36 2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A
RANDY
MIRAMONTEZ/SHUTTERSTOCK
.
OPPOSITE:
MICHAEL
WARWICK/SHUTTERSTOCK;
EURNGKWAN/SHUTTERSTOCK
CA.PERFORMING ARTS
ยป
FIND A
PERFORMANCE
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
berkeleyrep.org
We Players
weplayers.org
Center Theatre Group
centertheatregroup.org
California Shakespeare Company
calshakes.org
The Marsh
themarsh.org
Aurora Theater Company
auroratheater.org
San Francisco Mime Troupe
sfmt.org
Blank Theater
theblank.com
San Francisco Symphony
sfsymphony.org
Los Angeles Philharmonic
laphil.com
California Ballet Company
californiaballet.org
SF Jazz Center
sBazz.org
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
kuumbwajazz.org
Yoshi's Jazz Club
yoshis.com
The Jazz Bakery
jazzbakery.org
Catalina
catalinajazzclub.com
Brick by Brick
brickbybrick.com
Circus Vargas
circusvargas.org
States. The California Ballet Company in
San Diego has attained a stellar interna-
tional reputation, and remains the largest
professional ballet company in Southern
California. Celebrating its ninth season in
2015, the Los Angeles Ballet is a relatively
recent addition to the scene, while the
reinvigorated Oakland Ballet is celebrating
its golden 50
th
anniversary.
Jazz & Blues
Here's a quick sampler of the state's best jazz
and blues clubs. Working-class Oakland is a
hotbed of jazz, with clubs like Yoshi's (in Jack
London Square), Geoffrey's Inner Circle and
Birdland leading the pack. Across the bay in
San Francisco, don't miss the SF Jazz Center,
and visit The Saloon and Club Deluxe for
blues; in Santa Cruz, it's the Kuumbwa Jazz
Center; in Fullerton, Steamers; the Baked
Potato and Catalina in Hollywood; Charlie
O's in Van Nuys; and The Torch Club (for
Blues) in Sacramento. In LA, find the hottest
new offerings at the Jazz Bakery.
Rock 'n' Roll
From the Doors to the Dead, California has
been Ground Zero for great live music.
Here are a few of California's legendary
Rock 'n' Roll haunts, still going strong. For
great live music, check out what's on at the
Fillmore and Warfield in San Francisco, as
well as the Fox and glorious Paramount
Theater in Oakland. A bit north, Sweet-
water in Mill Valley, Marin County often
has great artists. Looking to rock it in
LA? Check out the Troubador, Roxy and
Whisky a Go Go, an LA institution since
1964. Some other great venues include the
Catalyst in Santa Cruz and "the Brick"
(Brick by Brick) in San Diego.
Circus & Cabaret
Originally founded in 1969 by the late Clif-
ford Vargas, the Circus Vargas is California's
largest home-grown circus, featuring a vast
Big Top that covers two acres and requires
30 people to put up and pull down. The
Cirque du Soleil is also a frequent visitor to
the state, with scheduled appearances in
most of the major cities. Their 2015 shows,
in northern and southern California, will
include Kurios and Varekai.
JOHN McVIE (L) and Stevie Nicks of
Fleetwood Mac perform at Sleep Train
Arena in Sacramento, November 2014,
right; Circus Vargas poster, below.
