Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs is pleased to announce a live performance featuring Mary Youngblood at the University Union Ballroom on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Native American Mary Youngblood, half Seminole and half Aleut, is the first woman to professionally record the Native American Flute, and the first woman to win not just one, but two Grammy Awards for "Best Native American Music Album". In addition to Mary’s two Grammy Awards and three nominations, she was the first woman to win 'Flutist of the Year' in both 1999 and 2000. She also won 'Best Female Artist' in 2000 at the Native American Music Awards (NAMMYS). With five unique and accomplished albums under her b

Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs, in collaboration with Associated Students, Inc., is pleased to announce a free comedy show by the Ambassadors of Comedy at the University Union Ballroom on Thursday, February 23, 2012. The AMBASSADORS OF COMEDY is a Los Angeles-based, collective of multicultural stand up comedians. The hilarious theme show consists routines about life in the United States from a foreigner’s perspective from four veteran stand up comics, each from different cultural backgrounds. The Ambassador’s of Comedy motto is: “If you can’t go on vacation, we’ll bring the vacation to you.” Jeff Hodge, from The Virgin Islands, has credits that include “Crocodile Dun

Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs, Student Health & Counseling Services, and Active Minds are pleased to announce The Vagina Monologues at the Sacramento State University Union Ballroom at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Eve Ensler, a playwright and feminist, wrote The Vagina Monologues. The monologues are a compilation of Ensler’s interviews with hundreds of women on their views and experiences of sex, relationships, and violence and cover issues of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery. Sac State’s production will include only student actresses reciting the dialogues. The Vagina Monologues are part of V-Day, a global activist movement to end violenc

With the cover art pattern used on their seminal debut LP, "Highly Refined Pirates," as their backdrop, and a light show on acid, Seattle's Minus the Bear thrilled a packed house at Ace of Spades on Monday night. The band is wrapping up their 10 Year Anniversary Tour, celebrating a decade of music and performing “Pirates,” released in 2002, in its entirety. The popular math-rockers put on a tremendous performance for a very jazzed audience. Featuring guitarist Dave Knudson's signature complex finger-tapping guitar work - used on every song on “Pirates,” the band combined powerhouse indie band swagger with down-to-earth Northwestern charm. Songs like "Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Wa

Looking through the eyes of Anne Frank was truly an extraordinary experience at B Street Theatre. “Extraordinary Things: Through the Eyes of Anne Frank” captivates its audience with diverse characters and realistic props. Playwright Dana Friedman brings to life on stage the extreme conditions that millions of Jews had to face in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. Directed by Buck Busfield, the play is set in Amsterdam-present-day-Netherlands-where Anne Frank, her family and four others lived in her father’s office building for two years to ensure the safety of Anne’s older sister Margot from the German authorities, who would have taken her to the a Nazi concentration camp. The

You know that comedian, Anthony Jeselnik? Yeah, me neither. At least, I didn't until I saw him steal the show during the recent broadcast of the “Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump,” where he created some buzz for himself by deftly skewering the guest of honor and the other roasters on the dais, like Larry King, Snoop Dogg and Jersey Shore's "The Situation.” I had a chance to see him in action myself Thursday night at the Punch Line. Fremont's Sammy Obeid was the emcee and first act, mining his Lebanese ethnicity for some killer jokes about being mistaken as Mexican and Indian, as well as plenty of great sex-related material, which appeals to everyone and is always a crowd-pleaser.

 From the versatile dances to the colorful scenery, Shen Yun is a unique traveling show that presents its audience with an understanding and a visual of the traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun will be coming to Sacramento on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both showings will begin at 8 p.m. at Sacramento’s Community Center Theater at 1301 L St. across from Capitol Park. “Every year, Shen Yun has brand-new performances,” said Sherry Zhang, who works for the Asian Arts Foundation as a local presenter for Shen Yun. “The 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture have so many stories and legends. Dancers in Shen Yun bring to life many of these legends and stories,” Zhang said. Every year, Shen Y

After seeing the movie version of “The Rocky Horror Show (RHS)” numerous times I thought I would be prepared for the musical version – I could not have been more wrong. The RHS is a musical where audience participation is not only encouraged it is requested; the theater even sells ‘goody’ bags for the audience to hurl at the cast (not available opening night).  Many in the audience called out catchphrases or insults – all in good fun. To get the audience even more involved, numerous cast members sat in the back and dispatched one liners; many times adding more humor than the show itself. For those of you who have never experience the RHS here is a synapses of the quirky yet alluring and

With a Miller Lite in tow, acerbic entertainer Adam Carolla took the Crest stage and delivered his familiar catchphrase – “get it on; got to get it on; no choice but to get it on!” – kicking off a rowdy night of comedy for an enthusiastic sold-out audience Thursday night.    Carolla hosts “The Adam Carolla Show,” a talk show featuring interviews with celebrity guests that is produced in his home studio and topped the iTunes Store's "Best of 2009" selection of audio podcasts.   The former “Loveline” and “The Man Show” co-host was in Sacramento to perform a live comedy event entitled “Christmas Carolla” in support of his recently released book “In Fifty Years We’ll All Be Chicks.”   Starting

 photos by Barry Wisdom  Imagine being happily married for 36 years – more than three decades of bliss blessed with talented children and grandchildren. Along the way, you’ve earned the respect and love of your community, and while there have been a few tumultuous years marred by major moves (and even war), things seemed like they would continue forever. Then, out of the blue, you hit a rough patch when financial problems create a wedge between you and your beloved spouse. Money and even friends become scarce, and before you know it, you’re in a trial separation. Ultimately, the financial problems are resolved, but the time apart and the fear of history repeating raises real concerns ov

The Submarines are an indie-pop group comprised of married couple Jack Dragonetti and Blake Hazard.  Touring with drummer Jason Stare and new bass player "Scott," they passed through Sacramento on Wednesday night, playing a small show at Blue Lamp. If you don't recognize the band name, you would certainly recognize the music. Their songs have been featured in Nip/Tuck, Weeds, Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl, and in maybe the most well-known placement, the songs "You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" and "Submarine Symphonika" were used in Apple commercials for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. Originally working as solo artists in Boston, Dragonetti and Hazard played in each other's bands and were romant

There was a lot of fishnet at Blue Lamp on Wednesday night, which could mean a few things, but in this case it was lo-fi pop quartet Dum Dum Girls visiting Sacramento in support of their debut album I Will Be. Dum Dum Girls is led by Dee Dee (real name: Kristen Gundred), the creative force behind the all girl group, á la Trent Reznor. The name of the group is a nod to both The Vaselines' album Dum-Dum, and the Iggy Pop song "Dum Dum Boys". The 27-year-old singer/songwriter started recording songs in her bedroom and eventually looked to her friends to take the show on the road. The debut album I Will Be was produced by Richard Gottehrer, who is responsible for writing 60's classics "My Boy

  FICTION by Steven Dietz at Capital Stage There’s an old adage in theatre that audiences attend with ‘a willing suspension of disbelief’. That is to say that they willingly set aside the truth and accept the fact that Peter Pan can fly even though the wires holding him up are plainly seen. That applies to theatre, film, and especially literature. But what if we believe every word we read? Can fiction become fact? Is something true simply because we believe it? In 2003 author James Frey wrote a memoir of his struggle with addiction called ‘A Million Little Pieces’. He was lauded as a troubled genius with a brilliant future, and America loved him. When the truth came out that a portion of

FOR ALL WHO MISSED OR REQUESTED THE SHOW AGAIN, THIS IS FOR YOU! Fascinating and Dramatically Compelling, this Eloquent Play depicts the supposed Meeting of two of the most important men of modern times: Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Differing in their Philosophies, but alike in their mutual respect, the two men debate their varying approaches to the same grave Social problems, both prepared to die for their beliefs but neither aware of how soon their assassins’ bullets would await them. The story takes place in a suite high up in a Harlem Hotel room where Malcolm X and his bodyguard Rashad are resting before Malcolm X’s fateful speech at the Audubon Ballroom. Malcolm X has r

The Green Room - the College Musical is set to open this Friday at the California Stage in Sacramento.  Starring Courtney Parks, Jacob Montoya, Jessica Goldman & Lafras le Roux, this edgy and funny musical is sure to entertain Sacramento audiences.  The Green Room was presented for a short run in Hermosa Beach in May to audience acclaim and great reviews.  Director Kevin Caravalho has brought some interesting elements to the production that incorporate video and photography to assist in telling the story of Divonne, Cliff, Anna & John as they live through their years in college and try to fulfill their apirations of going to Broadway.  The music & lyrics by Chuck Pelletier span a wide r