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San Diego's Top Weekend Events: U2 And 'Billy' And Ballet

Bono and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2 perform at the Rose Bowl during The Joshua Tree tour on Sunday in Pasadena, May 21, 2017.
Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press
Bono and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2 perform at the Rose Bowl during The Joshua Tree tour on Sunday in Pasadena, May 21, 2017.
San Diego's Top Weekend Events: U2 And 'Billy' And Ballet
San Diego's Top Weekend Events: U2 And 'Billy' And Ballet GUEST:Nina Garin, editor/producer, KPBS/Arts Calendar

That is KPBS Roundtable at 12:30. You are listening to KPBS Midday Edition . This is KPBS Midday Edition. I am Maureen Cavanaugh. It is a beautiful day for a big concert in San Diego. We have one coming up in the weekend review. At a focus on dance on stage. Joining me is Nina Garin. Welcome. Hello . Let's began with the biggest event happening in San Diego. U2 is bringing its possible to rear -- to work to the former QUALCOMM Stadium. This is the "The Joshua Tree" tour from 2017. The are performed -- they have been playing in stadiums around the country. They have a giant screen. It is a spectacle. Remind us about the album, "The Joshua Tree". It came out 30 years ago. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" , "Where the Streets Have No Name", it sold 25 million records before people would download things here in 1988, it won the Grammy for album of the year. You brought some music from "The Joshua Tree" . [ MUSIC ] That is U2 playing in San Diego tonight. With this only be music from "The Joshua Tree"? They open the show with New Year's Day, Sunday blood he said he. Those are songs that came out before "The Joshua Tree". They are previewing songs from an upcoming album . It is a mix. People are responding to the two are. They are really loving it ? Yes. Some people who have general admission seats started laddie -- lining up last night. They cannot get enough. It is the biggest tour of the year. It earned $123 million at the halfway point in July. When they toured in 1987, they earned $50 million. This is definitely a lot better. Bono is very political. Is there element of politics on the tour They are filled with social commentary. The projections that they show have messages. There are names of pioneering women through history. There is videos that highlight the refugee crisis. You will get that because it is more subtle. Before we move on, you want to mention the opening act. It is back. He is a very popular guy in the Indy circuit but he is making quiet albums for many years. He won the Grammy for best album in 2015. Everyone was surprised but not the people who had been following him. Let's hear, girl. [ MUSIC ] Tran05 performs tonight, the SD CCU, formerly known as QUALCOMM Stadium. We turned to dance on stage. Remind us about the story. This is about a boy who lives in a poor British town in the 1980s. He can do ballet much to the disappointment of his family and community but there is a ballet teacher who helps him realize his dreams. This was a movie ? Yes. It became a hit use ago with music by Elton John. It played in London for more than 10 years and it won a Tony form best musical. It is being put on by a music theater in LA. He has been working with the boy playing Billy for practically a year. There is a reason why you know so much about this production. My daughter is one of the ballet girls in the show you is a cast of 15 kids and they have been training since the end of July. You have the ballet girls. Here is solidarity. [ MUSIC ] Billy Elliott opens tonight at Spreckels Theatre. I have been speaking with Nina Garin. Thank you . Thank you.

One of the biggest events of the season hits San Diego, plus a highly-anticipated musical opens

U2, Beck

Music

Rock band U2 brings its highly-anticipated Joshua Tree Tour 2017 to San Diego.

The band will be performing all the songs from its 1987 release, "The Joshua Tree," an album with iconic songs like "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For" and "Where the Streets Have No Name."

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U2 has always been a political band, so expect some social commentary at tonight’s event.

This tour started in May and is getting rave reviews from fans across the country. And make sure to get there early because indie favorite Beck is opening the show.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday. San Diego Stadium (formerly known as Qualcomm), 9449 Friars Road, Mission Valley. $35 to $600; find tickets.

A 2017 photo of Charlie Garton in "Billy Elliot."
Courtesy of San Diego Musical Theatre
A 2017 photo of Charlie Garton in "Billy Elliot."

'Billy Elliot'

Theater, Dance

San Diego Musical Theatre and California Ballet present this co-production of "Billy Elliot," a Tony Award-winning musical with music by Elton John.

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Set in Northern England against the turbulent miner’s strike of 1984, 11-year-old Billy realizes he has a passion for dance, much to the chagrin of his family and community.

Playing Billy in this production is 10-year-old Charlie Garton.

Details: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 8. Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, downtown. $22 to $72; find tickets.

A promotional graphic for the 40 North Dance Film Festival.
Courtesy of 40 North
A promotional graphic for the 40 North Dance Film Festival.

40 North Dance Film Festival

Dance, Films

The third annual 40 North Dance Film Festival brings three days of dance films, immersive art shows and a panel discussion.

If you are wondering what a dance film is, it can be anything from a short documentary to a stylized story using dance instead of dialogue.

The event begins Monday with a kickoff celebration and continues with screenings and art shows throughout San Diego.

Details: Various times Monday through Saturday, Sept. 30. Various locations. Free to $30; find tickets.