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This week, catch shows with comedian Francisco Ramos, ’80s ska favorites The English Beat, cabaret vocalist Paula West, and folk and Americana artists Dustin Dale Gaspard and Tanner Bingaman; hear author Malcolm Harris discuss how to collectively tackle the climate crisis; choose your own musical adventure in a concert of video game music with pianist Ryan McGaughey; see a new take on Shakespeare’s “Henry V” or revel in the harmony of “Jersey Boys.” Plus, celebrate the 10th anniversary of Palo Alto’s Magical Bridge Playground.
Francisco Ramos
The comedian and voice actor Francisco Ramos has appeared in many TV shows and films; co-written, directed and starred in his comedy short “Zoo Animals;” and even voiced King Marmoset in the animated film “Rio.” Born in Venezuela and raised in the U.S., Ramos was a top-10 finalist on “The Last Comic Standing” in 2015. He brings the laughs to Stanford as part of his current comedy tour, offering two shows at the Bing Concert Hall Studio.
April 18, 7 and 9 p.m., The Studio, 317 Lasuen St., Stanford; $30-$35; live.stanford.edu.
Henry V
The Pear Theatre stages a pared-down telling of Shakespeare’s history play about the English monarch who led an invasion of France, focusing on events around a key battle. With just five actors in the cast taking on the roles of major characters and chorus alike, this production is set in a “ruined world,” according to notes from the director, Kevin Hammond, and invites audiences to “participate in a dialogue about power, ethics, conquest, justice and, and renewal.” Jennifer LeBlanc portrays the titular ruler.
April 18-May 11 at The Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida, Suite A, Mountain View. $45. thepear.org/whats-playing.
The English Beat
With founding member Dave Wakeling still at the helm, this ’80s juggernaut just can’t stop it when it comes to irresistibly danceable songs. The band fused the bright, bouncy energy of ska with reggae, soul, pop and punk in hits such as “Tears of a Clown,” “Mirror in the Bathroom,” “Save It for Later” and “I Confess.” The band returns to The Guild for two nights, with supporting acts DJ Dion Garcia on Friday and DJ Omar Perez on Saturday.
April 18-19, 8 p.m., at The Guild Theatre, 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. $50-$116. guildtheatre.com.
Paula West
Contralto jazz and cabaret vocalist Paula West is known for both her rich voice as well as her eclectic repertoire of songs, including rock and folk songs and reimagined jazz standards, and has collaborated with the likes of Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. At her run of performances at Meyhouse Palo Alto, she’ll be joined by musicians Adam Shulman, Aaron Germain, and Leon Joyce, according to an Instagram post.
April 18 and 19, 6:30 and 8:30 pm.; Meyhouse Palo Alto, 640 Emerson St., Palo Alto; $50; meyhousejazz.com.
‘Jersey Boys’
Palo Alto Players takes on the Tony-winning musical biography “Jersey Boys,” which tells the story of the harmony-rich band The Four Seasons. The show lets the band members recall their experiences, from their rough, blue-collar youth on the streets of New Jersey to reaching pop-music glory and beyond, and features classic songs such as “Sherry” and “Walk Like A Man.” In the Palo Alto Players’ version, James M. Jones plays iconic lead singer Frankie Valli.
April 18-May 4 (Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Sundays and some Saturdays at 2 p.m.), Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; $35-$60; paplayers.org/event/jersey-boys.
Malcolm Harris
Malcolm Harris is a former Palo Alto resident and the author of the bestselling “Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World” (among other books). His latest publication, “What’s Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis” discusses how to prevent a climate apocalypse through collective political action, incorporating progressive, socialist, and revolutionary strategies. Harris will discuss the book with author and journalist Diana Helmuth at an event hosted by Kepler’s.
April 19, 4 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real #100, Menlo Park; $16.74-$48.24 depending on ticket option;. https://tinyurl.com/MalcolmHarrisKeplers.
‘An Adventure Through Video Game Music’
Audience members can help choose their own musical adventure when pianist Ryan McGaughey, who also composes for video games and is a music educator, combines his classical piano prowess with video game music at his performance in Mountain View. In addition to McGaughey’s piano, the show will also include games, giveaways and visuals to complement the music. “There are 28 possible music selections that you could hear from Final Fantasy X/X-2. I say possible because YOU, the audience, will be helping me choose what music we’ll hear!” McGaughey wrote in an Instagram post about the show.
April 19, 7:30 p.m., Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View; $28-$34; tickets.mvcpa.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=666.
Magical Bridge 10th Anniversary
Time flies when you’re having fun, so maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that a decade has already passed since the opening of the first Magical Bridge playground in Palo Alto in 2015. This unique place was made to be more inclusive than traditional playgrounds, with spaces and play equipment designed to welcome visitors with and without disabilities and of many different ages. Palo Alto’s playground has since been joined by other Magical Bridges in neighboring Peninsula and South Bay cities, but there’s also one as far away as New Zealand. To celebrate the Palo Alto playground’s 10th anniversary, the Magical Bridge Foundation holds a day of performances, with music from Toni’s Magical Piano, World Harmony Chorus and Andy Z, plus magic with Robert Strong. The event concludes with “lantern night,” a lighting of LED lanterns led by local teens to celebrate neurodiversity, “lighting the way for all kinds of minds,” according to an event description.
April 19, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m., at Magical Bridge Palo Alto, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. magicalbridge.org.
Dustin Dale Gaspard and Tanner Bingaman
Folk and Americana artists Dustin Dale Gaspard and Tanner Bingaman are the next musicians to perform at Red Rock Coffee’s 2nd Story series, normally held on Saturdays but holding a special Wednesday edition on April 23. Singer/songwriter Gaspard describes himself as performing and promoting “Bilingual Roots Neo-Traditional Cajun music of Louisiana,” while Bingaman writes, performs and produces “writhing folk from the hills of Appalachia via guitar, banjo and harmonica,” according to their respective websites.
April 23, 7-9 p.m., Red Rock Coffee, 201 Castro St., Mountain View; suggested donation $20; redrockcoffee.com/2nd-story.
