The Sactown Weekend Update for Jan. 3-5
Forever Tango (Friday through Sunday)
Learn the origins of the tango in this revue created by Argentine-born director Luis Bravo, which earned a Tony nod in 1998 for best choreography. Fourteen dancers will trace the passionate and romantic ballroom dance back to its roots in working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires through complexly choreographed group sequences and passionate duets. They’ll be accompanied on stage by musicians playing instruments such as the accordion-like bandoneon, one of the most essential to the art form. $39-$69. Friday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. Harris Center at Folsom Lake College 10 College Pkwy. 608-6888. harriscenter.net
Emancipating the Past: Kara Walker's Tales of Slavery and Power (Friday through Sunday)
This is the final weekend to see the Crocker show featuring the work of Stockton native Kara Walker—who has exhibited at the likes of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art and has been called one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine. This exhibit focuses on her graphic cut-paper pieces that explore gender, race and sexuality, such as Emancipation Approximation, a series of 26 individual prints depicting 19th-century slavery in the United States. $10. Open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Crocker Art Museum. 808-7000. crockerartmuseum.org
Young Frankenstein (Friday through Sunday)
It’s alive! Penned by Mel Brooks and based on his 1974 film of the same name (which landed the lucky 13th spot on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 funniest American movies), this monstrous spoof musical reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic gothic novel Frankenstein as a depraved comic farce. Featuring tunes like “He Vas My Boyfriend,” “The Transylvania Mania” and “Puttin’ On the Ritz,” the tale centers on young Dr. Frankenstein as he attempts to bring a corpse to life with the help of his faithful lab assistant, Igor. $19-$25. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. 24th Street Theatre. 2791 24th St. 207-1226. runawaystage.com
The Alexander String Quartet (Sunday)
The celebrated foursome returns to the Mondavi Center on Sunday to continue its annual performance series. This time around, the ensemble will showcase the second string quartets of Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók, which the late, great Hungarian composers premiered together at a concert in 1918. Following the performance, the musicians will discuss the works’ history and significance during a Q&A session with the audience. $54. Sunday at 7 p.m. Mondavi Center’s Vanderhoef Studio Theatre. Mrak Hall Dr. and Old Davis Rd. Davis. 530-754-2787. mondaviarts.org
