Culture Lust Weekend: The Crucible, Genius of Soul, Halloween Parties

HALLOWEEN!

Two of San Diego's gutsiest theaters are partnering for a production of the Arthur Miller classic "The Crucible". The 19-member cast comes from MOXIE Theatre and Intrepid Shakespeare Company and the haunting play set during the Salem witch trials opens on Saturday at MOXIE's location on El Cajon.

Trick-or-treat yourself to a grown-up Hallow’s Eve at the 16th Annual Broomstick Ball. Leave the kiddies with a sitter in their candy coma, and head out in costume (they're required) because there’s a contest for best dressed!

Round up your little ghouls and gremlins, pop ‘em in a cute costume and ride the family up to Poway for Once Upon a Hallowe’en. There's a costume parade and a spooky train ride at Old Poway Park.

What would Halloween be without a good old-fashioned Masquerade Ball? Tomorrow evening, hustle over to Vin de Syrah for their Alice in Wonderland Masquerade Ball and Fashion Show.

The League of Gentlemen Adventurers (which includes KPBS producer Andy Trimlett) will be hosting a Halloween "Seedy Soiree" at The Ruby Room on Saturday night. Highlights will be the costumes, a performance by local punk band Burning of Rome who will do an all Misfits cover set, and a burlesque show. KPBS peeps will be there but you may not recognize them!

MUSIC

The Bach Collegium San Diego is opening its new season with a concert of Latin American Music conductd by guest director Rodolfo Richter. The concert Saturday night takes place a the historic Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside, kicking off their well-known Dia do los Muertos Festival.

San Diego alternative hip-hop outfit afterschoolspecial plays tonight at The Loft on the campus of UCSD. Influenced by bands like Linkin Park and the Beastie Boys, afterschoolspecial celebrates the release of their new album "It's All In Your Head."

Here at KPBS, one of our own celebrates an album release party tonight at The Whistle Stop in South Park. Kurt Kohnen (director of KPBS talk show These Days) is the frontman for local hip hop and soul band Genius of Soul. Kurt describes the new album as The Roots meets Led Zepplin with a chilled out vibe. Lots of KPBS folks will be in South Park tonight to support Kurt and the band so come join us.

The Philadelphia Inquirer called him “the Viennese oracle on the core literature of Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms” for good reason. Rudolf Buchbinder has made over 100 albums of Mozart concerts and Beethoven sonatas, and now he will be performing Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Major along with the Dresden Staatskapelle at Copley Symphony Hall tonight!

ART

Forget about Grandma’s quilt because this year’s Quilt Visions 2010: No Boundaries is - quite literally - 'reconstructing' our conception of bed covers into the realm of art. From now until March, the Oceanside Museum of Art is presenting the 39 quilts (ranging from abstract to representational) that out-stitched the other 601 entries.

Getting us in the mood for “Day of the Dead,” Subtext is featuring a group exhibition this Friday. “Dia de los Muertos” is a way to remember and celebrate the dead. Traditionally sugar skulls and dressed up skeletons are put on display alongside the deceased’s favorite food, but this Friday, Subtext is celebrating “Dia de Tus Muertos” with street tacos, Tequila tastings and lots of art.

THEATER

Two brothers, two screenplays and over thirty stolen toasters make for an amusing night at the theater, to say the least. Lotus Theatre is presenting Sam Shepard’s True West, all this month at Urban Grind.

Part farce, part opera, On The Twentieth Century is the story of once-upon-a-time stars Lily Garland and Oscar Jaffe. This Monday and next Cygnet Theater is hosting a concert/staged reading of the musical.