Posted by Randy McMullen

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/25/bay-area-arts-8-shows-to-catch-this-week/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12230771

From a new take on a literary classic to an all-world opera singer and a festival devoted to arguably the cutest dogs in existence, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend.

Here’s a partial rundown.

New look at ‘Little Women’

Bay Area playwright Lauren Gunderson has created a walking-talking literary/theatrical museum of sorts with her works about real-life people and famous characters. These include Marie Curie, 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, her own husband (famed virologist Nathan Wolfe) as well as Jane Austen’s beloved “Pride & Prejudice” characters in her “Christmas at Pemberley” trio of plays.

We are, of  course, just scratching the surface with Gunderson, who is known as one of America’s most prolific and most-produced playwrights. Luckily, her Bay Area connections mean that many of her works get presented here, particularly at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in Palo Alto.

She returns to the company this week with her latest project, “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women,” a world premiere co-commissioned by TheatreWorks; City Theatre Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Northlight Theatre in Skokie, Illinois; and People’s Light in Malvern, Pennsylvania. In the world premiere production, Gunderson brings to the stage the iconic March sisters — Meg, Beth, Amy, and Jo — and their mother (Marmee) in a family-friendly story set in 19th-century New England and filled with the adventure, romance, hardship, and above all sisterhood that defines Alcott’s works. As the Chicago Tribune noted, “Gunderson’s love for her characters bursts from all her scripts. She fuses period interest with a contemporary sensibility.”  TheatreWorks artistic director Giovanna Sardelli helms the production.

Details: In previews through Friday, main run is Saturday through Oct. 12; Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts; $39-$109; theatreworks.org.

— Randy McMullen, Staff

An a-peeling show for humor fans

What’s the funniest musical that you can think of? “Spamalot”? “Hairspray”? “Mean Girls”? All worthy contenders, for sure.

Yet, I laughed harder — and certainly more often — during “Shucked” at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco than I did while watching any of those other productions. Let’s face it, there are 498,735 jokes (give or take) in this 2022 musical, which received nine nominations — including for Best Musical — at the 76th Tony Awards.

And roughly 498,736 of jokes work in “Shucked,” which is making its West Coast debut at the Curran.

The story is set in a rural small town area known as Cobb County, which is in dire straights due to its highly valued corn crops dying. Thus, young Maizy (wonderfully portrayed by Danielle Wade, who also played “Cady” in the “Mean Girls” national tour) sets out on the road to find help for the corn in the thriving metropolis of Tampa.

Maizy ends up meeting convincing city slicker Gordy (played by Quinn VanAntwerp), who senses the opportunity to take these small town’s woes and turn them into cash. But can he carry out his dastardly plan before the people of Cobb County soften his heart and change his mind?

The musical, which my companion astutely likened to a modern take on “The Music Man,” also contains plenty of great tunes by the songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally.

Details: Through Oct. 5; Curran Theatre, San Francisco; 2 hours, 15 minutes with an intermission; $62.01-$198.90; broadwaysf.com.

— Jim Harrington, Staff

Classical picks: Runnicles & Mahler; Cohen at CalPerf

This week’s classical music events offer a wide range of styles, from the enveloping sound world of Gustav Mahler’s first symphony; in two additional concerts, audiences will hear songs from the natural world, and exuberant works by American composer-pianist George Gershwin.

Runnicles conducts Mahler:  Sir Donald Runnicles, the former music director of San Francisco Opera, has Mahler on his mind; this week, the celebrated conductor returns to San Francisco Symphony to lead the composer’s Symphony No. 1. His program also includes Alban Berg’s Romantic “Seven Early Songs,” with mezzo-soprano Irene Roberts as vocal soloist.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; $55-$185; sfsymphony.org.

Cohen’s “Uncharted”: Countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is at Cal Performances on Saturday, embarking on a concert comprised of songs recalling the beauty of the natural world. Accompanied by John Churchwell in the intimate Hertz Hall, the wide-ranging program includes works by Brahms, Schumann, Florence Price, and Jake Heggie.

Details: 8 p.m.; $78 and up; calperformances.org.

“Pictures from Paris”: This weekend, the California Symphony also steps back to another era, one that centers on the artistic milieu of 1920s Paris. Music director Donato Cabrera leads the orchestra in a program that includes works by Ravel and Mussorgsky, along with music highlights from George Gershwin’s exuberant “An American in Paris.”

Details: 4 p.m. Sunday; Lesher Center, Walnut Creek; $50-$110; californiasymphony.org.

— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent

Corgis get the call

Ever had a weird desire to swim in a sea of thousands of fluffy, smiling dogs? Well, experience the reality at this year’s Corgi Con, an annual gathering of the corgis held on Saturday at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.

The organizers bill the convention as the “largest corgi event in Corgifornia and probably the world,” and who’s going to fact-check them on that? Regularly held at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach before regulations forced it into the suburbs, Corgi Con attracts legions of these short-legged, fluffy-bottomed hounds, whose name is Welsh for “dwarf dog.”

While the schedule is yet-to-be announced, past conventions have included costume contests and a “Corgi Ninja Warrior” obstacle course tailored for very wee legs. There are usually speed races and a giant group picture that should provide phone-background happiness for a year. Also merch, from vendors selling everything from keychains and corgi plushies to patterned dog scarves. Note: Other dog breeds are welcome, and will be treated like honorary corgis for the day.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton; $11.20; corgicon.com.

— John Metcalfe, Staff

Freebie of the week

The “Movement” part of Movement Immigrant Orchestra actually can be taken several ways. It can refer to immigration itself, the constant movement of people around the globe that influences the Earth’s history and character in ways that vary from simple to profound. It can refer to the movement that is inspired by listening to the orchestra’s rich, rhythmic sound of Ethio-jazz as filtered through music from India, Mexico, Ethiopia, Cuba, Italy, Taiwan, Spain, Iran, China and Lebanon. And it calls attention to the band’s global drive through podcasts, broadcasts and live performances to spread the stories and songs of immigrants around the world, partly through its involvement in the PRX family of public media/radio content (prx.org). 

The ambitious band/musical project was founded in 2020 by Ethiopian-born, San Francisco-based singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero, a former refugee, and Italian-born percussionist Marco Peris Coppola. True to its wide-ranging musical foundation, Movement Immigrant Orchestra’s performances can vary considerably, depending on which member is leading the band during a particular song. Movement Immigrant Orchestra was said to have turned in an incendiary performance during last year’s Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, and the band will be back at the event this weekend – from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday – for a free performance.

Details: The concert is at Yerba Buena Gardens Great Lawn, on Mission Street, between 3rd and 4th streets. More information is at ybgfestival.org.

— Bay City News Foundation

Carmen’s Lundy’s big Bay Area weekend

These are good times for Bay Area fans of Carmen Lundy, the 70-year-old multi-talented and influential jazz singer-songwriter. She’s a featured performer at the Monterey Jazz Festival on Sept. 27 (5 p.m.; montereyjazz.org), a highlight in what is a stellar lineup for those who love jazz vocalists. And on Friday, you can catch her at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. It’s likely that she will have new music to showcase, since she is slated to drop a new album this year, although the title and release date have not been announced.  Even without a new record, Lundy has a packed catalogue of great tunes from the some 15 albums she’s released. She composed a great deal of the songs she’s recorded (more than 50 in all), earning raves for her songwriting and arranging skills, not to mention her stellar work on piano and guitar. She’s also an acclaimed actor, a painter (who’s had shows in New York, L.A.) and teacher. Lundy broke through in 1985 with the acclaimed album “Good Morning Kiss,” and has gone on to earn two Grammy nominations in the best jazz vocal album category.

Details: Lundy performs at 8 p.m. Friday at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage club. Tickets are $34-$39 (you can see two shows for $50 if you also want to book tickets for trumpeter Keyon Harrold at 8 p.m. Thursday). Go to thefreight.org

— Bay City News Foundation

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/25/bay-area-arts-8-shows-to-catch-this-week/

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Posted by Jerry McDonald

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/25/former-49er-arik-armstead-keeping-emotion-out-of-return-to-levis-stadium/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12228538

SANTA CLARA — A year and a half after “the blueprint” departed the 49ers defense, “the audio book” is now out.

Which is the last remnants of 49ers defensive linemen who played on NFC championship teams following the 2019 and 2023 seasons.

Nick Bosa was dubbed “the audio book” because of his monotone voice that borders on deadpan. He’s done for the season with a torn right ACL. “The blueprint” will present a different challenge because Arik Armstead looks as healthy as ever while anchoring the defensive line of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars (2-1) visit the 49ers (3-0) Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, which is likely the first and last time Armstead will play at what was his home base between 2015 and 2022. Talking to reporters in Jacksonville Wednesday, Armstead shrugged it all off as only he can when asked if there was any emotional significance in facing the 49ers at Levi’s.

“No, not really,” Armstead said. “If you know me, I’m pretty right here in the present the majority of the time, never too high, never too low, and consistently this way.”

True enough. Armstead was revered by the 49ers for being a Solomon-like presence who would quietly take teammates aside and teach them a thing or two about what it means to be a professional rather than get in their face and make a scene.

“I was lucky enough my rookie year to be between Arik and Azeez Al-Shaair and be a fly on the wall for their conversations,” linebacker Curtis Robinson said. “I was an observer from afar, how he conducted himself and how he carried himself.”

Armstead earned the nickname “the blueprint” because no defensive player had a better idea of the way the 49ers wanted to attack along the defensive front than did Armstead. His word was probably second only to defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.

Armstead’s 49ers tenure ended with his release after playing in 21 games over his last two seasons due to injury. After signing a three-year deal with Jacksonville which could pay him as much as $43.5 million, Armstead played in all 17 games last season for the Jaguars, starting only once, primarily as a defensive end.

Under a new coaching staff, Armstead was moved inside to tackle, an in-season move made in 2021 by defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans that along with the shift of Deebo Samuel as a runner/receiver, helped pull the franchise from a 3-5 record and into a wild card berth.

When Armstead arrived as the No. 17 pick in the 2015 first round out of Oregon, he didn’t step into an ideal situation as much as he stepped into fresh bubble gum (or worse) on his shoe. Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers split after a contentious relationship with general manager Trent Baalke, and the 49ers were 5-11 under Jim Tomsula.

As ill-equipped as Tomsula was to be a head coach, things got worse the next season under Chip Kelly as the cupboard was barren of talent and the 49ers went 2-14. That brought in general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan.

Armstead, at 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds, teamed with former Oregon teammate DeForest Buckner, taken No. 7 in 2016, to give the new regime something to work with as both Shanahan and Lynch are big believers in building a stout defensive line.

As good as they both were — Armstead and Buckner combined for 17 1/12 sacks in a 13-3 season when the 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LIV in Miami — the 49ers believed they couldn’t afford to keep them both. Buckner was traded to Indianapolis for a first-round draft pick and Armstead received a five-year contract extension.

The debate still rages as to whether the 49ers did the right thing, given Buckner’s body of work in Indianapolis and the fact that Javon Kinlaw, drafted with a pick acquired in the Buckner trade, could never conquer a bum knee.

There was no debate as to Armstead’s influence in both the locker room and the community. And Armstead looks as good on the field at present as he did in 2021.

All the while, Armstead, a Sacramento native, threw himself into community involvement to the point where he was the 49ers’ four-time Walter Payton Award nominee (each NFL team has one) and he won the award last season with the Jaguars.

“He’s a great teammate, on the field, off the field, and a hell of a player,” running back Christian McCaffrey said. “His tape speaks for itself, and it has for his entire career. Definitely a force to be reckoned with. Somebody we’ve got to keep an eye on the whole game.”

There isn’t a 49ers defensive lineman who played with Armstead, given the seasonal winds of change in the NFL. But it isn’t too hard to look at the 49ers’ top pick in 2025, defensive end Mykel Williams, and see the Armstead-Buckner prototype in terms of having a dominating big man who can play both inside and outside.

So far in three games this season, he has played 49, 49 and 43 snaps, more than he played in most games with the Jaguars last year and on par with what he did with the 49ers during his best years.

“I think Arik looks good. He looks fresh,” Shanahan said. “He looks healthy. He’s playing really good right now in all these games, both run and pass, and he’s tough to deal with.”

If Armstead has any bitter feelings about the 49ers, he’s keeping them well hidden. He was uninterested in waxing poetic about his 49ers glory days or detailing the agony of two Super Bowl defeats, instead focusing on the good times with his teammates.

“The best memory is the teammates, the bond you build with and go through the ups and downs with people like I’m doing here,” Armstead said. “That’s what I cherish most, the relationships, those bonds. You forget about the games, you’ll forget about the wins and the losses and the stats.”

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/25/former-49er-arik-armstead-keeping-emotion-out-of-return-to-levis-stadium/

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Posted by Curtis Pashelka

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/25/san-jose-sharks-pittsburgh-penguins-yaroslav-askarov-alex-nedeljkovic/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12228962

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks feel good about the changes they’ve made to their forward group and defense corps, believing that the handful of veterans they’ve added up front and on the back end can make them a more competitive team.

The Sharks are also optimistic that they’ve overhauled their goaltending for the better, with Yaroslav Askarov now taking on a full-time NHL role and the more experienced Alex Nedeljkovic providing some competition for the No. 1 job.

Of course, stats-wise, there was nowhere to go but up. The five goalies the Sharks used last season combined for both the third-worst team save percentage (.881) in the NHL and the highest-goals against average (3.74). The advanced metrics were not much better, if at all.

“We needed to solidify our goaltending position,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said, “and I thought we did a good job getting a guy like (Nedeljkovic) to compliment (Askarov) as a young pro.”

But as is the case with the Sharks’ skaters, questions remain.

Specifically, how many games might the promising Askarov, 23, be able to play this season as he makes the full-time leap to the NHL and can Nedeljkovic, 29, bounce back after an up-and-down final year with the Pittsburgh Penguins?

How will the workload be split between the two? Can one take control of the net and make more than 50 starts?

As the No. 1 goalie for the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, Askarov, between the regular season and playoffs, played 60 games in 2022-23 and 51 the following year. Acquired by the Sharks from the Predators in Aug. 2024, Askarov shined in the AHL, but a lower body injury limited him to 41 games total between the Sharks and Barracuda.

Nedeljkovic last season had a career worst .894 save percentage in 38 games with the sinking Penguins, who missed the playoffs for the third straight season and arguably didn’t offer their goalies much support. In 179 career games over the past five seasons, Nedeljkovic, acquired from the Penguins in July, had a .903 save percentage

“(Askarov’s) got to stay healthy, we’ve got to manage him and there’s a lot of data that goes with that,” Warsofsky said. “Ned’s obviously been around the league for a few years now, and I know he’s not going to hand (the No. 1 job) over. He’s a competitive guy, as is Askarov.

“So, we’ll see how it plays out.”

Both Askarov and Nedeljkovic figure to get work in the first month of the season as the Sharks play 16 games over the first 31 days, a stretch that includes games on back-to-back days four times.

For the season, the Sharks play games on back-to-back days 16 times.

CELEBRINI WATCH: Center Macklin Celebrini, who missed two days of training camp last week with what was described as an illness, practiced Wednesday but was again held out of contact drills.

Celebrini returned to practice on Tuesday but worked on faceoff techniques as other forwards battled for the puck along the boards with the team’s defensemen at both ends of the ice. Wednesday, Celebrini worked on his shooting as he faced goalies Gabe Carriere and Matt Davis.

Celebrini said Tuesday that the illness he dealt with last week was not something he felt before camp began on Sept. 18. It’s unclear when Celebrini will be able to take contact again or if he might be available to take part in Friday’s home preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

“We’ve got a pretty good plan on how we want to approach this,” Warsofsky said of Celebrini’s ailment. “So each day he does a little bit more, and then we’ll let him go.”

OTHER INJURIES: Defenseman John Klingberg (upper body) skated Wednesday morning apart from the main training groups but it still appears doubtful that he’ll be available to play Friday. Klingberg sustained the injury in the Sharks’ 3-0 win over the Golden Knights on Sunday when he played over 21 minutes and scored a second-period power-play goal. … Haoxi (Simon) Wang, drafted 33rd overall by the Sharks in June, has a lower body issue and did not skate Wednesday. Warsofsky said it was more of a maintenance day for Wang and that the issue is “not too serious.”

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/25/san-jose-sharks-pittsburgh-penguins-yaroslav-askarov-alex-nedeljkovic/

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