On Tap: Scottish country dancing lessons start Sept. 8 in Danville

DANVILLE

The Lafayette Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Inc. (RSCDS) will offer beginner Scottish country dancing lessons for adults starting Sept. 8.

Lessons are with the Lafayette class of the San Francisco Branch located at The Danville Grange at 743 Diablo Road in Danville. The group meets from 7 to 8:30 Thursday nights, and lessons are $8 each.

Wear comfortable clothes and soft shoes. No partner is required, and you don’t need to be Scottish or have a kilt. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, though, is required. For more information, call Kathleen at 925-934-6148 or Monica at 925-575-7637.

— RSCDS

 

PITTSBURG

Creative Arts Building will host a free Faye Carol concert

Legendary Bay Area vocalist Faye Carol will return home to Pittsburg with a free concert at the Creative Arts Building at 7 p.m. Sept. 10.

Carol, a 1962 Pittsburg High graduate, will be joined by the Pittsburg High School Marching Show Band, Miss Faye’s Bangin’ Black String Quartet, the all-star trio of Joe Warner, Dennis Chambers and Tarus Mateen and Oakland-based rapper Ryan Nicole for Blues, Baroque & Bars.

Carol is an inductee in the Pittsburg Entertainment & Arts Hall of Fame, the Oakland Blues Walk of Fame and received the city of Berkeley’s Lifetime Achievement Award as well as winning a variety of entertainment honors. She conducts music history shows for schools, including all three Pittsburg junior highs and Pittsburg High School.

— PHS Creative Arts Building

BRENTWOOD

Community Chorus accepting new members for the fall

Someone once said, “I don’t sing because I’m happy; I’m happy because I sing.” The Brentwood Community Chorus is accepting new members for its fall season, which will undoubtedly bring happiness into your life, organizers say.

Under the direction of Susan Stuart, the Brentwood Community Chorus had the opportunity to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2018. This fall they will be performing locally, and everyone is welcome to join in the fun as participants learn to make beautiful music together.

This season the chorus will sing selections from Handel’s “Messiah” as well as other beautiful holiday music at two or more performances in December. Weekly rehearsals have begun and take place on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brentwood Community United Methodist Church (809 Second St.). Details and registration information are available at brentwoodcommunitychorus.com.

— Brentwood Community Chorus

Delta Gallery hosting PAINT, Marsh art shows this month

The Delta Gallery Community Art Center is hosting two art shows at the gallery.

The first event is the Art Guild of the Delta Third Quarter Art Show with original artwork by local artists and a special show by the PAINT Group (Promoting Arts, Individuals and Natural Talents) program. The PAINT Group exhibit is a collection of artwork showcasing local talent from participants of the group’s program, a Brentwood-based creative arts day program for adults with intellectual challenges.

In association with the John Marsh Historic Trust, the gallery for the second event will open “The Life and Times of John Marsh Art Show.” The art show consists of artwork featuring Rancho Los Meganos, the John Marsh property, and pastoral views of Contra Costa County as it would have been in the 1850s.

The gallery at 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128, is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. For more information, call 925-516-5935 or visit deltagallery.com online.

— Delta Gallery

ANTIOCH

Drama factory to hold auditions Sept. 12-13 for ‘Dracula’

The Drama Factory will host auditions for “Dracula” from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 12-13 in the Nick Rodriguez Theater at 213 F St. in Antioch.

The troupe is looking for a full range of actors ages 13 through adults. There also are some crew positions available, including house crew, costuming, makeup and scene shift crew. All interested parties can come to either date to fill out a request. Actors should bring a headshot and will be asked to do a quick cold reading.

Currently, the troupe still requires all participants to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated and masked throughout rehearsals. Please bring proof of full COVID vaccination to the auditions with you.

Orientation is Sept. 18. Rehearsals will be from 7 to 9 p.m Tuesdays through Thursdays with additional rehearsals planned. Performances are scheduled for Nov. 4-6, and 11-12. For more information, go online to dramafactory.org.

— The Drama Factory

WALNUT CREEK

Art gallery to hold drawing Aug. 28 for $300 gift certificate

Enter today to win a $300 gift certificate, good for any gallery purchase at the Valley Art Gallery in Walnut Creek. The drawing will be held during the gallery’s open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 28. To enter the free drawing, visit valleyartgallery.org online and follow the prompt for Arts Around August, or stop by the gallery and fill out an entry form.

The drawing is part of Walnut Creek’s second annual Arts Around August month of celebrations. Come and say hello at the gallery’s booth during the Broadway Plaza concert series every Thursday in August from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Valley Art Gallery is at 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, in Walnut Creek. Call 925-935-4311 or email valleyartgallery@gmail.com for more details.

— Valley Art Gallery

ORINDA

Film adaptation of Balzac’s ‘Lost Illusions’ to open Friday

The Lamorinda Film and Entertainment Foundation’s International Film Showcase will screen the French award winner “Lost Illusions.” This film will open Friday for at least one week at the Orinda Theatre and will play Aug. 27 at the Jarvis Conservatory in Napa.

As the story goes, Lucien de Rubempré (César winner Benjamin Voisin) arrives in 1820s Paris as a sensitive and idealistic young poet determined to write a reputation-making novel. Instead, he finds himself swept into journalism, the influence and reach of which is booming with the help of the printing press, widely available of late.

Under the mentorship of cynical editor Étienne Lousteau (César winner Vincent Lacoste), Lucien agrees to write rave theater reviews for bribes, achieving material success at the expense of his conscience. With this sweeping adaptation of one of 19th century French writer Honoré de Balzac’s greatest novels, Xavier Giannoli crafts a contemporary tale of corruption amid an early form of “fake news.” For more information, visit internationalshowcase.org online.

— International Film Showcase

Lamorinda Arts Council presenting exhibits at library

The Lamorinda Arts Council presents ceramics by Jeannine Calcagno, Rick Nelson’s wood turnings, the fabric art of Tina Nelson, photographs by Wendy Pyman and paintings and drawings by Nancy Vachani in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library during August. Visit lamorindaarts.org for more details.

— Lamorinda Arts Council

Submit area On Tap items to Judith Prieve at jprieve@bayareanewsgroup.com.