Alasdair Fraser's Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School presents its 28th annual concert at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium on Friday, September 2 at 8:00 p.m. Directed by Indie award-winning Scots fiddler Alasdair Fraser, this year’s concert features fiddlers Lissa Schneckenburger and Brittany Haas, singer Aoife O’Donovan, dancer Nic Gareiss, cellist Natalie Haas, and many others. Tickets at the Santa Cruz Civic Box Office (831) 420-5260 or SantaCruzTickets.com. For more information see
http://www.valleyofthemoon.org.

El Teatro Campesino presents The Magic Twins, the third part of original three-part adaptation of “Popol Vuh,” the sacred creation book of the Quiche Maya. Unlike the other two parts of the cycle, The Magic Twins is not recommended for children. The Magic Twins will be performed at the ETC Playhouse at 705 Fourth Street in San Juan Bautista from September 1-5 for Labor Day weekend and continues September 8-25. Advance ticket purchase is recommended, especially for Labor Day weekend. Tickets available online at www.elteatrocampesino.com or by calling the ETC Box Office (831) 623-2444. This cycle of three World Premiere plays bring to life the major narrative portions of the Mayan text in colorful spectacles of pageantry, puppets, original music, and costumed characters-staged with the style, humor, and flair that El Teatro Campesino has become known for worldwide in its 46-year history of inspiring social action and cultivating cultural celebration. The first part of the Popol Vuh cycle is “Heart of Heaven.” This tale of the creation of the world comes to life with large-scale puppetry, captivating masks, colorful pageantry, and dance, as the Creator Gods make their attempts to create a being who will worship and revere them. “Heart of Heaven” will be performed trilingually in Spanish, English, and Quiche, the ancient Mayan language that embodies the oral tradition that has kept this story alive for centuries. “Heart of Heaven” and “The Story of the Seven Macaws” are family-friendly shows and will be performed for free at the San Juan Soccer Field at 100 Nyland Drive in San Juan Bautista September 3, 4, 5  (Heaven at 1:00 pm, Macaws at 4:00 pm.) Information at www.elteatrocampesino.com

Continuing:

Paper Wing Theatre in Monterey offers the final weekend of Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? — the tale of a married, middle-aged architect whose life crumbles when he falls in love with a goat. Through showing this family in crisis, Albee challenges audience members to question their own morality in the face of social taboos. 2002 Drama Desk Award for Best New Play; 2002 Tony Award for Best Play. Through    Saturday, September 3, Friday and Saturday at 8:00PM at the Paper Wing Theater in Monterey. Tickets and information at: www.PaperWingTheatreCo.com , 831-905-5684.

Philip Glass's inaugural Days and Nights Festival continues through September 4 with a closing outdoor picnic featuring Philip Glass performing solo piano all at the Hidden Valley Music Seminars in Carmel Valley. Information: days and nights festival.com or 659-7445.

Coming up next week and beyond:

MPC Storybook Theatre presents Beowulf, directed by Mickie Mosley. This adaptation keeps alive the monsters and dragons that inhabited the original epic poem and also includes the Norse gods, Odin, Loki, and Thor, engaged in an epic struggle for Beowulf’s life. 7:00PM Friday and Saturday; 3:00PM Saturday and Sunday, September 8–25 in the Carmel Middle School Theatre, 4380 Carmel Valley Road. Tickets: 831-646-4213 or www.mpctheatre.com

Tandy Beal & Company presents HereAfterHere, A Self Guided Tour of Eternity on Friday and Saturday, September 9 & 10 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, September 11 at 3:00pm at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Tickets:  www.santacruztickets.com and 831-420-5260 or at the SC Civic Auditorium Box Office.

Music at Skypark, the free concert series in Scotts Valley, benefits local public schools and takes place on the last Sunday of the month through September (September 25). All concerts run from 3:30 to about 7:30 pm. Concert sponsors Scotts Valley Kiwanis Foundation and Scotts Valley Arts Commission have added a fourth concert in September, and booked two bands for each concert instead of one band as in previous years. Although the concerts are free, all net proceeds from food and beverage sales will fund the music programs at local schools. 

AUDITIONS, FUNDRAISERS, WORKSHOPS & MORE:

Band/Orchestra
The Santa Cruz City Band is open to anyone that plays a band instrument and is proficient at reading music. The group meets Mondays from 7:30-9:30 PM in the Santa Cruz High Band Room on the corner of Walnut Street and California Street. Call John Thomas at 831-425-0110 for more information or visit Thomas Musical Instruments in Santa Cruz.