Cleaves coming to Grass Valley; last chance to see 'Foreclosures'

There are many things people do not know (or care) about me and my connections with theater.

Fair enough.

But, for your information, I was born in Maine and mostly grew up there. I started out in a high school play and worked my way up through children's theater, traveling to distant towns and islands doing silly stories about "Aladdin and His Seven Lamps" for kids who never, ever got exposure to live theater, except for us.

I played the evil grandfather.

We traveled in an old Harvester with the set flats strapped to the top. Ah, to be young again.

Now, this may seem like I'm changing the subject, but I'm not.

There is a saying from the Civil War and the 20th Maine regiment: "I'll stand by any man who stands by Maine."

There is a musical artist coming to Grass Valley whom I strongly suggest you see. He's from Maine (mostly), so I'll stand by him.

He has the strangest name: Slaid Cleaves.

As a publicist reports: "There's a whole lot of history and detail that could be shoehorned into that most minimal of bios to flesh out Cleaves' story. But all that's really called for, from time to time, is a footnote or two to bring folks up to speed on his latest batch of literate, sepia-toned Americana song craft.

This year's bounty comes bearing the foreboding title of 'Everything You Love Will be Taken Away,' but fans of the Austin-based singer-songwriter needn't fear: Everything you love about the man's singular voice and music is still very much intact.

"It's been five years since Cleaves' last album of self-penned songs, 2004's acclaimed 'Wishbones,' which fans had waited nearly as long for in the afterglow of his 2000 breakthrough, 'Broke Down.' But Cleaves' slow-and-steady-wins-the-race pace has always yielded albums full of uncommonly fine-tuned songs built to stand the test of time."

I've heard his music and find it pleasant. Cleaves will be at St. Joseph's Cultural Center, 410 Church St., Grass Valley, at 8 p.m. Sept. 12. Tickets are $20.

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Meanwhile, this is your last chance to see Curt Schroeder's excellent play, "Foreclosures," at The Acting Company in Yuba City. It closes this weekend.

Written and directed by him, it is about an odd relationship between a psychologist and a patient.

The show is at 8 p.m. Saturday, 815 B St., Yuba City.

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But there is good news. "Little Shop of Horrors" is coming soon to TAC.

I saw this a year ago in Berkeley and highly recommend it as a sweet diversion from real life. It's one of those plays where acting ability has nothing to do with how successfully it comes off.

The cast includes Chris Collier, Angelicia Obregon, Elizabeth Halvorsen, Joe Moye, Heather Cowell, Summer Givens, Maura Givens and many others.

Directed by Debbie Collier and Heather Cowell, it opens Sept. 25 and runs through Nov. 1.

Award-winning journalist and author Tom Nadeau has written for and acted on stage, screen, radio and television. Write to him at theaterland@ gmail.com.