Arts:
Random With A Purpose — UC Santa Cruz Theater Arts Department presents the vital joy and wordless contact of music in its annual dance showcase of student choreography, directed by students Chelsea Wells and Adrienne Habiger. Dreaming on foot has never moved so distinctly. $10 for students.
Feb. 15–17 and 21–24, doors open 30 min. before curtain, show at 7 p.m. (Sundays at 3 p.m.), UCSC Second Stage, Theater Arts Center
The Amen Corner — The African American Theater Arts Troupe joins with the UCSC Theater Arts Department to present “The Amen Corner,” a play that focuses on the life of a church pastor and her family. The performance explores the effects of religion in a black community and incorporates gospel choir singing. Tickets can be purchased at santacruztickets.com and at the UCSC Ticket Office. Every student will receive one free ticket with a valid student ID.
Feb. 22–24, show at 7 p.m., UCSC Theater Arts Center Main Stage.
Entertainment:
Dead Meadow / Strangers Family Band — With the comeback of psych-folk in full force, spacey arrangements are getting lifted to polyphonic heights and flower power has departed from our terrestrial realm. Enter Strangers Family Band and Dead Meadow, two refined transmissions from the post ‘60s experimental field, breaking psychedelia’s predictive orbit to relocate in the pressured seclusion of garage rock. Swirl in dark, saturated vocals, splintered guitar and dangerous levels of reverb — it’s going to be a rough night and a good moanin’. $10 in advance, $12 at door. Feb. 18, doors at 8:30 p.m., show at 9 p.m., the Catalyst
Listen: “Girl I’ve Been Taken” (Strangers Family Band), “The Whirlings” (Dead Meadow)
Academy Award Nominated Shorts — Sink into sensuous red velvet and feast your eyes on one of the shorter flicks that suited Oscar’s annual cinematic appetite. There are screenings for both animated and live action shorts — but they’re only here for a limited time, so head over to your local theatres this weekend.
See thenick.com for showtimes and ticket prices at The Nickelodeon and Del Mar Theatres.
Events:
BANFF Mountain Film Festival — A mountain’s peak or an ocean’s edge is not a lookout point toward inspiration — the explorer must go after it with a club, as Jack London said. National Geographic and the North Face unveil a compilation of stories that traverse the precarious features of Earth’s unassuming face. A series of film showings beckon the brave to step forward on this stop of the 37th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, hosted by UCSC Recreation. Reserve your tickets online at santacruztickets.com.
Feb. 22–24, show at 7 p.m., the Rio Theatre
