LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Out and About


Ryan Drummand and Tom Homsley in Center Rep's "Life Could Be A Dream." Photo Kevin Berne

There were some great outdoor events outside of Lamorinda in August, but September is all about what's in. If you're looking for something to do just beyond our borders later this month, consider this: Go Chabot in Oakland, Dream Downtown in Walnut Creek, and Rapture, Blister, Burn in Berkeley.

At the Chabot Space and Science Center, you might already know that you can leap to the moon in a space roadster, touch the sun, venture into a black hole with an interstellar robot and expose yourself to 360 degrees of laser light while achieving fusion with the iconic tunes of Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, and other rock and roll titans. But if you are truly lucky, the science center's Sept. 26 Night Hike will not be sold out and you can wander the redwoods from 6 to 9 p.m. while the sun sets. Prefer hobnobbing in high heels? The Starlight Gala on Sept. 20 benefits science education with next-gen energy from 6:30 to10 p.m. at the Rotunda Building at 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza in Downtown Oakland. For complete information, visit www.chabotspace.org/index.htm.

Any time you can catch a theater performance featuring Bay Area actor Ryan Drummond, do it. Gangly and gregarious as "Denny" in Center Rep's frizzy "Life Could Be A Dream," Drummond and his doo-wop Dreamers croon '60s hits while hoping to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest. Writer/Director Roger Bean is like a roundabout in a musical theater city, with multiple avenues shooting off his creative energy and most often leading to award land. Have fun, leave your feminist sensitivities at home, just play. At Lesher Center through Oct. 5. Tickets and info: http://www.centerrep.org/season1415/lifecouldbeadream.php.

Aurora Theatre Company's 23rd season opens in Berkeley with a raw, revealing new play for adults. Director Desdemona Chiang splits her time between Seattle and the Bay Area, but there's nothing halfway about playwright Gina Gionfriddo's no-holds barred excavation, "Rapture, Blister, Burn." "Why can't we have it all?" and "Do we really want it if we get it?" could be the play's soundtrack. "Catherine" is a stellar academic and media's maven after linking Internet porn and the events of 9-11. "Gwen" has the man (and the kids) Catherine left behind. Is watching the two characters duke it out funny, sad, tragic, rigorous, splintering, synthesizing and deeply moving? Sure is: because it's Aurora Theatre Company. For over two decades, the integrity and keen eye of Artistic Director Tom Ross has filled the stage - lined on three sides with avid theatergoers - hopeful and hankering for more. Tickets and info: https://auroratheatre.org/index.php?option=com_theatre&view=show&id=99.