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San Diego's Top Weekend Events: From 'Matilda' To Lang Lang

The cast of "Matilda the Musical" is pictured in this 2016 photo.
Joan Marcus
The cast of "Matilda the Musical" is pictured in this 2016 photo.
San Diego's Top Weekend Events: From 'Matilda' To Lang Lang
Trump's Executive Order; Veterans' Wait TimesGUEST:Nina Garin, KPBS Arts Calendar Editor and Producer

To enjoy some of the offerings it this weekend preview, you might have to get outside of your comfort zone and maybe discover you like something you never thought you would. Joining me is Nina Garin Hello. We have a great anticipated story. Tell us about that. It is Matilda, the musical. It is the first time that it is in San Diego. It is highly anticipated. It is a musical based on the story that Earl wrote. It has been in London and New York and now we get. What is the story about? It is about a brilliant little girl who is treated poorly by her family and her terrible principle she uses her brain to get out of those situations and play pranks but also to do some magic and move beyond her life. This is a sad story but it is in a musical form and it is popular. It is a very sad story. It is a story about oppression but the way that the choreography is done and the inventiveness of the step, is amazing. I really loved it. It has 14 Tony's and international awards. It is the number one show the year and it is the best musical since the lion King. Let's hear a song from Matilda the musical. [ MUSIC ] Matilda, the musical happens this weekend at the civic theater. I know you're excited to talk about collage. This is a dance performance. What is it? Collage was one of my favorite shows that I saw last year. It is put on by the San Diego Civic dance for the arts. They do a show every year. We have a different theme. This year, the theme is joy. These are not professional dancers. They are students. They are as good it -- as any professional show you'll see. What kind of dance is that? Back a do everything -- They do everything. They are really good at tap and jazz. They go all out with the costumes. The precision is amazing. They work a year to prepare for the show. How big of a fan of danced you have to be to enjoy something like this? This is meant for everyone. You do not have to be a dance stopped to enjoy this. It is excellent quality but they set this to songs that you no. There is also some finer choreography there. They are doing a piece there. There is something for everyone. Collage 2017 happens for the next three weekend at the theater. There is a unique music Festival making its way -- debut. Tell us about the AMT Festival. The AMT Festival stands for art, music, and technology. It is the first time it has happened. It is put on by the San Diego Art Institute. It started yesterday. It will continue today and Saturday. What happened at the AMT Festival? I do not know. [ laughter ] They say it is a showcase of how art and music and technology all mixed together. You have concerts and video games and music writers or art shows. It is technology-based. There will be workshops about different ways to make instruments. There are concerts and lectures by musicians and artists and scientists. This is the kind of event that stretches the cover people for -- comfort zone for people. How is this accessible? That they were interested in having this be a community event and making it accessible for everyone and starting conversations about art and technology. You do not have to know that much about it. Just show up at a location and see what happens. That is the approach I am going to take. Attend what you think sounds interesting. Here is one of the performers that will appear the AMT Festival. Here's a clip of her work. [ MUSIC ] The AMT Festival happens this weekend. This a Super Bowl weekend you know. If you are looking for something to do besides watch football, you can head over to the Symphony. What is going on over there? The Symphony is having fun was Super Bowl Sunday. They are having an event called Lang Lang super Sunday. A well-known pianist it is going to play grand music. Lang Lang is not just a well-known classical pianist but a classical music superstar. He is. He is not just a superstar in China but all over the world. He is played at the World Cup, the Grammys, the Olympics. He is a fine musician, the way he'd dresses. Yes all black and has black and gold Adidas. He is reaching out to the use. He is the ambassador for use in music. In addition to that, you provided fewer options for things that people can do on Super Bowl Sunday besides watch again. What are they? Back besides shopping at Costco, I recommend sleeping beauty which is performed by the Russian ballet. Also, a fun play that is an awful Broadway is you are in town at the Playhouse. Those are some option. Lang Lang performs at Jacobs you think center on Super Bowl Sunday. I have been speaking with Nina Garin. Thank you . Thank you and have a good weekend.

This weekend "Matilda" makes its San Diego debut, plus experience the inaugural AMT Festival.

"Matilda the Musical"

Theater

Broadway San Diego brings the San Diego debut of "Matilda the Musical" for a five-day run at the Civic Theatre.

The Tony-winning "Matilda" is based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl. It tells the story of a brilliant girl who is oppressed by her family and her school until she takes a stand and changes her destiny.

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Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Civic Theatre, 202 C St., downtown; $22.50 to $102.50; find tickets.

A poster for San Diego Civic Dance Arts' Joy Collage performance.
A poster for San Diego Civic Dance Arts' Joy Collage performance.

San Diego Civic Dance Arts Collage 2017

Dance

San Diego Civic Dance Company returns with its critically-acclaimed Collage dance show.

The theme for Collage 2017 is Joy and dancers will perform everything from jazz and tap to hip hop and modern at the Casa del Prado Theatre.

The show also features the fast section from Jose Limon's "A Choreographic Offering" and a percussive tap piece by Maud Arnold and drumming artist Chukwudi Hodge.

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Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Continues weekends through Feb. 19. Casa del Prado Theatre, Balboa Park. $8 to $15; find tickets.

AMT Music Festival

Music, Visual Arts

The San Diego Art Institute launches the inaugural AMT Festival in collaboration with Southwestern College and the Fleet Science Center.

It's a festival that explores the future of art, music and technology with unconventional events like a video game music concert, a flashlight orchestra, lectures by international researchers and artists, and more.

Details: All day Friday at the San Diego Art Institute; all day Saturday at Southwestern College. $10 to $75; find tickets.

Find San Diego's best arts events on the KPBS/Arts events calendar.

San Diego Symphony Presents A Lang Lang Super Sunday

Music

If you're not interested in watching the Super Bowl, the San Diego Symphony has a Plan B.

Spend the afternoon with superstar pianist Lang Lang, as he performs Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.

Details: 1 p.m. Sunday. Jacobs Music Center at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., downtown. $20 to $85; find tickets.