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Broadcast live: Thursday 6:04 p.m. & Friday 11:04 am. By Sabrina Eastwood

This Week:

The Kirby Prep High School Music Department is holding its annual Kirby School Cafe Concert on February 10 & 11 at 425 Encinal Street in Santa Cruz, with performances by student ensembles and soloists. The concert will include Jazz, Pop, and Rock music performed by Kirby's Jazz Band, Jazz and Chamber Singers, Treble Choir, String & Wind Ensemble, Chorus, and student soloists. The evening will also include performances by the Kirby Dance Company. More information is available online at Kirby.org.

Singer-songwriter, pianist and harpist Jesse Autumn presents an intimate evening of ethereal chamber pop ballads, accompanied by cellist Barry Phillips. Friday, February 10, 8:00 PM at the Backstage Lounge, 1209 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. Info:  facebook.com/JesseAutumnSongs  

Ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro comes to the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz on Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 pm. All ages welcome. Information at riotheatre.com http://jakeshimabukuro.com/home/

Ensemble Monterey presents The Art of the Dance with the Monterey Dance Collective on Saturday, February 11 at 8:00 pm at Hidden Valley Institute of the Performing Arts in Carmel Valley and on Sunday, February 12 at 7:00 pm at the Cabrillo College Recital Hall. Info at www.ensemblemonterey.org

The Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz hosts the Poetry Festival this Sunday, February 12. Doors open at 3:00pm. Events is from 3:30-9:30. Advance tickets at Bookshop Santa Cruz or online at sparringwithbeatnikghosts.com.

The group Sketchy Black Dog will perform at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz on Sunday, February 12 for a 7:00 pm show. They are a 7-piece group—a piano trio plus string quartet — that plays originals and deconstructed versions of classic rock tunes.  The group is co-led by LA’s Chris Wabich and New York-based pianist, Misha Piatigorsky. Tickets at ticketleap.com

Kuumbwa Jazz presents the Benny Green Trio with Peter Washington and Kenny Washington on Monday, February 13, 7:00 pm at Santa Cruz’s Kuumbwa Jazz Center. A formative tenure with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers imparted master pianist Benny Green with a hard bop aesthetic that’s been his calling card through successive stints with Freddie Hubbard, Russell Malone and Christian McBride, as well as on over a hundred recorded works by the likes of Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson and Diana Krall. Green’s long-running trio (with Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums) is a veritable force of nature, renowned for thoughtful interpretations of classic compositions by greats like Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, Thelonious Monk and of course, Benny Green. Information at www.kuumbwajazz.org

Continuing:

Paper Wing Theater presents Sweet-Tarts Valentine Burlesque! Fridays, Saturdays and on Valentines Day, Tuesday, February 14, at 8PM at the Paper Wing Theatre, 320 Hoffman Avenue in Monterey. Sizzling, sinful, red-hot! Sweet, yet smoldering, the hottest singers, dancers, and sexy performers take the stage for some rollicking, hilarious sweetheart fun! Live music! Cupid himself is rumored to make an appearance. Mature audiences only. Tickets at www.PaperWingTheatre.com or Call 831-905-5684

Coming up next week and beyond:

The Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz welcomes everyone to 3rd Friday on February 17 for Music at the MAH, offering an explosion of musical performances, demonstrations, and workshops from local Santa Cruz musicians, artists, and music organizations. From Polynesian to jazz, pop to opera, and swing to rock, a series of ongoing performances in the atrium will celebrate diverse local talent and have you dancing your way through the museum, where you can find bundles of musical fun. Galleries transforming interactive sound gardens, the museum's back patio turns into a live looping visual instrument, and the Front Street entrance becomes a collaborative concert, digital sound installation artists will keep the beat going. Sing your heart out in The Sad Song Project or take beginners lessons in instruments like the ukulele, koto, the saz, the cifteli, the dulcimer (7:30-8:30pm), acoustic guitar and electric guitar (8:20-9:00 pm). If free-style is more your thing, bring your own instrument and join in with Jayme Kelly Curtis's Open Jam Session from 8:30-9:00pm. www.santacruzmah.org or contact Stacey Marie Garcia at stacey@santacruzmah.org

You Had To Be There improv and sketch comedy presents a post-Valentine’s "Cherubs Me The Wrong Way" the show the greeting card companies don't want you to know about! This ward-winning improv and sketch comedy troupe brings you a show that will break your heart and bust your gut. The combination of quick-witted improv and sharp-sketch comedy is a great way to escape from the chaos Valentine's Day leaves in its wake. February 18 at 8:00pm. Doors open at 7:30pm. At the Broadway Playhouse, 526 Broadway Street, Santa Cruz. Tickets available at Brownpapertickets.com. Search "Cherub".

UC Santa Cruz celebrates 20 years of student dance with 'Random With A Purpose' dance showcase playing for two weekends in the Mainstage Theater. The show offers dance in jazz, contemporary, modern, musical theater, tap, hip hop, and belly dance and features new works by choreographers Cid Pearlman and Leslie Johnson of the company Flex. Friday-Sunday, February 17–19 and Thursday-Sunday, February 23–26 7:00 pm (Sundays at 3:00pm) in the Mainstage Theater, Theater Arts Center, UC Santa Cruz. Tickets available online at santacruztickets.com, by phone or in-person at the UCSC Ticket Office (831-459-2159) and Santa Cruz Civic Box Office (831-420-5260)

Top student musicians perform two concertos with UCSC Orchestra on Friday & Saturday, February 24 & 25 at the Music Center Recital Hall, UC Santa Cruz. Concerts start at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm). Undergraduate cellist Esther Cynn performs the Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor by Camille Saint-Saens after winning last year's UCSC Concerto Competition. PhD candidate Giacomo Fiore, another Concerto Competition winner, will perform Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. Graduate William Long conducts the orchestra in the concert's opening work, Beethoven’s overture for the ballet The Creatures of Prometheus. Conductor Yair Samet and the Orchestra close the concert with Robert Schumann's Overture, Scherzo, and Finale, Op. 52. Tickets online at santacruztickets.com and in person or by phone at UCSC Ticket Office (831-459-2159) and the Santa Cruz Civic box office (831-420-5260)

Cabrillo College Theatre Arts presents the Fifth Annual Evening of World Theatre featuring the Abhinaya Dance Company with acclaimed dancer and artistic director Mythili Kumar, on February 25 at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater at 8:00 PM. Discover the rhythm and beauty of South Indian classical dance forms with the Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose.  Founded by its artistic director Mythili Kumar in 1980, the company presents innovative and professional performances of Indian dance forms, primarily Bharatanatyam. Tickets: www.cabrillovapa.com or 831-479-6154

The UCSC African-American Theater Arts Troupe stages the Lynn Nottage play “Ruined.” Set in a rain forest bar and brothel in the brutally war-torn land of Congo, the play follows as the establishment’s shrewd matriarch, Mama Nadi, as she keeps peace between customers from both sides of the civil war, as government soldiers and rebel forces alike choose from her inventory of women, many already “ruined” by rape and torture when they were pressed into prostitution. Inspired by interviews she conducted in Africa with Congo refugees, Nottage has crafted an engrossing and uncommonly human story with humor and song served alongside its postcolonial and feminist politics in the rich theatrical tradition of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage.Presented by the UC Santa Cruz Theater Arts Department in conjunction with The UCSC African American Theater Arts Troupe. Directed by Don Williams. Performances: Second Stage, UC Santa Cruz: February 24-26, 7:00 pm (3:00pm matinee on Sunday); Stevenson Event Center, UC Santa Cruz: March 2-3, 7:00 pm; Oldemeyer Center, Seaside: March 9-10, 7:00 pm

Arts Habitat in Seaside will present Senegalese drummer Abdoulaye Diallo at Arts in Progress (AIP) on Tuesday, February 28, in a drumming demonstration and talk entitled, "West African Rhythms and Their Cultural Context.” Abdoulaye Diallo is a drummer and drum maker from Senegal, a region of West Africa rich with artists. He has been playing drums for more than 30 years, and has taught and performed throughout Monterey County. He teaches the traditional rhythms that he learned from his elders in an effort to expose the community to this important part of West African culture. AIP takes place the fourth Tuesday of each month at Arts Habitat | Studio Seaside, 840 Broadway Avenue, Suite B3, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The Studio is located in the Seaside City Center (next to Erik's Deli). The event is free and open to the public and complimentary refreshments are served. The first and last half hours are devoted to socializing and community building; the program runs from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Fans of the American West will take a step back in time and enjoy an authentic Old West experience when the World Theater Performing Arts Series presents “Don’t Fence Me In” at CSU Monterey Bay on February 29 at 7:30. The evening will feature five great acts in the newly renovated University Center. Cowboy songs and poetry, high plains yodeling, western swing fiddle and vocal harmonies, lively Tex-Mex polkas and rancheras, and Northern Plains pow-wow drum and song are performed by five exceptional artists – all working cowboys and other authentic representatives of today’s Western culture. These artists express the vitality and power of tradition. Bring the entire family for this evening of fiddling, song, poetry and Native American drumming. Tickets can be purchased by calling the World Theater box office at (831) 582-4580 or online at csumb.edu/worldtheater.
The University Center is located on Sixth Avenue on the CSUMB campus. Driving directions and a campus map are available at csumb.edu/map.

The World Theater at California State University, Monterey Bay hosts comedian Will Durst on Thursday, March 8. One of the premier political satirists in the country, Durst has patched together a comedy quilt of a career, weaving together columns, books, radio and television commentaries, acting and stand-up comedy.  He is a five-time Emmy nominee; has been fired by PBS three times; told jokes in 14 countries; and earned seven nominations for Stand-Up of the Year. His 800 or so television appearances include The David Letterman Show, HBO, Showtime, CNN, all four broadcast networks and the BBC. Tickets can be purchased online at csumb.edu/worldtheater or by calling the box office at 582-4580. The World Theater is located on Sixth Avenue, near the intersection with A Street. Driving directions and a campus map are available at csumb.edu/map.

AUDITIONS, FUNDRAISERS, WORKSHOPS & MORE:

Santa Cruz Fringe Festival - applications
There’s a new festival coming to town this year! The first, annual Santa Cruz Fringe Festival will bring about 175 performances by around 35 different groups to downtown Santa Cruz during the 10-day Festival this July. Performing artists and groups of all genres are encouraged to apply. More info and the application are available at the new Santa Cruz Fringe Festival website, which is www.scfringe.com.

YOUTH CHAMBER MUSIC AUDITION
The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival has opened its 10th annual Youth Chamber Music Competition for high school musicians in chamber ensembles in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties (Santa Clara County ensembles are admitted on a space-available basis). Following auditions on Saturday, February 25, 2012 the awards ceremony takes place at the Baroque Festival’s Concert II, Saturday, March 10, at the UCSC Music Center Recital Hall from 7:30 PM. Each member of the winning ensemble will receive a cash prize and the group will perform at the competition's awards ceremony. Second place winners will receive a cash prize and will be recognized along with honorable mention award groups.  Deadline: Audition appointments can be scheduled by completing the attached form and returning it by Saturday, February 18, 2012 (receipt deadline). You will then receive confirmation of your audition appointment by email. (You may download form from our website www.scbaroque.org/youth.html, or request it by phone or email.)

If your PERFORMING ARTS organization has an upcoming event which might interest KUSP's listening audience, please send a BRIEF press release or SHORT public service announcement to: performing at kusp dot org

or snail mail an announcement to:
KUSP Performing Arts Calendar 203 8th Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Tips for getting your announcement on air and web:
- Put your event name and date in the email's subject heading
- Please DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS.

PLEASE SEND AT LEAST 2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF YOUR EVENT.

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