A Mighty Oak Indeed

In the fall of this New Year we will celebrate the 20th birthday of the Lesher Center for the Arts. I am reminded of a thought by James Hillman that was batted around in the early stages of the planning of the Center, “Inside the acorn, one finds the image of the oak tree that it is destined to become.” It takes time, imagination, faith and a lot of hard work by many people for dreams to come true and all of these many years later it is evident that the LCA has certainly grown into a magnificent oak tree to harbor the arts.

With close to 900 events already booked in all three venues for 2010, we will start the New Year off with a bang! The months ahead will bring you great entertainment that will be thought provoking, moving and absolutely delightful. To begin with, Center REP has opened the second half of their current season to rave reviews with both Pamela Gien’s The Syringa Tree (thru Feb. 27) and Caryl Churchill’s A Number (thru Feb. 7). Hailed by the New York Times as “instantly engaging” and “a thoroughly persuasive transport to an exotic place and time, The Syringa Tree is a one woman tour de force for award winning actress Shannon Koob. This evocative story, directed by Michael Evan Haney, was the winner of the 2001 Obie Award for Best Play of the Year. Center REP is thrilled to bring this unforgettable night in the theatre to our Lesher Theatre audiences.

In the Knight Stage 3, James Carpenter and Gabriel Marin, two of the bay area’s favorite actors, are acting up a storm in A Number, the first true play of the 21st century. Directed by Center REP Artistic Director, Michael Butler, Churchill’s play asks the audience, “What would you do if you had cloned a child 35 years earlier and now the past is posing some very tough questions.”

This Valentine month is also ready to engage you in a great whodunit musical comedy in the Hofmann Theatre. DTC is proud to present Kander and Ebb’s Tony Award winning Curtains through February 28th. Starring Tom Reardon and featuring a talented ensemble, this DTC musical is directed by Daren A.C.Carollo and will tell the tale of the misadventures of wise-cracking producers, leggy chorus girls, star-struck gangsters and one lovable detective.

For more information about these great shows and upcoming productions in the months that follow call Center Tickets at (925) 943-SHOW or visit our website at www.lesherartscenter.org. Take time out to enjoy a terrific dinner at one of our many remarkable downtown Walnut Creek restaurants, and start your year off by joining us at the LCA. We look forward to ringing in the New Year with you. See you at the Center!