ART

The Moraga Art Gallery announces the opening of a spirited new show, "Singularities," a title derived from the unique visions of the show featured member artists: Orinda’s Linh Kang and Walnut Creek's Susan Erickson. Feb. 2 to April 10, also consists of paintings. etchings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, glasswork and photographs by the gallery’s other members and additional guest artists.  432 Center Street in Moraga's Rheem Shopping Center, open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. www.moragaartcallery.com, or call 925-376-5407.

Lamorinda Arts Alliance is pleased to announce its member show “Wellness & Wellbeing” at the John Muir Health Auxiliary Gallery at John Muir Health, Aspen Center, Walnut Creek, April 11 – May 19. Soak in the power of healing through art at the Lamorinda Arts Alliance exhibit. Wellness and wellbeing are reflected in the artwork, creating an ambiance of healing which is important to the patients, their families and friends, staff, volunteers, and healthcare practitioners. The show features 22 artists and 36 original artworks in pastels, oils, acrylics, watercolors, etchings, photography, mixed media, and collage.

Valley Art Gallery announces newly juried show "Talking Pictures" by Gallery Artists March 19 – May 7.  Free, open to the public. 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek. www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

MUSIC

Pacific Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Lawrence Kohl, presents “Words!” with the chamber orchestra version of Gustav Mahler Symphony #4 and William Walton Façade: An Entertainment. Marnie Breckenridge will be soprano soloist for the Mahler and the reciter for the Walton. Performances are Saturday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Auditorium theater of the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda and Sunday, March 27 at 3 p.m. at Bankhead Theatre, 2400 First Street in Livermore. Tickets online at pacificchamberorchestra.org and additionally for the Livermore performance by calling 925-373-6800 or visiting the Bankhead box office at 2400 First Street in Livermore

Crowden Music Center presents Community Music Day on Sunday, March 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in person and online, at Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose Street, Berkeley. Community Music Day is a free musical carnival for all ages! San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Instrument Petting Zoo, & more. In-person/online event. Cost: Free.  For more info, see www.crowden.org/community-music-day/ or call 510-559-6910 or email concerts@crowden.org.

Free concert Celtic harp, Irish songs, improvisation, story-telling. The Celtic harp has a broken and troubled thousand-year tradition which Patrick Ball now revives in the 21st century, reviving the ancient art of minstrelsy and story-telling at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1225 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton.

The acclaimed Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble presents Sacred Baroque, featuring Pergolesi’s masterwork Stabat Mater and other choral treasures on Sunday, April 3 at 4 p.m. at St. Perpetua Catholic Church, 3454 Hamlin Road in Lafayette and on Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Church 2005 Berryman Street, in Berkeley. Voci will be joined by Jubilate Baroque Orchestra and soloists Elysha Massatt and Lisa Sanders. The program also includes treasures from Archedelt, Hasse, Legrenzi, Palestrina and Porpora. Tickets: $15-$30 at VociSings.org

Cantare, an Oakland-based nonprofit community choral organization, presents Brahms’ Requiem. The Chorale and full orchestra, under the direction of Maestro David Morales, will be joined by soloists Shawnette Sulker, soprano, and Torlef Borsting, baritone. Before each of the seven movements of the Requiem, young speakers from the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center will share original poetry highlighting the themes of loss, death, grieving, comfort, promise, and possibility. Friday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek. Tickets online at www.cantareconvivo.org, by phone at (510) 836-0789, or at the door.

Berkeley Symphony presents Symphonic I: RENEW Video Recording on March 5-31, a virtual/online event, 1942 University Avenue, Suite 104, Berkeley. The recording of our symphonic concert, RENEW is available to watch from the comfort of your home. Tickets start at $20. Available until March 31. Cost: $20, $35, $55.  For more info see https://overture.plus/patron/Berkeley-Symphony or call 510-841-2800 or email tickets@berkeleysymphony.org.

Gold Coast Chamber Players, classical concert, jCaliente! a sizzling exploration of Spanish favorites March 19, at 7:30 p.m. Pre-concert interview with the composer at 7 p.m. Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Tickets: $15-$45 Pamela Freund-Striplen, (925) 283-3728.

LITERATRE

Natalie Baszile, author and TV writer of Queen Sugar and We Are Each Other’s Harvest-Celebrating African American Farmers, Land and Legacy, will speak on March 20 at 4 p.m. at Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. This public lecture is free in-person and live streaming. Register at: Orindacommunitychurch.org.

THEATER

Cal Shakes is excited to announce two world premiere interpretations of Shakespeare’s classics this season—“Romeo y Juliet” by Karen Zacarías and “Lear” by Marcus Gardley. Tickets will go on sale in the spring. For now, join Cal Shakes on March 19 at 5 p.m. for ‘Here We Go!” — a one-hour virtual fundraiser and season launch event to celebrate a 2022 season that’s not to be missed. Learn more and register for free at https://calshakes.org/.

Town Hall Theatre Lafayette announces second in their “new voices” series-“amémonos // let us love each other” by Linda Maria Girón April 1, 2 & 8, 9 at 8 p.m. TICKETS: $25.  April 9 is a Pay-What-You’d-Like performance.

Shotgun Players presents The Lost Ballad of our Mechanical Ancestor on March 28 at 7 p.m., March 29 at 7 p.m., at Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave, Berkeley. A Champagne Staged Reading, where we give the actors just enough tech and staging and let adrenaline do the rest. Tickets only $15 including bubbly! Cost: $15.  For more info see http://shotgunplayers.org/online/article/30th-csrs or call 510-841-6500 x303 or email boxoffice@shotgunplayers.org.

Pan Theater Improv Comedy Show at Town Hall Theater. Pan performers will present class theater games including improvised author, 2nd choice, 3 headed expert interview, poetry reading, and foreign film trailer. The night will also include topic dive and an improvised 10-minute play. Friday, March 25 at 8 p.m. Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette. Tickets: $30 pre-sale, $35 at-door.

The Orinda Starlight Village Players will be holding auditions, by appointment only (email info@orsvp.org), for OrSVP’s season April 3 and 5. Actors will be asked to read from scripts. Prepared monologues will not be required. As of now, masks and proof of vaccination will be required. OrSVP, willing to train, is also actively searching for volunteers interested in stage managing, running lights and sound for performances. The first production of the season will be Agatha Christie’s "Towards Zero," directed by Beth Hooper. Performances are set for June 3 through July 2, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30 p.m.; Thursday, June 30 at 8 p.m.; and a Sunday matinee June 26 at 4 p.m. Rehearsals start in April. For information, visit www.orsvp.org, email info@orsvp.org or call (925) 528-9225.

Del Rey Elementary proudly presents “Seussical Jr.!” Come and support fourth- and fifth-graders as they bring the Cat and the Hat and other Seuss favorites to life. Performances are Thursday March 24 at 7 p.m., Friday March 25 at 7 p.m., and Saturday March 26 at 2 & 5 p.m. Cost is $10. Link to purchase tickets: www.showtix4u.com/event-details/62416

The Performing Arts Department of Saint Mary’s College presents the Saint Mary’s College Dance Company annual spring dance concert “In the Slipstream.” Being in the slipstream refers to the “turbulence behind a moving object that pulls us along." The concert features Modern/Contemporary Dance, Tap, West African, Dance Theatre, Asian Dance and Ballet Folklorico.  The evening culminates with a tribute to our graduating seniors called “Reposar la Juventud en la Victoria (Standing in Your Victory).” Thursday, May 5, 8 p.m.; Friday, May 6, 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 7, 2 p.m. (also live-streamed) Saturday, May 7, 8 p.m. LeFevre Theatre, 1928 Saint Mary's Road, Moraga. For more information, contact Tara Sundy, Performing Arts Department Coordinator & Events Manager at (925) 631-4670 or tms8@stmarys-ca.edu.

OTHER

Acalanes High School Class of 1971 - 50 year reunion. April 9, at the Coop in LaFiesta Square. For more information please contact: Katrina Neblett Silvani 71Acalanes@gmail.com

The Junior League of Oakland-East Bay (JLOEB) invites families to Touch a Truck at Balestrieri Family Farm, Briones. Touch a Truck is a hands-on family event that provides the opportunity for kids to explore vehicles of all types, including public service, emergency, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation, delivery, and just plain cool or unique trucks — all in one place! There will also be live music, wine tasting, food trucks, crafts and a raffle of exclusive goodies. Event details: Tickets: $10 for kids (under 2 FREE), $15 for adults Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/Touchatruck Time: Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Address: Balestrieri Family Farm, 6140 Alhambra Valley Road, Briones, www.jloeb.org/truck.

Redistricting--Results and Challenges. Every 10 years we redraw the district lines on our public offices using data gleaned from the Census.  The "one person, one vote" doctrine requires electoral districts to be apportioned according to population - making each district roughly equal in population.  Join a Zoom meeting on Thursday, March 17 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. to learn how California’s non-partisan commission completed the work that will determine who will represent you in Congress and the State Legislature. Hear from a panel of experts on how these efforts were managed.  The program is sponsored by the League of Women Voters Diablo Valley, the League of Women Voters West Contra Costa County, and the Contra Costa County Library. Contact programs@lwvdv.org for more information. https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/events/62151d86f5fa432800042b9e