Marisa Breall

Live theater

After a long day of work, the thought of jetting off to Italy for some spaghetti and romance or flying to France for a comedic romp with a clown, sound pretty enticing, doesn’t it? Fortunately, Bay Area residents can experience all this and more on the stages of j. readers’ favorite live theater in the coming months.

The American Conservatory Theater has a little bit of everything planned for its 44th season as an example, from a comedic farce to classic existentialism. At the end of the season comes a performance that hits close to home: a musical adaptation of Armistead Maupin’s San Francisco story, Tales of the City.

Innovation is a key component of the performances at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. “We emphasize developing new work that hasn’t been seen before,” says public relations manager Terence Keane. The producers on Broadway seem to recognize that originality, as five Berkeley Rep productions have been welcomed to the Great White Way in the last five years. Next on tap is the world premiere of Rinne Groff’s “Compulsion”, a play based on the life of Jewish writer Meyer Levin.

Can’t afford a ticket to New York City? Luckily, Silicon Valley’s TheatreWorks is bringing a trio of Broadway productions to the stage this season: the musical “The Light in the Piazza,” Tracy Lett’s play “Superior Donuts,” and a comedic rendition of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps.”

The Marin Theatre Company provides an intimate space to watch their plays. Holding 231 and 99 theater goers, respectively, no seat is bad at one of this company’s productions. In September, MTC will take part in a unique partnership of three Bay Area companies to perform the West Coast premiere of “Brother/Sister Plays” by Tarell Alvin McCraney.

In second place were the Jewish Theatre, San Francisco; Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley; and the Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

American Conservatory Theater

(415) 749-2228

www.act-sf.org

East Bay

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley

(510) 647-2949

www.berkeleyrep.org

South Bay/Peninsula

TheatreWorks

Mountain View

(650) 903-6000

www.theatreworks.org

North Bay

Marin Theatre Company

Mill Valley

(415) 388-5208

www.marintheatre.org

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Jewish Theatre,

San Francisco

(415) 292-1233

www.tjt-sf.org

East Bay

Aurora Theatre Company

Berkeley

(510) 843-4822

www.auroratheatre.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Hillbarn Theatre

Foster City

(650) 349-6411

www.hillbarntheatre.org

Art gallery

At the George Krevsky Gallery in San Francisco, art is used to tell a cultural narrative about the 20th century. “Especially in times like these when the humanties and arts are one of the first things that get chopped out of school budgets, and with museums closing, there is a yearning for the spiritual impact of what art has to offer,” says Krevsky, the gallery owner. “We are a museum where you can take the art home, own the art and live with the art.”

Want to own one of Andy Warhol’s signature Cambell’s Tomato Soup prints? How about a ceramic pitcher made by Pablo Picasso? MasterWorks Fine Art in Oakland can supply you with work from a wide array of famous artists — but it’ll cost you a pretty penny. So start saving up for that Kandinsky, then head over to MasterWorks where Alex Adelman and his friendly staff will help you pick the best noteworthy work of art for your collection.

Donna Seager prides herself on selecting well-crafted work for her space, Donna Seager Gallery in San Rafael. That meticulous eye is particularly evident during the gallery’s annual exhibit of handmade and altered books. The gallery also hosts artist talks, panels and other events that make art accessible to everyone.

In second place was Gallery Squared in San Francisco.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

George Krevsky Gallery

(415) 397-9748

www.georgekrevskygallery.com

East Bay

Masterworks Fine Art

Oakland

(510) 777-9700

www.masterworksfineart.com

North Bay

Donna Seager Gallery

San Rafael

(415) 454-4229

www.donnaseagergallery.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Gallery Squared

(415) 624-7515

www.gallerysquared.me

Jewish artisan/craftsperson

Jewish artisans around the Bay Area have mastered a variety of skills. From bending metal into wearable art to crafting fluid calligraphy to announce a special occasion, the creativity of j. readers’ favorite artists appears endless.

“I have many irons in the furnace — no pun intended,” says Aimee Golant about her metalsmith work in the Bay Area. Based in San Francisco, Golant specializes in creating Jewish ritual objects and jewelry out of silver, copper, gold and alloys of pewter. She also creates pieces whose proceeds partially go to Jewish charities, such as Sharsheret, a Jewish women’s breast cancer organization. 

Rita Sklar’s watercolor and mixed media works focus primarily on her community — such as her recent series on the endangered bird species of the Bay Area. Another series titled “Keeping the Light Aglow” features the repeated image of her mother-in-law lighting the Shabbat candles. “It’s a celebration of women keeping Judaism alive,” says Sklar, who lives in Oakland.

At Melissa Dinwiddie’s Mountain View studio, she creates her calligraphy and print masterpieces — from ketubahs to fine art prints. She is currently in the process of creating a line of lifecycle invitations, including invites for baby namings and b’nai mitzvahs.

Tied for first with Dinwiddie is Susie Lubell, also in Mountain View, whose watercolors focus on two themes: Judaica and children. Lubell finds that her religious artwork is more modern than traditional Judaica, and invokes a whimsy that is most appreciated by young adults in their 20s to 40s.

In second place were Harlan Simon in Oakland and Elissa Wellikson in Los Altos.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Aimee Golant

(415) 682-7128

www.aimeegolant.com

East Bay

Rita Sklar

Oakland

(510) 531-1404

www.ritasklar.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Melissa Dinwiddie

Mountain View

(866) 538-8268

www.ketubahworks.com

Susie Lubell

Mountain View

(510) 390-6251

www.mishmishstudio.com

 

 2nd Place

East Bay

Harlan Simon

Oakland

www.harlanbeads.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Elissa Wellikson

Los Altos

(650) 948-0873

www.scarvesbyelissa.com

Museum

From the Daniel Libeskind–designed building to the museum’s ever-changing exhibitions, the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco is a thought-provoking space. Currently on view is “Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World).” Kalman has been entertaining the public for years with her illustrations, and her exhibit is just one reason why the CJM resonates with everyone — you don’t even have to be Jewish.

Curious about California history? Then check out the Oakland Museum of California, which specializes in the Golden State’s natural science, art, and history. With 1.8 million California-related objects in its collection, the museum (which recently underwent a major renovation) is a must-see in the East Bay.

Beautiful weather, amazing classes and a wonderful art collection – Stanford University has it all. The Cantor Arts Center, located on campus, possesses one of the biggest Rodin collections outside of Paris — and it’s fitting that a university museum would hold so many works by the sculptor behind “The Thinker.” If that wasn’t reason enough to visit, here’s another: Admission is free.

In second place were the de Young Museum in San Francisco, the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life in Berkeley and the Tech Museum in San Jose.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Contemporary Jewish Museum

(415) 655-7800

www.thecjm.org

East Bay

Oakland Museum

of California

Oakland

(510) 283-2200

www.museumca.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Cantor Arts Center

at Stanford University

(650) 723-4177

museum.stanford.edu

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

de Young Museum

(415) 750-3600

deyoung.famsf.org

East Bay

Magnes Collection

of Jewish Art and Life

Berkeley

(510) 549-6950

www.magnes.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Tech Museum

San Jose

(408) 294-8324

www.thetech.org