Thursday Jan. 13
Join Michael Parrish, Distinguished Professor of History at UCSD, at the San Diego History Center for an engaging look at the work of Joseph L. Rauh, Jr. Rauh was an American lawyer who kept alive the ideals of New Deal liberalism and broadened those ideals to include a commitment to civil rights. Rauh’s clients included Arthur Miller, Lillian Hellman, A. Philip Randolph, and the Mississippi Freedom Demo-cratic Party. No lawyer in the post-1945 era did more to protect the economic interests of working-class Americans than Rauh, who fought for the unions as they struggled for legitimacy and against them when they betrayed their own members. He stood up against repressive anti-communism during the 1950s, advanced racial justice in the 1960s and 1970s. Professor Parrish will sign copies of his book following the presentation. The San Diego History Center is located at 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego 92101. The lecture is from 6:00pm – 7:30pm and the cost is free with the book purchase additional. Reservations are requested. Call (619) 232-6203, ext. 129.
Friday Jan. 14
The Copley Symphony Hall presents Lang Lang plays Rachmaninoff as part of a special Jacobs Masterworks Weekend Festival of Music. After his Opus 2008 triumph, piano superstar Lang Lang returns to San Diego to take on three composers in three days, in an extremely rare weekend engagement. Each concert features its own concerto, a different American opener and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s fascinating Symphonic Dances, all conducted by music director Jahja Ling. Lang Lang Plays Rachmaninoff is presented on January 14 at 8pm and features Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine and Rachmaninoff’s: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 and Piano Concerto No. 2. Tickets start at $20 and Copley Symphony Hall is located at 750 B Street, San Diego, 92101. For more information or tickets, call (619) 235-0804 or visit www.sandiegosymphony.org.
Saturday Jan. 15
Opening the Old Globe Theatre’s 2011 season is Jane Austen’s Emma, presented as a musical romantic comedy. Emma, a timeless love story from one of the most widely read writers of all time, will once again entice modern audiences to fall in love with one of Jane Austen’s most adored characters. Emma, a beautiful and clever young woman who prides herself on her matchmaking ability, is preoccupied with romance yet is clueless to her own feelings of love. When she takes on a young friend as her latest project, her well-intentioned efforts misfire, leading to a whirlwind of complications. Deliciously charming, this new romantic comedy from Tony Award nominated composer Paul Gordon and directed by Tony Award nominee, Jeff Calhoun, brings Jane Austen’s masterpiece to musical life. The performance is at 8 pm and tickets start at $45. The Old Globe is located in Balboa Park, located right off El Prado, between the San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Man. For more information or tickets, call (619) 23-GLOBE or visit www.theoldglobe.org.
Sunday Jan. 16
Block Busters! is the newest addition to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s exhibition galleries. Visitors can build free-form structures – from skyscrapers to bridges – with thousands of wooden KEVA (Knowledge-Exploration-Visual Arts) planks, no glue or connectors necessary. Visitors will have the chance to think like an engineer and build like an architect at this exhibition. Throughout the exhibition, model KEVA plank structures provide inspiration and excitement for budding builders. Displays will include a castle turret, a spiral staircase, sail boat, airplane and train. Visitors who want to take the Block Busters! challenge can test their skills with various building experiments. The Center is open from 10 am – 6 pm and adult tickets are $10. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is located in Balboa Park at 1875 El Prado, San Diego, 92101. For more information, call (619) 238-1233 or visit www.rhfleet.org.
Monday Jan. 17
Join together for the 3rd Annual Interfaith Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, 9 am in Balboa Park. This remarkable event will bring together people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds for a wonderful morning of community service, fun and camaraderie. Families are encouraged to participate together in this hands-on community service day for all ages. Meet in Balboa Park (Morley Field). Enter at the corner of Upas and Texas Streets and follow the signs to the parking area. 9:00 am check in/opening ceremony. 9:30 am park cleanup.12:00 pm community picnic. Bring a picnic lunch for yourself and a dessert (cookies or bars) to share if you wish. Pre-registration is requested for planning purposes: online at www.fumcsd.org/KingDay or to Beckie at (619) 297-4366 ext.109. In case of rain, please call, (858) 535-1111 ext. 3800.
Tuesday Jan. 18
The Balboa Theatre presents Next To Normal, an emotional powerhouse of a musical with a thrilling contemporary score about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards including Best Score, Next To Normal is the most talked about show on Broadway, having recently been chosen as “one of the year’s ten best” by major critics around the country. The New York Times calls Next To Normal, “A brave, breathtaking musical. A work of muscular grace and power. It is much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical.” The Balboa Theatre is located at 868 4th Avenue, San Diego, 92101. The performance is at 7 pm and individual ticket prices start at $20. For more information and tickets, call (619) 570-1100 or visit www.sandiegotheatres.org.
Wednesday Jan. 19
The Platt Brothers are three real-life brothers whose comedic dance and acrobatics have taken them from local San Diego stages to tours across the US, and appearances on broadcast television such as America’s Got Talent, and the Chabad Telethon. Their self-titled show earned them Best Live Comedy in 2009, and Best Family Entertainment in 2010 by San Diego’s A-List.
In their new show, Seven Days of Awesome, the Platt Brothers are joined by some of their most talented and entertaining friends to create a week of unique and unforgettable shows. From an Emmy award-winning storyteller to musical robots, every night features new and different performers alongside the hilarious and energetic Platt Brothers. This Thursday the guest performer is Steam Powered Giraffe, a musical pantomime troupe featuring robot imitation with song. Their hilarious and engaging musical performances have been entertaining San Diego audiences for years. It’s a year’s worth of unforgettable entertainment, super-concentrated into Seven Days of Awesome. The 10th Avenue Theatre is located at 930 10th Avenue, San Diego, 92101. General admission tickets are $20 and the show begins at 7 pm. For more information and tickets, call (775) 313-0798 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com.
