Richmond Roundup

Local ACT Actors to Perform
Several Richmond District residents will have roles in the upcoming productions of "Broken Hallelujah," by Sharman Macdonald, and "Shed a Little Light: The Music of James Taylor," which will be performed by the American Conservatory Theater's (A.C.T.) Young Conservatory.

Participating in the production of "Broken Hallelujah" are actors Katie Green and Martine Moore and assistant director Sarah Grandin.

Participating in "Shed a Little Light" are Julia Mattison, David Morse and George Watsky.

The A.C.T. Young Conservatory offers opportunities for training in the arts for youth aged eight to 19.

Performances of "Broken  Hallelujah" will be held at the Zeum Theater, located at Fourth and Howard streets, from June 3 through June 11.

Performances of "Shed a Little Light" will be held at the same theater from June 17 through July 3.

Tickets for the two performances cost $10 for students and seniors and $15 for the general public. For more information, call the ACT box office at (415) 749-2228.

Mayor Releases New Budget at Rossi
Mayor Gavin Newsom took this year's budget plan on the road May 31 when he released details of the city's $5-billion-plus budget at an outdoor ceremony at the Rossi Playground and pool, located at Arguello Boulevard and Anza Street.

About 200 city residents and department heads heard the mayor take over an hour to address his plan. Some of the highlights include:

• spending millions in one-time expenditures to move many city proposals that have become bogged down due to a lack of funding, including moving some of the SF Recreation and Park Department's capital plan projects toward completion. Rossi would get funding in the proposal to finish its remodeling plan;

• spending money to fully computerize the city's park and golf course reservations systems;

• provide for more beat officers to patrol city neighborhoods;

• provide more money to keep Rec. and Park facilities open seven days a week, especially during the summer months;

• and providing more money for schools.

He also said there would be no layoffs of gardeners in Golden Gate Park or other facilities.

Stern Grove Festival Kicks off June 19
The Stern Grove Festival celebrates its 68th season with 10 admission-free concerts every Sunday from June 19 through Aug. 21. Each of the concerts in the series will be held at Sigmund Stern Grove, located at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, at 2 p.m. Scheduled performances are:

• Kicking off the series on June 19 is singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams, who will play her eclectic blend of rock, country, and blues, followed by alternative rocker John Doe;

• June 26 will feature progressive flamenco group Ojos de Brujo, whose traditional guitar is influenced by modern hip hop, Latin and funk, as well as local favorite O-Maya, which combines Afro-Latin and hip hop influences with samba, reggae and salsa beats;

• On July 3, the concert series brings back an annual favorite, the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Symphony, which will perform works by Dvorak, Shostakovich and others under the direction of conductor Edwin Outwater;

• On July 10, special guests will make their appearance at the festival when the international star Khaled, also known as the "King of Rai," will fuse modern rhythms with traditional Algerian music while performing with producer/musician Don Was, reggae singer Elan Attias, DJ Cheb Sabbah, percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and others;

• On July 13, the harmonies of South Africa's internationally-renowned vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the East Bay's Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir will sooth and relax the afternoon crowd;

• On July 24, classic Motown from The Funk Brothers and jazz from the Bay Area trio Broun Fellinis will be performed;

• On July 31, the San Francisco Opera, featuring soprano Carol Vaness and others, makes its eagerly anticipated return to Stern Grove;

• On Aug. 7, Angolan sensation Waldemar Bastos and Cape Verdean songstress Maria de Barros will each showcase their soulful and sultry  music, which blends various rhythms, including those from Africa, Portugal and South America;

• On Aug. 14, BeauSoleil with Michael Doucet and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band will take the stage to evoke the sounds of New Orleans with Cajun rhythms and high-energy performances;

• Finally, on Aug. 21 the festival ends its summer session with a send-off from the Youth Speaks Slam Champs, the winners of a national poetry slam competition, who will perform original works.

Pre-concert talks with the performers and educational programs for children will also be available on some days. The free concerts do not require tickets or advance reservations, but attendees are encouraged to arrive early for the best lawn seating. For more information, call 252-6252 or visit the Web Site at www.sterngrove.org.

Corrections
The Ecology Trail in the Presidio is under the management of the Presidio Trust, not National Park Service. As well, the trees in the Presidio were planted as wind breaks and for beautification purposes and the rare Raven's Manzanita plant, while only growing in the Presidio, is not visible along the Ecology Trail.

Additionally, due to an editing error a commentary written by Charlie Phillips said Armistice Day had become Memorial Day. In fact, Armistice Day became Veteran's Day.

The Richmond Review regrets the errors.

Eagles Lose Baseball Title Game
The Lincoln High School Mustangs beat the Washington High School Eagles 12 - 6 in May, a game that earned Lincoln its first San Francisco crown in 35 years.

Lincoln coach Jason Villacampa said it took the efforts of everyone on the team (19-11) to beat the Eagles.

A pivotal point in the game came when Lincoln right fielder Andrew Scott sprinted to catch a line drive that would have given Washington an excellent opportunity to score runs.

Presidio Landfills Being Cleaned
Army-era landfills on the coastal bluffs along Baker Beach in the Presidio are currently in the process of being removed by the Presidio Trust and National Park Service (NPS) in order to restore the area to the rich dune habitat that once existed before the Army arrived. The area supports rare and endangered plant species.

Over the course of seven months, a contractor has removed more than 57,000 tons of waste soil and building debris from one landfill. More removals are scheduled to take place over the next few years. Crews will also plant carefully-selected native vegetation in the area.

This summer, the trust and park service plans to improve a portion of Merchant Road to funnel Presidio traffic and visitors away from the busy work areas.

Local Artists Work on Dark Play
Two residents of the Outer Richmond District, Jennifer Gwirtz and John Baumann, co-directed the upcoming Right Brain Performance lab show and they are preparing to launch a new production called, "State of the Union/Anonymous Sources."

The darkly comic theatrical event uses dance, mime, pedestrian movement, theater, puppetry and vocals to express the multitude of communications in this fast-paced and mediated age; the validity of unnamed sources and the divisive political, electronic and social boundaries that plague our modern-day society.

Both Gwirtz and Baumann have been longtime performers throughout the Bay Area and each has won critical acclaim for taking leadership roles in the industry.

The performances will be at CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission St., on Fridays and Saturdays, June 17 and 18 and June 24 and 25. The shows begin at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $10 - $20. For more information, call 387-4812 or visit the Web Site at www.performancelab.org.

New Films at Gay Film Festival
Two local Richmond and Sunset district residents have directed films that will be featured at the 29th annual San Francisco International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Film Festival, which is scheduled to take place from June 16 through June 26 at three Bay Area theaters.

Richmond District Director Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer's film, "Life in a Box," follows three men searching for the meaning of love while traveling across the United States. They come to realize their lives are vastly simplified and transformed by their unconventional relationship.

Conversely, the film called "To Hold a Heart," directed by Sunset District resident Michael Wallin, presents story of two men who are able to forge a bond of intimacy and trust despite the separation of age, culture and physical space.

For more information, including the complete schedule of films and events, ticket sale information and times, visit the Web Site at www.frameline.org. The screenings take place at the city's Castro and Victoria theaters and at the Roxie Cinema in Oakland.