Weekend Top 10: Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre troupe returns to UC Berkeley - ContraCostaTimes.
com 3/11/10 10:23 AM
Weekend Top 10: Alvin
Ailey Dance Theatre
troupe returns to UC
Berkeley
By Randy McMullen
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 03/11/2010 10:10:51 AM PST
Updated: 03/11/2010 10:10:51 AM PST
1. Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre: The renowned dance
troupe (pictured) marks its annual pilgrimage to Cal
Performances with three separate programs and
several Bay Area premieres. Call ahead, obviously,
as the company's performances often sell out.
Details: 8 p.m. March 12, 2 and 8 p.m. March 13, 3
p.m. March 14; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley;
$36-$62; 510-642-9988, www.calperformances.
org .
2. Brad Garrett: The actor best known for his role in
"Everybody Loves Raymond" (and his stunning turn
as Jackie Gleason in the TV biopic "Gleason") has
returned to his stand-up comedy roots, bringing
him to Tommy T's in Pleasanton for a weekend
stand.
Details: 7:30 and 9:30 tonight, 7 and 9:30 p.m.
March 13, 7 p.m. March 14; $40-$50; 925-227-
1800, www.tommyts.com .
3. Smokey Robinson: Seeing this Motown legend
ranks prominently on my bucket list, and he's at the
Warfield in S.F. this weekend.
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Details: 8 p.m. March 13; $64-$87; 800-745-
3000, www.ticketmaster.com .
4. ODC Dance Theatre: This supremely talented,
often thrilling dance company opens its annual
Dancing Downtown season tonight. The program
includes the premiere of Brenda Way's "Waving Not
Drowning (A Guide to Elegance)" with music by
vocalist Pamela Z, and KT Nelson's Mozart-fueled
"Labor of Love."
Details: Opens at 7 p.m. March 12 and runs
through March 28, performance dates and times
vary; Novellus Theatre at Yerba Buena Center for the
Arts, S.F.; $15-$45; 415-978-2787, www.ybca.org ,
www.odcdance.org .
5. Rudresh Mahanthappa: If you feel like catching
one of the faces of jazz's future, check out this post-
bop-meets-Indian-Carnatic music saxophonist, who
performs this weekend as part of the SFJAZZ Spring
Concert Series.
Details: 8 p.m. March 13; Swedish American Hall
(upstairs from Cafe du Nord), S.F.; $25; 866-920-
5299, www.sfjazz.org .
6. "Die Fledermaus": Livermore Valley Opera
Company presents Strauss' charming comedic
operetta.
Details: 8 p.m. March 13 and 20, 2 p.m. March 14
and 21; Bankhead Theatre in Livermore Valley
Performing Arts Center; $39-$59; 925-373-6800,
www.livermoreperformingarts.org , www.
livermorevalleyopera.org .
7. "Glorious Sunset": OnStage Theatre Company
presents Lafayette attorney David E. Harris'
courtroom dramedy inspired by the murder 140
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Weekend Top 10: Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre troupe returns to UC Berkeley - ContraCostaTimes.com 3/11/10 10:23 AM

years ago of Mother Lode mogul Dean Wilson.

Details: 8:15 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through March

28, with additional shows 2:15 p.m. March 21 and
8:15 p.m. March 25; Lesher Center for the Arts,
Walnut Creek; $18; 925-943-7469, www.
lesherartscenter.org .

8. Martin Lawrence: The "Big Momma's House" star

(who, frankly, tends to be funnier on stage than on
the big screen) has two dates at the Paramount
Theatre in Oakland this weekend.

Details: 8 p.m. March 13-14; $42.75-$77.50; 800-

745-3000, www.paramounttheatre.com .

9. Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra: The renowned

early music outfit brings its "French Suite" tour to
Lafayette, featuring works from Guillaume Dumanoir
and Jean-Baptiste Lully.

Details: 8 p.m. March 13; Lafayette-Orinda

Presbyterian Church; Lafayette; $25; 415-252-1288,
www.philharmonia.org .

10. John Scofield: One of the best jazz guitarists on

the planet brings his New Jazz Quartet (featuring the
great Mulgrew Miller on piano) to Yoshi's in
Oakland.

Details: 8 and 10 p.m. March 12-13, 2 and 7 p.m.

March 14; $18-$24 evenings, $5-$24 March 14
matinee; 510-238-9200, www.yoshis.com .

Contact Randy McMullen at 925-943-8262 or

rmcmullen@bayareanewsgroup.com .

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