February 28 to March 9, Dan Kryston Memorial Theater: Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts presents 42nd Street. A Depression-era novel was made into a 1933 film, perhaps best known for the song, “We’re in the Money.” Finally got to Broadway in 1980, under the ailing hand of Gower Champion. It’s the two-act story of the making of a Broadway musical. Love and intrigue off stage. You think of all the spinoffs of this story, from A Chorus Line to The Producers. It’s a little of each. Well worth seeing on its own; and if any young cast can do it right, this one can. (Thursday, Friday and Saturdays only. 7:30 p.m. Matinees on Saturdays only, at 2 p.m.). Tickets from $15.
March 3 Sunday, through the next Sunday, March 10, Asian Art Museum, across from City Hall on Larkin Street: San Francisco Unified School District Arts Festival. Last call for this remarkable festival, which is focused on visual, literary, media, and performing arts. Fifty artistic groups from San Francisco public schools will attend. About half are devoted to music. Admission is free. Here are some highlights:
March 3, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Performances by the S.F. Boys Chorus, The Hamlin School Girls Chorus, and Presidio Middle School Jazz Band. (A special exhibit surcharge of $10 for visitors over 18 applies. Don’t forget to book your visit time for the Terracotta Warriors on asianart.org.) From 2-4 p.m. at the Main Branch of San Francisco Public Library, next door to the museum: Students read their poetry and other literary works.
March 5, 10-11:30 a.m.: Film Makers Day - Films and Q&A with student filmmakers, grades 1-12.
March 7, 2013, 5-8 p.m.: Award Ceremony and Community Celebration with a public reception. Dreamcatcher awards are given to outstanding educators and community education partners. Performances will be given by the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts Orchestra and Chorus and ensembles from A.P. Giannini and Presidio Middle Schools.
There is a full schedule of events on the SFUSD Arts Festival website.
March 3, Sunday, 3 p.m., San Domenico School in San Anselmo: Orchestra da Camera presents its annual scholarship benefit concert. This year: “Women in Music.” Program includes Fanny Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in Eb, along with music by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Grazyna Bacewicz, and Nancy Bloomer Deussen. Not to mention a piece composed by Jo Griffin, a student in the Virtuoso program. The Quartet Rouge, whose debut album Muses is now on iTunes, will also perform. Tickets are $25 and fully tax-deductible. Purchase through the Conservatory office at (415) 258-1921.
March 9, Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church in San Francisco: San Francisco Renaissance Voices hosts Judith Kennedy who will offer a day-long, workshop-styled introduction to Renaissance Dance. Kennedy was a choreographer with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 25 years and teaches courses at such places as the Consort de Danse Baroque in Cardiff, Wales. Tickets: online: $45/half-day, $85/full day (at the door: $55 half-day, $100/full-day). More information: www.sfrv.org.
March 16 same time and place: a similar workshop program, in Baroque dance, offered by Philippa Waite. For both novice and experienced dancers. Waite is currently guest teacher of Period Movement and Dance at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff, and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She is Artistic Director of Consort de Danse Baroque. This workshop will include instruction in basic dance steps and arm motions in the main Baroque dance rhythms: bourée and minuet in the morning session and sarabande and gigue in the afternoon.
Experienced students will learn more complex steps required for ballroom and theatre dances. Emphasis is on style, technique, and the performance of the dances, not on the ability to memorize the steps. Tickets may be purchased online: $45/half-day, $85/full day (at the door: $55 half-day, $100/full-day). More information: www.sfrv.org