DON REED IN EAST 14TH AT THE MARSH Bouncing between a Jehovah’s Witness mom and a pimp dad, Don Reed’s childhood in Oakland was colorful to say the least. His show East 14th, which chronicles his teen years in Oakland, is playing through Aug. 21 at The Marsh Berkeley. (The work includes Reed’s story, “I Miss Toni” recently featured on NPR’s podcast Snap Judgment.) Reed is a three-time Emmy nominee, a former warm-up comedian for late night’s The Jay Leno Show, a NAACP triple nominee for Best Actor and Best Playwright, and a Bay Area Theatre Critics nominee. Performances are Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 5:30 p.m. The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. For tickets ($20-$35 sliding scale, $55-$100 reserved), visit The Marsh Berkeley or call 415-282 3055 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
FAMILY FARE AT BAMPFA Family Fare at the Berkeley Art Museum Pacific Film Archive connects art viewing with art making in ways that engage both young people and their grown-ups. Each free session focuses on a different group of artworks and related hands-on activities. On Saturday Aug. 13 at 1 pm. the museum presents “Faraway Corners of the Galaxy.” Led by artist Beth Krebs, families will explore artworks that play with optical effects. Using Lee Mullican’s ‘Illustrated Man’, on view in ‘Berkeley Eye: Perspectives on the Collection,’ as inspiration, create your own shimmering drawings by layering lines and shapes in colored tape over watercolor painting. Sign up on-site beginning 15 minutes before the session. Space is limited to twelve kids per session. More info at BAMPFA.
AN EVENING WITH DARBY SLICK On Saturday Aug. 13, two “music legends” — Darby Slick (Great Society, Slik) and Terry Haggerty (The Sons of Champlin) — unite for “one fantastic show” at the Art House Gallery & Cultural Center in Berkeley. This will be a CD release party for A Songwriter’s Sketchbook. Slick wrote the ’60s anthem “Somebody To Love” made famous by the Jefferson Airplane. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Donations $15-$25 (first three rows $25). Art House Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Ave. Tel: 510-472 3170. Visit Art House Gallery online.
WRITING SALON WITH LORI OSTLUND This three-hour workshop at The Writing Salon, Sunday Aug. 14 starting at 2 p.m., offers an up-close opportunity to experience the work and ideas of writer Lori Ostlund, author of After the Parade and The Bigness of the World. Ostlund will read from her latest fiction and lead discussions about the art of writing fiction, focusing on setting, dialogue, and humor, as well as the interaction of those three in her own work. The event will be capped at 15 sign-ups, giving you a chance to engage in intimate and in-depth discussions with Lori about her own writing and the art of fiction. There will be a 15-minute break at the halfway point. Snacks and beverages will be provided. The Writing Salon is at 2121 Bonar St., Studio D, 2nd floor. Price $75. Full details online at the Writing Salon.
FEMINIST SHAKESPEARE AT BPL 400 years after his death, the Bard still draws our attention. On Saturday Aug. 13, 2-3 p.m. at the Berkeley Central Library, get a sneak peek at an innovative new Shakespeare production from Those Women Productions, a local theater company, as Berkeley Public Library presents selected scenes from the new drama, Margaret of Anjou co-authored by William Shakespeare and Lauren Jansen-Parkes. After performing scenes, the actors will join director Libby Vega and producer Carol Lashof for discussion. Free event. Full details at BPL website.
Don’t miss these other events featured on Berkeleyside:
Waking up to Asleep at the Wheel’s Chris O’Connell
Look who’s coming to Uncharted Festival of Ideas, Oct. 14-15
To find out what is going on in Berkeley and nearby, be sure to check out Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar. And submit your own events: it’s self-serve and free.
