For current events, see the complete listings at The Week, The Weekend and Everything Else.

For the Weekend of February 5-7, 2010.

Friday /// Saturday /// Sunday

Friday

First Friday in Santa Cruz. It’s First Friday time again and that means artistic goings-on in Santa Cruz. A full listing can be seen here, however here are some highlights: The Museum of Art & History is free, and Calaveras plays there. A benefit for Haitian earthquake victims happens at “Motiv. A group show complete with bands takes over Green Space on Soquel. See Firstfridaysantacruz.com for more happenings.

Reception for Book as Medium: Holding/Withholding Text at Sesnon Gallery. Twenty eight book artists probe issues of content, form, material, collaboration and accessibility with wide ranging results in Book as Medium: Holding/Withholding Text at UC Santa Cruz’s Sesnon Gallery. Curated by Felicia Rice, the show runs through March 6. A panel discussion with artists will be held 4 to 5:30 p.m. February 5. The reception is 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Gallery hours: 12 – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday. Sesnon Gallery, Porter College, UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz. (831) 459-3606.

Hearts for the Arts at Artisans Gallery. Local artists are taking part in Hearts for the Arts, a two-week silent auction to benefit the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County’s SPECTRA Artist program. The auction ends February 14. Artists reception 6 to 8 p.m. February 5. Artisans Gallery, 1368 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-8183.

Beauty and the Beast at Louden Nelson. Teens act out the Disney musical Beauty and the Beast in this All About Theatre production. 7 p.m. February 5, 2 & 7 p.m. February 6 and 2 p.m. February 7. Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $12 – $20. Advance tickets at AllAboutTheatre.org. (831) 420-6177.

Amy Bloom at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Amy Bloom, the author of the national bestseller Away, will be at Bookshop to debut her latest title, Where the God of Love Hangs Out. 7:30 p.m. Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-0900.

Women Over the Edge at UC Santa Cruz. UC Santa Cruz’s Patrice Maginnis, guest singers Michele Rivard and Sheila Willey, and accompanist Michael McGushin return to the UCSC Recital Hall stage to perform some of their favorite music — from Mozart to Motown, Brahms to Bernstein, and George Gershwin to Judy Collins. 7:30 p.m. Music Recital Hall, UCSC Campus, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz. $6.50 – $9.50. Advance tickets available at SantaCruzTickets.com. (831) 459-2159.

Jedd Brothers at Seabright Brewery. Rock and bluegrass go with beer, right? Jedd Brothers play Seabright Brewery. 8 – 11 p.m. Seabright Brewery,519 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz. No cover. Age 21+. (831) 426-2739.

8 Tens @ Eight at Actors’ Theatre. Returning to Actors’ Theatre for its 15th annual season, the hugely popular 8 Tens @ Eight festival of 10 minute plays highlights the work of eight different playwrights. The works represent a range of styles and subjects from stark realism to existential; from edgy comedy to deep drama. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sundays through February 14. Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $15 – $18. (831) 425-7529.

The Fantasticks. Try to remember and if you remember then follow your heart to Ben Lomond, where Mountain Community Theater performs the off-Broadway hit The Fantasticks. Love, laughter and family await. 8 p.m. February 4-6, 12 & 13. 2 p.m. February 14 at Park Hall. Performances at Louden Nelson Community Center from February 19-27. Park Hall, 9370 Mill Street, Ben Lomond. $20 (831) 366-4777.

Dave Rawlings Machine at The Catalyst. Guitarist and singer Dave Rawlings performs under the name Dave Rawlings Machine, bringing his country-influenced style to Santa Cruz. 8 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $22 in advance, $25 at the door. (831) 423-1338.

Who’s Holdin’ plus Dubscene at Don Quixote’s. Reggae straight out of Santa Cruz. Get ready to dance with Who’s Holdin’ and Dubscene . 9 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $8. Cash only. Ages 21+. (831) 603-2294.

Don Carlos & The Dub Vision Band at Moe’s Alley. Reggae legend Don Carlos brings his full band, complete with horn section, to the alley. Classics and new material blend for the Black Uhuru founding member’s only Northern California appearance. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $25 in advance, $30 at the door. (831) 479-1854.

Dawes & Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons at The Crepe Place. South tinged rock and roll comes to the front room when Dawes plays. Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons make it a double bill. 9 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $10. (831) 429-6994.

Jason Bond and The Committee at The Catalyst’s Atrium. His driving catalog of first-rate songs of love, heartbreak and booze has made Jason Bond and the Committee a favorite. Hurricane Roses also plays. 9 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Ages 21+. (831) 423-1338.

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Saturday

Beauty and the Beast at Louden Nelson. Teens act out the Disney musical Beauty and the Beast in this All About Theatre production. 7 p.m. February 5, 2 & 7 p.m. February 6 and 2 p.m. February 7. Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $12 – $20. Advance tickets at AllAboutTheatre.org. (831) 420-6177.

Lunafest at The Rio. Short films by and about women, LunaFest was created by the makers of the LUNA energy bar to promote awareness about women’s issues. Proceeds are donated to ABC/African-American Community Health Group of Santa Cruz and WomenCARE. 7 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $13 general admission, $7 seniors and students. Advance tickets at Santa Cruz Tickets. (831) 423-8209.

Tribute to Ritchie Valens at the Mello Center. Join Ritchie’s Family for a great night of Rock & Roll. The Winter Dance Party Concert stars John Mueller as Buddy Holly, Jay P. Richardson the Big Bopper’s Son and Ray Anthony as Ritchie Valens. Opening the show are Ritchie’s brother Mario and the Backyard Blues Band. A portion of proceeds to benefit Guitars Not Guns. 7:30 p.m. Mello Center for Performing Arts, 250 East Beach Street, Watsonville. $23.50 – $43.50. Advance tickets at SantaCruzTickets.com. (831) 763-4047.

Santa Cruz Baroque Festival’s Holiday in Wales at UC Santa Cruz. An evening of Welsh airs and dances, Holiday in Wales homages Queen Victoria’s 1889 viewing of a concert by Welsh gypsy John Roberts. Harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton plays. 7:30 p.m. Music Recital Hall, UCSC Campus, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz. $3.50 – $19.50. Advance tickets at SantaCruzTickets.com (831) 459-2159.

8 Tens @ Eight at Actors’ Theatre. Returning to Actors’ Theatre for its 15th annual season, the hugely popular 8 Tens @ Eight festival of 10 minute plays highlights the work of eight different playwrights. The works represent a range of styles and subjects from stark realism to existential; from edgy comedy to deep drama. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sundays through February 14. Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $15 – $18. (831) 425-7529.

The Fantasticks. Try to remember and if you remember then follow your heart to Ben Lomond, where Mountain Community Theater performs the off-Broadway hit The Fantasticks. Love, laughter and family await. 8 p.m. February 4-6, 12 & 13. 2 p.m. February 14 at Park Hall. Performances at Louden Nelson Community Center from February 19-27. Park Hall, 9370 Mill Street, Ben Lomond. $20 (831) 366-4777.

Zebop! at Don Quixote’s. Taking their name from a classic 1981 album, San Francisco’s Zebop! brings their energetic tribute to the music of Santana to Felton. 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $10. Cash only. Ages 21+. (831) 603-2294.

Ribsy’s Nickel in The Catalyst’s Atrium. Rock, reggae and punk intertwine for Santa Cruz’s Ribsy’s Nickel. This is their first show of 2010. 9 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $5 at the door only. Ages 21+. (831) 423-1338.

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers at Moe’s Alley. Diva of Jazz and Blues Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers has a singing style influenced by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Bessie Smith. She brings her band to the alley for a sultry evening of song. 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. (831) 479-1854.

Y&T at The Catalyst. One of the Bay Area’s innovators of hard rock, Y&T brings their gut wrenching guitars to The Catalyst. Metal Shop opens. 9 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $19 in advance, $23 at the door. Ages 21+. (831) 423-1338.

Quinn DeVeaux & Ohioan at The Crepe Place. Dance, dance, dance. Quinn DeVeaux brings the “blue” beats to the front room. Ohioan joins. 9 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. Call for price. (831) 429-6994.

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Sunday

Gold Diggers of 1933 at Santa Cruz Public Library. Made during the Great Depression, Gold Diggers of 1933, begins a series of moving pictures from or about the 1930s. The musical features sequences directed by the great Busby Berkeley. 1:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Public Library, Main Branch, Central Upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 420-5700.

Beauty and the Beast at Louden Nelson. Teens act out the Disney musical Beauty and the Beast in this All About Theatre production. 7 p.m. February 5, 2 & 7 p.m. February 6 and 2 p.m. February 7. Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $12 – $20. Advance tickets at AllAboutTheatre.org. (831) 420-6177.

Wild Cat Adventure at The Rio. Five live wild cats — cougar, king cheetah, Canada lynx, serval and Geoffroy’s cat — take to the stage for a show supporting the Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund. 3 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $10 adults, $5 children younger than 12. (707) 874-3176.

8 Tens @ Eight at Actors’ Theatre. Returning to Actors’ Theatre for its 15th annual season, the hugely popular 8 Tens @ Eight festival of 10 minute plays highlights the work of eight different playwrights. The works represent a range of styles and subjects from stark realism to existential; from edgy comedy to deep drama. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sundays through February 14. Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $15 – $18. (831) 425-7529.

Leslie and The Badgers & Greenstring Farm Band at The Crepe Place. A “mixture of urbane sophistication and genuine country honey,” Leslie and The Badgers come to the front room. Petaluma’s Greenstring Farm Band joins in. 9 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $8. (831) 429-6994.

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