Capital Stage theater company has been awarded a two-year, $50,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation for a program that will develop new dramatic works by and about women.

The grant will fund the theater company's Women In Theatre project - a two year effort that seeks to promote the work of women in theater, according to a statement from Capital Stage.

To do so, Capital Stage will create new plays through a workshop process. Two new plays will be developed through a two-week rehearsal process. This will culminate in four live performances.

Sacramento author Jayne Williams has been selected as one of the writers to be included. Her book "Slow Fat Triathlete" will be workshopped and developed into a one-woman show.

The project will also allow the theater to fully produce two premieres by women playwrights that feature strong roles for women. Those productions will be part of Capital Stage's 2010-11 season.

Also part of the project plans will be a symposium whose aim is to promote a dialogue among professional women theater artists about the current and future role of women in theater.

This is the second Irvine Foundation grant for Capital Stage, which was founded in 2005. In 2007, the company received a $40,000 grant to develop its Playwrights' Revolution program that allowed the development of new works. That grant resulted in the company's first world premiere production, "Erratica, an Academic Farce," last summer.

Gosh, it seems like only a weekend ago that there was "cage fighting" at the last Second Saturday - waaaay back in October. Not sure if it will be back for this weekend's event, but there is one arts show to consider. That's even if you're a cage fighter fan!

The 20th Street Art Gallery, 911 20th St., is presenting its first 20/20 Group Show, which will become an annual event for the gallery. The show, which features 20 pieces of art from 20 different local artists, opens today. But the big gathering will definitely be this Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Some of the artists include Thomas Ford, Tracy Lewis, James Mullen and Alice Weil. And, I wouldn't want to leave out my Bee colleague, artist Susan Ballenger, whose Water and Stone acrylics series (shown above) will be part of the show.

The gallery previously has done a 50/50 show, which got rave reviews. And the 20/20 offerings should be a hit, too. And what a great idea for the holidays - the gift of local art!

The show runs through Dec. 24. Gallery hours: noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more info and/or a preview, click here.

Well, that yearly tradition of naming the best in musical categories by Musical America is here again.

And soon-to-be Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor Riccardo Muti has snagged the top prize for 2010.

Mezzo-soprano Elina Garanča (pictured, right) has been given the nod as Best Vocalist of the year.

Musical America, a monthly online musical trade publication for classical music, was founded in 1898. It has been awarding the "Musician of the Year" prize since 1960, when it was awarded to Leonard Bernstein.

Muti begins conducting in Chicago in the fall of 2010. His musical resume is long and impressive. It includes the music directorship of The Philadelphia Orchestra (between 1980 to 1992). He was also chief conductor of London's Philharmonia Orchestra from 1972 to 1982, and music director of the Milan's Teatro alla Scala from 1986 to 2005.

The 33-year-old Garanča, who is better known in Europe than she is in the U.S., will make her Metropolitan Opera debut next year in "Carmen". It is a role that the Latvian-born mezzo has performed frequently.

Other category winners for 2010:

Louis Andriessen - Composer of the year
Joshua Bell - Instrumentalist of the year
Warren Jones - Collaborative Pianist of the year.

Sometimes a little "Carmina Burana" can go along way... in a good way.

Take the UC Davis University Chorus. That group's video of a 2006 performance of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" has now earned more than a million views on YouTube.

"Regardless of the number of views, it's the top-watched performance of "Carmina Burana" on YouTube," said Philip Daley, events and publicity manager at UC Davis.

That healthy page view number comes way of a partnership between UCTV and YouTube. UCTV is a service dedicated to showing special public events put forth by all the colleges in the University of California system.

And for that 2006 performance, synergy between music groups at UC Davis was key, Daley said.

"We have nurtured this wonderful relationship between the Symphony and Chorus, and Alumni Chorus that allows us to do these "blockbuster" works," said Daley.

The video was a total in-house affair that was shot and edited by UC Davis' division of Information & Educational Technology, also known as MediaWorks.

The same video cred will likely be applied to the University Chorus performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams's "Dona nobis pacem" ("Grant us peace") at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4.

That cantata-like work is scored for full orchestra, and will be performed by the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra. The work calls for pipe organ, which will be performed by Stephen Janzen. It will also feature two soloists: soprano Yulia Van Doren, and baritone Jesse Blumberg. Jeffrey Thomas will conduct.

University Chorus
WHEN: 8 p.m., Dec. 4
WHERE: Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center, UC Davis
TICKETS: $10-$16; $5 - $8 students
INFORMATION: (530) 754-2787 or www.MondaviArts.org

The fifth annual Heart Gallery event features professional photos of older children, sibling groups and children with special needs who need adoption, as well as "happy ending" portraits of families who have adopted children, said Laurie Slothower, spokeswoman for Sacramento County's Child Protective Services.

(Shown at top left is Jacob, 9; at right is Andre, 14; bottom left is Kevin, 5. All are seeking permanent homes).

There are currently about 1,500 children awaiting adoption in the county.

The family-friendly event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Casa Garden Restaurant, 2760 Sutterville Rd., Sacramento.

The gallery is a collaborative effort between CPS, Sacramento State University, Sierra Forever Families, Lilliput Children's Services and Sacramento Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Heart Gallery portraits will continue to be on display online and are available for display at public events. For more information, call (916) 217-1552 or e-mail info@sacheartgallery.org.

The Roseville location of Serendipity Boutique is hosting an UGG boot trunk show from noon to 3 p.m. today featuring the newest styles in the furry boot that never, never goes out of style. I don't care what Tim Gunn says.

I've got on a pair right now, and my feet are warm and toasty and comfortable. Clunky? I think not. In fact, I saw a woman with the updated "sweater" version yesterday getting Panda Express takeout in midtown. Loved 'em!

Serendipity is offering free airbrushing today with any purchase! So check it out at the Fountains at Roseville, 1182 Roseville Parkway, Suite 165. For more info: (916) 788-1488. The store is open until 8 tonight.

Kelli & the ShadowMen, which played the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this summer, will be performing between 12 and 6 p.m. at PJ's Roadhouse, 5641 Motherlode Dr., Placerville.

A $10 minimum donation of non-perishable food or an unwrapped toy is requested. A separate $20 donation gets you admission to the club with live music by the band, a news release states.

Guests must be 21 and older to be admitted.

The event is hosted by the El Dorado County Boozefighters Motorcycle Club in conjunction with Red Hawk Casino.

The band also is performing at Redhawk Casino at 9 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

For more information, go to the band's MySpace page or Red Hawk Casino's Web site.

Music programs in schools have been taking a big hit lately.

And the all-female Davis a cappella group The Spokes is doing something about it.

The UC-Davis-based group has decided that action is as good as singing. And they're proving it by hosting a charity event called "Sing for Schools!" on Nov. 21, in support of school music programs. The fundraiser will be held in the ARC Ballroom at UC Davis from 2-5 p.m.

The a cappella group hopes the event will raise awareness and support for the important cause of keeping music in schools.

The event is designed as a fun and inspirational atmosphere that combines food, performances, speakers, and a fundraiser raffle. Performers will include Davis High School Baroque Ensemble, St. Francis High Schools' Jazz Ensemble, recording artist Camaron Ochs, The Spokes, and more local artists and groups.

All proceeds will be donated to VH1's Save the Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education in American public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education.

Sing for Schools!
WHEN: 2-5 p.m., Nov. 21
WHERE: ARC Ballroom at UC Davis
INFORMATION: (858) 204-9005 or the.spokes@gmail.com

Cinderella's Closet still provides gift certificates to financially and academically qualified high school girls so they can select gently used formal dresses and accessories. WEAVE provides referral info on its Web site: Just click here or call (916) 319-4910.

Of course, WEAVE still encourages folks in the community to help by organizing and hosting dress drives throughout the year.

Here's some more information: Cinderella's Closet is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Mondays.

Donation hours? 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

No doubt about it, Gustavo Dudamel is red hot.

No other conductor in recent history has gotten the same buzz.

In the months preceding his debut at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, his face was splattered over Cinemascope-sized billboards in Los Angeles.

That's a tactic typically associated with the expensive plugging of the next Will Smith or Ridley Scott pic.

That's a lot of hype for any conductor.

But sometimes, the bright and meteoric have this way of making crash landings.

Not Dudamel.

And the proof is in the pudding: ticket sales and recording stats.

His Oct. 8 gala concert at Walt Disney Hall, in a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 1, was an artistic success. And a commercial one, too.

That performance, recorded by Deutsche Grammophon and released as a digital only recording on iTunes, went to the top of the charts.

In the first week of its digital release, the recording landed at #1 on Billboard's Classical Traditional and Classical Overall Charts. The album also reached #1 on iTunes Classical and #12 on Billboard's New Artist Chart, simultaneously.

Add this to the fact that Dudamel's concerts are as close to a sure-fire sell out as it gets in the biz... and the hordes of young patrons that flock to Disney Hall now... and you have the workings of a true classical music phenomenon.

"I'm so excited!" she said.

That's because, in the middle of economic angst in the world of retail, she's doing a mini expansion.

"We are partnering with Article salon and spa at the Fountains (in Roseville)," Masunaga says. "We're opening a 'mini' version of Madam Butterfly and we're calling it MBMB (Madam Butterfly Mini Boutique). It will be in the front portion of the salon. We're thrilled to bring our MB look to Article. It will be a full hair meets fashion concept."

The mini boutique will officially open Sunday around 10 a.m. After that, it will maintain the same hours as the salon. If you can't make it out to Roseville for some apres-Halloween shopping, Masunaga says MBMB will host its grand opening from 7 to 10 p.m. next Friday.

This is a great partnership that's sure to liven things up at the Fountains. The address? 1182 Roseville Parkway, Suite 120, between Z Gallerie and Tres Agaves.

In addition, the headliner for the gathering is Baxter Black, a noted poet and frequent public radio commentator.

The festival runs Nov. 12-15 and includes the following events:

Kick-off reception, Nov. 12, 6 p.m. $30
First performance, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. $35 general admission, $45 reserved seating
Open Mic, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. Free
Matinee performance, Nov. 14, 1 p.m. $25 adults/$10 kids
Western barbecue and stage coach rides, Nov. 14, 3-6 p.m.
Final performance, Nov. 14 - already sold out
Cowboy Church, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.

Most (but not all) events will be at the Blue Goose Fruit Shed, 3550 Taylor Rd., Loomis.

For more information on locations, performers and sponsors, see www.cowpokefallgathering.com or www.soplacerheritage.org or call (916) 652-4480.

A $5,000 award will be given for both newly published fiction (such as novels, short story collections and drama) and newly published non-fiction (memoirs, portraits and excursions into neighborhood and community, in the Saroyan tradition.)

The competition's launch was announced this week by Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation.

Deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2010. Official forms and rules can be found at www.saroyanprize.stanford.edu

Previous winners of the Saroyan Prize are Jonathan Safran Foer for his novel "Everything is Illuminated," George Hagen for his novel "The Laments," Mark Arax and Rick Wartzman for their non-fiction work "The King of California," Nicole Krauss for her novel "The History of Love" and Kiyo Sato for the non-fiction "Dandelion Through the Crack."

The Fresno-born Saroyan wrote the 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning play "The Time of Your Life," several short story collections, including "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze," and such novels as "The Human Comedy." He won an Academy Award in 1943 for his screen adaptation of "The Human Comedy."

He founded the William Saroyan Foundation in 1966. Its board of trustees offered his entire literary estate to Stanford University in 1990.

Saroyan died in Fresno in 1981.

The 21-week session starts Jan. 7. A $95 fee covers course materials and includes a one-year individual membership in the California Vehicle Foundation.

Scholarships are available.

Participants must be at least 18 years old and need not know much about cars going in. Once they graduate, the new docents will serve two four-hour shifts a month for two years, working as volunteer teachers and tour guides at the museum.

The California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St., Sacramento, contains a unique collection of vehicles dating to the early 1900s.

For more information: (916) 442-6802, 21Q
www.CalAutoMuseum.org

A Sacramento Poetry Festival will bring more than 15 featured poets, plus music and song, to the Guild Theater for a five-hour event Nov. 13.

"In other cities, they have these festivals and marathons all the time," said Terry Moore, who dreamed up the event.

He wanted to bring together academic poets with the spoken word and slam poets, "kind of like a gumbo," he said.

Doing the event in the restored Guild makes it more grand than a coffee house, Moore said.

Hoping to entice whole families to come - Moore is associated with the Center for Fathers and Families - he wanted to make the event more affordable than other events he's seen.

"They just don't have it," he said. "Five bucks is a lot." So this will only be $2.

Featured poets will be scheduled in groups, with a different group every hour. In the middle, the event will feature a musical break from the action.

The Theater is at 2828 35th Street in Sacramento and the event begins at 6 p.m. It is co-sponsored by the Sacramento Poetry Center and the Center for Fathers and Families.