Redwood City gets stars in its eyes at Fox Theatre
By Jim Harrington
CONTRIBUTOR
January 25, 2002
AFTER hosting a handful of successful shows in 2001, the recently renovated Fox Theatre greatly expands its entertainment offerings for the new year and beyond.
Organizers announced the winter and spring "Live at the Fox" line-up Wednesday morning at a press conference at the ornate theater in downtown Redwood City. They also provided a look at some of the bigger shows further down the horizon.
With a lineup that includes comedians Bill Cosby and Harvey Korman, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne and rocker George Thorogood, people might start referring to Redwood City as "Las Vegas by the Bay." Throw in such names as violinist Itzhak Perlman, and you had have to reach back to the days of the old Circle Star Theater to find this level of ongoing entertainment in San Mateo County.
"We are very excited about the upcoming live entertainment, our new partners, and everyone who has embraced the Fox Theatre," says John Anagnostou, owner of the Fox Theatre. "I am convinced that the circumstances are right for Redwood City to become an entertainment destination point for people in the Bay Area."
The Fox has certainly aligned itself with some powerful allies. Most important is the Saratoga-based Villa Montalvo, one of California's most important art centers, which held a few offsite shows last year at the venue, including Keb Mo and Tom Jones.
This year, Montalvo moves beyond testing the Fox Theatre and presents a full series of performances at the Fox, which should nicely compliment its other scheduling in Saratoga. Montalvo's 2002-2003 season at the Fox Theatre will include the comedy duo Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, Latin sensation Mercedes Sosa and the Boys Choir of Harlem.
After hosting a success holiday concert Melissa Etheridge, Better Than Ezra and Luce at the Fox in December, KFOG radio station plans to return to Redwood City with more shows in 2002.
The Fox also will sound better than ever: The installation of a Meyer Sound System will be completed in the spring, according to Anagnostou.
Meyer Sound has won worldwide acclaim as an award-winning designer and manufacturer of professional loudspeaker systems, and its sound systems have been installed in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall and Berkeley Repertory's Roda Theatre.
Here is the lineup for the Fox:
Comedians Tim Conway and Harvey Korman reunite for laughs Feb.3
Jackson Browne, the man behind such hits as "Doctor My Eyes" and "The Pretender," croons and strums Feb. 27.
Rock guitarist-vocalist George Thorogood gets bad to the bone March 17.
Vocalist Mercedes Sosa, who won the Grammy for Best Folk Album at the first annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2000, performs April 12.
Guitar virtuoso Ottmar Liebert will amaze fans with his fleet fingers May 19.
Bill Cosby brings the major star power, and, hopefully, some Jell-O pudding, for locals Sept. 7.
The San Francisco Comedy Competition Final, which has been a launching pad for some serious yucksters, goes down Oct. 12.
Comedian and author David Sedaris will have the crowd laughing Oct. 18.
The Vienna Boys' Choir makes beautiful music at the ornate theater Nov. 1.
The Afro-Cuban All Stars, which recently were recorded performing live at Yoshi's in Jack London Square for an NPR program, deliver the hot jazz Nov. 17.
Violin great Itzhak Perlman performs Jan. 8.
The Harlem Boys Choir harmonizes into the building Jan. 21.
For more information, visit the Fox Theatre Web site at http://www.foxdream.com or call (650) 369-4119.
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