YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN Charlie Brown is coming to town with the opening on Saturday of Berkeley Playhouse’s production of the two-time Tony Award-winning musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown at the Julia Morgan Theater. The play, which is, of course, based on the famous comic strip “Peanuts,” by Charles M. Schulz, is directed and choreographed by Christina Lazo and music and lyrics are by Clark Gesner. In an innovative move, the theater group is partnering with Berkeley Humane with onsite pet adoptions during the production. “Snoopy was rescued from the puppy farm by Charlie Brown and we know that a number of puppies will be saved during the run of the show. We think Charlie Brown, Snoopy and all the Peanuts gang would be proud of that,” said Berkeley Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Daren A.C. Carollo. The show runs from Feb. 21 to March 15. Tickets are available through the by calling (510) 845-8542 Ext: 351, or visiting berkeleyplayhouse.org. Select “Pay What You Can” nights will be announced where tickets are sold on a sliding scale from $5-$20.
PAUL ROBESON AT THE LIBRARY Nationally known baritone Autris Paige will perform “Paul Robeson, Renaissance Man,” at Berkeley Public Library’s South Branch on Saturday afternoon. Paige will explore the life of Robeson through the words and songs of the great singer, actor and political activist, accompanied by pianist Lonnie Williams. This special event is one of many free public programs at the Berkeley Public Library during February for African American History Month. Paige’s performance takes place on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 1:00 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room of the South Branch Library, 1901 Russell St. This free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. More information can be found online.
BOOBIE PALOOZA Boobie-Palooza, which takes place Sunday in Berkeley is a “Birth and Baby Festival for New and Expecting Parents.” According to the organizers, it’s the first Bay Area baby event specializing in wellness-based education, combining information with related exhibitors, entertainment and family-friendly fun. On-hand experts include Ashley Wright who will advise on breastfeeding, and Dr. Robert Sears who will discuss vaccinations. See the full schedule and buy tickets on Boobie Palooza’s website. Sunday, Feb. 22, 12-5 p.m. at the Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline, Suite 220. Cost: $15 general admission/$45 VIP admission.
POETRY FLASH ON SOLANO On Saturday, Joyce Jenkins and Betty Roszak will be at Folk & Fine Art Gallery on Solano Avenue as part of the Alta Solano Lit Out Loud reading series that celebrates “good writing, intellect and artistic community.” Joyce Jenkins has served as editor and executive director of Poetry Flash for over three decades. She is also the chair of Northern California Book Reviewers and the recipient of numerous awards. Betty Roszak recently published her poetry collection, For Want of the Golden City, including translations of poems by Pablo Neruda. With her husband, Theodore Roszak, she co-edited Masculine/Feminine, Readings in Sexual Mythology and the Liberation of Women. The event is on Saturday, Feb. 21, 7:30–9 p.m. at Folk & Fine Art Gallery, 1861-A Solano Ave. (in the small alleyway two doors up from Pegasus Books). Tickets: $5-10 sliding scale. Proceeds benefit featured poets and the venue.
FEISTY OLD JEW Acclaimed Bay Area actor and comedian Charlie Varon’s hit show Feisty Old Jew comes to the Marsh Berkeley for its East Bay premiere starting Saturday. It is deemed “very funny” (The New Yorker), “hilarious” (The Washington Post), and “wildly entertaining” (SF Chronicle). Varon tells the story of Bernie, an 83-year-old San Franciscan who hates the following things: yoga studios, tattoo parlors, boutiques of all kinds, medical marijuana dispensaries, $6 cups of coffee, and the young people who are drinking them. But when he gets tired of waiting for a cab and sticks out his thumb on Post Street, Bernie finds himself in a Tesla with three 20-somethings and their dashboard cappuccino-maker. By the time they get to Bolinas, Bernie has convinced them to let him surf for the first time in his life, and has bet them $400,000 he’ll catch a wave. The show runs Feb. 21 through March 22 at The Marsh Berkeley (2120 Allston Way). For tickets ($25-$100), visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Don’t miss these other events featured on Berkeleyside:
Shedding light on a tumultuous era: Photographer Ken Light
Watch out for Berkeley-made film at Oscar night Berkeleywood
Playing Berkeley: ‘Timbuktu,’ a film of value and beauty
Playing Berkeley: ‘She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry’
And don’t forget Berkeleywood on Sunday evening — a chance to watch a live telecast of the Academy Awards in style, and in good company, and to support the Berkeley Film Foundation. (Berkeleyside is a media sponsor). Food, wine, and fun happen starting at 4pm at FIVE at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza. Visit the Berkeleywood website for details and to buy tickets.