Carl Cherry Center for the Arts

Along Came Betty - Jazz at The Cherry
2023-12-10 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz at The Cherry will once again bring the year to a “bebobing” close with Along Came Betty for another round of what has become a traditional December treat. Join us Sunday, December 10th, for some great music, wine and light fare–all included in the ticket price. Doors open at 1:00pm; performance begins at 2:00pm. Tickets are $35, available online at eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Spark up your holiday spirit with some of the best bebob and straight-ahead jazz on the West Coast. Along Came Betty will delight you with their rich harmonized sax and trumpet, backed by the classic piano, bass and drums rhythm section.
This group of highly talented musicians (Biff Smith, piano; Brian Stock, trumpet and flugelhorn; Paul Tarantino, saxophone; Zack Westfall, bass; Patrick Tregenza, drums) has performed at many local and national jazz venues, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Big Sur Jazz Festival. Since 1998, they have been celebrating the spirit of hard-bop, a seminal movement of 50s and 60s jazz. Pianist and prolific composer Biff Smith’s sophisticated yet highly accessible compositions blend elements of that era with modern sensibilities.

Poetry Reading to Benefit the Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Poetry Awards
2024-01-20 15:00 - 17:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
More Than Words, a poetry reading to benefit the Cherry Center’s Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards, will be held Saturday, January 20th at 3 p.m. Local writers Patrice Vecchione, George Lober, Philip (Rags) Rosenberg, Anne Mitchell, and Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts will read selections of their poetry in the Cherry Center Gallery. Reservations required. Tickets are $20, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Established in 1994 to increase literacy, empower youth, and invigorate communities through poetry recognize and promote excellence in high school poets, the Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts High School Poetry Awards were created as a collateral program to “Thinking Out Loud”, the Carl Cherry Center’s annual high school art exhibit. The poetry awards were created out of two fundamental insights: First, the vigorous and open-eyed quality of student poetry gives the student work a redemptive role complementary to other forms of human expression, second, poetry by young people is a vital yet largely unrecognized part of our culture. The Awards were conceived as a simple and effective way to address these concerns. Through poetry and the act of creative writing, the program is intended to help transform the imagination and awareness of high school students in Monterey County. These goals are in keeping with the aspirations and values of the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts.
About the Poets:
George Lober teaches English at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English from San Jose State and his master of Arts in English from Fresno State. He is a recipient of the nationally awarded Ruth Cable Memorial Prize for Poetry. His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and journals. He lives in Carmel, California
Anne Mitchell has called Carmel, CA home for over 30 years. A lifelong writer, when the year 2020 brought the unexpected realm of solitude and poetry presented itself, she became a willing conversationalist. She enjoys the theater, and has acted in staged readings at The Cherry, The Listening Place and Eulalia Theater. Anne’s new book of poetry, Fog Totem, is being published in February 2024.
Phillip Rosenberg’s first chapbook, Raised in the Shadow, was praised by Robert Bly (“a certain drive forward into truth”) and U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine (“strong signs of a real talent”). His poetry has appeared in Black Moon, Fine Homebuilding Magazine, The California writers Club Literary Review, and Hudson View. He has lived and worked in Carmel-by-the-Sea since 2021.
Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts is Professor Emeritus at Monterey Peninsula College where he taught composition, literature, public speaking and humanities for 32 years. He serves as President of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation in Carmel, California. He coordinated the National Endowment for the Arts, “The Big Read: The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers,” during which he read and performed Jeffers’s poetry at venues throughout Monterey County, including local libraries, high schools and colleges. The Carl Cherry Center’s high school poetry contest is named in his honor.
Patrice Vecchione, poet, nonfiction writer and teacher, is the author of My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth, among other books. Ms. Vecchione is the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts Poet-in-Schools.
Pictured: “Space of Love” – Anne Marchand

Toastmasters Unplugged
2024-01-20 19:00 - 20:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Monterey Comedy Improv will be joining up with the Monterey Peninsula Toastmasters at the Cherry Theater on Saturday, January 20th at 7pm. This truly unique event will start with some lovely appetizers and beverages from 6-7pm. The show will include members of the Monterey Peninsula Toastmasters delivering an array of engaging presentations along with fun bits by Monterey Comedy Improv. This event is free and designed for anyone that enjoys public speaking and comedy improv.
Seating is limited – call (831) 624-7491 to reserve your tickets now.

Bruce Forman and The Red Guitar
2024-02-11 13:00 - 15:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry proudly welcomes Bruce Forman and The Red Guitar back to our stage on Sunday, February 11th, at 1pm. Doors open at 12:30 for wine and light fare included in the ticket price.
Imagine receiving an invitation to a gala featuring John Coltrane, Sigmund Freud, and Faust. Bruce Forman’s “The Red Guitar” is all that more. It draws on Forman’s decades of experience as a formidable jazz guitarist and his considerable skill as a storyteller and teacher, producing a work that is greater than the sum of its dazzling parts.
​A story in and about jazz, The Red Guitar showcases Bruce Forman’s genre—breaking inventiveness and his ability to improvise and create within a classical form. Enlisting the full power of the jazz idiom and integrating it with seasoned and provocative story-telling, he confronts the dilemma of artistic obsession face-to-face—by creating a work of art that simultaneously explores and demonstrates the hold that music has over its most ardent followers, the hold that poses itself as a life-or-death, must-be-solved-question to Forman and his ilk: “The Red Guitar.” Do you play it…or does it play you?
Tickets are $35, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491. You won’t want to miss this mesmerizing, and delightful performance.

Dylan & Dylan
2024-02-23 19:00 - 2024-02-24 15:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Monterey Peninsula’s celebrated bard and biographical dramatist Taelen Thomas collaborates with artists Steve Mortensen, Laura Burian, and Dixie Dixon for a beguiling excursion into the lives, minds and works of two passionate and unpredictable literary geniuses who share a name: Dylan Thomas and Bob Dylan. Two performances only: Friday, February 23rd at 7:00pm and Saturday, February 24th at 3:00pm. Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Buy Friday, February 23rd tickets online HERE.
Buy Saturday, February 24th tickets online HERE.
Meet the Performers:
TAELEN THOMAS, a poetical showman who has been performing works of Dylan Thomas for decades, with gusto!

STEVE MORTENSEN, a versatile singer/songwriter known for his simple but elegant guitar playing, who has long been a Bob Dylan afficionado.

LAURA BURIAN, a classically trained violinist who plays with many groups locally, and shares a love for these two great artists.

DIXIE DIXON, a local singer and bass player who will back the others with her dulcet tones and subtle bass notes.

Age Is Only A Number
2024-05-03 19:30 - 2024-05-25 19:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER
A COMEDY
A glance at age and aging with a wink.
A new play by
TOM PARKS
MAY 3 thru MAY 25
THE CHERRY
TICKETS: $30
(831) 717-7373
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
7:30pm
SUNDAY MATINEE
2:30pm

Dick Whittington Trio
2024-05-26 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to welcome back to our stage nationally-known pianist, Dick Whittington, for another tastefully curated afternoon of classic jazz. Dick will be joined by virtuoso bassist, Dan Robbins, and distinguished jazz drummer, Billy Jones.
The trio will treat us to an afternoon of jazz interpretations of evergreens by Harold Arlen, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Duke Ellington and others.
Sunday, May 26th, at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:15pm for a reception featuring wine and light fare (included in the ticket price). Tickets are $35, purchased on eventbrite.com or by calling 831-624-7491.

About the Trio:

Dick Whittington grew up in Los Angeles, and while earning a degree in elementary education at Cal State Northridge, he was working gigs with: Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Criss, Barney Kessel, Charles Lloyd, Charlie Haden, Scott Lafaro, Gary Peacock, and Billy Higgins. Dick later went on to accompany vocalists Anita O’Day, Ernestine Anderson, Dinah Washington, and Mel Torme. Over the last five decades, he has performed with many jazz greats, including: Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Art Pepper, Eddie Harris, and Chet Baker.
Dan Robbins, who is among the West Coast’s most in-demand bassists, is known for his driving, creative, harmonically and melodically rich background and lead parts on bass. He has performed with numerous jazz stars such as: Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Benny Green, Regina Carter, Lewis Nash, John Clayton, Bruce Forman, and many other West Coast jazz luminaries. Dan teaches at San Jose State University and Santa Clara University, and is also involved as an educator with the Monterey Jazz Festival, Cabrillo Jazz Festival and the San Jose Jazz Society.
Billy Jones is based out of Philadelphia, PA and Monterey, CA and has shaped some of the most important jazz records and performances of our time. Billy has been fortunate enough to play with many of the greats, and has played in numerous Broadway musicals. His past performances include jazz festivals in the Philadelphia/New York/New Jersey area, including The Cape May Jazz Festival.

Summer Solstice Celebration with The Cherry Trio
2024-06-21 17:00 - 19:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Cherry Trio — Elizabeth Gaver (baroque violin), Penny Hanna (viola da gamba), Michael Peterson (harpsichord) — and guest David Wilson (baroque violin) celebrate the summer solstice with music from seventeenth century France, Germany, and Italy.
“D’Apotheose de Lully”, by François Couperin, is a suite of short pieces with French texts depicting Lully’s meeting with Apollo and ascension to Parnassus. The concert will also include trio sonatas by Dario Castello and Dietrich Buxtehude, a suite by Marin Marais for viola da gamba and continuo, and a harpsichord suite by Buxtehude. Please join us for a reception after the concert.
The performance will be held Friday, June 21st, at 5:00pm. Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
David Wilson

SOLD OUT The Leon Joyce Trio - Jazz at The Cherry
2024-06-30 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
Jazz at The Cherry Presents The Leon Joyce Trio
Local veteran jazz drummer, Leon Joyce, will be leading the way with this exciting jazz trio. Joining Leon will be legendary guitarist, Bruce Forman, and Brian Ho, one of the hottest jazz organ players to come along in a long time. Sunday, June 30th, at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30 for wine and light fare (included in the ticket price). Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Get ready for an afternoon of exhilarating, straight-ahead jazz at its finest!
Sponsored in part by Lorna Pierce
About the Trio
Leon Joyce
Since relocating to Seaside from Chicago in 2011, Leon has been a mainstay of the regional jazz scene, largely in the Bay Area. Expect traditional and contemporary jazz stylings, fueled by a drummer whose feeling-laden, detailed style invokes Max Roach, Buddy Rich or Louis Bellson, rather than the brainiac power styles so present today. Joyce’s musical career began in high school, but was really shaped and nurtured when he joined the Marine Corps in 1976. He has supported artists as varied as Nancy Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Larry Coryell, and Ramsey Lewis.
Bruce Forman
Bruce’s life and musical journey provide an American saga which is still in full swing. His musical accomplishments include twenty-one recordings as a leader, countless sideman recordings, including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway, and soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films—most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby. Deep immersion in American culture inspires Forman to contribute to the traditions that he draws from. His music and life reflect every step of his journey and demonstrate the awareness of an artist who’s at the top of his form and very much at home in the jazz world.
Brian Ho
When one thinks of jazz and the Hammond Organ, one name comes to mind – James Oscar Smith, or simply, Jimmy Smith. Well, get ready for Hammond-endorsed artist, Brian Ho, as he joins Leon and Bruce on our stage. Brian solos and comps with his right hand, while his left hand and feet play organ bass in the classic stylistic tradition of the jazz organ pioneers. The San Jose Mercury News says of him: “Brian Ho is a rising jazz star. These days, Ho is one of the region’s most promising young jazz Hammond organists.”

Ukulele Melee - A Celebration of the Uke!
2024-07-26 19:00 - 2024-07-27 14:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Ukulele Melee is a celebration of the world’s friendliest instrument. The event will feature performances by local musicians Steve Mortensen and Dixie Dixon, Pammy Forman, Sandor Nagyszalanczy and Karen Lehman, the Haole Harmony Trio, as well as Michael Wynia, and SF Bay area musical luminaries Steven Strauss and Greg Pratt.
Sandor Nagyszalanczy
The original Ukulele Melee was created about 15 years ago by Dixie Dixon as a celebration to honor the legacy of her husband Daniel Dixon, a noted local author and musician. After an absence of nearly ten years, the 2024 Ukulele Melee has revived this popular celebration for a new generation of ukulele players and enthusiasts.
Two performances only: Friday, July 26th, at 7:00pm and Saturday, July 27th, at 2:00pm. Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Purchase tickets for Friday, July 26th HERE
Purchase tickets for Saturday, July 27th HERE

SOLD OUT Akira Tana's Hidden Valley Trio
2024-08-25 16:00 - 18:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry is thrilled to present world-class San Francisco Bay Area musicians Akira Tana, John Wiitala and Steve Rudolph. We’re fortunate to engage this group of journeyman jazz musicians as they gear up for a residency at Ali Reyerson’s Flute Master Class at Hidden Valley. A rich selection of tunes from the Great American Songbook and other jazz standards are sure to provide an afternoon of classic jazz at its finest.
One performance: Sunday, August 25th at 4:00pm. Doors open at 3:30pm for wine and light fare included in the $35 ticket price. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com. (Eventbrite tickets do not have to be printed or downloaded. Doors close ten minutes after the start of each performance.)
About the Trio:
Akira Tana is a self-taught and technically accomplished drummer whose versatility is revealed by the range of musicians with whom he has worked, including: Helen Humes, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Jaki Byard, George Russell, Sonny Stitt, Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims, Cedar Walton, Ran Blake, Chris Connor, Carl Fontana, Jimmy Heath, Tete Montoliu, Spike Robinson, Warne Marsh, and many other leading jazz musicians. He has also produced and co-produced several albums, including those by Tana Reid, the Asian American Jazz Trio. His most recent projects are four recordings by his group, “Otonowa,” featuring jazz interpretations of Japanese folk and pop melodies that date back decades and even centuries. Tana earned a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology from Harvard University, and also studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. He is currently on the faculty at San Francisco Conservatory of Music and can often be heard as an announcer on Bay Area jazz station, KCSM.
John Wiitala, bassist, is a Richmond, CA native and longtime veteran of the SF Bay Area jazz scene. He has accompanied many artists, including: Shorty Rogers, Charlie Rouse, Ernestine Anderson, Joe Henderson, Charles McPherson, Mary Stallings, Bob Dorough and countless others. Wiitala most treasures the associations with pianists Jessica Williams, Randy Porter, Mark Levine, and Adam Shulman, trumpeter Erik Jekabson, and vocalists Madeline Eastman and Wesla Whitfield, and his long tenure at Jazz At Pearls with Bruce Forman and Vince Lateano. John has long been involved in jazz education, including a long-running involvement with the Stanford Jazz Workshop, the California Jazz Conservatory and Ali Ryerson’s Jazz Flute Masterclass.
Steve Rudolph, born in Evansville, Indiana, studied trumpet and composition under scholarship at Butler University in Indianapolis. Switching his main instrumental focus to the piano at age 22, he was hired by Buddy Morrow in 1977 to perform on the road with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Since then, he has had an inspiring career in his 50+ years of professional music making. Steve has served as producer, arranger and performer on many recordings, and his vast concert experience encompasses performances with many jazz masters, including: Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, and the Mills Brothers. At home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he leads many ensembles, including the Harrisburg Jazz Collective Big Band. His devotion to the art of jazz inspired him to found the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz, now in its 44th year. Steve was the recipient of the 2002 Harrisburg Arts Award for dedication to the arts, and in 2023 he was inducted into the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame.

Rick Forschino Trio Plays the Music of Enrico Pieranunzi
2024-10-27 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Two years after their sold-out performance honoring the music of Michel Petrucciani, Rick Forschino and his trio, featuring Bill DeLap on acoustic bass and Mike Shannon on drums, return to present compositions by the brilliant living Italian pianist, Enrico Pieranunzi, on Sunday, October 27th, at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare (included in the ticket price). Tickets are $35, available on Eventbrite.com.
Enrico Pieranunzi is not only an incredibly sensitive pianist with a touch akin to that of Bill Evans, but also a particularly lyrical composer of uniquely beautiful harmonies. Rick became aware of Pieranunzi’s talented genius in 1987 with the release of “Deep Down” which featured bassist, Marc Johnson, and drummer, Joey Baron. Since then, Enrico has produced over sixty albums that include well over three hundred of his own original compositions. This concert will showcase a personal selection of these compositions, including his famous 1978 piece, “Nightbird,” which gained fame in 1987 when he recorded it with Chet Baker. Baker went on to record and perform this tune multiple times throughout his career. By introducing Pieranunzi’s compositions at The Cherry, this trio will demonstrate how he has devoted his life to establishing a body of work worthy of the collection of standards we now know and love by the famous composers of the 20th century.
Rick Forschino is a well-known jazz musician on the Monterey scene who is drawn to the more lyrical players who experiment with lush unusual harmonies. Over the many years, Rick has played monthly with Bill DeLap at the Carmel Art Association and other venues around the Peninsula with multiple artists. They’ve developed a friendship with a shared special interest in the music of Michel Petrucciani and Enrico Pieranunzi.

SOLD OUT The Bob Phillips Review - George Gershwin
2024-11-17 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
When you think of memorable jazz tunes, the composers who wrote them don’t always readily come to mind. Over a series of three concerts, one of the Peninsula’s favorite pianists, Bob Phillips, will take us on a musical review highlighting three composers whose writings became mainstays in the world of jazz.
Bob will begin this musical journey with the works of George Gershwin and many of his signature compositions such as “A Foggy Day (In London Town)”, “Embraceable You” and others. Sunday, November 17th at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. $35.00, available on Eventbrite.com.
Joining Bob will be Adam Astrup on guitar, vocalist Malinda DeRouen, Ross Garren on harmonica, bassist Dennis Murphy, and drummer Mike Shannon.
The series will continue on February 9, 2025 featuring the works of Henry Mancini, with a final performance on April 27, 2025 showcasing one additional musical genius.
Meet the Musicians:

Bob Phillips: Phillips is a consummate musician and without a doubt one of the finest performers on the Monterey Peninsula. Well known for his exceptional technique and versatility, Bob has performed five times at the Monterey Jazz Festival and is currently in demand all over Central and Northern California. He has also been honored by The Monterey Jazz Festival with an endowment in his name which helps to sustain over 20 Monterey County high school students chosen every year from over 28 schools to be members of the Monterey County All-Star Band.
Adam Astrup: Originally from Minnesota, guitarist Adam Astrup is an active performer in the Monterey area jazz scene. He has worked with renowned artists such as Bruce Forman, Greg Gisbert, Matteo Sabattini, Gary Meek and Drew Zaremba, and many others.
Malinda DeRouen: An extremely versatile vocalist, Melinda is no stranger to the world of jazz. She has also excelled in cinema and numerous musical productions and was most recently seen as Billie Holiday in the acclaimed Lady Day with the New Canon Theatre Company. Her first performance on the outdoor stage was over 24 years ago as Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Ross Garren: Harmonica player, keyboardist, composer and record producer Ross Garren lives in Southern California. He has recorded with a host of notable artists including Bon Iver, Kesha, Ben Folds, Brad Mehldau, Rita Coolidge, and Keb’ Mo’. Garren’s sound has been described as “a meeting of vintage Americana, retro-futurism, classic song craft and whimsical surrealism.”
Dennis Murphy: Since the mid-eighties, bassist Dennis Murphy has been touring worldwide with various national and international artists. A three-time GRAMMY Nominee with international Smooth Jazz Artist Acoustic Alchemy. Dennis has recorded or played with The Greg Kihn Band, Maria Muldaur, Billy Preston, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Shirelles, and Kenny Rankin, among others.
Mike Shannon: Based out of Central California, drummer Mike Shannon has performed and/or recorded with many world renowned musicians including: the Hristo Vitchev Quartet, Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito, Al Jardine of The Beach Boys, Rick Allen of Def Leppard, Tiran Porter of the Doobie Brothers, Stanley Jordan, Pat Bianchi, Gary Meek, Mike Lent (Barry Manilow guitarist), Brian Charette, Tammy Brown, George Young, Steve Ezzo, Dann Zinn and many others.
This series is bound to be one of the most enjoyable and delightful Jazz At The Cherry experiences!

Along Came Betty
2024-12-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to bring back Along Came Betty for another round of what has become a traditional December treat. Join us Sunday, December 8th, for some great music, wine and light fare–all included in the ticket price. This year’s program will pay tribute to pianist and prolific composer Biff Smith who passed away in June. Doors open at 1:30pm; performance begins at 2:00pm. Tickets are $35, available online at eventbrite.com.
Spark up your holiday spirit with some of the best bebob and straight-ahead jazz on the West Coast. Along Came Betty will delight you with their rich harmonized sax and trumpet, backed by the classic piano, bass and drums rhythm section.
This group of highly talented musicians (Bill Spencer, piano; Brian Stock, trumpet and flugelhorn; Paul Tarantino, saxophone; Pete Lips, bass; Patrick Tregenza, drums) has performed at many local and national jazz venues, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Big Sur Jazz Festival. Since 1998, they have been celebrating the spirit of hard-bop, a seminal movement of 50s and 60s jazz.
BUY TICKETS NOW

Krapp's Last Tape and Rockaby
2025-01-23 - 2025-01-26 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
An Evening of The Absurd at The Carl Cherry

Samuel Beckett, playwright known for “Theatre of the Absurd” will come to life in this one weekend-only performance by Dennis Leroy Kangalee of the Kangalee Arts Ensemble in NYC & Justine Stock of New Canon Theatre Co, Monterey. A double bill of Samuel Beckett’s plays, Krapp’s Last Tape, an early masterpiece from 1957, and Rockaby, one of his rarer, later gems written in 1983. Directed and Performed by Dennis Leroy Kangalee and Justine Stock, both plays deal with the angst of memory within the mystery of aging; they ask us to consider what the culmination of a life experience is, or can be. Four performances only:
Thursday, January, 23rd @ 7:00 pm (Preview Night)
Friday, January, 24th @ 7:00 pm (Opening Night Post-Show Reception)
Saturday, January 25th @ 7:00 pm
Sunday, January 26th @ 2:00 pm
This is a 1 hour performance, each show will have a Q&A post show.
Tickets are $35.00, available on Eventbrite.com. Recommended for ages 14 and up.
A special evening of two Samuel Beckett plays presented in an exclusive double-bill of his most accessible and challenging pieces for solo actors determined to make a connection with a live human audience. Titled “Technology & The Human Cry,” J. Stock Productions and Kangalee Arts Ensemble bring both Krapp’s Last Tape and Rockaby to the stage in one unforgettable hour-long program.
Founder & Artistic Director of Kangalee Arts Ensemble shares, “Because while the world is suffering with many things, one thing we as artists can combat is the information overload; the bombardment of spectacle in our arts and entertainment. In an attempt to kickstart the new year with pared down, simple “chamber plays” that are exquisitely rendered by the Master of the Absurd and the great comic folly of human behavior, Samuel Beckett, Technology & The Human Cry aims to redirect the focus of acting and drama from the grand sweep of spectacle to the epic of human thoughts and emotions. In a time where nothing seems to make sense and the only thing guaranteed is aging or death, our bliss fleeting but attainable, Stock and Kangalee return to the theater with intimate works that illustrate the real wars are internal.
Aesthetically, both plays wrestle with the idea of the human voice dueting with a recorded voice. Beckett was curious, if not obsessed with technology itself — especially how recording mediums can refract our own lives back to us.
In each mono-drama the solo performer must listen to his or herself – on a recorded tape – and not only react, but allow it to influence how they view their life. Krapp’s tapes and nameless woman W’s voice (“V”) in Rockaby – emanate as “recorded ghosts” in a way… enabling enormous joy, but also overwhelming pain.
Written by: Samuel Beckett
Directed by: Dennis Leroy Kangalee, Kangalee Arts Ensemble
Produced by: J. Stock Productions & Kangalee Arts Ensemble
Production Designer: Edith Raw
Sound Designer: Carlton King
Stage Manager & Design Coordinator: Sean Aten
Cast: Dennis Leroy Kangalee (Krapp’s Last Tape) Justine Stock (Rockaby)

SOLD OUT The Bob Phillips Review Performing the Music of Henry Mancini
2025-02-09 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
When you think of memorable jazz tunes, the composers who wrote them don’t always readily come to mind. Over a series of three concerts, one of the Peninsula’s favorite pianists, Bob Phillips, will take us on a musical review highlighting three composers whose writings became mainstays in the world of jazz. Bob’s most recent performance for Jazz At The Cherry showcased the wonderful music of composer George Gershwin
The next stop on this musical journey will take us into musical world of composer Henry Mancini on Sunday, February 9th. Joining Bob will be singer/songwriter Julie Capili and some of the Peninsula’s finest jazz artists, including guitarist Adam Astrup, sax player Paul Contos, bassist Dennis Murphy and drummer Mike Shannon.

The final show for this series will take place on Sunday, April 27th featuring another musical genius.
Sunday, February 9th at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30 for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com.

Bob Phillips: Phillips is a consummate musician and without a doubt one of the finest performers on the Monterey Peninsula. Well known for his exceptional technique and versatility, Bob has performed five times at the Monterey Jazz Festival and is currently in demand all over Central and Northern California. He has also been honored by The Monterey Jazz Festival with an endowment in his name which helps to sustain over 20 Monterey County high school students chosen every year from over 28 schools to be members of the Monterey County All-Star Band.
Julie Capili’s creativity and playfulness are evident in her music, bringing a sense of joy and wonder to her performances. Her subtlety and exquisite control display a maturity beyond her years. Her influences are eclectic, including artists such as Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Eva Cassidy, and Tori Amos. And although her voice has drawn comparisons to many great singers, she possesses a style of her own.

Soapbox Stageworks Presents: Winter One Acts
2025-03-20 - 2025-03-29 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Soapbox Stageworks Presents Winter One Acts, four brand new plays performed on four different nights:
Thursday, March 20th, Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22 and 29. The house opens at 6:30 for pre-show libations. Performances start at 7pm. Tickets are, $35, available on Eventbrite.com. 10% of all proceeds will go to the Carmel Youth Center
Each performance will feature the following plays:
“Ruby” by Donald Luftus – An afternoon on the Thames River takes a turn.
“Forward Pass” by Lawson Caldwell – It’s 1969 after the Stonewall riots in NYC. Two mothers in a small southern town must defend their sons.
“Lenny and Jenny” by Mike Byham – An intense situation makes two people realize things aren’t always as they seem. Trigger alert for language and violence.
“A Winter’s Eve” by Karen Devaney – During a snowstorm in a small cabin, a couple attempt to get their marriage back on track. The secrets revealed may destroy them for good.

SOLD OUT - The Bob Phillips Review Performing the Music of Johnny Mercer
2025-05-04 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
When you think of memorable jazz tunes, their composers and lyricists don’t always readily come to mind. Over a series of concerts, one of the Peninsula’s favorite pianists, Bob Phillips, has been taking us on a musical tour highlighting luminaries whose works have become mainstays in the world of jazz. Bob’s third and final concert on this journey will feature the works of famed lyricist, Johnny Mercer. Highly talented vocalist and stage performer Malinda DeRouen, and special guest vocalist Lee Durley, will be joining Bob for what is sure to be another outstanding Jazz At The Cherry production.
Sunday, May 4th at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30 for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com.

Bob Phillips is a consummate musician and without a doubt one of the finest performers on the Monterey Peninsula. Admired for his exceptional technique and on-stage liveliness, Bob has performed five times at the Monterey Jazz Festival and is currently in demand all over Central and Northern California. He has also been honored by The Monterey Jazz Festival with an endowment in his name which helps to sustain over 20 Monterey County high school students chosen every year from over 28 schools to be members of the Monterey County All-Star Band.

The Life and Writings of John Muir with Barbara Mossberg
2025-05-17 16:00 - 18:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
An Exuberant Evening with Barbara Mossberg and John Muir . . . and Louisa Wanda!
Join us Saturday, May 17th, for a magical evening of poignancy and lift in performance arts with Dr. Barbara Mossberg at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $15, available on Eventbrite.com.
An international scholar of John Muir, teacher of eco literature, and California laureate Poet-in-Residence Emerita (Pacific Grove), Mossberg brings her poetry and scholarship to imagine and help correct the historical record of how purple prose led to public policy and civic commitment to preserve the wilderness. What does love have to do with it? Or a devoted wife? A world premiere concert recitation of a new historical musical drama on John Muir.
Join Barbara and our Cherry community for rounds of cakes and ale (always cake!) and merriment following the presentation.
Dr. Barbara Mossberg
Forest image above: goseedoexplore.com

Age is Only a Number
2025-05-30 - 2025-06-21 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
All New!
The Laugh’s on Us!
AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER
A Comedy
Another glance at age and aging with a wink.
A new play by
TOM PARKS
May 30th – June 21st
Fridays and Saturdays: 7:30pm
Sunday matinees: 2:30pm
Tickets $35
Call (831) 717-7373

The Michael O’Neill/Tammy Hall Quartet
2025-06-22 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry
Proudly presents
The Michael O’Neill/Tammy Hall Quartet
San Francisco Bay Area jazz artists Michael O’Neill and Tammy Lynne Hall have put together a truly heavyweight group of musicians for this very special Jazz At The Cherry performance. A gifted saxophonist, Michael O’Neill will be leading the way along with much sought-after pianist and vocalist Tammy Lynne Hall. Rounding out the quartet are two of the Monterey Peninsula’s favorite artists, the sensational drummer Leon Joyce Jr. and talented bassist Steve Uccello. This stellar group of artists has performed at numerous venues in the SF Bay Area, and while this will be a JATC first for O’Neill and Hall, both Joyce and Uccello have had several Cherry appearances in the past. This is bound to be one of the hottest ever straight-ahead jazz shows to come to our stage, and you surely won’t want to miss it!
Sunday, June 22nd at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com.
Michael O’Neill
Saxophonist Michael O’Neill is a mainstay in the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene where he now leads several jazz groups. A San Diego native, Michael began studying clarinet at age eight. He took up the saxophone at thirteen and studied composition and arranging in college. Following graduate school in Texas, he returned to the SF Bay Area and studied with the great Joe Henderson. It didn’t take long for O’Neill to make a name for himself. He signed on to several steady, high-profile gigs including a thirteen-year engagement at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, a seven-year stint at Cetrella on the coast, and a six-year steady gig at the Sofitel on the San Francisco Peninsula. He has played and/or recorded with Idris Muhammad, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Michael Wolff, Rodney Jones, Kenny Washington, Jackie Ryan, Tony Lindsay, Akira Tana, Michael Bluestein, Nicolas Bearde, Smith Dobson, and many others. O’Neill’s first three jazz albums featured the world-renowned SF Bay Area vocalist Kenny Washington. Their partnership spans over 20 years, and the two have performed together in many notable venues including the San Jose Jazz Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the Monterey Jazz Festival. O’Neill performs frequently at Yoshi’s and many other major venues in the SF Bay Area.
Tammy Lynne Hall
Tammy Lynne Hall began playing the piano at age four in Dallas, Texas where she was raised by two grandmothers, a grandfather and numerous aunts and uncles. Her earliest memories of the piano were of climbing onto the piano bench and picking out the notes to tunes she heard either on the radio, record player or something the choir sang at church. She attended the prestigious Mills College in Oakland, CA from 1979 to 1981. In pursuit of developing her own voice and the experiences of a ‘Jazz’ life, Tammy left Mills College and began working with local bands in the SF Bay Area. A visit to Brussels turned into a two-year stay. During this time Tammy along with saxophonist, Dr. Josylyn Segal, formed the quintet Touche Differente (Different Touch), playing in numerous venues and festivals, including the Brussels Jazz Club, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Antwerp, France, Holland and Ibiza as well as performing and recording with saxophonist Noah Howard. A truly versatile pianist, Tammy Hall’s own compositions, arrangements and improvisational style are always crowd pleasers. Tammy’s impressive accompanist skills made her a top choice for many well-known singers. She is equally gifted in Classical, Gospel, Latin, R & B and Jazz. Her major influences include Tania Maria, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Mary Lou Williams, Joe Sample and Thelonious Monk. Tammy brings virtuosity to the piano that is never ostentatious, and her approach to the music is always genuine and fresh.
Leon Joyce Jr.
Well-known on the local jazz scene, drummer Leon Joyce Jr. is a native of Meriden, Connecticut where he received his musical training through private instruction under John Oblon and Jimmy Rozelle. While still in high school, he toured Connecticut and Massachusetts with the Greater Hartford Community College Theater Group, performing the Broadway musical Hair. As a drummer, Leon has worked for a wide variety of top artists, including Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, Monty Alexander, Clark Terry, Conte Condoli, Ellis Marsalis, Larry Coryell, Gary Bartz, Billy Harper, and Pete Fountain. Leon performs regularly with his own groups as a trio, quartet or quintet format. He has also appeared with the Jamie Davis Quintet, Nicolas Bearde, Rhonda Benin, Destiny Muhammad and Tiffany Austin. Leon has also performed at many of the top International Jazz Festivals, including Montreux and Lugano Jazz Festivals in Switzerland and the Villingen Swing/Jazz Festival in Germany. Nationally, he has appeared in the Monterey Jazz and Blues, Playboy Jazz and JVC Jazz Festivals in California, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in Louisiana, JVC Jazz Festival in Colorado, Chicago Jazz, the South Shore Jazz and the Heritage Festivals in Illinois. He has also appeared in the Dijon, Lyon and Paris Blues Festivals in France, the Luzern Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Zacatecas and Oaxaca Blues Festival in Mexico and the Rhythm & Blues cruise.
Steve Uccello
As a freelance bassist, Steve plays gigs around the Monterey and San Francisco Bay areas. Steve is the bassist in The Latin Jazz Collective with John Nava as well as Monterey’s beloved group, Along Came Betty. He has played gigs with The Roger Eddy Band and legendary guitarist, Bruce Forman. Steve was also a featured soloist with the Monterey Bay Jazz Orchestra in 2009 at the 52nd annual Monterey Jazz Festival as well as with The Andy Weis Monterey Jazz Allstars at the 60th Monterey Jazz Festival in 2017. Steve has played in the Dottie Dodgion trio as well. He can be regularly found playing musical theater engagements at The Western Stage and The Pacific Repertory Theatre. Additionally, he is also the steady bassist at Santa Cruz’s First Congregational Church’s Jazz/Gospel service. Steve studied music formally at Cabrillo College under jazz trumpeter/arranger Ray Brown and Latin percussionist Mike Strunk. He completed extensive coursework in performance, theory, and musicianship, and was the principal bassist in the Cabrillo orchestra for two years. Steve completed his B.A. at CSU Monterey Bay, where he studied with world-renowned bassists Stan Poplin and Ray Drummond and legendary saxophonist Paul Contos.

Soapbox Stageworks Presents: Summer Comedy Kickoff!
2025-06-27 - 2025-06-29 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
It’s time to celebrate the carefree days of summer, and what better way than a night of comedy! Soapbox Stageworks presents four hilarious one-act plays that will lift your spirits and leave you laughing for days. Friday, June 27th through Sunday, June 29th. Curtain time is 7:00pm for the Friday and Saturday performance, and 2:30pm for Sunday. Tickets are $35 general admission, available on their website, SoapboxStageworks.org.

“Break a Leg” by Max Jackson- An understudy is thrust into a performance with a notorious Diva actress, let’s just say, things get interesting.
“Gentlemen’s Agreement” by Rich Rubin – When two Irishmen wrangle over the selling of a couch an unexpected past arises.
“Elephant in the Room” by Kacie Michele- Four strangers get stuck in an elevator and how they cope is less than conventional.
“Judy’s Place” by Karen Devaney- A beloved pub is in danger of getting bulldozed when its owner suddenly dies. Friends and patrons gather as a far fetched scheme is devised to save the place.

Living Art: Jean Cacicedo, Janet Lipkin and the Evolution of Art to Wear
2025-07-12 17:00 - 19:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Carl Cherry Center is thrilled to present the new documentary “Living Art: Jean Cacicedo, Janet Lipkin & The Evolution of Art to Wear” about two of the founding members of the “Art to Wear” movement in 1970s’ New York. Hear the artist’s talk about their processes of making garments that use the body as a sculptural armature, which comes alive when the body moves through space.
Please join us for this delightful 28-minute film, along with a moderated Q and A with Janet and Jean. This will be followed by a reception in our lovely gallery space and sculpture garden with wine, artful appetizers, a fashion show of their creations and, of course, the artists, themselves.
Janet and Jean each have their remarkable wearable textiles in the permanent collections of some of the most prominent Art museums in the country (and the world), including The Metropolitan Museum (NY), The De Young Museum (SF), The Museum of Art and Design NY, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Hong Kong Design Institute.
They have been featured in three documentaries and their work has been included in 25 books about Wearable Art.
This is a rare opportunity meet these wonderful creators of an optimistic and fanciful future, at time when we need it most.
This film was produced by Textile Arts Council of the deYoung Museum, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Saturday evening at 5:00 pm, July 12, 2025. $20 admission includes wine and appetizers. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite.com.

Mattias Thedens
2025-07-18 19:00 - 20:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Mattias Thedens stands as one of Norway’s emerging talents on the Hardanger Fiddle, Norway’s national instrument. Raised in a musical family, Mattias immersed himself in the world of folk festivals from a young age. He successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts in Hardanger Fiddle performance at the esteemed Norwegian Academy of Music, benefiting from the guidance of distinguished mentors such as Knut Buen and Håkon Høgemo.
In 2023, Mattias won the National competition, Landskappleiken, in Hardanger fiddle class B, and was promoted to the elite A class where he is currently one of its youngest competitors. He is dedicated to keeping the Hardanger fiddle tradition alive, exploring different regional styles and techniques while making sure the music always stays true to its roots.
Friday, July 18th, at 7:00pm. Tickets are $25, available on Eventbrite.com.

Ukulele Melee - A Celebration of the Uke!
2025-08-09 14:00 - 15:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Ukulele Melee is a celebration of the world’s friendliest four-string instrument: the uke! The event will feature performances by local musicians Ukulele Dick, Steve Mortensen and Dixie Dixon, Sandor Nagyszalanczy and Karen Lehman, Bruce and Pamela Forman, and the Haole Harmony Trio. There’ll also be a special guest (or two), audience sing alongs and more. It promises to be a fun afternoon for all ukulele fans that’s not to be missed!

Sandor Nagyszalanczy

The original Ukulele Melee was created about 15 years ago by Dixie Dixon as a celebration to honor the legacy of her husband Daniel Dixon, a noted local author and musician. The 2025 Ukulele Melee continues this popular celebration for a new generation of ukulele players and enthusiasts.
Saturday, August 9th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com.

The Dick Whittington Trio Presents Music from the Great American Songbook
2025-08-17 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to bring back to our stage one of the Monterey Peninsula’s most well-known pianists, Dick Whittington. Joining Dick will be another local favorite, drummer Leon Joyce Jr. Rounding out the trio will be the versatile and creative bassist, Dan Robbins. Sunday, August 17th, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com. Be sure to buy yours today – this year, every performance has sold out.
Dick and his trio will treat us to an array of tunes from the Great American Songbook, featuring works by composers Harold Arlen Irving Berlin, Gershwin, Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers, as well as Jazz Standards by Dizzy Gillespie and John Lewis.
Dick Whittington
Dick Whittington grew up in Los Angeles, and while earning a degree in elementary education at Cal State Northridge, he was working gigs with: Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Criss, Barney Kessel, Charles Lloyd, Charlie Haden, Scott Lafaro, Gary Peacock, and Billy Higgins. Dick later went on to accompany vocalists Anita O’Day, Ernestine Anderson, Dinah Washington, and Mel Torme. Over the last five decades, he has performed with many jazz greats, including: Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Art Pepper, Eddie Harris, and Chet Baker.
Leon Joyce Jr.
A local favorite, drummer Leon Joyce, Jr has worked for a wide variety of top artists, including Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, Monty Alexander, Clark Terry, Conte Condoli, Ellis Marsalis, Larry Coryell, Gary Bartz, Billy Harper, and Pete Fountain. He has also performed at many of the top International Jazz Festivals, including Montreux and Lugano Jazz Festivals in Switzerland and the Villingen Swing/Jazz Festival in Germany. Nationally, he has appeared in the Monterey Jazz and Blues, Playboy Jazz and JVC Jazz Festivals in California, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in Louisiana, JVC Jazz Festival in Colorado, Chicago Jazz, the South Shore Jazz and the Heritage Festivals in Illinois. He has also appeared in the Dijon, Lyon and Paris Blues Festivals in France, the Luzern Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Zacatecas and Oaxaca Blues Festival in Mexico and the Rhythm & Blues cruise.
Dan Robbins
Dan has played and recorded in settings ranging from solo, duo, trio, etc. to big band and orchestra, and is known for driving, creative, harmonically and melodically rich background and lead parts on bass. He doubles on both acoustic bass, and four, five, six, and seven-string electric bass, in styles ranging from solo jazz chord-melody arrangements, to hard-swinging jazz double bass accompaniment, acoustic and electric funk, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Carribean, rock, R&B, blues, tango, Indian, and fusion styles, as well as arco (played with the bow) classical and contemporary interpretations of composed music. When you hear Dan perform his energetic and spellbinding solos, you will understand why he is one of the most in demand musicians on the west coast and beyond.

Monterey Comedy Improv SOLD OUT
2025-08-30 19:00 - 20:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
The Monterey Comedy Improv is back! The premier improv comedy troupe on the peninsula will be back in action on Saturday, August 30th, at 7pm.
Similar to “Whose Line is it Anyway,” Monterey Comedy Improv takes audience suggestions or volunteers and instantly creates hilarious scenes right on the spot. Join us for a night of fun and laughs! For audiences 16+.
Tickets are $20, available on Eventbrite.com.

Soapbox Stageworks Presents: September SIzzlers
2025-09-18 - 2025-09-27 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
This September, Soapbox Stageworks is serving up four incredibly spicy – and diverse – plays. They return to the Cherry Theater September 18th, 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th. Curtain is 7pm. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on their website, Soapbox Stageworks.org.
About the Plays:

‘Amusing Willie’, by Donald Loftus – A clever interpretation of the creative writing process and it’s surprising collaborators.

‘Ramifications’, by Alex Bernstein – A young man seeks direction from an unusual source.​

‘Rubbish’, by Earl Crittendon – What begins as a simple rummage sale spirals into a hilarious yet thought-provoking tug-of-war over history, legacy, and identity.

‘Maltese Monkey’, by Margie Semilof – An attorney must determine which of two warring adult children is worthy of a precious and storied family jewel that has no named heir in a will.

About Soapbox Stageworks:
Soapbox Stageworks began in Philadelphia by Karen Devaney, a playwright, performer, director and producer. She wanted to create a space for new works to evolve, grow and thrive.
Now located in the gorgeous Central Coast of California, Soapbox wants to explore plays and playwrights that have diligently worked their craft and are looking to workshop new material. Collaboration with the community along with local performers, directors, and playwrights, they want to give back to the community by donating 10% of all performances to a local nonprofit.
Soapbox Stageworks is a thriving local theatre that thinks and acts globally to include playwrights and thespians from around the world.

SMILE: A Clown’s Ascension
2025-10-16 - 2025-10-18 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
For the first time in the United States, Henry Miller’s luminous parable, “The Smile at the Foot of the Ladder” comes to life on stage in a bold new adaptation: SMILE: A Clown’s Ascension.
An Event to Remember
This is not just another play — it is a once-in-a-lifetime convergence of literature and theater. It is a threshold where architecture shelters imagination, where laughter deepens into joy. Years from now, the question will be asked: Were you there?
Performances are Thursday, October 16th through Saturday, October 18th at 7:30 pm, and a matinee on Saturday, October 18th at 2pm. Tickets are $40, available on Eventbrite.com using the links below. Due to language and subject matter, the play is suggested for 14 and up.
October 16 – Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel (7:30 pm)
October 17 – Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel (7:30 pm)
October 18 – Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel (2:00 pm)
October 18– Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel (7:30 pm)
Presented, not coincidentally, during the international symposium Henry Miller in the 21st Century — already described by one writer as “Live Aid for Miller aficionados”—this production promises to be one of the highlights of the cultural season.
About the Play
At the center of SMILE: A Clown’s Ascension is Auguste, a world-famous circus clown known for his smile of mystic bliss. Yet fame leaves him unsatisfied. He yearns to give audiences more than laughter — he longs to offer them nothing less than everlasting joy. What could be more fitting, or more impossible, for a clown?
Where pantomime, music, and performance merge into one luminous gesture. Inspired by the cubist painter Fernand Léger — whose postwar circus imagery inspired and accompanied Miller’s fable, reinforcing its parable-like quality — this adaptation reimagines a modern fable as a living parable for our times.
The Creative Team

Dennis Leroy Kangalee — Actor/Writer, starring as Auguste. A celebrated radical artist known for his uncompromising passion and truth.
Magus Magnus — Co-Writer & Director. Poet, playwright, and visionary of Poets Theater with a record of staging works in groundbreaking spaces.
Justine Stock — Producer (J. Stock Productions). A seasoned producer and arts advocate bringing over 20 years of theatrical experience. She is the managing director and co-founder of New Canon Theatre Co.

Don’t Miss This Moment
The performance is more than a play. It is the beginning of something that may resonate for years to come: a unique collaboration, a meeting of artistic giants, and a cultural landmark of lasting importance.
Seating is limited. History will only be made once.
Be there.
Content Disclosure:
SMILE: A Clown’s Ascension is appropriate for ages 14 & up. It contains thoughts of suicide, strong language, violence, racism, and loud bang that may be distressing to some audience members.

Darrell Voss Trio
2025-10-19 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry is excited to extend our reach southward, connecting with the vibrant jazz scene of San Luis Obispo. At its heart is drummer Darrell Voss, a driving force on the Central Coast for many years. He’ll be joined by two of the region’s finest — bassist Dylan Johnson and pianist Marshall Otwell — to form a powerhouse trio. Together, they’ll bring an afternoon of spirited, straight-ahead jazz: swinging standards, lyrical ballads, and soulful blues. Their groove is infectious, and after hearing them, you may find yourself planning a trip south to experience more of the exceptional jazz talent thriving in the San Luis Obispo area.
Performance is Sunday, October 19th at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30 for wine and light fare (included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com.
Darrell Voss
Band leader Darrell Voss, percussionist and educator, has been a central figure in the Central Coast music community for over 30 years. A member of the Cuesta College music faculty since 2000, he teaches in the applied music program, is a key member of the jazz faculty, and has co-directed the Summer Jazz Workshop for the past eight years. Darrell has performed or recorded with The Starlight Dream Band, Jim Barnett Trio, John Proulx, Rick Jarrett, Jeff Babko, Andy Martin, Charlie and Sandy Shoemake, Randy Brecker, Pat Kelley, Doug McDonald, Robert Alberts Quintet, and Kathryn Loomis, among many others. He continues a full schedule of performing and teaching across the West Coast. He received his degrees from Cuesta College and Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, and studied with Jeff Hamilton, Charlie Shoemake, Steve Houghton, and classical percussionists Ross Sears and Paulene Soderholm. He has also participated in the Stanford Jazz Workshop, USC Masterclasses, Percussive Arts Society, and Jazz Educators Network events.
Marshall Otwell
Jazz pianist Marshall Otwell is internationally recognized for his artistry and extensive career in performance and education. He spent more than eight years as pianist and musical director for Carmen McRae, touring worldwide and recording several albums with her, including the Grammy-nominated Live at the Great American Music Hall with Dizzy Gillespie. He currently resides in Los Osos, California, teaches part-time at Cuesta College, and continues to share his deep love of jazz with students and audiences alike. Marshall has toured with Freddie Hubbard, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Charlie Musselwhite, and has performed or recorded with Michael Brecker, Ray Brown, Chick Corea, Gerry Mulligan, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé, Zoot Sims, Percy Heath, Ernie Watts, Ernestine Anderson, Andrea Carter, Steve Wilson, and many others. He has also been featured at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, opening for Diane Schuur and Lavay Smith, and appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival with his own trio as well as with Dave Becker’s Central Coast All-Stars. He has contributed to jazz education as a faculty member at Jazz Camp West, a trustee for Kuumbwa Jazz in Santa Cruz, and as a part-time instructor at Cuesta College.
Dylan Johnson
Electric and acoustic bassist Dylan Johnson has been a mainstay of the Central California music community for over 25 years. In addition to having performed extensively on both coasts of the U.S., he holds a master’s degree from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music and completed his undergraduate studies at Berklee College of Music. Based on the Central Coast of California, he performs regularly with Inga Swearingen, Charlie Shoemake, and often accompanies touring jazz artists in addition to projects in many other styles. Dylan has accompanied John Abercrombie, Ray Vega, Shunzo Ohno, Marco Benevento, Joe Russo, Adam Nussbaum, Jeff Hirshfield, George Schuller, Jim Pugh, Pablo Menendez, Colin Bailey, Lanny Morgan, Gary Foster, Red Holloway, Bruce Forman, John Stowell, Frank Potenza, Pete Christlieb, Stacy Rowles, Ron Stout, Bob Sheppard, Jimmy Branly, Paul Kreibech, Steve Ture, and Wynton Marsalis. He is currently on the music faculty at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA.
