The Mavericks in Concert at Byham; PICT Staging ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ at WQED Studios (Wed., 11/28/18)

1) Alt-country musicians The Mavericks, fronted by Cuban-American lead singer Raúl Malo, have a distinctive sound with elements of everything from Hispanic big-band to you-name-it. Darlings of adult alternative-contemporary radio stations, The Mavericks have gained a huge following since starting in Miami in 1989. They won back-to-back CMA Awards as country Vocal Group of the Year in 1995-96. The band broke up from 2004 to 2012—during which time Malo built a successful solo career—but now The Mavericks ride again, at full force. In 2015, they won another best-group award, this time from the Americana Music Association. They released their latest and ninth studio album, Brand New Day in 2017.. The video for the title track (above) features hard-to-miss symbolism … but what really shouldn’t be missed is Malo and The Mavericks performing live. 8 p.m. Byham Theater, 101 6th St., Cultural District. (RH, MV)

The Mavericks.

Horrors: Nell has collapsed, and the hand-holder supervising her critical care—Ken Bolden, in the yellow tie—is a very tipsy gent. (photo: Keith A. Truax)

2) The story: A virtuous, hardworking orphan girl lives with her grandfather, a London shopkeeper. Grandpa, intent on providing for Little Nell, gambles with borrowed money and loses big. Evicted, Nell and grandpa flee to the countryside, where they encounter characters both colorful and frightening, while various persons with various intentions seek the fugitive pair, and … Charles Dickens’ The Old Curiosity Shop, published in installments during 1840-41, had readers across the British Isles and America waiting anxiously for each episode. While nations clashed and societies were being transformed in real life, the burning question for many was What’s going to happen to Little Nell? Maybe you know. But according to Alan Stanford, artistic director of PICT Classic Theatre, what’s most compelling is the journey. Considering the novel to be a sterling example of Dickens’ storytelling and character creation, Stanford has adapted The Old Curiosity Shop for the stage. 7:30 p.m. Tonight there is also a pre-show lecture. Performances continue through December 15. PICT performs the play in the Fred Rogers Studio at WQED, 4802 Fifth Ave., Oakland. (MV)

3) A/B MACHINES by Philip Gates, “adapted from the work of Andy Warhol.” Sample quotation from the 1977 book The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again): “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” Time has passed, and now Philip Gates, a Directing Fellow at Carnegie Mellon, premieres his new Warhol-inspired play A/B Machines. It features three performers competing ferociously for attention while apparently ignoring another Warhol saying: “I think everybody should like everybody.” 8 p.m. Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 in the Helen Wayne Rauh Theater at Carnegie Mellon, 5000 Forbes Ave., Oakland. (MV)

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