampis71.ActorRobertCarradine (“RevengeoftheNerds”)is68.Actor DonnaPescowis68.ActorKelly LeBrockis62.DJRodney“KoolKollie” TerryofGhostownDJsis61.TVpersonalityStarJonesis60.GuitaristPattersonHoodofDrive-ByTruckersis58. ActorPeterJacobson(“House”)is57. Singer-violinistSharonCorrofThe Corrsis52.ActorLaurenBowles(“True Blood”)is52.ActorLaraFlynnBoyleis 52.RapperMaceoofDeLaSoulis52. ActorMegynPrice(“RulesofEngagement,”“GroundedForLife”)is51.Actor JimParsons(“TheBigBangTheory”) is49.DrummerChadButlerofSwitchfootis48.ActorAlysonHannigan (“HowIMetYourMother,”“BuffyThe VampireSlayer”)is48.ActorAmanda Brugel(“TheHandmaid’sTale”)is45. ActorOliviaBurnette(“SonsofAnarchy”)is45.ActorJessicaChastain (“ZeroDarkThirty,”“TheHelp”)is45. ActorAmirArison(“TheBlacklist”)is 44.ActorLakeBell(“ThePractice”)is 43.BassistBenjGershmanofO.A.R.is 42.BassistJessePhillipsofSt.Paul andtheBrokenBonesis42.Actor PhilipWinchester(“ChicagoJustice,” “ChicagoMed”)is41.DancerVal Chmerkovskiy(“Dancingwiththe Stars”)is36.ActorKeishaCastleHughes(“TheNativityStory,”“Whale Rider”)is32.

Friday: FilmcriticGeneShalitis96. SingerAnitaBryantis82.ActorPaul MichaelGlaser(TV’s“Starskyand Hutch”)is79.MusicianEltonJohnis 75.ActorBonnieBedeliais74.ActorcomedianMaryGrossis69.Actor JamesMcDaniel(“NYPDBlue”)is64. SaxophonistSteveNormanofSpandau Balletis62.Actor BrendaStrong (“Desperate Housewives”)is 62.ActorMarcia Cross(“Desperate Housewives”)is 60.ActorLisaGay Hamilton(“The Practice”)is58.

ActorSarahJessicaParkeris57. TurnerClassicsMovieshostBen

nearly40yearsofbeingin existence,wetookthattime tothinkaboutourfuture.We hadbeenatLibertyStation fornearly10years,butwhat wediscoveredis,asgreatas LibertyStationis—whata funplacetobe—wereally weren’treachingthecommunityasdeeplyaswe wantedto.Ouraudiences weren’tasdiverse,andparticularlyweweren’tserving womenofcolor. Andwedecidedtomove. WemovedapartofouroperationstoBalboaPark,where ourcollectionsarenow storedinthebusinessoffice attheSanDiegoHistory Center,andthenourexhibits andoureducationalprogramswillbeproducedin southeasternSanDiegoat theJacobsCenterforNeighborhoodInnovation.

Rightnow,we’rebuilding anewexhibitinthatspace thatwillpremiereinApril.I amsoexcitedaboutthis facility.Firstofall,I’mexcitedaboutgroundingour workinsoutheasternSan Diego,whichisanunderservedcommunity.

Andthensecondly,that thisisakindofanewmodel ofamuseum.It’snotthe kindwhereyougoandyou juststandthereinfrontof panelafterpanelofdidactics,readingthings.It’s

(“Avatar,”“FastandFurious”)is51. SingerMelanieBlattofAllSaintsis47. ActorDomenickLombardozzi(“BoardwalkEmpire”)is46.ActorLeePace (film’s“TheHobbit,”TV’s“Pushing Daisies”)is43.ComedianAlexMoffat (“SaturdayNightLive”)is40.SingeractorKatharineMcPhee(“Smash,” “AmericanIdol”)is38.ComedianChris Redd(“SaturdayNightLive”)is37. RapperBigSeanis34.Musicproducer RyanLewisofMacklemoreandRyan Lewisis34.ActorMatthewBeard(“The ImitationGame”)is33.Singer-actor AlyMichalkaofAlyandAJ(“Hellcats”) is33.ActorKiowaGordon(“Twilight”) is32. Saturday: ActorAlanArkinis88.Actor JamesCaanis82.SingerDianaRossis

reallyintendedtobeavery interactiveplaceforlearningandengagement,lots andlotsofprogramsfor kidsandtheirfamiliesto discoverwomen’shistory andalsotofindwaystobe inspired,toactivatearound women’sissues.

Thepermanentexhibit thatwe’llshowcasethere willfocusonthewavesof feminismfromtheearly waveduringthesuffrage movement,throughthe secondwave,andtheninto thethirdwave.AndIthink anyonewhovisitsthemuseumwhenweopenwillhave thebestoverviewofwhat hasbeenhappeningaround women’sactivisminUnited Stateshistory,andparticularlyhereinSanDiego.

Q:Isthereanythingelse youwouldliketo add?

A:Wewerefoundedin 1983byMary Maschal.Marywasaselftaughthistorianandshe wasconcernedaboutthe absenceofwomeninthe annalsofhistorybooks.

Shewasconcernedthat whenyouopenahistory book,whodidyousee?It wasmostlywhatmendid. Andsheknewthatwomen werebreakingglassceilings everywhere,everyday,

78.SingerStevenTylerofAerosmithis 74.Singer-actorVickiLawrenceis73. ActorErnestThomas(“Everybody HatesChris,” “What’sHappening”)is73. Actor MartinShortis 72. Countrysinger RonnieMcDowell is72.Drummer MonteYohoofThe Outlawsis70. Countrysinger DeanDillonis67.CountrysingerCharly McClainis66.TalkshowhostLeeza Gibbonsis65.ActorElliaEnglish(“The JamieFoxxShow,”“CurbYourEnthusiasm”)is63.ActorJenniferGreyis62. ActorBillyWarlock(“Baywatch”)is61.

Marywasreallyawoman whodidn’tbelieveinobstacles.Shestartedthearchive inherhouse,andwhenthat archiveoutgrewherhouse, themuseumgotitsfirst placeinGoldenHill,and thenfinallyLibertyStation, whereweweremostrecently.Iwillsaythatwith everymove,wehavedevelopedsuchaloyalfollowing ofpeople—andthey’renot allwomenbytheway—who justbelieveinthenotion thatwomen’shistoryis beingmadeeveryday.

Wedon’thavetogoback andlooktowardthesuffrageera,SusanB.Anthony, oranythinglikethat.Every day,womenarebreaking recordsinsports,they’re settingprecedentsinall kindsoflegalfields,andit’s unfortunate—andit’s fortunateatthesametime —thatwehavethisone monthwherewe’regoingto getitallin,we’regoingto learneverythingwecan aboutwomen,andthen we’llgobacktonormal. Iwouldjustencourage everyonetoconsiderwomen’shistoryapartofour culture,andthinkaboutthe contributionsofwomenin everyaspectofourlives. Youwillbeamazedatwhat youcanfind. HearmoreaboutFelicia Shawonthe“SanDiego NewsFix”podcast. kristy.totten@sduniontribune.com

ActorEricAllanKramer(“TheHughleys”)is60.ActorMichaelImperioli (“LifeonMars,”“TheSopranos”)is56. GuitaristJamesIhaofSmashing Pumpkinsis54.CountrysingerKenny Chesneyis54.ActorLeslieMann (“KnockedUp,”“ThisIs40”)is50. ActorT.R.Knight(“Grey’sAnatomy”)is 49.RapperJuvenileis47.ActorAmy Smart(“RoadTrip,”“Felicity”)is46. ActorBiancaKajlich(“RulesofEngagement,”“BostonPublic”)is45.“Face theNation”moderatorMargaret Brennanis42.ActorKeiraKnightleyis 37.RapperJ-Kwonis36.ActorCarly Chaikin(“Mr.Robot,”“Suburgatory”)is 32. ASSOCIATEDPRESS

“Ithinkanyonewhovisitsthemuseumwhenweopenwillhavethebestoverview

WOMEN’SMUSEUMOFCALIFORNIA

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CALENDAR

ADVENTURESBYTHEBOOK,(619)300-2532 adventuresbythebook.com

In-personevent:ABalladofLoveandGlory:aSan DiegoBrunchAdventurewithaward-winningAuthor ReynaGrande,10:30a.m.and2p.m.Saturday

MYSTERIOUSGALAXY,(619)539-7137 mystgalaxy.com

Hybridevent: DavidPutnam indiscussionwith MattCoyle,6p.m.Tuesday

Virtualevent: AlexSegura inconversationwith RobHart,7p.m.Wednesday

In-personevent: KellyBarnhill discussing“The OgressandtheOrphans,”6p.m.Thursday

Virtualevent: SaraA.Mueller indiscussionwith

MarinaJ.Lostetter,7p.m.Thursday

Virtualevent: GarethL.Powell inconversationwith

J.DianneDotson,noonSaturday

In-personevent:ImperialBeachLibraryPresents: “RamónandJulieta”authortalkandbooksigning with AlanaQuintanaAlbertson,2p.m.Saturday

WARWICK’S,(858)454-0347,warwicks.com

In-personevent:WeekendsWithLocals: Taylor García,noontoday

In-personevent:WeekendsWithLocals: Simon Benjamin,2p.m.today

In-personevent: BrianGushue,“TheGrassIsAlways Greener,”7:30p.m.Tuesday

In-personevent:AnAfternoonWith RebeccaSerle (“OneItalianSummer”),1:30p.m.Thursday

Aftersufferingaheart attackonthesetof thehitTVshow“BetterCallSaul”inJuly, BobOdenkirksurfacedon Twitterwithanuncharacteristicallygooeyremark:“Ifeelthe loveanditmeanssomuch,”he wrote.

Itwasararemomentof unvarnishedcandorfroman actorwhosecareerhasbeen builtonrigorouslyavoiding mushiness.Asheexplainsin hisnewmemoir“Comedy ComedyComedyDrama,” Odenkirkwasaproductofan ’80sand’90sGen-Xalternative comedyscenethatguzzled ironylikecheapbeer.On“The BenStillerShow,”andespeciallyhis’90ssketchprogram withDavidCross,“Mr.Show,” Odenkirkspecializedinskeweringsentimentalityandthe massculturethatindulgedit. “Wewantedonlythe‘outcrowd,’thefew,theproud,the misanthropes,”hewrites.

Andhegotthem,inaseries ofnow-classicsketches.Ifthe oily,shallow,butsomehow charmingbus-stop-adlawyer SaulGoodmanisyoursole exposuretoOdenkirk,his AngryYoungManphaseis worthhuntingdown.You mightstartwithsomeclassics from“Mr.Show”:“LieDetector,”inwhichOdenkirk’scharacterishookeduptoapolygraphandconfessestoan absurdlyescalatingseriesof transgressions.Or“Mafia Mathematicians,”inwhichhe playsamobcaposhouting downgoonsdebatingwhether 24isthehighestpossiblenumber.Or“BlowUptheMoon,”in whichheplaysapatriotic countrysingerinalampoonof lunkheadedAmericanpopulism.Thatlastonelandseven betternowthanitdidin1997.

ThoughOdenkirk,59,has hadplentyofsuccesses,“Comedy”islargelyastudyinthe sad-clownparadox,astory aboutmoodytenacityinthe faceofeitherfearoffailureor failureitself.Growingupinthe Chicagosuburbs,Odenkirk wasenchantedbythecity’s robustcomedyscene,whichin the’70sand’80swasmastermindedbyimprovcoachand impresarioDelClose. Odenkirkwascaughtoffguard byClose’sconsumptionofall mannerofintoxicants,buthe lovedcomedy’sculture.Kinda sorta:Odenkirkhadlittle patienceforthedidja-evernoticestand-upscene,andhe characterizeshismid-’80s stintasa“SaturdayNight Live”writerasakindofagony. “AsawriterIwasawasteof bagels!”hewrites.“Iwastryingtoohard,butthemoreI failed,themoreItried.”

So“Comedy”isn’texactly intendedtobeha-hafunny, thoughitsometimesis.More often,itseemsthatOdenkirk wantstofireoffsomewarning

“ComedyComedyComedyDrama” byBobOdenkirk(Random House,2022;304pages)

flarestocomicswhomight wanttofollowinhisfootsteps. Sometimesthatinvolves makingobjectlessonsoutof tragiccaseslikehis“SNL” colleagueChrisFarley,whose rapiddeclineOdenkirkobservedfirsthand.Herecalls seeingFarleyattheheightof hisfamebutneardeath,partyinginalimoandbeyond help.“ShouldIhavegrabbed himbythelapelsandshouted, ‘You’rethrowingitaway,man!’ ...Iconsideredit.ButIalso knewthathe’dheardallofit, somanytimes....Iwatched thelimopullawayandafew weekslaterweallhadafuneral,”hewrites.“Whatadumb story.” Butmostly,hisfrustrations involvethemoremundane limboofwhathecalls“developmentheck.”“Mr.Show”

wrappedupin1998,and Odenkirkdidn’tlandtherole ofSaulGoodmantill2009. Thatmeanshespentmore thanadecadewanderingthe Hollywoodwilderness,and “Comedy”suggeststhathe laboredeverysecondtonavigatehiswayout.Hedirected moviesthatdidn’ttakeoff.He madepilotafterpilotthat wasn’tpickedup.HeauditionedfortheroleofMichael Scotton“TheOffice,”eventuallylosingouttoSteveCarell. There,andeverywhereelse, he’sstubbornandself-deprecatingindefeat.“Ihadso manyprojectstodriveintothe dirt,”hewrites.“Onetrickfor survivingHollywood’sbeatdownistokeepmakingnew thingsdespiteevery‘no.’”

Perhapsinevitably,“Comedy”getslessinterestingas Odenkirkbecomesanactor whohearsyesmoreoften.His hungerandfearoffailureare stillpalpable:Heembraces advicehegotfrom“Breaking Bad”leadBryanCranston, whotoldhimthathesimply neededtocommit,putthe effortin:“Workallthetime.” Butthelatterpagesofthe bookaremadeofblanderstuff. WorkingwithStevenSpielberg on“ThePost”wasgreat,havingacameoin“LittleWomen” wasgreat,playinganunlikely actionheroin“Nobody”was great.

Underneaththatplacid surface,somesad-clownstuff lurks,despiteOdenkirk’s effortstocompartmentalizeit. Inanearlychapter,“My Funny,AngryDad,”he sketchesaportraitofhisfatherasahard-drinking,often-

absent,suburbanbore.“Atale asoldastime.Daddyissues. Theend,”hewrites.Except not:Thedadstuffkeepspoppingupinthememoirlikea jumpscare.OdenkirkimaginedSaulGoodmanas“a hollowman,likemydadand hispals.”Onefailedpilotwas about“adadmakingobservationsaboutMiddleAmerican midlifelivin’.”Anotherwas abouta“crabby,alcoholic,and estrangedfather(mydad).” “Nobody”isarevengestoryin whichheplaysa“gooddad” withavengefulstreak.

Attheendofthedadchapter,hesighs,“CanIbedone with‘thedarkness’now?”You tellus,Bob.

Ofcourse,adeepdiveinto daddyissuesisn’twhatreaderswantoutofacomedian’s memoir.Thesad-clownparadoxdemandsyoutampdown thesadpart,evenwhenyour jobistotalkaboutyourinner life.Lateinthebook,as Odenkirkdescribeslanding moreserious-actinggigs,he philosophizesabouthow actorswork.Someareconsciously“usingtheirown particularversionofMethod acting,”henotes,whileothers “justhavedisastrousinternal livesthattheyletleakontothe screen,turningtheirinner turmoilandfrailtyintosweet dollarinos.I’malittleofboth.” Itwouldbenicetohearmore aboutthatturmoil,andhowhe successfullychanneledit. Happily,he’saroundtotellit, shouldheeverwantto. Athitakis,whowrotethisforThe WashingtonPost,isacriticinPhoenix andauthorof“TheNewMidwest.”

‘EUGENIA’INSPIREDBYGRANDMOTHER’SSTONES

AskJasmineJimenezwhat inspiredhertowrite“Eugenia HuntsforGemstones,”and theanswerishighlypersonal.

Thechildren’sbook“is basedontruestoriestoldbymy grandmotherandmyfamily. ShewouldgointotheCalifornia desertsandbringbackgemstones,turquoise,garnet,obsidianandmanyothers.She wouldtumbletheminher backyardandthenlineheryard andfilljarsfullofstones.”

That,Jimenezsays,“alwaysseemsmagicaltome— totakearockandturnitinto somethingbeautiful.”

NowJimenezishoping “EugeniaHuntsforGemstones”willturnouttobe magical,too.

“Ihavealwayslovedto read,”shesays.“Ilovedthe library,theDeweyDecimal System.Ilovedcheckingout books.Ilovedtheplasticcovers inthe’80sthatprotectedthe coversandmadecrinkling noiseswhentheywereopened.” ShepassedonthisfascinationtohersonJustin,taking himtothelibrarywhenhewas little.

“Wecouldspendhours therereadingandfindingthe

perfectbookstocheckout. Beingayoungmommeantnot havingalotofspendingmoney forthebookstore,sowemade ourselvesregularsatthePacificBeachLibrary.”

Jimenezsaysshe’swritten fivestoriesbasedonEugenia, and“EugeniaHuntsforGemstones”isthefirstoneshe’s gettingindependentlypublished—thebeginning,she hopes,oftheEuegnia’sBooks Collection.

“Independentpublishingis notforthefainttoheart,”she admits.

MICHAELJAMESROCHA U-T

“EugeniaHuntsforGemstones”

Pre-ordersareopenthrough March28.Gotoeugeniasbooks .comformoreinformation.

RECOMMENDEDREADS Welcometoourliterarycircle,inwhichSanDieganspassthe(printed)wordonbooks

LizVagani

Job: BranchManager,SanteeBranch, SanDiegoCountyLibrary

Sherecommends: “TheWisteriaSociety ofLadyScoundrels”byIndiaHolton (NewYork:Berkley,2021;336pages)

Why? ThefirsttimeNedLightbournelays eyesonCeciliaBassingwaite,hefinally understandstheconceptof“loveatfirst sight.”Thisisunfortunate,asNedisan assassin-piratehiredtokillthecharming ladythief.Ceciliawillnotcottontothissortofnonsense,eitherthe loveortheassassinationattempts.CanNedconvinceCeciliathat he’sworthtakingachanceon,despitetheirrockybeginning?Inthis absolutelydelightfulrompthroughanalternateVictorianEngland, thereaderwillencounterunconventionalladies,dreadpirates(both goodandbad),flyinghouses,witchesandacameofromatake-nononsenseQueenVictoria.Thisbookishighlyrecommendedfor romancelovers,readersofhistoricalorsciencefiction,oranyone lookingforauniqueandfast-pacedread.

LauraRinaldi

Job: Bookseller,Warwick’s

Sherecommends: “JoanIsOkay”byWeike Wang(RandomHouse,2022;224pages)

Why? Joanissomuchmorethanjustokay! Thisbig-cityICUdochasawrysenseof humorandauniqueperspectivethatfills thisnovelwithincrediblecharmandappeal. Becauseherjobiswhereshefeelsmostat home,Joangoestogreatlengthstomaximizeherworkinghours.Unexpectedmandatoryleaveplunksherintoasituationsheordinarilyavoidswithvigor: timewithfamily.HeraudaciousbrotherwillinsistonalavishFrench mealtogether,whenallJoancravesishome-cookedcomfortfood. MusingsofwhatitmeanstogrowupasthechildofChineseimmigrantsortobeawomanwhoisnotamotherleaveanindelibleimpression.Ultimately,whenenoughboundarieshavebeencrossed,the lobeinherbrainthatJoanhaslabeled“RAGE”bubblesover,and lessonsarelearnedabouthowtobeabetterneighbor,ineverysense oftheword.

GREGLEWIS AMC

BobOdenkirkisthestarof“BetterCallSaul,”whosefinalseasonbeginsnextmonth.

HARVEYFIERSTEINSINGSTHESONGOFHIMSELF

himasdocumentsofloneliness andself-loathing,andspurredhim towriteofgaylifemoreaffirmatively,moreassertively.

Actor,writerandconsummateNewYawkerHarvey Fiersteinisassuredlya manofmanytalents.Who knewneedleworkwasoneof them? Inhisnewmemoir“IWasBetterLastNight”—thetitlerefersto atheaterperformer’sperennial lament,butwithaptlysexualized undertones—Fiersteinwritesof his“passionforcrochet.”Inthe leanyearsbeforehisplay“Torch SongTrilogy”hitManhattanlike atonofgraffitiedbricksin1981,he embroideredclothesforchic boutiquesandJacquelineKennedyOnassis.Detoxingfrom SouthernComfort,his“longest loveaffair,”Fiersteintookup quilting,hopingeventuallyto contributetothefamousAIDS memorialprojectbutalsorecognizingthehobby’sgeneralpracticality:“Quiltshavetwosides, doublingthechanceyou’llfind somethingyoucanlivewith.”

Intentionallyornot,“IWas BetterLastNight”isveryquiltlike.Fiersteinshareshislifelessin conventionalchaptersthanin colorfulpatches:59ofthem, stitchedtogetherwithphotosand aplushindex.Thesumofthisis warmandenvelopingandindeed two-sided:Oneisaraw,cobwebby taleofanger,hurt,indignation andpain;flipitoverandyouget billowingribbonsofhumor,gossip andfabulous,hot-pinksuccess.

Aswithatreasuredblankie, thefrayedsideissomehowmore lovable.Fiersteinwritesofgrowingupwithhisolderbrother, Ronald,intheBensonhurstneighborhoodofBrooklyn,where“Jews cautiouslybefriendedItalians, whoguardedlybefriendedthe Greeks.”Hewasoneofseveral studentsnamedHarvey—the name’strendinessbeingoneofthe “threegreatestmistakesofthe ’50s,”hejokes,alongwithFormica andthalidomide—butalways stoodoutinacrowd.Enlarged tonsilsmadeithardtoeat;removingthemledtogorgingandweight struggles.Overdevelopedsecondaryvocalcordswereresponsible forhisdistinctivegrowl.Froma youngage,hewantedtodressup andmakeupandmakebelieve, includingasamermaid,andwonderedifhewasagirl.Nowhe recognizesthathewasa“7-yearoldgenderwarrior.”

ByClaraBroderick

Theinsectscrawlunderthe sheersheathofmyskin. Icouldkeepthemout, ButIdon’tbother. It’swhereIkeeptheshards ofdishesthatIsmashed

Andthelettersyouwrote me

ThatIactuallywrotemyself.

Icrumplethemtoanalmost moleculardegree, Inhopesthatnoonebotherstounwrapthem Anddiscovertheirsappy contents

Andthatthoseinsects mistakethemforcrumbs. Ihopethattheydisappear BecauseIcan’tbringit uponmetodoitmyself.

I’mtheonlyonewhowill everhavereadthem, Yeteveryoneknowswhat theysay.

Stopit.

You’redoingitagain. You’reembarrassingyourself. Youhatethisstuff.

DoIreally?

Astheinsectseatatmy unwantedinnards, AllthatIseeistheflower thatwewaltzedupon, Themoondoingmeone finalfavor, Assheheldherlightamidst thepollen’sfog. Imusthaverubbedherthe wrongway.

BlessedwithahighIQ,Fiersteinskippedtwogradesand attendedtheHighSchoolofArt andDesignineastmidtown, wheretherewasasmokingterraceforstudents:“Hello,1965!” WhenauthorAnaïsNinvisited Fierstein’sEnglishclass,anelegantharbingerofwhatwouldbe manyencounterswiththecelebrated,hereadhertarotcards. Undiagnoseddyslexiadrewhimto playscripts:sparertexts,meant tobespokenaloud.Unsurprisingly,someofthesnappiestparts ofthisbookarebitsofremembereddialogue.(“You’reMadeline Kahn!”aticketsellerprotested whenthecomedian,nearing40, brandishedanNYUIDanddemandedastudentdiscountto “TorchSong.”“Withsomuch moretolearn,”Kahnreplied.) AndyWarholalsofigures.

Sheneverlittheflower’s petalsformeagain. Ididn’tbothertryingto reconcile.

Shemust’vegivenyouher sympathy,iswhatIfigure.

Anotherbridgeburned. Maybethebridgewasnever reallythere. Shestilldoesherjob, Illuminatingthecrosswalks thatIroameachnight.

Figures.

Thesunmusthaveheard mecryingagain. Alsofigures. Iliketothinkthatshecares, ButIthinkthatshejust takespityonme. She’salsojustdoingherjob. Iwonderifyouevervisit thatflower.

Iwonderifyoulayyourhead inthepollen. Ifyoudo, Isitthecrookofmyarm?

Maybeit’sjustpollentoyou. Doesthemoonstillletyou see?

Tellme, Doesshehidefromyou, too?

LittleHarveyhadadmiredthe illustrationsoffootweartheartist didforBloomingdale’snewspaper ads;whileasophomoreatPratt, wherehemadeceramicswith genitalscalledBadBoyJugs, Fiersteingotthepartofanasthmaticlesbianmaidwearingared wigin“AndyWarhol’sPork”atLa MaMa,thetempleofoff-off-

Theinsectshavefinally clearedawaythemess. I’mhopingthey’lltakemy silverchainasathankyou. Inolongerwantitand I’llbeneedingthemagain soon. Thejunkneverseemstobe completelygoneafterthey leave.

Damnit!

HowmanytimeshaveItold them, Allornothing? IfIamgoingtorot, I’dliketorotcorrectly. Decompositionhasbecome mycomposure. EvenwhenIamfrugalwith mytime, Myinevitablefateasacompostpile Neverseemstowane. Ifyouhappentofinddried petals Withhoneysuckledust Andachewedupsplifffilter, It’sjustme. Theinsectswerejustdoing theirjob. Asdidthesun, Andherlessforgivingcousin, Themoon. I’msorryIletmyselfrot. Iwasgluedtothatstupid silverchainandtheshards ofdishesthatIsmashed, Andthosecrumpledletters Frommetoyoutomeagain. Iamnotrotten, ButIrotaway,anyway.

Irot. Irot.

Irot.

Didyoueverfindmeinthe dust?

I’velongwithered ButIhopeyoulooked

AndIhopeyourecognized thecrookofmyarm

Andthepetalsweonce dancedupon Fortheysaymorethanmy crumpledlettersevercould.

Broadway.Hemingledwith undergroundtypesatMax’sKansasCity(topaythecheck,the Factorywouldsendoverapainting),thoughnotwithoutwhat becameatrademarkcontrariness.“Icouldnevercatchwhat CandyDarlingwastalkingabout, andwhenIdid,itwasn’tworththe effort,”hesnipesaboutonememberofWarhol’sentourage.

Theauthor’sparents,despite theirqualmsaboutqueerness, musthavedonesomethingright, becausethroughouthislife,Fierstein(hepronouncesitFIREstein,althoughhisbrotherpronouncesitFEER-stein)hasbeen bothfieryandfierce.“Jeez,butit wasfuntobeateenagerdropped inthemiddleofarevolution!”he writesofhisearlyactivism.Plays suchas“ATasteofHoney”and “TheBoysintheBand”troubled

It’ssoberingtobereminded thataslateas1973,amaleculture writerforTheVillageVoicewas arrestedforholdinganotherman’s handastheycrossedastreetin GreenwichVillage.Fierstein’s interviewwithBarbaraWaltersin 1983,duringthefirstsuccessful runof“LaCageauxFolles,”in whichshe“questionedmeasifI wereaninterstellaralien”from PlanetHomosexuality,wasa thunderingcallforacceptance thatstillechoestoday,on YouTube.“Thenorm,”herealized, “meantnothingbutthemajority.”

“IWasBetterLastNight”gets tobemoreofanextended,eyerubbingTonyacceptancespeech afterFiersteinhitsthebigtime with“LaCageauxFolles”and “Hairspray”andtheirvarious toursandrevivals—oratleastthe mediumtime(Hollywoodhas nevermadeproperuseofhim). Still,thismanseemstorollaround, constitutionally,invelvetydarkness.Medicalmatters,includinga suicideattemptinthemid-1990s, arehandledwithmatter-of-fact frankness.Whenliving“Cheetosto-cheek,”hesufferedterrible dentalproblems.ActingasTevye in“FiddlerontheRoof,”hegota herniaandhadtomanipulatehis intestinesbackintoplacetogoon. Hehadanaorticvalvereplacement,andwhenofferedthechoice betweenpig,cowormanufactured, hewondered:“Howseriouscould thisbeifitinvolvedshopping?” (Thereareenoughone-linersin“I WasBetterLastNight”foraonemanshow,andguesswhat,he’s available.)

TheeffectofAIDSonhiscommunityhasleftFierstein—only spared,hesurmises,becausehe grewboredwithanonymoussex— burningwithasmuchrighteous rageaswhenhepointedlykisseda disease-phobicGingerRogers,a childhoodidol,onthecheekbackstageat“TheTonightShow.” “They’veturnedusintodrugaddicts,”hewritesofantiviralmedicationmanufacturers,“andmanagingusisaveryprofitablebusiness.” Withadramaturge’sexpert timing,Fiersteinsavesthemost difficultanecdoteofhisupbringingforneartheend,liketheclassic 11o’clocknumberinmusicaltheater.Astoryabouthismother’s reactiontohisaccidentalcomingout,it’sapinpricktotheheart. Actuallyitmakestheheartapin cushion. JacobswritesforTheNewYorkTimes.

Actorandwriterrecounts hislifeandcareerinraw, funandfabulousmemoir BYALEXANDRAJACOBS

“IWasBetter LastNight: AMemoir” byHarvey Fierstein (AlfredA. Knopf,2022; 383pages)

ActorHarveyFierstein’smemoir“IWasBetterLastNight”wasreleasedMarch1.

MICHAELGEORGE THENEWYORKTIMES

SummerFest2022 scheduleand ticketinformation

Unlessotherwise indicatedbelow, allconcertsareat 7:30p.m.attheBakerBaumConcertHallin theConradPrebys PerformingArtsCenter inLaJolla.Some eventstakeplace inTheJAI,thecenter’s smaller,144-seatspace.

July29: OpeningNight: “SidebySide”— Featuringmusicby Rimsky-Korsakov, Chopin/Franchomme, Brahms,Bacewiczand Czerny

July30: “Point Counterpoint”— Featuringmusicby Valentini,Haydn,Reich, MozartandElgar

July31: “Baroqueby theBeach”—Featuring musicbyFalconieri,J.S. Bach,CPEBach,Biber andVivaldi,3p.m.

Aug.3: “Underthe

SummerFestexpands tofourweeksin2022

LaJollaMusicSociety’sannualchambermusicfestivalwillincludearecord21concerts

SummerFest,theLaJolla MusicSociety’sannual chambermusiccelebration,willbebiggerthan everin2022,literally.

Forthefirsttimeinthe event’s36-yearhistory,SummerFestwillexpandfromthreeto fourweeks.TobeheldJuly29to Aug.26,itwillfeature21concerts,alsoarecord.Theywillbe presentedthematicallyas “UndertheInfluence,”aname chosentodenotecreations,peopleandeventsthatinfluenced someofclassicalmusic’smost renownedcomposers.

ThelineupincludessuchcelebratedartistsaspianistJoyceYang, clarinetistAnthonyMcGill,theMiró Quartetandthe19-piecechamber orchestraTheKnights.Alsosettobe showcasedis39-year-oldviolinist andsingerCarolineShaw,whoat30 becametheyoungestartisttoever winaPulitzerPrizeformusiccomposition.

Inaddition,thelineupincludes GrammyAward-winningsinger CécileMcLorinSalvant.Shewilldo thefirststand-alonejazzconcertin SummerFesthistory,andwillteam withcountertenorAnthonyRoth CostanzoforaperformanceofclassicsongsbyGermancomposerKurt Weill.

SummerFest’sseven-dayincreaseindurationwillresultinfive moreperformancesthanatlast year’s16-concertedition.Itwillalso seetheintroductionofintermissionlessWednesday-afternoonconcerts, whichwillbefollowedbyfoodand wineofferings—themedtothat day’sconcert—inthecourtyardof thesociety’sConradPrebysCenter forthePerformingArts.

“Theideaisthatyou’rereally joiningusforafestivalthatisfestive, aparty,”saidSummerFestmusic directorInonBarnatan.

Theincreaseinsize,durationand scopeisbydesign,aspartofthe nonprofitsociety’sfive-yeargrowth plan.Butthegoaloftheevent’s expansionistomakeitmoreleisurely,notmorehectic,withthe festivalgoingdarkonMondayand Tuesdaynights.

“Thisway,therewillbemore spacearoundtheconcerts,”Barnatannoted.

“Insteadofhavingfivemainconcertsperweek,wenowwillhavefour mainconcertsonWednesdays,Fridays,SaturdaysandSundays.This way,therewillbelessfatiguefor everybody.Itwillbemorerelaxed.”

Morejazzandnonclassicalconcerts

LeahRosenthal,thesociety’s artisticdirector,helpedformulate thegrowthplanthatledtoSummerFest’sexpansionthisyear.Theplan wasoriginallyscheduledtorun through2025,buthasbeenextended ayearbecauseofthe2020COVID-19 pandemic-fueledshutdownoflive events.

“Goingfromthreeweekstofour willnotonlygiveourpatronsan opportunitytobreatheabitbetween performances,itwillalsogiveour artistsmoreofachancetoenjoy theirtimehereandtobetterintegratewiththecommunity,”Rosenthalsaid.“Andwecanbetterexpand ourmusicalofferingsthisway.”

Indeed,theAug.17jazzconcert bytheclassicallytrainedSalvant andherquartetisapreviewofthings tocome,notedToddSchultz,the

society’sCEOandpresident.

“Partofourgrowthplanistohave oneortwojazzornonclassicalconcertsateachfutureeditionofSummerFest,”Schultzsaid.

“Theevent’scorewillsolidly remainchambermusic,withafocus onBrahms,Haydn,Mozart,Vivaldi, Beethoven,Elgarandotherbedrock composers.Butwe’llalsofeature composerswhoseworkyouwouldn’t expecttofindinachambermusic festival,programmingthatreally reflectsInon’sinterestinbeingmore adventurousandcreative.”

Thethemeofthisyear’sSummerFest,“UndertheInfluence,”explores events,placesandindividualsthat inspiredthestoriedcomposers whosemusicwillbeperformed. Thoseplaceswillbereflectedinsuch concertsas“Shakespeare’sWorld” onAug.3and“AWeekendinParis”

Aug.5-7.

Fortherecord,the“Underthe Influence”themehasnothingtodo withthedrinkinghabitsofanycomposers,evenifBeethoven’swelldocumentedpropensityforalcohol consumptionravagedhisliver.

“There’sobviouslyakinkysense tothename‘UndertheInfluence,’” Rosenthalsaid,laughing.

“Astongue-in-cheekasthetitleis, thereisanotherelement,”stressed Barnatan,whoisaninternationally acclaimedconcertpianist.

“Asaconsumerofmusic,Iwant theconcertexperiencetobe—as muchaspossible—acompleteone.I thinkabout:‘Whatexperiencedoes theaudiencehavebefore,duringand aftertheconcert?’

“Thatiswhyweareintroducing theintermissionlessWednesday afternoonconcerts,followedbyfood anddrinkinthecourtyard,sothat youcanhaveawholeexperiencethat isbothmusicalandnonmusical. Thatsaid,thecontentsaremore importantthanthetheme.” Barnatanchuckled.

“Idon’tthinkthatwe’llbehaving Elizabethanfoodsforthe‘Shake-

speare’sWorld’concert!”

IloveParis Lastyear,whileplanningthe2022 editionofSummerFest,Barnatan hadcontemplatedincludingaconcertortwothatwouldsaluteFrance’sNadiaBoulanger.BasedinParis, thefamedmusiccomposition teachercountedAaronCopland, ElliottCarter,PhilipGlass,Quincy JonesandBrazil’sEgbertoGismonti amonghermostnotablestudents.

WhiletheBoulangertributedid notcoalesceforthisyear’sSummerFest,itinspiredBarnatantocreate thethree-part“AWeekendinParis” series,whichwillrunAug.5-7.Itwill featuremusicbycomposerswho werebasedintheFrenchcapital,or spentpivotaltimesintheircareers there,includingDebussy,Chopin, Ravel,Messiaen,Schumannand LiliBoulanger,Nadia’syounger sister.

“Iamsoexcitedaboutthe‘A WeekendinParis’series,”Barnatan said,speakingbyphonefromhis NewYorkapartmentinManhattan’s SoHodistrict.

“Istartedoffwithitbeingasingle concert,butIcoulddoawholefestivalwiththistheme!So,Ihadtoat leastdoaweekenddevotedtoParis. Therearesomanyfantasticstories surroundingthecity,whetherit’sthe conservatory—wheresomanygreat musiciansstudiedandwerenurtured—orthesalonsthatheldconcertsandcommissionedgreat works.”

Barnatanisequallyenthused whendiscussingSummerFest’sAug. 14“TheWagnerEffect”concert.It willexaminetheformidableimpact ofthe19th-centuryGermancomposerRichardWagnerinaprogram thatalsofeatureshismusicand worksbyStrauss,Berg,Lisztand Dohnányi.

“Thatconcertisaproductofmy fascination,whichissharedbyothers,withtheeffectWagner’smusic andpersonalityhadonothercom-

SummerFest,willalsoperform duringthefestival.

posers,”Barnatansaid.“Wagner’s (1865opera)‘TristanundIsolde’ changedmusicandchangedharmony,andsteeredittodifferent directions.Theconcertwillbeadeep diveintotheworldofharmonic possibilities.”

The2022editionofSummerFest isthefourthsinceBarnatancameon boardasmusicdirectorin2019.That wasthesameyearthesociety’s$82 millionConradPrebysPerforming ArtsCenteropenedinLaJolla.

The2020editionwasheld,in truncatedform,entirelyonlinebecauseofthepandemicshutdown. Happily,2021sawareturntoall-live performancesinfrontofaudiences, althoughmaskingandproofofvaccinationswererequired.

“Wewerelargelybacktonormal lastyear,”societyhonchoSchultz said.

“Otherthanthehealthprotocols, itlookedlikeanormal,pre-pandemicSummerFest,with16public concerts,plusdozensofmaster classes,freeconcertsduringthe daytime,artistroundtables,lectures andseminars.Itwasahugesuccess comingoffaverydifficultperiod. Anditgaveouraudiencesconfidence wecouldbouncebackquickly.”

Ifallgoesaccordingtothesociety’sfive-yearplan,SummerFest couldexpandagainby2026,thistime fromfourweekstofive.Thenumber ofnonclassicalconcertofferings wouldriseaswell,withtheaddition ofmorejazz,cabaretandworld musicartists.

“It’sagreatwaytoengagewith newaudiencesandwithaslightly differentdemographicthanSummerFestusuallyattracts,”Rosenthal said.

“And,bydrawingtheminduringa chambermusicfestival,maybewe canhelpthemexploremusicthey aren’tasfamiliarwith.It’sreally importantforustocontinuetogrow andcreatenewcontent.”

george.varga@sduniontribune.com

Influence:Shakespeare’sWorld”— Featuringmusicby KorngoldandBeethoven,7p.m.

Aug.5: “AWeekendin Paris:TheSalonand theMasquerade”— Debussy,Chopin,Caplet,Ravel,andSarasate

Aug.6: “AWeekendin Paris:LeConservatoire” —Debussy,Boulanger, Franck,Messiaen,and Fauré

Aug.7: “AWeekendin

Paris:Beg,Borrowand Steal”—Featuring musicbyCouperin, Milhaud,Saint-Saëns, Schumann,andRavel, 3p.m.

Aug.10: “Underthe Influence:Vivaldi’s‘ FourSeasons,’”7p.m.

Aug.12: “TheNew Romantics”—Hamelin andDvorák

Aug.13: SummerFest Gala

Aug.14: “TheWagner Effect”—Strauss,Berg, Wagner,Lisztand Dohnányi,3p.m.

Aug.17: “Underthe Influence”—Cécile McLorinSalvant Quintet,7p.m.

Aug.18: SynergyEvent: KurtWeilltribute, featuringCécile McLorinSalvantand AnthonyRothCostanzo

Aug.20: “ThePlanets,” featuringThe KnightsandDance Heginbotham, 6and8p.m.,TheJAI

Aug.21: “ThePlanets,” featuringThe KnightsandDance Heginbotham,3and 5p.m.,TheJAI.

Aug.24: “Underthe Influence”—Miró QuartetperformsShaw andMendelssohn, 7p.m.

Aug.24: “Takeover @TheJAI,”featuring CarolineShaw, 8:30p.m.

Aug.25: “NewWine, OldBottles”— Featuringmusicby Françaix,Chris RogersonandBrahms

Aug.26: SummerFest Finale,“Metamorphosis”—Featuringmusic byStraussand Schubert

Subscriptionpackages: SummerFestsubscriptionsareavailablenow. TheWindanseaSeries —whichincludesall 15concertsinthe Baker-BaumConcert Hall—ispricedat $1,120or$1,289, dependingonseat location.Anyconcertat theadjacentJAIcanbe addedontoWindansea for8percentoffthe priceofasingleticket. Partialsubscription seriesandcomposeyour-ownpackages willbemadeavailable laterinthespring.

Singletickets: Onsale April29,$45to$110

Phone: (858)459-3728

Boxoffice: 7600Fay Ave.,LaJolla Online: ljms.org

BYGEORGEVARGA

TheMiróQuartetwillperformAug.24attheBaker-BaumConcertHallaspartoftheLaJollaMusicSociety’sSummerFest.

NAOYAIKEGAMI

PianistJoyceYangwillbeoneofthefeaturedartistsatthe2022 editionoftheLaJollaMusicSociety’sannualSummerFest.

KTKIM

Grammy-winningsingerCécile McLorinSalvantwillperform astand-alonejazzconcert.

LAJOLLAMUSICSOCIETY

InonBarnatan,musicdirectorof

HAYNEPALMOURIV U-TFILE

BESTBETS

Sunday

“America’sGotTalent:Extreme”:NBC,7p.m. Enjoyan edited-downversionoflast week’sfirstseasonfinaleof thiscompetitionseries,in whichthefirstgrand-prize winnerwasdetermined.

“TheWeddingFix”:UPtv,7 p.m. Originalfilm.Reeling fromabreakup,professional over-plannerGwen(Andrea Brooks)pitchesintohelpput thefinishingtouchesonher bestfriend’swedding.But whenshe’steamedupwith bestmanJosh(PatchMay),a free-spiritednatureguide,she findsthatpullingtogetherthis weddingmightnotbeaseasy asshethought.

“Don’tHangUp”:Bounce,8 p.m. Athrillerpremisebased onatruestory:Inonephone call,adad(WendellPierce, TomClancy’sJackRyan) learnshisdaughterhasbeen takenhostageandisordered tofulfillaseriesofmissionsto getherback—whilestaying onthelineandignoringhis increasinglyfranticwife(LaurenHolly).

“TheEqualizer”:CBS,8p.m. Inthenewepisode“D.W.B.,” twodeputiesfearreprisal afterusingexcessiveforceon Dante(ToryKittles)before realizinghe’safellowcop.

“Riverdale”:TheCW,8p.m. Newepisodes.Asnewsbegins tospreadaboutthebombing attheAndrews’home,Archie (KJApa),Betty(LiliReinhart) andJughead(ColeSprouse) begintodealwithmysterious sideeffectsfromtheexplosion.Elsewhere,Veronica (CamilaMendes)spiralsafter learningthatHiram(Mark Consuelos)mayhavebeen involved,andCheryl(MadelainePetsch)isconsumed withguiltwhenshebelieves shemayhavehadahandin theexplosion.

“TheSimpsons”:Fox,8p.m. WhenBart(voiceofNancy Cartwright)befriendsafamouskidinfluencer,Homer (voiceofDanCastellaneta) leadsarebellionofloserdads againsttheminthenewepisode“BarttheCoolKid.”

“TheGreatNorth”:Fox,8:30 p.m. Inthenewepisode

“You’veGotMathAdventure,” Honeybee(voiceofDulce Sloan)agreestohelpMoon (voiceofAparnaNancherla) withhisschoolproblems,only tolearnthatsomethingelseis onhismind.

Monday

“AmericanIdol”:ABC,8p.m. Season5continuesonABCas superstarjudgesLukeBryan, KatyPerryandLionelRichie journeytofindAmerica’snext singingsensation.Asthefinal auditionsacrossLosAngeles; Austin,Texas;andNashville, Tenn.,cometoanend,the show’siconicjudgeauditions willsurpriseaudiencesand hopefulsalikewithneverbefore-seentwists,andthe finalPlatinumTicketwinneris revealed.EmmyAward-winningproducerRyanSeacrest hosts.

“TheNeighborhood”:CBS,8 p.m. Relationshipsaretested whenCalvin’s(Cedricthe Entertainer)longtimepal (gueststarBillBellamy) harborsasecret,andasuspiciousDave(MaxGreenfield) wonderswhat’sgoingon betweenhisprincipalwife Gemma(BethBehrs)anda coachatherschool.

“Bob(Hearts)Abishola”: CBS,8:30p.m. Bob(Billy Gardell)isunderpressure whenthesuccessfulMaxDot televisioncommercialgeneratesmorebusinessthanthe companycanhandleinthe newepisode“I’llSleepWhen I’mDead.”

“NCIS”:CBS,9p.m. Inthe newepisode“TheWake,”a gruesomemishapatagender-revealpartyleadsNCISto thecaseofamissingteacher thatwaspopularizedona true-crimepodcast.

“AllAmerican:Homecoming”:TheCW,9p.m. When thepowergoesoutat Bringston,everyonetakesthe timetorevealsomesurprising truthstoeachother.Simone (GeffriMaya)grappleswith tellingherfriendsabouther sonwhenshelearnshewillbe intownforavisit,andThea (CamilleHyde)unexpectedly turnstoSimonefordating advice.Damon(PeytonAlex

“Sanditon”: KPBS,9p.m.Sunday

Seasonpremiere.Thefan-favoritedramainspiredbyJaneAusten’sfinal,unfinishednovel isback.Afterthefirstseason’sfinaleleftviewershanginginsuspense,thestorycontinueswithitshigh-spiritedheroine,CharlotteHeywood(RoseWilliams),returningtothe picturesquecoastalresortofSanditonandthecompanionshipofherfriendGeorgiana Lambe(CrystalClarke).Whatadventures,scandals,intrigueand—aboveallelse— romanceawaitMissHeywoodthisseason?

Smith)becomesworried aboutJR(SylvesterPowell), whoisdealingwithissuesin thewrongway.Meanwhile, CoachMarcus(CoryHardrict) andAmara’s(KellyJenrette) relationshipcomestoahead, leavingthemquestioninghow tomoveforward.

Tuesday

“FBI”:CBS,8p.m. When murdervictimsarediscovered boundbythesamesophisticatedknot,theteamrealizes theyhaveacross-country serialkillerontheirhandsin thenewepisode“ScarTissue.”

“Superman&Lois”:TheCW, 8p.m. Lois(ElizabethTulloch),Clark(TylerHoechlin) andNatalie(TaylerBuck) noticeadifferenceinJohn Henry’s(WoléParks)behavior andfearsomethingmightbe verywrong.Meanwhile,Kyle (ErikValdez)encountersan awkwardmomentwithLana (EmmanuelleChriqui)while stoppingbythehousetopick Sarah(IndeNavarrette)upfor school.Lastly,Jonathan (JordanElsass)andJordan (AlexGarfin)bracethemselveswhentheyrealizea talking-tofromtheirparentsis headedtheirway.

“Mr.Mayor”:NBC,8:30p.m. Mikaela(VellaLovell)learns thatherawardforflattening thehomelessnesscurveis basedonalie,and,with James(YedoyeTravis)and Arpi’s(HollyHunter)help, growsdeterminedtomakea changeforreal.Meanwhile, Neil(TedDanson)realizes thathisexcitementaboutthe I-Teamhascausedhisoriginalstafftoactoutlikechildren,soheattemptstoappeasethem.

“AbbottElementary”:ABC,9 p.m. It’sOpenHousenightat AbbottElementary,andwhile Janinepreparestomeether strugglingstudent’smother, therestofthefacultyusesthe timetorelax.Gregoryistaken abackwhenhelearnshow Avagottheprincipaljob,and later,Barbara’sdaughter’s visitcreatesacommotionin morewaysthanone.

“FBI:International”:CBS,9 p.m. Inthenewepisode“The KillList,”theFlyTeammust figureouthowtokeepthe U.S.attorneygeneral(guest starRebeccaBlair)safeamid apossiblesecuritybreach whileshe’sinHungaryforan importantmeeting.

Wednesday

“TheGoldbergs”:ABC,8 p.m. WhenMurraygoesoutof town,JaneBales(Leslie Grossman)attemptstomake apowergrabattheOttoman Empire,forcingBeverlyto retaliate.Meanwhile,Adamis thrilledtolearnthatDaveKim (KennyRidwan)alsoplansto attendNYU.Theexcitementis short-livedwhenAdam weighsthecostofhispopularityafterthetwoagreetobe collegeroommates.

“TheFlash”:TheCW,8p.m. Barry(GrantGustin)trustshis instinctsduringamurder investigation,believingthe suspect,despitetheoverwhelmingevidenceagainst him.Meanwhile,Iris(Candice Patton)givesAllegra(Kayla Compton)anopportunityto beamentor.

“TheWonderYears”:ABC, 8:30p.m. Asthereboot,setin 1960sAlabama,continuesits stellarfirstseason,17-yearoldKim(LauraKariuki)starts

ajobataMontgomerydiner. Shecontendswitharacist co-workerandherformer boyfriendKwame(Myron ParkerWright),whopopsin withanewgirl.Tipwell, please.

“DominoMasters”:Fox,9 p.m. Fournewteamsofdominoenthusiastsfaceoffina topplingtournamentwitha time-travelthemeinthenew episode“Qualifiers:Time Travel.”Thetwobestteams moveontothenextround.

“HomeInspectorJoe”: HGTV,9p.m. Antonioand SamLaValvaarereadyto settledownnearfamilyin theirhometownofRye,N.Y. Sam’ssisterrecentlyputher homeonthemarket,butthey knowitcomeswithalotof problems.Theytouritand anotherpropertywithJoe MazzaandNoelGattstoseeif amoreturnkeyhomeisthe betteroption.

Thursday

“Station19”:ABC,8p.m. The pastofLt.Sullivan(Boris

Kodjoe)andfirechiefRoss (MerleDandridge)isrevealed. Ben(JasonGeorge)andhis wife,Grey’sdocBailey(ChandraWilson),presstheircase toraiseorphanedPru.

“MasterChefJuniorEdition”: Fox,8p.m. Fifteenchefs remainandmustjointogether ingroupstocreateshowstoppingpizzasinthenew episode“TasteIt,MakeIt.”

“CallMeKat”:Fox,9p.m. Sheila(SwoosieKurtz)convincesKatandOscar(Mayim BialikandChristopherRivas) tojoinheronadoubledate withamanwhoownsalocal chainrestaurantinthenew episode“CallMeaMcCluckhead.”

“GrowingUpHipHop”:WE tv,9p.m. Seasonfinale.The seriesthatfollowsthelivesof thechildrenofhip-hoplegendsairsitsSeason6finale tonight.

“WelcometoFlatch”:Fox, 9:30p.m. Kelly(Holmes) startsaride-sharingbusiness andenlistsShrub(SamStra-

ley)asherpartnerinthenew episode“JesusTakethe Wheel.”

Friday “Charmed”:TheCW,8p.m. Mel(MelonieDiaz)suddenly findsherselfhauntedby memoriesofhermysterious breakupwithRuby(gueststar BethanyBrown),whileMaggie’s(SarahJeffery)demonhuntinghabitputsstrainon herrelationshipwithJordan (JordanDonica).Harry(RupertEvans)triestotrainthe newestCharmedOne(Lucy Barrett)butgetsderailed whentheyallmustfocusona formidablenewnemesiswho startswreakinghavoc throughoutthemagicalworld.

“GoldRush”:Discovery Channel,8p.m. Season finale.Season12ofDiscovery’sNo.1seriesconcludes, followedbythenewspinoff series“HoffmanFamilyGold.”

“SellingtheBigEasy”:HGTV, 9p.m. Twonewlywedsare lookingfortheirfirsthome together,andthey’researchingbothsidesofthecausewaytofindthatperfectnew construction.Meanwhile, BrittanyPicolo-Ramosmust uncoverwhyahomewith incrediblecustomfeatures hasbeensittingonthemarket.

“AmericanJustice”:A&E,10 p.m. AaronHernandezhadit all.TheNewEnglandPatriots startightendwasreveredfor histruegridirongrit.Buthe alsohadatempertomatch hisreputationfortoughness, andonJune17,2013,he murderedclosefriendOdin Lloyd.Thisepisodeplaysout theshockinginvestigation.

Saturday “BeMyGuestWithIna Garten”:FoodNetwork, noon. Newseries.Thisnew seriesstarringtheBarefoot Contessaherself,InaGarten, isafreshtakeonIna’ssignaturestyleofwelcomingviewersintoherhome.Inaddition tothishalf-hourversionon FoodNetwork,therewillbean

hourlongextendedcuton discovery+andacompanion podcast.Episode1features theseries’firstguest,actress JuliannaMargulies.

“BuiltItForward”:HGTV,6 p.m. MattBlashawandTaniya NayakflytoAlbuquerque, N.M.,tomeetafirst-time homeownerandhercolleaguesatCrossroadsfor Women.Withsomehelpfrom Lowe’s,they’lltransformher homeintoaHollywoodoasis andgivetheCenter’sexterior acreativerefresh.

“MurdochMysteries”:Ovation,7p.m. WhenMurdoch (YannickBisson)investigates themurderofaladies’man, Crabtree’s(JonnyHarris)aunt istheprimesuspect.

“ASecondChanceatLove”: HallmarkChannel,8p.m. Originalfilm.Onthesurface, Alicia(AlvinaAugust)and Arnold’s(JarodJoseph) marriageispictureperfect; however,thereissomething amiss.Arnoldisreadytogrow theirfamily,butsubconsciouslyAliciaishesitantto theidea.Ratherthanfacethe problemheadon,Alicia,the self-proclaimed“lovedoctor,” immersesherselfinherdivorcedparentsJack(EriqLa Salle)andBrenda’s(Gloria Reuben)datingaffairsby settingthemeachupona blinddatedatingapp.

“Dune”:HBO,8p.m. Director DenisVilleneuve’stakeonthe firsthalfofFrankHerbert’s classicnovelisadazzling sci-fiepicnominatedfor10 awardsatSunday’sOscars.In theyear10191,thegalaxyrulingEmperorhandscontrol ofthebarrendesertplanet ArrakistoDukeLeto(Oscar Isaac),whoalsogovernsa nearbyoceanworld.Thegood newsfortheDuke:The “spice,”avaluable,mysterioussubstancethatisthe sourceofheightenedconsciousnessandinterstellar flightthroughouttheuniverse, isavailableinabundanceon Arrakis.Thebadnews:Everybodyelsewantscontrol,too. Canall-outwarbeavoided?

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INTHE SPLASH ZONE

Season’sspectacular showsdrawvisitors towaterfallsacrossthe country—whiletheylast BYELAINEGLUSAC

Asfallistoleafpeeping,springis towaterfall-watching,aseasonal pursuitnowunderwayin thenorthernandhigher regionsoftheUnitedStates.

Waterfallscanrangefrom thunderousplungestodelicatemossytrickles.They canbebackcountrypop-ups orthecenterpiecesofparks, likeGreatFallsParkinMcLean,Va.,andSilverFalls StatePark,nearSalem,Ore.

There’snoagreed-upondefinitionofawaterfall,accordingto JoelScheingross,anassistant professorofgeologyattheUniversityofNevada,Reno,who studiesthosethatdetachfrom thebedofariver,creatinganair pocketbetweenthefaceandthe waterjet.Waterfalls,heexplained,canbetheresultof glacialcarving(asatNiagara Falls),orthroughfaultsintectonicplates.Placeswherehard andsoftrockmixoftenproduce waterfallspouringoveraharder rockcapthatcarveawaysoftrock below.

“Anyareawherethewaterflow isdominatedbysnowmeltwillget biggerwaterfallsnow,notjustin thenorthernU.S.,butathigh elevationstoo,”Scheingrosssaid. “Ifnotsnowmelt,youjustneed bigstorms.”

Especiallynow,perhaps,as pandemic-wearytravelerscontinuetoseekthesafetyandsolaceof theoutdoors,waterfallsare“metaphorsforhowlifecarriesonand naturegoesaboutdoingits thing,”saysJohnnyCheng,who writesaboutwaterfallsonhis websiteWorldofWaterfalls.

Thefollowingisaselective springtimeguidetowaterfalls acrosstheUnitedStates.

California

Droppinganimpressive2,425 feet,YosemiteFallsinYosemite NationalParkistheiconofthe EasternSierraNevadarange, peakinginMayandJuneand dwindlingtoatrickleordrying outbyAugust.Butthereare manymoreintheregionwhere waterfallchasingisaspringpursuit.

“Therearealotofhikingtrails incanyonsoutsideofYosemite wherewaterfallsaredelightsto discover,”saidAllanPietrasanta, abackcountrysportsmananda boardmemberoftheEastern SierraAvalancheCenter.

Still,manyofthehigh-elevationareasremaincloseduntil snowplowsdigouttheroadsin spring.Whenthathappens,DevilsPostpileNationalMonument nearMammothLakeswillopen, usuallybymid-June,offering opportunitiestoseethenamesakebasaltcolumnsaswellas 101-foot-tallRainbowFalls,the highestwaterfallontheMiddle ForkoftheSanJoaquinRiver, andnamedfortherainbowsthat tendtoforminthemist.Itis reachedviaaroughly3-mile, round-triphike.

NearbyfallsincludeTwin Falls,tumblingoutofLake Mamie,and270-footHorsetail Fallsonthe16-mileJuneLake Looproad.

NewYork

Roughly6millionacresofthe AdirondackMountainsoffer waterfall-watching,fromthe well-knownRainbowFallsat AusableChasm,atouristsite since1870,tothemoresecluded GleasmansFallsnearLowville.

OKSlipFallsnearIndianLake liesbetweenthemonthespectrum,impressivelyhighataround 250feet—oneofthetallestinthe Adirondacks—reachedviaa roughly3-miletrailthrough YosemiteFallsisthehighestwaterfallinthepark,dropping2,425feetfromthetopoftheupperfalltothebaseofthelowerfall.

GETTYIMAGES

SEE SPLASH E31

TAKEAROADTRIPWITHKEVINCOSTNER,OTHERSINTOW

KevinCostnersaysthe bestwaytoseeAmericais onthebackofahorse.But whatifyou’renotanAcademyAward-winningactor andfilmmakerwhoregularlysaddlesuptoshoot Westerns? “Youseeitbycar,”the “Yellowstone”starsaid. Despitehispreferenceto travellikeacowboy,Costner reveresthehumbleroad trip.Thatsentimentledhim

topartnerwithHearHere, anaudioappdesignedto entertaindriversandtheir passengerswithstories abouttheU.S.landscapes aroundthem.Whether you’redrivingdownafreewayorbackcountryroad, theapppromisestoilluminatethetripwithshort burstsofinformationabout thelocalhistory,culture, natureandmythology.

HearHereusesgeolocationtechnologytoqueueup 8,800storiesnarratedby voiceactors,including celebritiessuchasCostner, formerLosAngelesLakers coachPhilJackson,actor JohnLithgowandRolling StoneskeyboardistChuck

Leavell.The storiesautomatically startplaying whentravelerspass featured locations.If theappis closed,it sendsyouanotification whenyouhaveactivateda story.

Throughouthislife, Costnersaid,hehasbeen compelledtopulloverat landmarkstoreadabouta place,nomatterhowinterestedhistravelingcompanionswereinanimpromptu historylesson.

“There’ssomething

terriblysatisfyinginthe learningprocesswhenit’s notreallyshoveddownyour throatandtounderstand whereyou’rewalkingor you’redrivingthrough,” Costnersaid.“Ourintention istogodeeperanddeeper intothosestories.”

ItoldCostneraboutthe shortroadtripIwastaking withmydadnearSierra NationalForest,aplacenot toofarfromthepartsof Californiawheretheactor andIbothgrewup.He immediatelyregaledme withstoriesfullofgeological andculturalfactsaboutthe regionfullofgeologicaland culturalfacts. Idecidedtotrytheapp

myselftoseehowstorytellingcouldinformmyown roadtrips.Here’swhatI learnedfromthetestdrive.

Forthefullexperience, you’llhavetosubscribe Youcanlistentofive storieswithafreeaccount, butthestoriesaren’tvery long—usuallyjustacouple ofminutes.Youcouldeasily runthroughthosefreebies beforeyourroadtriphas reallystarted.

InCalifornia,Idownloadedtheappformy iPhoneandpaid$35.99fora one-yearmembership. Thereareweeklysubscriptions,too,for$29.99.Ifpayingfora“roadtripapp”

seemsliketoomuchofa nichepurchase,notethat youdon’thavetobeinacar touseit.Youcanfireitupon trainsorbuses,openitupat hometolearnmoreabout yourneighborhoodorlisten tostorieswhileyou’revisitinganewplaceonfoot. MydadandIhopped intothevantodriveintothe mountains,andthefirst storywelistenedtowas aboutmyhometown, Fresno.Apparentlythe city’snameistheSpanish wordforashtreebecause thecountyisfullofthem. Somehow,in18yearsof livingthereand13yearsof visits,Ihadneverlearned

Kevin Costner

rollingwoodlandsthatends atapairofoverlooks(a short,verysteeptrailleads totheriverbelow).

“What’sniceaboutOK SlipFallsisyoutravela distancetogetthere,buildinganticipation,”saidStacy Pagoda,ownerofAnother ParadiseCove,acanoeand kayakrentalshopinLong Lake,whooffersregional sightseeingadvicetovisitors.

HamiltonCounty,home toOKSlipFalls,hasa waterfallchallenge:identifying19waterfallsinthearea reachedviahikesthatrange fromfiveminutestoseveral hours,eachassignedapoint valuerangingfrom1(easy) to4(difficult,whichisOK Slip’srating).Hikerswho score12ormorepointsmay receiveasouvenirpatch.

NewHampshire Morethan10waterfalls seasonallygushwithhighcountrysnowmeltand springraininandaround CrawfordNotchStatePark intheWhiteMountains.The highestinthestate,ArethusaFalls,dropsoveranearly 200-footcliffface.

Twoofthepark’sfalls, theribbonlikeSilverCascadeandFlumeCascade, canbeviewedfromroadside stops.Othersrequireahike ontrailsthatmaybemuddy orsnowythistimeofyear.

“Youcandoalotofhik-

ingifyouwantto,”said ClareArentzen,asenior outdoorguidewiththe AppalachianMountain ClubinNewHampshire, notingthatthemoderate 3-mile,round-triptrailto ArethusaFallscanbe loopedtotheBemisBrook Trailtoreachthetiered BemisBrookFallsfor“more bangforyourbuck.”

ThroughouttheWhite Mountainregion,Chris Whiton,anaturephotographerwhoregularlyshoots waterfalls,estimatesthat therearemorethan100 namedfallsinshapesfrom flumestodropstosteps.He uses19th-centuryguides publishedbyrailroadsand hotelstofindoftenunnamedwaterfallsthathave fallenoffthemap.

“Waterfallsarefunbecausetheyhavesuchpersonality,andeachisalittle different,”hesaid.

Maine Manyofthecascades andfallsinMaineare ephemeralanddependent onsnowywinters,according toGregWestrich,theauthorof“HikingWaterfalls Maine,”whichidentifies about100fallsinthecourse of67hikes.

“InAcadiaNational Park,therearehalfadozen fallsthatwillbedrybymidJuneorjustatrickleunless there’saheavyrainstorm,” hesaid.

Atnearly100feet,Moxie Falls,inthecentralKennebecValley,wherethe DeadandKennebecrivers meetinaregionknownas TheForks,isamongMaine’s highestfalls,withtheadded attractionofeasyaccessibility.Awell-maintainedtrail ofabouthalfamilereaches thewater,apopularswimmingholeinsummer.

GulfHagas,near BrownvilleincentralMaine, hasoftenbeencalledthe “GrandCanyonofMaine” foritsseriesofslategorges, rockwalls,andfallingand ripplingwateralong4miles oftheWestBranchofthe PleasantRiverintheAppalachianTrailcorridor.

Fromthesametrailhead,ditchthecrowdsby hikingjustoveramileto HayBrookFalls,“prettier thanGulfHagasandeasyto getto,”Westrichsaid.

Minnesota TheUnitedStatesand Canadatechnicallyshare 120-footHighFallsinGrand PortageStatePark,where thePigeonRiverformsthe internationalborderin northernMinnesotaon Ojibwetriballands.

“HighFallsisthebiggest oftheplunges,thelastbig onetherivertakesbeforeit lazilymakesitswaytoLake Superior,notquite2miles tothelake,”saidTravis Novitsky,theparkmanager.

“It’sprettycommonto

getarainbowwhenthe waterishigh,”headded, notingtheangleoftheviewingplatformtothefalls,an effectalsovisiblebymoonlight.

Inadditiontoseeing Minnesota’shighestfalls, accessiblebyapavedtrail, explorerscantakeachallenging4.5-mileround-trip hikeoverrugged,rockyhills, crossingaridgewithpanoramasoftheriverandLake Superior,toreachmore remoteMiddleFalls.

GrandPortageisonthe northendofthe145-mile drivefromDuluthalong LakeSuperior,stringing togethereightstateparks, mostwiththeirownwaterfalls,includingTettegouche StatePark,hometoanother HighFalls,thesecondtallestinthestate.

Idaho

Manywaterfallsare regulatedbydamsorsiphonedforirrigation.But MesaFallsontheSnake RiverintheCaribouTargheeNationalForestin easternIdaho,about50 milessouthwestofYellowstoneNationalPark,flows freely,thelastoftheuncontrolledfallsinthestate.

Whensnowmeltswells theSnakeRiver,May throughJune,itrushesina whitewatercurtainoverthe 10-story,roughly200-footwideUpperMesaFalls.A miledownstreamviathe

MesaFallsScenicByway, thewaterthentumbles throughasmallerchasm knownasLowerMesaFalls.

“Inspring,thefallsare thundering,”saidSusan McKenna,whomanagesthe fallssite.

Thoughlocatedata 6,500-footelevation,Mesa hastheadvantageofbeing accessible,especiallyfor families,manyofwhomare ontheirwaytoYellowstone whentheystopbythefalls. Theround-triphiketothe viewingplatformsisaround halfamile,andawalkona naturetrailwilladd2miles.

Thebywayhasbeen plowed,buttheroadmaybe icyandthevisitorscenter willnotopenuntilaround MemorialDay.

“Peoplehavebeencalling alreadytofindoutifwe’re open,”McKennasaid. “We’renotOldFaithful,but we’regettingthere.”

Washington Thereareatleast150 waterfallsinMountRainier NationalPark,about85 milessouthofSeattle.But theunofficialcountismuch higher.

“Therearetimesofyear thatifyoucountedevery placewherewaterisrunninganddropping,you probablyhavethousandsin thepark,”saidKevin Bacher,thepark’svolunteer programmanager.“There’s agoodreasonwe’reina

regioncalledtheCascades.”

ItmighttakeuntilJuly forthesnow,whichaverages53feetannuallyinthe 5,400-footParadisearea,to melt.Snowmeltandwater from25glaciersonthe 14,410-footnamesakepeak produceaprolongedtorrentthatstartsinApriland worksitswaytohigher groundinsummer.

“Theparkisbestknown foritsmountainsandgrand scenicvistas,soalotof timespeoplemisstheforest trailswhereyouseethe waterfalls,”Bachersaid.

Foramixofseasonal andyear-roundfalls,he recommendedthelowerelevationEastsideTrail, introducing“awaterfall everyquarter-mileorso” alongtheroughly13-mile, one-waytrail.Thetrail, whichhasseveralaccess pointsforshortertreks, followstheChinookCreek andOhanapecoshRiver throughdenseforestspast aseriesoffalls,including two-tiered-plunge OhanapecoshFallsand“a bunchthataren’tnamed.”

Fromaroadsidelot, visitorscaneasilyvisit NaradaFalls,wheretheicy watersoftheParadiseRiver sailnearly180feetover ancientandesitevolcanic rock.

Glusacisafreelancewriter. Thisarticleappeared inTheNewYorkTimes.

FROM E30

that.Aboutnineshort storieslater,Ifeltmuch moreintouchwithmyhome state.

Togetthebestuseofthe app,downloadstoriesofflinebeforeyoustartdriving, oratleastwhileyouhave cellservice.Ididn’t,andI regretteditoncemydad andIbegantwistingup mountainroads.Notonly

didIgetcarsick,wecouldn’t listentomanystoriesforthe restofthetrip.

Appisparticebreaker, partentertainment

Beyondprovidingeducationalentertainment,Costnerseestheappasaconversationstarterforfamilies.

“I’mhavingahardtime withmyownkidsgetting theirnoseoutoftheircomputersandIdon’tthinkI’m theonlyone,”saidCostner, afatherofseven.“Iknowit’s biblicalthatyourkidsdon’t listentoyou,butIfindthat they’lllistentothisalittle bit.”

“Sometimeswhenyou hearastorytogether,itkind ofbondsyou,”headded. Onmytrip,theappdid

inspireconversationsbeyondtheusualsmalltalk catchinguponfamilynews.

Afterlisteningtoastory aboutFresno’sForestiere UndergroundGardens—a nationaltreasurebuiltbya Sicilianimmigrantinthe 1900s—wereminiscedover ourownfamilyvisittothe sitewhenIwasakid,aswell asthelooseconnectionthat myparentsnowlovetravelingtoSicily. Segmentsdon’tshyaway fromAmerica’suglyhistory Beforeheagreedtoget involved,Costnerhadone stipulation:HearHerehad totellstoriesaboutNative Americans,“becausethere isnoHearHerewithoutwho washerefirst,”hesays.The

appneededtoofferarobust accountofAmericanhistory,includingthenegative parts.

“It’shorribleinsomany ways,butI’mnotembarrassedtolearnaboutit,” Costnersaid.“Itallowsfor moreempathytounderstandhowpeoplewere shovedoutofhere....The depthofdisplacingpeopleis notsomethingwewillever overcome,butifwechoose toforgetit,thenwe’rereally inalotoftrouble.”

Onestorygotmeandmy fathertalkingaboutthe incarcerationofAmericans ofJapaneseancestryduring WorldWarII.Mydadtold methatheworkedina buildingthatwasoncepart ofadetentioncampfor

JapaneseAmericansinthe 1940s.Duringmydad’s career,aJapanesefirm purchasedthecompany.I neverwouldhavelearned thiswithoutHearHere sparkingtheconversation.

Listeningwillmakeyou wanttoplanaroadtrip

Mymaintakeawayfrom testingtheappwasthatI’m nottakingenoughroad trips.

Insteadofseeinglong drivesasapainfulformof transportation,Ishouldbe seeingthemasawaytoslow down,learnmoreandconnectwithmytravelpartners.Plus,KevinCostner lovesthem,andapparently Iameasilyinfluencedby KevinCostner.

“We’reusedtotaking everythingforgranted. Everythingisatourfingertipsnow;there’snotanywhereyoucan’tgo,”Costner said.“Buttogoacrossthe country,youhavetomake aneffort.Maketheeffort. Getapartofdoingsomethingthatisn’teasy,and you’llneverforgetit.”

Oncehestarteddispensingadvice,Costnergotona roll:“Getinthecar.Take yourkids.Takeyourfriends. Stop.Findacampground. Findamuseumandaskhow thenameofthetowncame tobe....Justtryit.You’ll never—almostnever— regretit.”

Comptonwritesabouttravel forTheWashingtonPost.