Weekend Preview Weekend Preview (February 16, 2005)

THURSDAY

The Stanford University Department of Drama presents "Mother Courage and Her Children" tonight through Saturday at the Pigott Theatre, located in Memorial Hall, 551 Serra Mall (at Memorial Way and Galvez). This is a new production of Bertolt Brecht's comic anti-war protest play. Show times are 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 general; $10 Stanford staff; $8 students. For tickets, directions and more information call (650) 725-5838 or visit http://drama.stanford.edu.

The Palo Alto Art Center presents three new exhibits: "The Gift: Surimono Prints from Bay Area Collections," "Spring Pool/Floating Sky: In Praise to Indigo" and "Moving Cabinetry: Tansu From the Zentner Collection." The Palo Alto Art Center is located at 1313 Newell Road in Palo Alto. For more information please call (650) 329-2367.

"On the Edge: Contemporary Chinese Artists Encounter the West" will run through May 1 at Stanford's Cantor Arts Center. The exhibition explores the artists' position in the art world and China's position in the world. The Cantor Arts Center is located off Palm Drive, at Lomita Drive and Museum Way. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday until 8 p.m. Admission is free. Docents will give free tours of the exhibition on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Wallace Stegner: Throwing a Long Shadow" will run through June 12 at the Los Altos History Museum. The retrospective covers the life and influence of Stegner, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, teacher, environmentalist and Peninsula treasure. Regular viewing hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is located at 51 South San Antonio Road in Los Altos. For more information, please call (650) 948-9427 or visit www.losaltoshistory.org.

FRIDAY

"Lucia di Lammermoor" will be presented by West Bay Opera tonight at 8 p.m. at the Lucie Stern theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Gaetano Donizetti's classic and tragic bel canto tale of murder, madness and suicide will be presented in Italian with English supertitles. Additional show times are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The performances will be repeated Feb. 25-27. Tickets are $46, ($23 for youth under 17 or student with valid ID). For tickets or more information please call the West Bay Opera box office at (650) 424-9999, Monday-Friday, 1-6 p.m., or visit www.wbopera.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Holt Building, 221 Lambert Ave. in Palo Alto.

"Sweeney Todd" will preview tonight at 8 p.m. at Foothill College's Playhouse, 12345 El Monte Road in Los Altos Hills. "Sweeney Todd" is Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's dark comedy about murderous barber-ism and culinary crime. The production will open on Saturday and run through March 13. Show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; also Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $24 general; $22 seniors; $18 students; $10 children under 12 (parental guidance suggested). For tickets, please call the box office at 650-949-7360 (open Thursday-Saturday 5-9 p.m.; Sunday 12-4 p.m.), 24-hour charge-by-phone hotline at 650-949-7414 or visit www.foothill.edu/fa/.

Kronos Quartet will perform tonight at 8 p.m. at Stanford's Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Special guest Rahman Asadollahi, award-winning composer, conductor, and master of the garmon (Azerbaijani accordion) will join the quartet. The concert will be presented by Stanford Lively Arts. A free post-performance discussion will follow. Tickets are $44/$40 adults; $22/$20 Stanford students. Half-price tickets are available for people age 15 and under and discounts are available for students. For tickets and more information, contact the Stanford Ticket Office, located at Tresidder Memorial Union, at (650) 725-ARTS (2787) or go online to http://livelyarts.stanford.edu.

Stanford Art Spaces presents construction/paintings and mixed-media collage by Gerald Huth, photographic art by Dennis Kohn and ethnographic photography by Dennis Lau through April 14. The Center for Integrated Systems Art Spaces is located on the Stanford University campus. Admission is free. The center is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information please call (650) 725-3622 or visit http://cis.stanford.edu/~marigros.

"No Exit" will open tonight at the Pear Avenue Theatre, 1220 Pear Ave., Unit K in Mountain View. Jean-Paul Sartre's one-act play explores philosophical concepts of existence and relationships. The play is presented by Dragon Productions and will run through March 6. Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults; $15 students and seniors for tonight's opening-night gala; $15 general admission; $10 students and seniors. Group discounts are available. For reservations please call (650) 493-2006 or purchase online at www.dragonproductions.net.

Torrefazione Italia Cafe will exhibit paintings by Judy Gittelsohn through Feb. 28. "Warm Core" features new works by the Palo Alto artist. Torrefazione Italia Café is located at 419 University Ave. in Palo Alto. For more information please call (650) 325-7731.

Modernbook Gallery presents the photography of Mary Daniel Hobson through March 3. Modernbook is located at 494 University Ave. in Palo Alto. For more information please call (650) or visit www.modernbook.com.

The Pacific Art League presents "Flirting" through Feb. 23. The exhibit will feature art dedicated to love. The Pacific Art League is located at 668 Ramona St. in Palo Alto. For more information please call (650) 321-3891 or visit www.pacificartleague.org.

SATURDAY

Ustad Farida Mahwash , acclaimed as Afghanistan's most famous singer, will perform tonight at 8 p.m. at Stanford's Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Joining Mahwash will be masters of traditional Afghan instruments: Aziz Herawi on rubab and sitar; Khalil Ragheb on harmonium and vocals; Ahsan Ahmadi on tabla; and Henri Tournier on flute. The concert will be presented by Stanford Lively Arts. A free pre-performance discussion with KPFA radio personality and world music expert Sandy Miranda will take place at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $36/$32 adults; $18/$16 Stanford students. Half-price tickets are available for people age 15 and under and discounts are available for students. For tickets and more information, contact the Stanford Ticket Office, located at Tresidder Memorial Union, at (650) 725-ARTS (2787) or go online to http://livelyarts.stanford.edu.

The Palo Alto Philharmonic will perform tonight at 8 p.m. at Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. The concert will feature pianist Masanobu Ikemiya in a performance of Beethoven's Concerto No. 5, "The Emperor." Also featured in the program will be Verdi's dramatic "Overture to La Forza del Destino" and Barber's "Adagio for Strings." Tickets at the door are $16, general; $14, seniors and $7 students. Tickets may also be purchased in advance at http://www.paphil.org for $2 less. For information call (408) 395-2911 or (650) 857-0737 or visit http://www.paphil.org/sym_program3.html.

SUNDAY

Peninsula Pops will perform today at 3 p.m. at Spangenberg Theatre, 780 Arastradero Road in Palo Alto. The concert will feature the best music from the Big Band era. Tickets are $15 adults; $12 seniors and $8 students; free for kids under 10 who are accompanied by an adult. For information call (650) 856-8432 or visit http://www.peninsulapops.com.

"Gizmos & Gadgets," is currently on display at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, 1451 Middlefield Road. This exhibition demonstrates how work can be made easier with simple machines such as levers and incline planes. For more information, please call (650) 329-2111 or visit www.pajmzfriends.org/membership.htm.

Film
A profile on the brother-sister team of Lisa and Mark Gordon, who are the forces behind a new independent film, "Her Majesty." Mark wrote and directed the film, while Lisa served as executive director.

Opera
A preview of West Bay Opera's production of "Lucia di Lammermoor."

Eating Out
A review of the Prolific Oven in Palo Alto.

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