JOAN LA BARBARA Some say Berkeley is still stuck in the ’70s. Music fans who wish that were the case should head to the L@TE event this Friday, March 14. It’s been 38 years since experimental musician Joan La Barbara performed her “Circular Song” at BAM/PFA in 1976, and she’s back for round two. The piece is a presentation of the award-winning artist’s expansive repertoire of vocal techniques, including circular singing, glottal clicks, and split-tone multiphonics. The $7 show starts at 7:30 p.m. at 2626 Bancroft Way.
JOB & EDUCATIONAL FAIR It can be hard to find a job these days, but the city’s Heart 2 Heart program is teaming up with the Youth Commission to make the process a little easier. Dozens of vendors — from the City of Berkeley Fire Department to Berkeley Bowl — will provide employment information on site at the second Job & Educational Fair on Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Held at the South Berkeley Senior Center, at 2939 Ellis Street, the fair also offers resumé and interview workshops, benefit checks, and free health screenings.
DAYS OF ABSENCE The Black Repertory Group‘s Days of Absence depicts a small Southern town on the brink of collapse — because the entire black population has suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. The white residents are not too happy about it once they realize how much they depend on the black workforce, and chaos begins to bubble. Douglas Turner Ward’s sharp 1965 satire, performed for the first time at the height of the civil-rights era, received two Obie awards and had a long run off-Broadway. Nearly 50 years later, the politics are still prescient and the humor still translates. Tickets are $10-25 and it’s buy-one-get-one-free for all of March. Shows at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 5 p.m. Sundays. Call (510) 652-2120 for tickets.
SUNDAY SAMPLER If you’ve ever sat in the audience at a captivating Berkeley Rep performance and wondered, just for a minute, what it would be like to stand on that stage yourself — well, this might be your moment to take the spotlight. This Sunday, March 16 is Berkeley Rep’s seasonal sampler of upcoming acting classes. Kids, teens, and adults can try out improv, circus, musical theater, stage combat, street performance, and more. All classes are taught by professionals, and aspiring thespians with all levels of experience (or none at all!) are welcome. No RSVP is required and the sampler starts at 1 p.m.
MAKING STUFF “Making Stuff: Wilder, Colder, Faster, and Safer” is the theme of this season of PBS’s NOVA — and the title of a series of creative hands-on activities at the Lawrence Hall of Science this month. In collaboration with the popular science show, the Hall has dreamt up interactive exhibits that complement NOVA’s current explorations. Something tells us that parents will particularly appreciate the theme of this Saturday’s installment. By attempting to design and construct stable bridges out of paper dowels, young visitors will examine how to make stuff “safer.” The activity is free with admission from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Kids can also make stuff “faster” by building a racing a futuristic car every Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Don’t miss these other events recently featured on Berkeleyside:
Big Screen Berkeley: Asian American Film Festival
Erik Jecabson Quintet in Berkeley: Let the good times roll
It’s Cal versus Stanford in first ever birding Big Game
Check out Berkeleyside’s event calendar for many more events, and make sure to post your own community happenings.
