Carl Cherry Center for the Arts

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 (America/Los_Angeles)
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

Playfest '25!
2025-11-22 19:00 - 21:00
Playfest ’25! is Soapbox Stageworks’s third annual ten-minute play celebration!
This year, we have six brand new plays to be performed:

“The Productive Cough” by David Kosky — An absurd comedy about a patient’s allergy to news that creates unusual side effects that an MD diagnoses as psychosomatic.
“Meet Me in Paris” by Kacie Devaney — When Judy tells her husband, Marty, that she wants a radical change in their forty-year marriage, the discussion doesn’t go as planned.
“Proxima B” by Robert Paul Moreira — A brilliant Latina astrophysicist yearns for her colleagues’ recognition, but instead gains the attention of a person she wished she’d never met.
“Days of Separation” by Gordon M. Bolar — When a cynical actress and her theatre-critic husband attempt to discuss their impending divorce, a secret is revealed.
“Sacramental Blocks” by Karen Devaney — A dark comedy about Catarina, an Italian woman in Sonoma, California trying to save the family vineyard during Prohibition.
“I’ll Be Seeing You” by Donald Luftus — It’s 1944, and Joey wants his girl Jenny to wait for him before shipping off to Europe. But is she ready to commit?

Come celebrate with us on Saturday, November 22nd at 7pm. Tickets are $35, available at soapboxstageworks.org

Along Came Betty
2025-12-07 14:00 - 16:30
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to bring back Along Came Betty for another traditional December jazz treat. Join us Sunday, December 7th, for some great music, wine and light fare–all included in the ticket price. Doors open at 1:30pm; performance begins at 2:00pm. Tickets are $45, 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.
Sponsored by Robert Evans and Michele Littell

A Book Party in Three Acts - Reception and Reading From Tom Parks' New Memoir
2025-12-14 14:00 - 16:00
“I didn’t really know who I was until I reached 60. I did not want to live the unexamined life. And so, I examined. The results are pending.” from Tom Parks’ new memoir, “A Life Backstage”
A Book Party in Three Acts
Friends and fans of Carmel’s most popular and prolific playwright, Tom Parks, are invited to The Carl Cherry Theater on Sunday, December 14th, from 2 – 4 pm for a reception and reading from his new memoir, “A Life Backstage.”
ACT I: Grab a glass of wine and a copy of Tom’s book in the Cherry gallery.
ACT II: Listen to a few of Tom’s actor/ friends read from his book in the Cherry theater.
ACT III: Return to the Cherry gallery for a food and wine reception.
The event is free. To reserve your seat for the reading, use this Eventbrite Link.

Jazz at The Cherry: Julie Capili and Friends
2026-01-18 14:00 - 16:00
To kick off our 2026 concert season with elegance and energy, Jazz at the Cherry is thrilled to welcome local jazz vocalist Julie Capili to our stage. Julie’s subtle phrasing and exquisite vocal control radiate both creativity and playfulness, bringing a joyful sense of exploration to every song she sings. Influenced by a wide range of artists — from Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald to Eva Cassidy and Tori Amos — she draws from many traditions while forging a style uniquely her own.
While her voice may recall echoes of the great singers of the past, Julie brings a personal touch and emotional depth to each performance, delivering her music with the grace, soul, and spirit of jazz’s legendary women. She’ll be joined by three of the Monterey Bay area’s finest jazz musicians: Bill Spencer on piano, Pete Lips on bass, and Ben Herod on saxophone. Together, they promise an enchanted afternoon of timeless, joyful jazz.
Sunday, January 18th, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the $45 ticket price. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.com.

BOTH SHOWS SOLD OUT - Bruce Forman & Paul Contos Performing "A Letter to Duke"
2026-02-15 17:00 - 19:00
Guitarist Bruce Forman and saxophonist Paul Contos join forces in this joyful, swinging tribute to one of jazz’s most revered icons: Duke Ellington.
A legendary bandleader, composer, and pianist, Duke Ellington is widely regarded as jazz royalty — and through their inspired interpretations of his timeless music, Bruce Forman and Paul Contos remind us why. Both artists have worked with members of the Ellington orchestra and will share some fun “insider” stories and personal reflections that bring the Duke’s legacy to life. With deep musical chemistry, storytelling flair, and a heartfelt reverence for Ellington’s genius, Bruce and Paul promise an afternoon that’s as illuminating as it is entertaining.
Don’t miss this unforgettable afternoon of jazz at its finest — a heartfelt tribute to one of America’s greatest musical voices.
SOLD OUT: Sunday, February 15th, at 2pm. (Doors will open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price)
SOLD OUT: February 15th at 5pm. (Doors will open at 4:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price) Tickets are $45.

About the Artists
Bruce Forman began his musical journey on piano before picking up the guitar at age thirteen. After relocating to San Francisco in 1971, he became a fixture on the Bay Area jazz scene, performing with artists such as Eddie Duran, Vince Lateano, Ray Brown, George Cables, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and Woody Shaw. He was a regular at the Monterey Jazz Festival and gained national attention while touring with Richie Cole from 1978 to 1982. His 1992 album Forman on the Job reached #14 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart. Bruce has also contributed to several Clint Eastwood film scores, including Million Dollar Baby.
Paul Contos has been a vital figure in West Coast jazz for nearly five decades, both as a performer and educator. He has served as Director of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and the Monterey County All-Stars, and is a longtime Saxophone Clinician for the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Education Program. Paul has shared the stage with jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Regina Carter, and Christian McBride. Contos is in his 17th year conducting the SF JAZZ All-Stars Orchestra in San Francisco.

Porchlight Stories - Now Accepting Submissions
2026-02-18 - 2026-04-18
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts announces “Porchlight Stories,” a live spoken-word storytelling series that brings together authentic personal narrative by members of the community.
Everyone has a story to tell. We want to hear yours! At Porchlight Stories, each participant will share a five to seven-minute true story about themselves performed from memory and centered on a transition, a turning point when something real was at stake and the outcome truly mattered.
Submissions close Saturday, April 25th. Select storytellers will be invited to perform May 14th on the Cherry stage. For detailed guidelines and entry information, please use this LINK.

Portraits in Song: Sabelle, featuring Jewel Arianna
2026-03-27 19:00 - 21:00
Portraits in Song is a new intimate concert series highlighting the craft and storytelling of exceptional emerging artists. Each limited-capacity evening invites audiences to experience songwriting up close — sharing not only original music, but the stories and creative journeys behind it.
The inaugural concert features Carmel native Jewel Arianna, whose original world music explores connections between human behavior, philosophy, and science. Headlining the evening is Sabelle, a beloved Carmel artist blending folk, Americana, and soft pop with a poet’s voice and modern sensibility.
The performance will be held Friday, March 27th, at 7:00pm, doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $25 (wine and light fare provided), available on Eventbrite.com.
About the Artists
The daughter of a Jazz singer and a Salsa dancer, Jewel Arianna is a singer/songwriter whose stylistic influences range from Jazz to Latin to Indian classical music, which entranced her with its intricate melodic nuances and poetic themes. An academic background in astrophysics and non-dual Hindu philosophy strongly influence her lyrics, and many of her original songs seek to convey scientific concepts through the metaphors of human emotional experience. Her overarching artistic ethos is to explore the liminal space where science, philosophy, and embodied experience intertwine through the medium of music.
Sabelle is a Canadian/American Singer-songwriter based in Monterey, California, known for her soft, resonant sound and poetic lyricism. Drawing inspiration from John Mayer and Kacey Musgraves, and the folk stylings of the ‘60s and ‘70s, her music blends timeless storytelling with a fresh emotional depth. Her original songs are a perfect mix of eclectic soft-pop and country-folk, to bring forth a new, exciting sound to the world of music. Sabelle has been performing all around the Central Coast for the past few years, while growing an active YouTube audience with almost 1,500 subscribers, where she posts weekly original compositions and covers. She released three new songs in 2025 and released her newest song, “Sold on Your Love,” alongside a music video debut this February 2026.

Portraits in Song: Peter Barnes Martin with special guest Rags Rosenberg
2026-04-18 15:00 - 17:00
The music of Peter Barnes Martin is born from a love of Indie-Folk, Jazz & Bluegrass. His act is characterized by its down-to-earth sense of storytelling and vocals, paired with high energy instrumentals and creative improvisation. The evening will open with poet/songwriter-storyteller Rags Rosenberg.
The performance will be held Saturday, April 18th, at 3:00pm. Doors open at 2:30. Tickets are $25, and can be purchased at Eventbrite.com. (Wine and light fare included in ticket price.)
About the Musicians:
Peter Barnes Martin is a full-time musician from Rochester, New York, based out of Monterey, California. His composition and performance is influenced by indie folk, americana and jazz and can be compared to artists such as Nick Drake, Iron and Wine, John Mayer and Chet Baker. In addition to his work on the Central Coast, he has toured throughout Michigan and the Carolinas and was a professional jazz musician in New York City from 2019-2020.
In March 2023, Peter self-released his debut album, “Anywhere is Home,” followed by a 10-date tour spanning from San Diego, California to Seattle, Washington. In September 2024, Peter started working on his second project, “The Lake,” with a full release expected Fall 2026. Additionally, he continues to perform frequently, building a presence and following throughout the Central Coast. He looks forward to working with new festivals and venues interested in emerging artists.
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Rags Rosenberg has been playing guitar since he was nine years old and writing songs since Bob Dylan proved that songs could change the world. He spent 14 years in Nashville honing his craft, but having grown up listening to the likes of Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Kris Kristofferson, he wasn’t a good fit for country music. In 2008 he moved to a small cabin in Joshua Tree and returned to the poetic style of songwriting he loved. With a weathered voice and a watchful eye, he channels the witness, the poet, and the man with a go-bag by the door. His new album, Song of the Bricoleur debuted at #6 on the Folk Music charts in September and his song “John Doe” was a finalist in the 2026 International Acoustic Music Awards.

Kenny Stahl and Friends - Jazz at The Cherry
2026-04-19 14:00 - 16:00
SOLD OUT
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to welcome back to our stage flautist, Kenny Stahl. A mainstay in the Monterey jazz scene, Kenny is a multi-faceted and highly talented jazz journeyman. One of jazz’s finest flutists, Stahl has performed with numerous jazz heavyweights such as guitarist Kenny Burrell, trumpeter Art Farmer, and tenor saxophonists David Murray, Benny Golson, Stan Getz and George Coleman. Joining Kenny will be the legendary Bruce Forman on guitar, drummer Billy Jones, and bassist Michael Marcus. Get ready for a soul-pleasing afternoon of jazz with some of the Monterey Peninsula’s standout jazz musicians!
Sunday, April 19th, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com. SOLD OUT

Lear, Munich 1945 - POSTPONED
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-02
We regret to announce the run of the play will not take place at this time due to unforeseen circumstances. If you have not been contacted about a ticket refund, please call (831) 717-7373.
One of Germany’s greatest actors and his wife are hunkered down in a Munich hovel waiting anxiously for the conquering Americans who are about the take the city. Before the war, Manfred Lohre was celebrated for his portrayal of King Lear. That stage is now dark, and the city is in ruins from constant bombarding while the couple struggle to make sense of the war and find an elusive peace in their own tension-filled lives.
The play opens Friday, May 1st through Sunday, May 24th. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $35, available by calling (831) 717-7373.

Porchlight Stories
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:30
SOLD OUT
Follow this LINK to participate in upcoming performances.
Inspired by the weekly NPR “Moth Radio Hour,” storytellers tell a 5 to 7 minute true story about themselves without prompts or notes. Each personal story defines an event or series of united events where something could be gained or lost . Their stories tell tales of love, midnight adventure, childhood misconception, teenage thugs, and more. The storyteller’s perception of reality, themselves, or their relationships is altered in unexpected ways as is our own. Expect to be intrigued, amused and moved by these very personal stories, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself bursting out with laughter or holding back tears. The performance will be held Thursday, May 14th at 7pm. Tickets are $20.
The evening is hosted by the celebrated musician, composer, and theatre producer, Mark Governor, who returns to Carmel for this one night event. Among the storytellers are Moth regulars, Mindy Myers and JP Frary; Henry Miller Library executive director Magnus Toren; actor, singer, and storyteller, Michael Lojkovic; 93-year-old German immigrant and author, Hans Lehmann; prize winning artist and architect, Polly Osborne; and painter, photographer, Elizabeth Murray.
The event is produced by the Carl Cherry PorchLight Committee which includes Carl Cherry Center Executive Director, Robert Reese; Board Members: Ellen Osborne, Jim Dultz, Anne Mitchell, Kris Swanson, Camille D’Avenas, and Robin Mckee. This is the first show of a planned 3 part series.

Participants
Host:
Mark Governor is a composer, songwriter, playwright and record producer most well known for his work on films like “The Hobbit” and “Pet Sematary 2”, the ubiquitous SpongeBob SquarePants track “Jellyfish Jam”, and his rock musical “shAme”. A former Carmel resident, he now lives In San Francisco where he continues to create and produce music and theater.
Storytellers:
JP Frary designs and builds furniture and sculptures in a wood shop on the old Alameda Naval Base. He specializes in using recycled materials in ways that make them look new. He is the Resident Storyteller at Redwood Nights in Fairfax, CA. Otherwise, his stories can be heard in hardware stores and lumber yards.
Hans Lehmann, 93, was born in Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1939. He graduated from the Webb Schools. Received degrees from the University of Colorado, Harvard, and an honorary discharge from the US Army. Worked at Macy’s for 28 years, has published 3 books, and lives in Carmel. He writes a blog twice a week.
First appearing on-stage as ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ in grade school, Michael Lojkovic has performed many staged readings at the Cherry. As a community songleader, he’s taught songs from Orcas Island to Soledad Prison to Big Sur and founded Vocal Activists Monterey Peninsula (VAMP) in 2025. Acting every fall at Colton Hall’s California Constitutional Reenactment, Michael is currently writing a musical ‘TrumpelThinSkin: Gagging on Gold Amidst Samsara Beds of Straw.’
For over 50 years Elizabeth Murray’s passion for nature and spirit has inspired her dedication to cultivating beauty through painting, writing and diverse projects around the world. Her work has shown around the world in Museums with Monet, permanent installments in corporate collections and in her historic Bohemian Artist home and Gardens in Monterey, California.
Mix 2 cups humor and word-smithing, with 1 cup New York wise-crackings. Sift through a lens of creativity. Add a dash of nightly story telling practice from her childhood dinner table, with peppery sarcasm. Stir well and you have the unique stylings of Mindy Myers. Mindy is a playwright, storyteller, young adult book author, and culinary educator.
Polly Osborne is an artist and architect living in Monterey, California. She was mentored by her uncle in art, her stepfather in architecture, and her parents in humor and good sportsmanship. She shows her work at the Carmel Art Association. Her pesky little sister made her tell this story.
Magnus Toren is Executive Director of the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, a Swedish-born former sailor whose life spans ocean crossings, remote islands, and cultural curation. A storyteller, musician, and podcaster, he blends adventure with stewardship, sustaining a unique literary haven while exploring ideas, places, and people through conversation and art.
This event was sponsored, in part, through funding from:
Arts Council for Monterey County,
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Gibson Family Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

Portraits in Song: Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen, featuring Kito Rayburns
2026-06-18 19:00 - 20:30
Portraits in Song is an intimate concert series highlighting the craft and storytelling of exceptional emerging artists. Each limited-capacity evening invites audiences to experience songwriting up close — sharing not only original music, but the stories and creative journeys behind it.
The third concert in the series features Canadian-American Roots-Folk duo Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen, prodigious players whose soaring violin, diverse guitar styles, and unique vocal rapport make for a dynamic, polished performance. Opening the evening is Kito Rayburn, a Monterey-based multi-instrumentalist crafting a solo sound that blends indie folk and neo soul.
The performance will be held Thursday, June 18th, at 7:00pm, doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $25 (wine and light fare provided), available on Eventbrite.com.
About the Artists
Meeting in 2012 via a chance YouTube sighting and fueled by a once-in-a-lifetime musical chemistry and friendship, Canadian-American husband-wife Roots-Folk duo Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen are “prodigious players with songwriting that sets them apart.” With soaring violin, diverse guitar styles, compelling storytelling, a dash of harmonica and humor, and unique vocal rapport, they deliver a dynamic, engaging, polished performance. Based in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California, their third album, Between the Rain, was top ten on Canada’s Roots charts for 2016. Touted for being both “lyrically refreshing and musically diverse,” their original songwriting and composing spans the range of Roots-based genres, “pondering contemporary subject matter with vintage sensibility.” They have toured North America extensively — from Home Routes house concert tours of the Canadian Prairies to headlining spots at The Listening Room Festival in St. Petersburg, Florida, BBC Radio in Liverpool, UK, Canada’s definitive Winnipeg Folk Festival, Northern California’s beloved Kate Wolf Music Festival, and opening for The Wailin’ Jennys at a sold-out theater in Grass Valley, California. Beyond the US and Canada, they’ve toured Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Germany.
Kito Rayburn grew up in El Paso, TX and Monterey, CA in a musical household. A multi-instrumentalist, he has participated in a number of different local projects, including Bayview, Pan Dulce, The Rayburn Brothers, The Fragonards, The Dead Cassettes, and the Danny V Project. More recently he has been focusing on developing his solo project and finding his own sound, a blend of indie folk and neo soul. He has released a number of singles, an EP Reach Out, and is currently working on writing, recording, and producing a full-length album.

SOLD OUT Peter Zak Trio
2026-06-21
New York Jazz Comes to The Cherry!
Jazz at The Cherry is delighted to welcome the New York–based Peter Zak Trio for a thrilling afternoon and early evening of swinging, straight-ahead jazz. Pianist and bandleader Peter Zak is joined by two remarkable artists with West Coast roots who are now fixtures on the New York jazz scene: bassist Essiet Okon Essiet and drummer Sylvia Cuenca. With its rich and celebrated jazz heritage, the Monterey Peninsula has long been home to an extraordinary community of world-class jazz musicians. This performance brings an exciting East Coast perspective to that tradition and offers Jazz at The Cherry audiences a rare opportunity to experience the distinctive sound, spirit, and energy of the New York jazz scene in the intimate setting of the Cherry Center.
SOLD OUT: Sunday, June 21st • 2pm. Tickets are $45 (includes wine and light fare).
About the Musicians
Peter Zak
Peter Zak, pianist and bandleader, was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Ohio, where he began playing piano at the age of five. At sixteen, his family relocated to Oakland, California, where an inspiring high school band director sparked his lifelong passion for jazz. Zak went on to attend UC Berkeley, performing with the university’s Jazz Ensemble while earning a B.A. in History. After several years performing in clubs throughout Northern California, Zak moved to New York City, where he established himself as a deeply respected voice on the jazz scene. Over the years, he has appeared with a number of jazz luminaries, including Eddie Henderson, Jon Hendricks, and George Coleman. Peter’s playing reflects the influence of many of the great bop and post-bop pianists while maintaining a distinctive voice of his own. Widely admired for his mastery of the classic piano-bass-drums format, Zak is considered one of today’s finest practitioners of the straight-ahead jazz trio tradition.

Essiet Okon Essiet
Essiet Okon Essiet first received critical acclaim as a member of saxophonist Bobby Watson’s acclaimed post-bop ensemble, Horizon. Since then, he has established himself as one of New York’s premier jazz bassists. Essiet was also a member of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, remaining with the legendary drummer and educator until Blakey’s passing in 1990. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has performed with an extraordinary roster of jazz greats, including Freddie Hubbard, Cedar Walton, Benny Golson, and the Blue Note All-Stars, among many others. In addition to his work as a sideman, Essiet leads IBO, an innovative Nigerian jazz project that reflects his deep connection to African musical traditions and contemporary jazz.

Sylvia Cuenca
Sylvia Cuenca is a highly respected and active presence on the New York jazz scene, known for her dynamic, sensitive, and swinging drumming in a wide variety of musical settings. She performed with saxophone legend Joe Henderson for four years and with trumpet master Clark Terry for seventeen years. With the Joe Henderson Quartet, Cuenca toured extensively throughout Europe as well as major venues across the United States. In smaller group settings, she also performed in trio collaborations with Joe Henderson and Charlie Haden in 1989, and later with bassist George Mraz in 1994. As a member of the Clark Terry Quintet and Big Band, Cuenca appeared at many of the world’s premier jazz venues, including the Village Vanguard, Birdland, and the Blue Note.

Porchlight Stories - 2nd Show Added!
2026-07-16
Inspired by the weekly NPR “Moth Radio Hour,” 8 storytellers take the stage each presenting a 5 to 7 minute true story about themselves without prompts or notes. Each personal story is central to the storyteller and defines a turning point. This round of stories includes tales of love, sailing, education, wisdom, proposals, and guilt. The storyteller’s perception of reality, themselves, or their relationships is altered in unexpected ways as is our own. Expect to be intrigued, amused and moved by these very personal stories, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself bursting out with laughter or holding back tears. The performance is approximately one hour long, followed by a half hour reception in the Cherry gallery with the storytellers.
The evening is hosted by former Monterey County Supervisor, Mary Adams. Storytellers include Moth regulars, Mindy Myers and Hope Silver; Henry Miller Library executive director, Magnus Toren; author and journalist, Alison van Diggelen; 94-year-old German immigrant and author, Hans Lehmann; renaissance man, Paul Riley; artist and photographer, Robin Sawyer; and jazz guitarist, Bruce Foreman.
Two Shows: Thursday, July 16th, at 5pm and 7:30pm (Sold Out). Tickets are $25, available on Eventbrite.com. This event is produced by the Carl Cherry PorchLight Committee which includes Carl Cherry Center Executive Director, Robert Reese and Board Members, Ellen Osborne, Jim Dultz, Anne Mitchell, Kris Swanson, Camille d’Avenas and Robin McKee. This is the second show of a planned three part series. The next show is October 29th.
Participants
Host:
Mary Adams has devoted much of her life to public service. She served as the lobbyist for the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association during the “Tobacco Wars,” was President and CEO for United Way of Monterey County, and served as Monterey County Supervisor from 2017 to 2025. Mary’s heart lies in theater, making her stage debut at three years old singing “Angel of God” before a packed house. She is delighted to be hosting tonight’s performance of PorchLIght Stories.
Storytellers:
Hans Lehmann, 94, was born in Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1939. He graduated from the Webb Schools. Received degrees from the University of Colorado, Harvard, and an honorary discharge from the US Army. Worked at Macy’s for 28 years, has published 3 books, and lives in Carmel. He writes a blog twice a week.
Hope Silver, was born in Siberia on a freezing December day, 1,981 years after Jesus and on the day Charlie Chaplin died, Hope Silver won a green card, moved to the U.S., and translated her lengthy Russian name into English. Hope is always on her way: while driving, she creates new stories and screenplays. Even without a single wisdom tooth, she still hopes to become as wise as Jesus and as funny as Chaplin.
Mindy Myers: Mix 2 cups humor and word-smithing with 1 cup New York wise-crackings. Sift through a lens of creativity. Add a dash of nightly story telling practice from her childhood dinner table, with peppery sarcasm. Stir well and you have the unique stylings of Mindy Myers. Mindy is a playwright, storyteller, young adult book author, and culinary educator.
Magnus Toren is Executive Director of the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, a Swedish-born former sailor whose life spans ocean crossings, remote islands, and cultural curation. A storyteller, musician, and podcaster, he blends adventure with stewardship, sustaining a unique literary haven while exploring ideas, places, and people through conversation and art.
Paul Riley: Some might call him garrulous or loquacious, while others might call him just chatty. After a brief dalliance treading the boards in Summer Stock, Paul settled down to a career as an artist in Showbiz. Now retired, Paul has devoted his life to building a retaining wall in his backyard in San Francisco.
Bruce Forman has spent the last five decades playing jazz guitar on recordings, movie soundtracks, festival and concert hall stages, and nightclubs. A raconteur and comedian, his critically acclaimed one-man show The Red Guitar has been performed around the world…and at The Cherry Center!
Robin Sawyer: Born a long time ago, Robin is an artist living in Carmel Valley, CA. Painter, photographer, quasi-musician, and adventurous spirit.
Alison van Diggelen: is a journalist and author of “The LOVE Project.” She has interviewed Meryl Streep, Martin Sheen and Elon Musk for the BBC and other media. But the people who taught her most about life weren’t famous. Inspired by her Scottish mother’s late-life romance, her book explores how we can find healing, purpose, and joy. Kirkus Reviews praised “The LOVE Project’s” reminder that “Love remains a vital and animating force.”
PorchLight Stories Sponsors
Robin McKee & Bob Walker
Anne Mitchell
This event is also supported, in part, through funding from:
Arts Council for Monterey County,
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Gibson Family Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

Monterey Comedy Improv
2026-07-17 19:00 - 20:30
The Monterey Comedy Improv is back! The premier improv comedy troupe on the peninsula will be back in action on Friday, July 17th, 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 $25, available on Eventbrite.com.

SOLD OUT Songs and Stories of Old Carmel
2026-08-14 19:00 - 20:30
Master musicians and master singers, freshly returned from their triumph at Carnegie Hall, Dixie Dixon and Steve Mortensen, are joined by Doug Borer, a local educator, poet, and long-serving docent at Tor House and the Pacific Biological Laboratory, in a presentation of “Songs and Stories of Old Carmel.” Friday, August 14th at 7:00 p.m. The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is located on the northwest corner of 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA.
This show features the origins of the Abalone Songs, origins of the Forest Theatre, Tales of the South Coast, music and songs of the times, and pieces of poetry.
This performance is sold out.

Rick Forschino Trio Performing the Music of Cedar Walton
2026-08-23 14:00 - 16:00
Jazz at The Cherry is pleased to welcome back to our stage one of the Peninsula’s favorites, Rick Forschino and his trio. Rick will once again share his skillful interpretation of another established jazz great. In his past performances at the Cherry, he has explored the works of Michel Petrucciani and Enrico Pieranunzi.For this performance the trio will turn its attention to stalwart bebop pianist Cedar Walton (1934-2013).
Walton enjoyed a distinguished career that placed him among jazz royalty. He performed with such notable artists as: Lou Donaldson, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Dorham, J.J. Johnson, Art Farmer, and Benny Golson. His years with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers helped cement his reputation. He later anchored rhythm sections for Milt Jackson, Frank Morgan, Dexter Gordon and vocalists Ernestine Anderson and Freddy Cole. His trio with Ron Carter and Billy Higgins further distinguished him as one of the most accomplished musicians in jazz history.
Forschino became a Cedar Walton fan after seeing him perform live in the 1980s and was captivated by his compositions which bridged modern and classic jazz. This performance will showcase Walton’s modern harmonies, distinctive compositional ideas, and the unique style that secured his place as a jazz legend.
Joining Rick for this outstanding show will be versatile bassist, Bill DeLap and seasoned drummer, Mike Shannon.
Performance Sunday, August 23rd, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the $45 ticket price. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.com.
