Arts Devo

The Bard is back? The deliberate thespians of Slow Theatre are creeping their way toward bringing Shakespeare in the Park back to Chico. The most recent development is the Romantic Shakespeare event at the 1078 Gallery this Saturday (Feb. 16), at 2 p.m., “a matinee of scenes and songs highlighting the romantic side of Shakespeare.” It’s a fundraiser and a means for building excitement for future full-scale productions of Shakespeare in the great outdoors, and Arts DEVO thinks it might make for a pretty badass date for you and your Valentine.

Speaking of Shakespeare, in a sister event the following day (Sunday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.), the new kids on the block over at Chico Live Improv Comedy (561 E. Lindo Ave.) are hosting Much Ado About Improv, a night of “Shakespeare-inspired improv games and long-form sets.”

Our revels are neverending!

Wait a second! That’s not the biggest Slow Theatre news to come out this week. The announcement for Garage Fest 2019 has been officially transmitted, and I have a feeling that we might be on the cusp of a new community tradition. In the spirit of the backyard beginnings of the Butcher Shop theater fest, Slow Theatre is organizing five different backyard/garage/house shows at five different locations over two days, March 8-9. Each show will be presented three times each day and will feature collaborations with various local performance organizations, including Butte College Drama Club, Chico State Theatre Club, Chico Live Improv Comedy and the Chico Dance Lab. Tickets go on sale (for $30) on Feb. 18. Venues will be disclosed upon purchase. Visit slowtheatre.com for info and updates.

Rest in peace, Renaissance Man Butte County lost one of its most prolific and interesting performers last week. After a brief battle with cancer, Mikkel McDow died last Thursday (Feb. 7). He was 63. McDow was best known around these parts as a member of Beltain, purveyors of a wide range of early music and folk styles—both traditional tunes and original songs that sometimes blended the old styles with rock music—and regulars at Renaissance faires and other period-specific events. There was also a Bay Area version of Beltain, with different players, that McDow described as “metal fusion!”

But Beltain was just one of his musical hats. Back in the day, McDow was a founding member of Berkeley punk/garage-rock/early new wave crew The Jars. And, in between recording and releasing several Beltain albums, he worked as a soundman, put out a handful of solo rock albums of varying styles as Mik Dow, and performed shows in duet with his wife and fellow Beltain member, Morgan McDow.

A memorial concert is in the works, but no date has been set. To contribute to Morgan’s efforts to compile and share the music she and Mikkel made together, visit patreon.com/MorganMcDow.

DEVOtions:

• Pop Muzik: Do the Safety Dance or just Wang Chung all night long at the Chico New Wave Prom this Friday (Feb. 15), 8 p.m., at Chico Women’s Club. Get tix for only $10 at Bootleg or Ultra Beautician ($13 at the door).

• Funk monster: If you’ve grown tired of funk that slips into the jam groove, Lost on Main has something completely different coming this Tuesday (Feb. 19), 7:30 p.m. Super-high-energy L.A. crew Thumpasaurus rocks a seriously weird brand of spazz-funk that is as infectious as it is funny.